Fertility tracking, also known as fertility awareness or natural family planning, is a method of monitoring a woman’s menstrual cycle to determine when she is most likely to ovulate and conceive. This information can be used to either achieve or avoid pregnancy, depending on the individual’s goals. While it may seem daunting at first, fertility tracking is actually a simple and effective way to understand your body and take control of your reproductive health. In this blog post, we will break down the basics of fertility tracking and provide you with all the information you need to get started on your journey.
The first step in fertility tracking is understanding your menstrual cycle. The average menstrual cycle lasts 28 days, but this can vary from person to person. It is important to track the length of your cycle for a few months to determine your average cycle length. This will help you identify when you are most likely to ovulate, which typically occurs around day 14 of a 28-day cycle. However, it is important to note that ovulation can occur earlier or later in the cycle, so tracking your cycle for a few months will give you a better understanding of your unique pattern.
The next step is to track your basal body temperature (BBT). This is your body’s temperature at rest, and it can give you valuable information about your menstrual cycle. Before ovulation, your BBT will be lower, but after ovulation, it will rise by about 0.5 to 1 degree Fahrenheit. This temperature shift is a sign that you have ovulated and that your fertile window has ended. To track your BBT, you will need to invest in a basal body thermometer, which is more sensitive and accurate than a regular thermometer. Take your temperature first thing in the morning before getting out of bed, and record it in a fertility tracking app or on a chart.
In addition to BBT, you can also track changes in your cervical mucus. This is the fluid produced by your cervix that helps sperm travel to the egg. As you approach ovulation, your cervical mucus will become more slippery, clear, and stretchy, similar to the consistency of egg whites. This is a sign that you are approaching your fertile window and are most likely to conceive. Tracking your cervical mucus can also help you identify any potential issues with your reproductive health, such as hormonal imbalances or infections.
Fertility Tracking Made Simple: How to Get Started
Another important factor to track is your cervix position and texture. As you approach ovulation, your cervix will become softer, higher, and more open. After ovulation, it will return to a lower, firmer, and closed position. Checking your cervix can be done by inserting a clean finger into your vagina and feeling for these changes. It may take some time to get comfortable with this method, but it can provide valuable information about your fertility.
In addition to these methods, you can also track ovulation using ovulation predictor kits (OPKs). These are urine tests that detect the surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) in your body, which occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation. OPKs can be helpful for those with irregular cycles or those who want to confirm their fertile window. However, they can be expensive and may not work for everyone, so it is important to use them in conjunction with other tracking methods.
Now that you have a better understanding of how to track your fertility, it is important to choose a method of charting or recording your data. There are various fertility tracking apps available, such as Clue, Flo, and Kindara, which make it easy to record your BBT, cervical mucus, and other data all in one place. These apps also often provide educational resources and can help you identify patterns in your cycle. You can also choose to chart your data on a paper chart or in a notebook, whichever method works best for you.
It is important to note that fertility tracking is not foolproof and may not work for everyone. Factors such as stress, illness, and travel can affect your menstrual cycle and make it difficult to accurately predict ovulation. It is also important to continue to use contraception if you are trying to avoid pregnancy, as fertility tracking does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
In summary, fertility tracking is a simple and effective way to understand your body and take control of your reproductive health. By tracking your menstrual cycle, BBT, cervical mucus, and cervix position, you can identify when you are most likely to ovulate and conceive. It is important to use multiple tracking methods and choose a method of charting that works best for you. However, it is also important to keep in mind that fertility tracking may not work for everyone and should not be relied upon as a sole method of contraception.