The key to natural family planning / fertility awareness is to find the most precise way to identify ovulation and then use that information to identify the fertile window.

So, how do you know if / when you are ovulating? Did you know (if you are a cycling woman), your body is already giving you signs you can pay attention to?

The main signs that help you identify the time of ovulation are cervical mucus changes, basal body temperature (BBT) changes, and urine hormone level changes. All signs can be paid attention to through normal bathroom and/or bedroom habits!

Different methods teach you to track different signs of ovulation. All fertility awareness / NFP methods are effective! What sign of ovulation is going to work for you and your lifestyle?

First study to show the accuracy of peak-type cervical mucus being associated with ovulation: published in the “Lancet” journal by Drs. Billings, Brown, & Burger in 1972. Multiple studies have been done to correlate the day of ovulation with peak-type cervical mucus since. The research shows the peak day of cervical mucus varies around (plus or minus three days) the estimated day of ovulation. Peak mucus is clear, stretchy, and/or slippery.

Other references mentioned:
-1976 Flynn et al.
-1978 Hilgers et al.
-1981 Cortisi, Rigoni, and Zen et al.
-1990 Fehring
-1991 Brown, Holmes, & Barker
-1999 Guida et al.
-2001 Ecochard et al.
-2000 Behre et al.

This episode was a revisit of episode 2 of the Wholly a Woman podcast, published 3/20/20

Want to learn the Marquette Method of natural family planning? Start with an introductory class.
Live, online class : www.calendly.com/nfppharmacist/class
On-demand online intro class: www.nfppharmacist.com/signup -> choose “Introductory class”