|
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!
About the Author
Marie Zenack is the author of an Ebook on how to get pregnant
and how to avoid pregnancy with natural
birth control. Marie is a teacher of fertility awareness.
Fertility
|