Observing & Charting

When a couple decides to start a family, becoming pregnant isn’t always as easy as it may first appear. In fact, more than 50 percent of all couples experience some difficulty in their initial attempts to conceive. Most couples find that by taking a few, relatively simple measures, they can dramatically increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

One of the keys to conceiving is an understanding of the woman’s menstrual cycle. While a healthy male can create a continual supply of sperm, women release an egg only once per month, during the ovulation portion of the menstrual cycle. As a result, women can only become pregnant at, or very near, the time of ovulation. By carefully charting the menstrual cycle, couples have a much greater chance of increasing their chances of conception.

How to chart
Charting the menstrual cycle is as simple as keeping a careful eye on your calendar. Most healthy women experience a menstrual cycle that lasts about 28 days. Charting is most effective for women who experience normal, regular menstrual cycles. To begin charting, mark down the first day of your period on your calendar. Count out 14 days forward, and if your menstrual cycle has been regular, you can expect to ovulate on or very near that date. For the best chance of conceiving, plan on having sex not only on the date when ovulation is expected, but also on the two- to three-day period on either side of that date, since ovulation may be affected due to stress, illness, or other factors.

Basal body temperature
For couples looking to more closely pinpoint the date of ovulation, and therefore increase the likelihood of conception, measuring the basal body temperature, or BBT, is a simple yet effective method. When a woman ovulates, the body releases a series of hormones that trigger the release of the egg from the ovary. As these hormone levels fluctuate, the body temperature can rise by several degrees. Many women who are trying to conceive help determine when they are most likely to ovulate by taking their temperature on a daily basis. Although any thermometer can be used to chart BBT, many women prefer to purchase a thermometer with a digital readout that shows temperature increases to within a tenth of a degree for greater accuracy. Many people mistakenly believe that the increase in temperature indicates ovulation is about to begin; in fact, the BBT does not rise until after ovulation has taken place. As a result, the primary function of charting the BBT is to help determine when ovulation is most likely to take place in women who have regular, predictable cycles. For best results, it is essential for women to take their temperature at the same time each day, and to chart the BBT information directly onto the same calendar which is being used used to track the menstrual flow dates.

Cervical mucus and other indicators
In addition to charting dates and BBT, there are other indications that ovulation is taking place, or is about to take place. One of the most common indicators which is also relatively easy to track is the cycle of changes that take place in the cervical mucus. The cervix is the mouth of the uterus, and is located at the far end of the vaginal canal. During the menstrual cycle, the uterus goes through a number of changes as a result of the release of hormones. One of the most accurate methods of charting these changes is to take note of the changes in both the amount and the texture of the cervical mucus. For much of a woman’s menstrual cycle, the cervical mucus will be light and clear. But as ovulation approaches and the uterus prepares for the egg and possible fertilisation, the mucus changes, becoming thick, viscous, and stretchy. Often likened to the whites of an egg, the mucus will readily stretch and expand upon examination. To track the changes in your cervical mucus, begin by thoroughly washing your hands. Extend a finger into the vaginal canal until it reaches the cervix (be careful not to scratch yourself). Withdraw your finger and note the color of the mucus, as well as the texture by seeing if the mucus will stretch between your fingers. Like BBT, using the changes in your cervical mucus to predict ovulation is most effective after several cycles, as you become familiar with the changes the mucus undergoes. For best results, chart the color and texture of your mucus on the same chart as the BBT and menstrual cycle dates.

In addition to cervical mucus and BBT, many women may also experience cramping or “pinching” near ovulation, as well as some breast swelling and tenderness. If you are one of the many women who experience these symptoms, adding them to your chart can provide you with an even clearer picture of your menstrual cycle, and more accurately determine when ovulation is most likely to occur.

Keeping track of your menstrual cycle is one of the most effective ways of increasing your chances of conception. And along the way, you’ll have the added benefit of becoming more familiar with your body and the changes it undergoes each and every month.