The life span of this egg is not more than 24 hours. Conception takes place when the male sperm unites with the female egg. If conception does not occur, the next period or menstrual bleed follows about 2 weeks after ovulation. A man is presumed to be fertile all the time. For woman the most useful indicators are cervical mucus, basal temperatures and cervix changes.
Many woman also notice abdominal pain, blood-spotting and mood changes.
It's a normal physiological event. Many don't realise the significance of the changes in the mucus until it's explained to them. Mucus, which is secreted from the cervix, changes in appearance and texture at different times during the cycle. These changes vary from woman to woman. Each woman can be taught to recognise her particular change to a more 'fertile-type' mucus before ovulation.