Natural Birth and Baby Care.com

Charting Your Fertility

Charting fertility is an easy and totally natural way to help you understand your own cycles. It also allows you to increase your chances of conceiving by helping you figure out when you are most fertile every month.

If you decide to seek advice from your midwife or doctor as you try to conceive, your chart will be helpful to them as well.

There are a few specific things that you will be recording each day as you chart your fertility (I have a blank, printable chart you are free to use).

Each of these things will give you insight into how fertile you are, and combined you will have a good picture of your fertility patterns.

The two major things you will be recording while charting fertility are your basal body temperature and your cervical fluid. There are also other things you can track, such as cervix position, and the results you get using ovulation tests and fertility monitors.

Charting Basics

Early in Your Cycle

You'll begin charting fertility on the first day of your period every month. Take a look at the sample chart as you review these guidelines for setting up your chart each month. The first few days of your chart will be marked by your period. You should begin taking your temperatures during your period.

Make a small dot on your chart each morning for where your temperature is at that day. You can note the day of the week or the date as well as the time above your temperature reading for that day. It may be handy to keep a book about charting fertility beside your bed for quick reference.

As you go through the day and observe your cervical fluid, you can note what type it was on your chart. Note what your cervix feels like if you're checking it each day. Also note on your chart anything out of the ordinary such as a sleepless night, sickness, a lot of stress, etc.

Mid Cycle

If you're having fertile fluid and are using an ovulation predictor kit for charting fertility you'll know it's time to use the ovulation test. You can note the results of the test as you're charting fertility and plan intercourse for this fertile time each month.

The "average" cycle length for women is 28 days. You'll begin to see what your cycle length is after charting fertility for a few months. The "average" ovulation date is around day 14 of the cycle. You'll want to start looking for fertility signs especially diligently around the middle of your cycle.

Your cervical fluid will begin to change and you'll see that ovulation is near. Begin to have intercourse for conception when your fluid becomes watery or egg-white consistency.

If you're checking your cervix, you'll notice it feels softer, higher, and more open during this time. When you ovulate you will see a jump in your temperature, called your upward thermal shift. After this thermal shift you will notice that your fertile fluid diminishes and goes away.

Late Cycle

This time (after ovulation) is called your luteal phase. Progesterone is being produced during this time (this is what causes your temperature to rise). If you are pregnant your temperature will remain higher. If you are not pregnant, your temperature will fall and your period will begin, signaling the time to begin charting fertility with a fresh chart.

Also note on your chart when you get negative and/or positive pregnancy test results. Looking back on your chart can give you an excellent idea of when you conceived and help you to get an accurate due date (though remember that you due date can never be 100% accurate!)

Using Other Resources to Enhance Your Chart

You may want to use ovulation tests while you are charting fertility to have a clearer picture of when ovulation is occurring. You can start to use ovulation tests once you notice that your fluid has become creamy and is moving into the more fertile fluid stage.

Using the ovulation test at this time assures you that you're getting close to ovulation. The test will help you pinpoint ovulation. Be sure to carefully read the manufacturer's instructions for your test.

If you're using a fertility monitor or saliva test you'll be able to add this data to your chart and have a nice, clear picture of your cycle. The "ferning" on the saliva microscope will tell you when you are most fertile. Your fertility monitor will keep track of your cycles and be enhanced by your temperature and cervical fluid records.

Want some assistance with your charting? Besides reading good books on charting fertility you can really help yourself by getting fertility charting software. I use Ovusoft and I love it.

It's a one-time fee (unlike some other services) and it lets you keep track of ALL your fertility signs. It also allows you to input intercourse and ovulation test/pregnancy test info. It advises you when you're fertile so you can start baby dancing!

I've also found the online forums to be super supportive when I have a question about my chart - you can upload your chart online so you can get help understanding it! If this is something you're looking for read more about charting fertility with Ovusoft!