Monitoring Ovulation Naturally for Pregnancy
Ovulation Prediction and Cervical Mucus Changes; Timing Sex
Oct 29, 2009
It’s possible to test for ovulation without using expensive ovulation predictor kits, just by checking cervical mucus.
Conception and Cervical Mucus
In a normal menstrual cycle, ovulation occurs about two weeks before the start of the next menstrual cycle. Contrary to popular belief, ovulation does not always occur around day 14. In a regular 28 day cycle, ovulation occurs around day 14. But in a 26 day cycle, ovulation occurs around day 12, and in a 32 day cycle, ovulation occurs around day 18.
Ovulation and fertility are tied together. Getting pregnant requires timing sex so that sperm are waiting as the egg comes down the fallopian tube, or that they arrive around the same time. In other words, timing sex any time between one to two days before ovulation to one day after ovulation is the best way to get pregnant. Monitoring ovulation by checking cervical mucus regularly can aid in timing sex correctly for getting pregnant. Fertility prediction is all about knowing when ovulation occurs.
Monitoring Ovulation by Checking Cervical Mucus
There are lots of ovulation predictor kits in the drugstore, but monitoring for ovulation for a week or so every month can be pricey. Methods such as taking and plotting morning temperatures every day can be tedious and inaccurate if not done exactly right, as well as affected by illness. Paying attention to the body’s natural ovulation signals is simple and effective, and the cost is free!
Cervical mucus changes as ovulation approaches. Here are some things to look for:
- In the first few days of the menstrual cycle, early cervical mucus is thick, scant and sticky. Early cervical mucus makes it more difficult for sperm to get through the cervix.
- As an egg begins to mature and ovulation approaches, cervical mucus becomes thinner and creamier.
- As ovulation approaches, cervical mucus becomes thinner and creamier.
At the time of ovulation, cervical mucus thins and becomes much more profuse and very stretchy; the fertile cervical mucus looks like clear egg white, and can be stretched out more than an inch without breaking. This is known as “spinbarrkeit”. The thinner mucus allows sperm to pass easily through the cervix. After ovulation occurs, cervical mucus becomes thick and scant again.
Some medications can interfere with fertile cervical mucus production, including, ironically, the fertility medication Clomid, as well as some antihistamines. Some studies suggest that cough syrups, which thin bronchial secretions, might also be able to thin cervical mucus.
When checking cervical mucus, remember that semen can be confused with fertile cervical mucus, as both have stretchy, clear appearance.Clean hands are essential for checking cervical mucus; gloves are optional!
Tracking Ovulation is Easy Through Cervical Mucus
Checking cervical mucus is easy and takes no expensive equipment. It can make timing sex optimally for getting pregnant much easier, and can also aid in pinpointing exactly if and when ovulation is occurring, especially if menstrual cycles are irregular.
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