Fertility charting is one of the easiest ways to understand your reproductive health better. It helps you know what's going on with your female body parts. There's a misconception that ovulation occurs every month for every woman on the 14^th day of the cycle. Sorry to burst your bubble, that isn't the case always. The actual day of ovulation differs with every cycle and depends on several factors. Couples struggling to conceive can benefit by tracking when ovulation occurs.

Fertility charting helps you accurately pinpoint ovulation and your most fertile days. You can use this information to get pregnant naturally.

How To Chart Fertility Cycle?

Method 1: Track Your Menstrual Cycle

• Track your menstrual cycle for several months, as the cycle’s length can slightly vary from one month to another.
• The first day of your period is Day 1.
• Once you have tracked and calculated your cycle for several months, you can identify the first day when you’re likely to be fertile by subtracting 18 from your shortest cycle. Subtract 11 from the length of your longest cycle to determine the last day when you’re likely to be fertile.
• Having unprotected sex during this period increases your chances of conceiving.

Method 2: FAM By Measuring BBT

This FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) involves tracking the BBT (Basal Body Temperature). The basal temperature is your body's temperature at rest. Before ovulation, the basal temperature is low. Following ovulation, the body produces progesterone, which increases your basal temperature. The temperature rise is very minute, generally less than 0.5 degrees. By tracking your temperature regularly, you can identify ovulation accurately.

• Start by taking your temperature every morning.
• By tracking regularly, you can identify the subtle temperature rise that indicates your body has released an egg.

Using this method, you can identify when you’re approaching ovulation. This is helpful you’re most fertile 1 to 3 days before ovulation and within 12 to 24 hours of ovulation. This helps you plan when to have sex to increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Method 3: FAM By Monitoring Cervical Mucus

This method monitors changes in cervical mucus before and during ovulation. The cervical mucus is an alkaline medium that protects the sperm in the acidic vagina. Additionally, the mucus also nourishes the sperm and capacitates the sperm, preparing it to fertilize the egg.

• Insert a tissue or clean finger into your vagina to feel the mucus several times a day. Note the color and consistency of the fluid.
• Just before ovulation, when you’re most fertile, the mucus is stretchy, clear and slippery – something like the consistency of raw egg whites.

This helps you identify when you're most fertile, thereby improving your chances of getting pregnant.

If you're looking to increase fertility awareness, using these three methods together can help you track your fertile days accurately. Just like it takes time to form a habit, fertility charting gets better with practice. The longer you track, the more you can understand your body. Start simple and stick to it.

Along with these methods, it’s helpful to consult Dr. Noelle King, a specialist in Portland women’s health, to help you interpret the data you're tracking to ensure you have the best chances of successful conception. Charting your fertility cycle is the first step if you're looking to conceive naturally. You can also schedule an appointment with a gynecologist in Portland to assist with your charting.

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The author is a popular gynecologist in Portland and provides holistic healthcare by incorporating natural and conventional treatments. Visit https://drnoelleking.com/ for more information.