A woman can use the ovulation method of fertility awareness to avoid or achieve pregnancy easily and naturally. This method can be up to 99.5 percent effective, according to a study cited by the Woomb website.
Cervical Mucus
Monitoring and charting cervical mucus is the primary tool for monitoring ovulation. Cervical mucus is scant and thin or watery on infertile days before and after ovulation. Immediately prior to and during ovulation, the mucus increases and changes to an egg-white color and a thick and stringy consistency. Avoiding intercourse during the days when fertile mucus is present and for a few days after can help avoid a pregnancy.
Basal Body Temperature
A woman can also monitor and chart her basal body temperature to show when ovulation occurs by measuring her temperature first thing in the morning and plotting it on a chart. Generally, a woman's basal body temperature jumps after ovulation by a degree or more, remains high through the rest of her cycle and drops to normal again just before menstruation begins. By charting her temperature recordings, a woman can see when she has ovulated and returned to an infertile segment of her cycle.
Cervix Position and Shape
Generally, a woman's cervix is low and closed during her infertile times, and high, soft and open during fertile times, according to "Your Fertility Signals." Cervical monitoring can complement the above methods of fertility awareness, but should not be singularly relied upon to avoid pregnancy.
References
- Woomb: Trials of the Billings Ovulation Method
- "Your Fertility Signals"; Merryl Winstein; 1999
- Woomb: Chinese Billings Ovulation Method Collaboration Programme
