AromatheraphyFertility Charts: How to Use Fertility Chart?
Fertility chart is a tool that helps couples trying to conceive to understand their fertility cycles and patterns. When you are planning pregnancy fertility chart is a great tool to start with. Fertility charts maximize your chance of becoming pregnant as they help you to predict ovulation just by looking at them. What you have to do is keep a record of certain fertility variables over time on the fertility charts.
Every woman experiences certain hormonal changes each month. Collecting all this information regarding hormonal changes and placing it on the fertility chart will help to understand your fertility issues. You can predict the ovulation time by observing the changes in basal body temperature, cervical mucus and cervix position. Thus by predicting the ovulation time a couple can time intercourse and maximize the chance of conception.
Given below is a fertility chart that will help you to keep a track of certain fertility variables like basal body temperature, cervical mucus character, cervical position and ovulation predictor kit.
Fertility Chart
Basal Body Temperature
One of the changes that occur during the menstrual cycle is the increase in the basal body temperature before ovulation. This is due to hormone progesterone. In the first part of the menstrual cycle the progesterone level is low so is the body temperature (96 to 98 F). When ovulation takes place the progesterone level increases suddenly thus increasing the body temperature (97 to 99). The body temperature remains high until the beginning of next menstrual cycle.
Record the body temperature from first day of your menstrual cycle on the fertility chart. This will help you to know the day of ovulation and predict future patterns of ovulation. Basal body temperature can be measured with the help of oral digital thermometers or special BBT thermometers. BBT should be taken in the morning before doing any physical activity, as this is a resting body temperature. And doing any activity will artificially raise the temperature.
Cervical Mucus Character
Along with the change in basal body temperature there is a change in character of cervical mucus of a woman during her menstrual cycle. In the first half of the cycle estrogen level increases causing changes in cervical mucus. The character of cervical mucus changes from dry to sticky, creamy, cloudy, egg white and finally watery slippery. During ovulation the cervical mucus looks exactly like egg white. Its texture is slippery, stretchable and watery. This watery structure of mucus is a perfect sperm friendly medium that allows the sperm to move easily to the uterus. In the next half of the cycle estrogen level decreases and the character of mucus changes again and becomes unfriendly to sperm.
You can keep a track of the cervical mucus character from the day first of menstrual cycle on fertility chart. And by observing the changes in cervical mucus you can predict ovulation time.
Cervix Position
Another change that takes place during the menstrual cycle is the position of woman's cervix. In the first half of the cycle the position of the cervix is low, dry to touch and feels relatively firm. On the onset of ovulation the position of cervix becomes high, difficult to reach, moist and increasingly soft. This is the most fertile time. In the second half cycle or after ovulation the cervix returns to its original position.
You can keep a record of cervical position from the first day of menstrual cycle on the fertility chart. Thus by observing the position of cervix you can predict ovulation and maximize the chance of conception.
Ovulation Predictor Kit
Ovulation predictor kit is an excellent tool that helps to predict ovulation. It is a urine test device that measures the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH). LH is responsible for the separation of egg from follicle. Prior to ovulation there is an increase in level of luteinizing hormone called as LH surge. This helps you to predict ovulation. A positive result on a kit means that the ovulation is going to occur over next three days.
A positive or a negative result on fertility chart may help you to predict ovulation.
Thus by observing the changes in fertility chart you may be able to predict the most fertile time for conceiving a baby.