Determining and tracking your fertility signs can be a complicated, and seemingly mysterious, process. For women with regular menstrual cycles, it is fairly easy to determine the peak fertility point in their monthly cycle. As you make one of life’s most wonderful decisions to start a family or have additional children, you will want to determine your own personal “fertility clues” by charting specific signs at home.
Most women are fertile for only a couple days each month midway through their menstrual cycle. Ovulation most often occurs 14 days before bleeding in women with regular cycles, but for those women with hormone imbalances, they can experience post-ovulatory phases that are longer or shorter than two weeks. There are some women who have clear signs and clues when fertility is approaching and then happening, but many others have a difficult time determining the changes that happen in their bodies throughout the month. If you are finding that your “fertility clues” are difficult to determine, or if you are having difficulty becoming pregnant, our fertility specialists at the Center of Reproductive Medicine in Houston are dedicated to examining and investigating the specific cause of your fertility concerns.
The following are the three fertility signs most often charted by women at home:
Ovulation Prediction Kits
The beginning of ovulation can be detected by the surge of LH or luteinizing hormone. This is the final hormone to peak before ovulation, prompting the rupture of the ovarian sac that releases the egg. Ovulation prediction kits show the presence of LH in your urine, indicating that you will likely ovulate within 12 to 24 hours. LH is not completely released at one time, but rather rises and falls for one or two days. One of the downsides of these kits is that they are not capable of confirming or pinpointing ovulation precisely, so you may already be fertile before your test indicates a positive. Another concern is that you can have an LH surge but not actually ovulate. To ensure the best results when using an ovulation prediction kit, be sure to follow the instructions and recommendations included with your kit, especially the information regarding the best time of day to test your urine with the indicator sticks.
Basal Body Temperature
Your body’s resting temperature usually is lower during the first two weeks of your cycle before ovulation. Estrogen keeps the BBT low. Immediately following ovulation, the follicle that encased the egg starts producing progesterone, “turning up the heat” a half-degree or more until you begin bleeding. This temperature rise lets you know that ovulation has occurred. If your BBT stays higher after your menstrual period is due, it could be a very early indicator of pregnancy. When you are tracking your BBT, you must consistently take your temperature first thing every morning before you talk, eat, or get out of bed. It is best to use a glass thermometer that shows larger degree increments. Writing down each day’s reading will give you an accurate picture of your BBT throughout your monthly cycle. Digital thermometers can be used, but may not be as accurate.
Cervical Mucus
The fluid in your cervix changes throughout your menstrual cycle. The presence and quality of the fluid is determined by the amount of estrogen in your bloodstream. For most of your cycle, the cervix is very acidic and unfriendly to sperm. About the time of ovulation, however, the cervix becomes more alkaline, providing a friendlier environment for sperm. At this point in your cycle, the cervical fluid is similar to semen, allowing sperm to move about freely and to stay active as they wait for an egg. Mucus is typically dry or absent during the week of your menstrual bleeding, however in the second week of your cycle, the mucus becomes wetter. The mucus develops a sticky quality and becomes more like a creamy substance. The fluid then turns slick and often stretchy; when it looks and feels like raw egg whites, that is your signal that you have reached the peak fertility point in your cycle. Once the egg is released, cervical fluid will usually dry up fairly quickly. After ovulation, mucus production slows and becomes drier and thicker in the third week. Pre-menstrual systems occur in the fourth week and then bleeding occurs. Beginning on the first day of your cycle (when bleeding starts), you can check your cervical fluid. Examine your vaginal opening a couple of times a day with clean fingers (before you urinate), looking for signs of sticky, creamy, or slippery fluid. You can check with toilet paper, but your observations may be less accurate.
Chart your fertility signals and make notes each day throughout the month. It is best to track at least two signs, if possible, since more information often leads to additional clues. As you chart your fertility indicators, record any breast tenderness, vaginal sensations, ovulatory pain, changes in libido, mood swings, cramping, breakthrough bleeding, or other symptoms that may be linked to ovulation. This information will be useful if, or when, you work with a fertility specialist.
If attempting to track your fertility becomes too difficult with irregular cycles or inconsistent cervical fluid checks, and you have been trying to become pregnant for more than 12 months, it is time to schedule a consultation with a fertility specialist. The fertility specialists at The Center of Reproductive Medicine are ready to help you uncover the mysteries surrounding your fertility. Our physicians and professional staff at CORM are dedicated to helping you achieve a successful pregnancy. Call us today at (281) 332-0073 to schedule an appointment.