After tracking my cycle for 3 years it is a habit that I don’t think about anymore. It’s part of what I do now, just like brushing your teeth or having a morning ritual.
Tools to use Charting Your Menstrual Cycle
Before smartphones were around women were using paper charts. Nowadays there are loads of different apps on smartphones you can track all your data in and carry it with you in your pocket. I prefer to use the Kindara app, which allows me to track vital signs such as basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervix observations. It also allows you to customize what other signs you want to track. (Hint: Get my free eBook 5 Things You Need to Know before you begin Charting for some awesome information to help you get started!)
Checking basal body temperature is one of the best ways to confirm that ovulation has taken place. Once ovulation has taken place a surge in progesterone will cause a rise in body temperature, which gives you a shift.
1. Take your temperature
- First, you will need a basal body temperature that takes your temperature to the 10th of a degree (Eg. 36.5)
- Check your temperature as soon as you wake up and before you get out of bed
- Check your temperature at the exact same time each day
- Note any differences on your chart/app if your sleep was disturbed
- If you get less than 3 hours of consecutive sleep your temperature is considered inaccurate that day — make a note of this
2. Check cervical mucus
- Before and after urinating fold a piece of toilet paper
- Gently wipe from front to back and making sure the toilet paper passes over your perineum
- When you wipe pay attention to the sensation you feel as you wipe across. Is it dry, smooth or slippery?
- Look at the paper. What do you see? Is there any cervical mucus? If so, is it creamy, clear and stretchy like raw egg whites, is the paper dry or shiny? Is there enough for you to pick up and examine between your fingers?
3. Check your cervix position?
- It’s okay to get up close and personal with yourself! It’s your body and it’s there for exploring
- You can check your cervix when you’re in the bathroom, either sitting on the toilet or putting a leg up as if you were inserting a tampon
- Wash your hands, insert your middle or index finger into your vagina and feel around for your cervix
- Check at the exact same time each day and you will start to feel the cyclical changes
- Can you feel the opening like a dimple?
Takeaways!
- Check your basal body temperature at the same time each day before getting out of bed
- Check cervical mucus every time you use the bathroom and/or shower
- Check your cervix position once a day at the same time each day
Are you ready to explore a natural but equally effective birth control alternative?
I would love to invite you to book a clarity call, the Fertility Awareness Method is 99.6% effective with perfect use and when learnt with a trained instructor.
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