Menstrual Calendar: Charting the Signs of Fertility
Charting the signs of your menstrual cycle is a good way to keep
in touch with your body, your feelings, and your health. It is
also a good way to predict your days of menstruation in advance,
even if your menstrual cycles are irregular, and to know the
most fertile times if you are hoping to conceive.
Cervical Mucus The sign that is easiest to observe is the
cervical mucus, since it is noticed in the course of daily
activity. Fertile type mucus is produced by the cervix during
the days when the ova are maturing and preparing for ovulation.
This mucus is not only an indicator of fertility, it is
essential for fertility. Cervical mucus nourishes the sperm,
protects them from the natural acidity of the vagina, and guides
them toward the ovum. Following is a simple way to observe and
chart your fertile type mucus.
Pay attention to how you feel as you go about your daily
activities. Just as you have learned to notice a certain wetness
at menstruation, you will begin to notice a second wet time, but
later in the cycle, and without bleeding. The second wet time is
caused by your fertile type mucus.
Each time you go to the bathroom, wipe with toilet paper both
before and after you use the toilet, noticing: a) the sensation
you feel as you wipe with toilet paper, b) what is on the toilet
paper. Chart what you see and what you feel in any way that
makes sense to you. 1) Menstruation: mark the days of bleeding
in some way, such as coloring the calendar day red. 2) Nothing:
if you don't see or feel anything outside your vagina, you can
leave the calendar blank on those days. 3) Something: but if you
see or feel something - anything - such as pasty or sticky
mucus, or a feeling of wetness - draw something, such as a
raindrop, on these days. 4) Slippery something: If the pasty or
sticky mucus turns to slippery mucus or a slippery feeling,
color the raindrop dark to indicate the slippery wetness.
After a few slippery wet days, the mucus may disappear or return
to sticky or pasty. When it does, begin to count the days until
menstruation arrives. In a normal fertile cycle, the time
between the last day of slippery mucus or slippery feeling and
the next menstruation is between 11-16 days. You will become
quite accurate about your predictions after you chart for about
three cycles.
The mucus is your most fertile time, since fertile type is
produced during the days leading up to and including ovulation.
If you are trying to conceive, use the wet, slippery days for
sexual relations. But don't try to use this information for
birth control unless you seek out a qualified teacher of
fertility awareness or natural family planning.
When the fertile mucus is present, we are under the influence of
the hormone estrogen. We may feel courageous and loving. Men who
bored us last week may suddenly appear interesting and
attractive. Like Mother Earth in her rainy season, we are full
of potential. We may also be interested in sexual activity.
These emotions and reactions are caused by the hormone estrogen,
which is getting us ready to have a baby, whether or not we want
one! These hormonal swings are a predictable part of our cycle
that must be safely navigated by all women in their reproductive
years.
After ovulation, under the influence of the hormone
progesterone, we may feel somewhat deflated compared to our wet,
fertile time. Like Mother Earth in her dry time, we may feel
quiet, with less energy. When menstrual bleeding begins, both
estrogen and progesterone are at low levels. We may feel
sensitive, solitary, or inward. Getting to know the feelings
that go along with your hormonal cycle can give you a new and
sensitive relationship with yourself.
Dark red menstruation for about three days probably indicates
that hormones are high enough to build a good uterine lining and
nourish a fetus in the event of conception. However, more than
three days of menstruation can be exhausting. If your bleeding
is excessive, try drinking raspberry leaf tea on a regular basis.
Three to five days of wet, slippery mucus 11-14 days before the
next menstruation is a probable indicator of normal ovulation
and a fertile cycle. Cycles are often 28-30 days from the first
day of bleeding to the first day of the bleeding of the next
menstruation. However, irregular cycles do not indicate
infertility. If the time between the last day of slippery mucus
and the next menstruation is 11-16 days, the cycle is probably
fertile. Even if one cycle is not fertile, the next may well be
fertile. Much depends on the stress we may be feeling. Keeping a
chart allows us to keep all things in perspective, and feel our
own harmony with all the cycles of nature.
Basal Body Temperature If you are not sure you are ovulating,
you can take your temperature. The body's resting temperature
increases four-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit or two-tenths of a
degree Centigrade under the influence of progesterone at
ovulation. Observing this sign involves taking your temperature
at the same time each morning before rising. (This is not as
hard as it sounds. It takes less than two minutes and you can go
back to sleep if you want.)
To observe your temperature rise, buy a BD brand digital basal
thermometer. This brand will give you a consistent and accurate
reading. Other high quality brands of digital basal thermometers
are also probably accurate, but have not been tested for
fertility awareness. Make sure the battery is good. (You can
replace it.) An ordinary clinical thermometer is not accurate
enough for fertility awareness. Nor is the "ear thermometer"
(tympanic thermometer).
Take your temperature every day immediately upon waking, before
7:30 a.m. The body's rhythms (circadian rhythms) fluctuate over
a 24-hour period. Your temperature is lowest in the early
morning and highest in the afternoon. Fluctuations are greater
after 7:30 a.m. If you go to bed before midnight and wake up
before 7:30 a.m., you will get the clearest temperature readings.
If it is not convenient to take your temperature immediately
upon waking, you may take it during light morning activity. For
example, if you need to go to the bathroom, you may take your
temperature while getting up and using the toilet. But be
consistent about the circumstances under which you take your
temperature. If you take it during light morning activity, take
it that way every morning. Don't take it sometimes before
getting up and at other times during light morning activity. If
you have sexual relations, take your temperature before.
Many women find that the digital thermometers require such a
short time to use that it is easy to take their temperature
before getting up. Take your temperature by mouth. Under arm and
ear temperatures are not accurate enough for family planning
purposes. The thermometer will beep softly several times before
beginning to beep slightly louder and repeatedly. Keep the
thermometer under your tongue until the louder, repeated beeps
begin. You can read and chart your temperature as soon as is
convenient after taking it. Your thermometer has a recall button
that allows you to read the last temperature taken. Be sure to
wash your thermometer after each use.
Your Temperature Graph Put a dot on a graph on the spot
corresponding to each day's temperature. Join the temperature
dots of consecutive days. If you do not take your temperature
one day, do not join the dots across that day. Also write out
the temperature numerically, to guard against errors in
graphing.
Interpreting Your Chart 1) Breathe and relax. Study your chart.
2) Can you find six low temperatures during the fertile mucus
days of your cycle? (You can chart your mucus and menstruation
on the same graph paper.) 3) Draw a horizontal line at the
highest of the six low temperatures. This is your low
temperature line. 4) Draw another horizontal line four-tenths of
a degree F. or two-tenths of a degree C. above your low
temperature line. This is your full thermal shift line. 5) Can
you find three high temperatures after the low temperatures? All
of the high temperatures must be above the low temperature line.
At least the third high temperature must be at or above the full
thermal shift line. 6) This temperature pattern of low and high
temperatures is called a biphasic pattern with a full thermal
shift. A biphasic pattern with a full thermal shift confirms
that you really did ovulate. A smaller, but sustained
temperature rise also probably indicates ovulation.
If you are hoping to become pregnant, please pay close attention
to nutrition. Look for unprocessed foods grown without
chemicals. Exercise in moderation. Get plenty of rest. Avoid
stress. Think happy thoughts. Pray for the child you desire, and
begin sending your child love, now. Heal any hurtful feelings
between you and your mate, and between you both and your
parents. Your mate should avoid hot shower or baths and tight
clothing, both of which lower sperm count.To increase your
chances of conception, use the wet, slippery days for sexual
relations.
If you have observed a biphasic pattern with a full thermal
shift, and it is now 18 days since your last day of slippery,
wet mucus, and menstruation has not arrived, you may feel
confident that you have conceived.
Congratulations and blessings!