3 Signs You Are In Your Fertile Window

The female reproductive system works cyclically in a pattern of infertility, then fertility, then infertility again. When you learn a fertility awareness-based method, you learn to identify the signs that will tell you when you are approaching your time of fertility. Broadly speaking, these are cervical mucus, basal body temperature and cervical position.  

1. Cervical Mucus

Cervical mucus is as necessary a part of baby-making as the sperm and the egg. It helps provide nourishment to sperm and extends their life span from a few hours to 3-5 days in anticipation for that all important egg. As ovulation approaches, mucus increases in quantity and changes in consistency from sticky to stretchy, clear and slippery. It is the clear, stretchy, and slippery mucus which is the best type for trying to conceive. To understand your unique mucus pattern, it is necessary to check systematically for cervical mucus every day.

Different types of mucus you may observe:

• No mucus – in a healthy cycle there will be days when you will not observe any cervical mucus. This is normal.
• Creamy – some days, you may observe cervical mucus which may have the consistency of hand lotion.
• Egg white – on the days around ovulation, you may observe cervical mucus which is clear, stretchy and slippery like egg white.

In a healthy cycle you will observe a pattern that starts with menstruation, then some dry days. As ovulation approaches, you may notice a progression of mucus from dry to sticky to creamy, then egg white, then dry again until your next period. Once you get into the habit of observing cervical mucus for a few cycles it gets easier to differentiate between the different types!

2. Basal Body Temperature

Basal body temperature (BBT) is the body’s lowest resting temperature. Once ovulation has occurred, the presence of progesterone causes a rise in BBT. A sustained increase in basal body temperature (thermal shift) is one of the best ways to confirm that ovulation has taken place. If you are trying to conceive, measuring BBT is a useful tool to determine if you are pregnant. The length of the post-ovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase) is consistent usually lasting 9-17 days followed by a menstrual period when conception has not happened. Generally speaking, if you record 18 consecutive increased temperatures after the initial thermal shift you are pregnant! That said, if you are trying to conceive, don’t wait for the thermal shift to have sex, otherwise you would have missed the fertile window.  By the time your temperature has gone up, you have already ovulated. Knowledge of the other biomarkers e.g. cervical mucus can help you to determine when best to have sex to try and conceive. When avoiding pregnancy, BBT is helpful to confirm that ovulation has happened and that the infertile phase of the cycle has started.

3. Cervical Position

The cervix changes shape, position, and feel (soft or firm) through the course of your cycle. On day 1 of your cycle (1st day of your period) the cervix is low and firm to the touch. The cervix remains low during the dry days following your period, but as the body prepares for ovulation the cervix begins to move upwards and becomes softer. Just prior to ovulation, the cervix is soft, high and open. It will have a similar feel to your lips and you may feel what seems like a ‘dimple’ when you touch the opening. This usually coincides with the clear, stretchy and slippery cervical mucus production. After ovulation, the cervix changes position to firm, low and closed. During this time, it will feel similar to the end of your nose. Observing changes in the cervix is a great way to confirm what is happening in your cycle at any given time. Checking and recording these signs (cervical mucus, BBT and cervical position) can help to make sense of what is happening by providing a complete picture of the cycle.

The Creighton Method uses cervical mucus only to track fertility and gynaecological health. If you would like to learn more, click here.