Charting Your Cycle

How to record your menstrual cycle
Pregnancy is a matter of timing. You want to make sure the conditions are right for the egg and sperm to meet.Your menstrual cycle can give you clues as to when your body is ready to start the process.
The first step is to know your most fertile days. Most women's menstrual cycle is her 28 days. This means that there are about 6 fertile days in a month. This includes her first day when an egg is released from her ovaries, called ovulation, and her five days before that. Having sex in that window is important. You cannot get pregnant without ovulation. Tracking her periods is one way for her to familiarize herself with her body's fertility.
To find out, you need to record your menstrual cycle and how long it lasts. Day 1 is the first day of menstruation. Cycle length can vary slightly from month to month, so it's a good idea to track several months.
After averaging, subtract 18 days from the shortest period. This is probably your first fertile day. Then subtract 11 days from the longest period. This is the last day of probable fertilization. If you have sex between these two dates with her, you are most likely to get pregnant.
Check your basal body temperature (BBT)
It's also a good idea to watch for signs that your body is ready to ovulate. Checking your basal body temperature (BBT) is one way to do this.
BBT is the temperature first thing in the morning. Immediately after ovulation, it rises slightly (sometimes less than 1 degree) and remains high until the onset of menstruation. By recording your temperature daily, you can see subtle changes that indicate that one of your ovaries has released an egg.
 
To take BBT, you should:
Use a basal thermometer. It is more sensitive than standard devices and displays temperature changes down to the slightest temperature. Available at most pharmacies for less than $20. Take your temperature at the same time each morning. Always do this before getting out of bed. (It's helpful to keep a thermometer on your bedside table.) Even just getting up to go to the bathroom can affect your body temperature. This also applies to smoking, drinking and lack of sleep.
Keep in mind that BBT does not tell you exactly when you ovulate, and it can take several months before you start seeing patterns. You are likely to conceive 2-3 days before the egg is released from the ovaries, and 12-24 hours later. A rise in body temperature for her three days lowers the chances of pregnancy.
 
Examine cervical mucus
The same hormones that control the menstrual cycle also affect the mucus that the cervix produces. From just before ovulation to the ovulation period, the amount, color, and texture change, making it easier to get pregnant.
The cervix produces more mucus as the ovaries prepare to release the egg. And just before ovulation, the mucus becomes slippery like egg white. If you spread your fingers apart, you can pull them. This stage usually lasts 3-4 days when you are most likely to get pregnant. How to check cervical mucus:
 
• Use your finger or a tissue to check your vaginal opening for mucus several times a day. Make sure your hands are clean before you start. Note if it is cloudy and sticky or clear and slippery.
• Track changes in cervical mucus and basal body temperature to get a clear picture of where you are in your cycle.
 
Be aware that other things, such as breastfeeding, can change your mucus. The use of showers and other hygiene products can also be affected. Gynecologists generally do not recommend these products.
 

06 Jan 2023