The Ovulation Phase (Inner Summer): How to Track It & Care for Yourself in a Trauma-Informed Way

If women are ever going to have full access to their power, we have to understand how our bodies work—and how to truly care for them.

Before I began my work in menstrual cycle education and somatic healing, I spent years in the fitness industry: first as a group fitness instructor, then as a personal trainer. And in all of that training, no one ever mentioned the difference between male and female physiology.

I was essentially taught to treat my body like a smaller version of a man’s body.

And that approach worked… until it didn’t.

What I now share about the menstrual cycle—especially the ovulation phase—is knowledge I had to seek out on my own. I share it because this knowledge is power. It’s how we reclaim our energy, our health, and our connection to ourselves.

In this article, we’ll explore the ovulatory phase, also known as Inner Summer—not just as a fertile window, but as a powerful phase of expression, connection, and creativity.

We’ll look at:

• What ovulation is (from a physiological perspective)

• How to track ovulation in a body-literate way

• How to care for yourself during this phase across the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual bodies—with a trauma-informed lens

What Is the Ovulation Phase?

Ovulation marks the midpoint of the menstrual cycle.

In a textbook 28-day cycle, ovulation often occurs around day 14—but real bodies are not textbooks. Ovulation can happen earlier or later depending on stress, sleep, nutrition, travel, illness, and hormonal health.

Physiologically, ovulation occurs when:

• Estrogen rises and peaks

• A surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers the release of a mature egg from the ovary

• Basal body temperature begins to rise slightly after ovulation

For many women, this phase is associated with:

• Increased energy

• Higher libido

• Improved mood and confidence

• Greater sociability and verbal fluency

But here’s something important that often gets overlooked:

Not everyone feels amazing during ovulation.

If you’re under chronic stress, not sleeping well, navigating trauma, or dealing with hormonal imbalances, this phase may feel very different—and that doesn’t mean anything is “wrong” with you. It means your body is communicating, and you’re learning how to listen.

How to Track Ovulation (Without Obsessing)

From a cycle-literacy perspective, ovulation is best understood through patterns, not perfection.

Some common ovulation signs include:

• Changes in cervical fluid (often clearer, slippery, or egg-white–like before ovulation)

• Increased confidence or sociability

• Heightened attraction or creativity

• A subtle shift in energy

• A rise in basal body temperature after ovulation

Trauma-informed tracking means:

• Tracking with curiosity, not control

• Not forcing yourself to notice sensations that feel overwhelming

• Letting patterns emerge over time instead of micromanaging daily data

Cycle tracking should feel supportive, not anxiety-provoking. If tracking becomes stressful, that’s information too—and something we often explore gently in coaching.

Caring for Yourself During Ovulation (Inner Summer)

Ovulation is not just a hormonal event—it’s a whole-body experience. I like to explore this phase through four interconnected bodies: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

🌸 Physical Body: Strength, Expression & Balance

During ovulation, estrogen peaks, which often supports:

• Physical strength

• Faster recovery

• Greater endurance

Personally, this is when I feel physically strongest. I tend to channel that energy into:

• Strength training

• Hiking or longer walks

• More expressive or “full-out” movement practices like dance

At the same time, balance matters. Overexertion during ovulation can lead to a crash later in the cycle, especially if you already live in a high-output culture.

Trauma-informed movement during this phase means:

• Using strength without overriding fatigue

• Pairing yang movement with yin or restorative practices

• Listening for subtle signs of “too much”

Nutrition during ovulation often leans lighter and more hydrating. Many women naturally crave:

• Fresh fruits

• Cooling foods

• Healthy fats (avocado, olive oil, fish) to support hormone production

Simple, nourishing meals can help keep energy steady rather than spiky.

💞 Emotional Body: Connection Without Overextension

Emotionally, ovulation is often associated with openness, playfulness, and magnetism. This can be a beautiful time for:

• Meaningful conversations

• Collaboration

• Asking for what you need

Because estrogen supports emotional resilience, many women feel more capable of navigating stress during this phase.

That said, trauma-informed emotional care means:

• Not over-giving just because you can

• Not bypassing boundaries in the name of connection

• Not confusing availability with obligation

This phase invites authentic connection, not self-abandonment.

🧠 Mental Body: Clarity, Confidence & Communication

Estrogen boosts serotonin and dopamine—neurotransmitters associated with mood, motivation, memory, and focus.

Many women notice:

• Sharper thinking

• Easier word-finding

• Greater confidence in their ideas

This makes ovulation an excellent time for:

• Presentations

• Content creation

• Teaching or leading

• Brainstorming and visibility

Trauma-informed productivity means working with this clarity—not using it to push past your limits.

🌕 Spiritual Body: Creativity & Life Force

Spiritually, ovulation carries a palpable creative charge.

Increased blood flow to the brain’s pleasure centers often enhances:

• Intuition

• Creativity

• A sense of love or inspiration

This is a powerful time for:

• Somatic practices

• Breathwork or meditation

• Creative rituals

One practice I love is symbolically “offering” the egg—not for reproduction, but for creation. Offering it to a project, intention, or relationship you’re nurturing can help align your body’s natural rhythms with your creative life.

This reframes fertility as something much larger than pregnancy.
You are fertile in your ideas, joy, and expression.

Ovulation as Power, Not Performance

Inner Summer is not about performing confidence or productivity.

It’s about expression that feels true, connection that feels safe, and creativity that feels embodied.

When we understand ovulation through a trauma-informed lens, we stop using our bodies as machines—and start relating to them as intelligent, responsive allies.

Your cycle is not a problem to manage.
It’s a relationship to tend.

And ovulation invites you to shine—not by burning yourself out, but by letting yourself be seen in ways that feel nourishing, grounded, and real.

Want Support Learning Your Cycle?

If you’re feeling curious about your own ovulatory patterns—or noticing that this phase doesn’t feel as easy as it “should”—that’s something we explore deeply in menstrual cycle coaching and group work.

You don’t need to figure this out alone.

Click here to book a free consultation to learn more about our menstrual cycle coaching services.