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If you're a woman trying to conceive, being able to determine if you are ovulating is crucial to determining if anything is standing between you and having a baby. Often, this can be done without physician assistance via Natural Family Planning methods.
This is a combination of methods gaining widespread popularity through books and websites. Sometimes referred to as the "Billings method," "sympto-thermal" , or "fertility awareness methods," it basically consists of understanding and being aware of the various signs that a woman's body offers to signal approaching fertility.
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BBT simply refers to a baseline reading of your body's temp, that is, the temp your body typically runs before any physical activity occurs (other than the activity of your organs doing their thing). Keeping track of your BBT, commonly referred to as "tracking" or "charting," over a period of several cycles can help detect a pattern of fertility.
It is often recommended (or required) by fertility professionals (and insurance companies) that a woman chart her BBT for at least three months before moving forward with any other treatment decisions.
The quality and quantity of a woman's cervical mucus (CM) can play a substantial role in fertility. CM refers to what is often called "vaginal discharge," although some discharge is the result of infections. CM is secreted by the cervix in hopes of assisting sperm on their way to fertilization.
As your body prepares to ovulate, your cervical mucus changes in appearance and texture. Regular observation of CM changes can help detect a pattern of fertility.
The location and feel-to-the-touch of a woman's cervix can also act as a fertility signal. As your body prepares for its most fertile time, the cervix should become more open in order to accept sperm into the uterus.
Becoming familiar with cervical changes involves first learning what it feels like during other times of your cycle.
© Tracy Morris
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