Page 32 - summer2016

The overall Fertility awareness becomes a special tool of her slippery or very wet mucus sensations to

level of the to open up conversations between the couple denote Peak Day—most frequently the day of
that otherwise might not take place—conver-
ovulation.
temperature sations like: “Is the time right for us to try to She also recorded her days of menstrual
pattern may conceive?”; “We discussed before that we have flow, the marker used to determine the start
indicate the an important reason to avoid pregnancy for the of a new cycle, and documented the length of
time being; we should avoid sexual relations her luteal phase (between ovulation and the
strength of during your fertile time. Do you still agree with next menstrual period, fourteen days for this
thyroid this decision?”; “Honey, I noticed your cycle this cycle)—the number of days of higher tempera-
14
function. time shows signs of progesterone deficiency. No tures (sympto-thermal NFP method) before
wonder your PMS has skyrocketed. Let’s take the return of her next menstrual period. Mucus-
a look at what can be done naturally to remedy Only NFP Methods determine luteal phase
this.” length by counting days after Peak Day before
These outward fertility signs have been the return of the menstrual period. In this ex-
15
known for over fifty years although refinements ample both ways yield the same result; in other
in the last thirty to forty years have improved examples, they may not. Healthy luteal phases
the efficacy of modern NFP. When couples can be anywhere from twelve to sixteen days
consider using NFP, they should be aware that in length. In addition, the strength of the luteal
modern NFP is a far-cry from the older calendar phase may play a role in establishing the health
rhythm—the Model T of natural methods for of the cycle itself. “Strength” refers to whether
family planning. Calendar rhythm uses previ- the temperatures after Peak Day reach at least
ous historical cycle length data to “predict” 0.4°F above the previous level and remain that
the fertile and infertile times in future cycles. high or higher until the end of the cycle (when
Quite obviously, this Model T method of family menstruation returns). The temperatures rose
planning does not take into account the woman’s around Peak Day and remained high for the
current fertility signs; therefore, it is highly duration of the cycle until menses returned.
ineffective for women who have variable cycle Temperatures under the influence of estrogen,
lengths. Couples, too, should be aware that many during the first half of the cycle, are lower. Fur-
physicians lack knowledge in distinguishing the ther, the overall level of the temperature pattern
Model T version from the modern NFP version. may indicate the strength of thyroid function;
Both the mucus and temperature signs are around 97.8° to 98.2° prior to ovulation and
important indicators for couples who wish to above 98.2° after ovulation are good. This cycle
practice a natural method of family planning. illustrates a healthy thyroid function.
To recognize their fertile and infertile times Lastly, the overall pattern of mucus de-
some NFP methods employ the mucus and tem- scriptions demonstrates that ovulation will
perature signs together (called sympto-thermal occur (and has, in fact, occurred) as the woman
method) while others focus solely on one of observed several days of a changing pattern of
these signs, typically the mucus sign (called the mucus ending in slippery or very wet sensations,
mucus-only method). A third sign, changes in followed by a dramatic change in her sensation.
the cervix, can also be monitored. Consider the fact that these descriptions of
mucus communicate exactly what the woman
A HEALTHY FERTILITY CYCLE observed. Had she recorded her mucus in a letter
To appreciate what a healthy fertility cycle format to denote, for instance: “m” for damp,
is like, take note of the following example, moist, or sticky sensations; “t” for tacky; “w”
although others exist. (Fertility Cycle, page 33) for wet; “sl” for slippery; “s” for stretchy, the
On this chart a non-pregnant woman recorded exact pattern of mucus would have been more
her daily basal (waking) temperatures and brief difficult to ascertain. Thus, descriptions enable
descriptions of her mucus sensations (what she the identification of an individual pattern. Pat-
felt or sensed) and mucus characteristics (what terns can be fertile or infertile, depending on
she saw). A “P” was recorded on the last day the type, as not all vaginal discharges are signs
32 Wise Traditions SUMMER 2016 Wise Traditions