Natural Fertility Methods: Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Tracking
Exploring the menstrual cycle, ovulation tracking, and fertility awareness methods.
I was pregnant with my first child when I was 24, and there are so many things I didnât know and wish Iâd known. Even during my second pregnancy, just shy of 30, there were many things I would have liked to have done differently but simply lacked the awareness and tools to do so. If you are trying to conceive or thinking about it in the near future, one of the most crucial pieces of knowledge you need is understanding the flow and power of your menstrual cycle.
It sounds simple enough, but when young girls are still being fed the information that they can get pregnant on any day of their cycle and then offered the contraceptive pill without any true understanding of what this will do to their bodies, we should start at the beginning with a lesson in basic human biology. Shoutout to Mr. Chedid from my Year 10 human biology class; I didnât appreciate you then, but I do now.
Understanding The Menstrual Cycle
The menstrual cycle is a complex and finely tuned system that each month prepares the female body for pregnancy. It typically lasts between 21 to 35 days, with the average cycle being around 28 days. The cycle can be divided into four main phases:
Menstrual Phase (Days 1-5): The shedding of uterine lining leads to menstrual bleeding.
Follicular Phase (Days 1-13): Overlapping with the menstrual phase, this phase involves the maturation of ovarian follicles under the influence of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). As bleeding ends, FSH and luteinising hormone (LH) show small peaks, leading to a thickening of the uterine lining and maturation of the egg-containing follicles in the ovary. Oestrogen (estradiol) also rises steadily during this phase.
Ovulation (Day 14): A few days before ovulation, estrogen peaks, causing FSH and LH to spike, which triggers the release of a mature egg.
Luteal Phase (Days 15-28): The corpus luteum forms and secretes progesterone to prepare the uterus for a potential pregnancy. If no implantation occurs, hormone levels drop sharply, triggering menstruation.
Ovulation Tracking
Understanding when you ovulate is key to optimising your chances of conception (or avoiding it!). Ovulation usually occurs around the midpoint of your cycle, but it can vary. There are three main indicators of ovulation:
Fertile Mucous
Your cervical mucus is an important fertility sign. When you are in your fertile window (i.e., before ovulation), your mucus will be clear, viscous, and stretch between your fingers (like raw egg white). Oestrogen stimulates this production just before ovulation, helping sperm reach the uterus and fallopian tubes.
Image source: The Fertility Pod
Basal Body Temperature (BBT)
Basal body temperature is your bodyâs temperature first thing in the morning before you leave bed. Before ovulation, your temperature ranges from 36.1°C to 36.5°C. After ovulation, it increases by approximately 0.3°C. Tracking BBT helps you understand your menstrual cycle patterns and confirm ovulation.
Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs)
These kits detect the surge in LH that occurs 24-36 hours before ovulation. Start testing around day 8 of your cycle. A positive result usually means ovulation will occur within the next 36-40 hours.
Fertility & Your Fertile Window
Your fertile window is approximately six days long. Sperm can survive in the female genital tract for 4-5 days, and eggs for 1-2 days. The fertile window spans from five days before ovulation to one day after ovulation.
Knowing your cycle and learning to interpret your ovulation signs provides valuable information about when you are entering your fertile window (or if you are ovulating at all).
Additional Tools and Methods:
Ovulation Test Strips
An LH surge, indicating ovulation, can be detected with a urine strip. Start testing at least on day 8 of your cycle. However, most LH kits will miss approximately 20% of LH peaks and might not capture the entire fertile window.
Period Tracking Apps
Apps like Clue, Flo Health and Fertility Friend can be helpful but should not be solely relied upon for fertility window predictions. These predictions are based on algorithms and may not be reliable.
Understanding your menstrual cycle and combining these methods can greatly enhance your awareness and ability to manage your fertility naturally.
You can also old-school pen and paper to track your cycle. You can download yours here.
DISCLAIMER
This content is not intended as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional before acting on any information presented here.
Latest articles
