Did you know there was a difference?
When I ask people who come to me for support whether they are trying to conceive (TTC) or seeking help for hormonal health issues the first thing I ask is,
“Do you chart your cycles or use a fertility awareness method?”
9 out of 10 times they are only tracking period to period. This means they can’t confirm ovulation and sometimes use an app to predict when they are fertile or when their period will come. While charting your period is a start, it often is not very accurate, which can lead to unintended pregnancies, periods coming unexpectedly, and you can be left feeling disconnected with your body.
So what the heck is the difference?
Well, it can be much more helpful when you chart the entire cycle including ovulation because not every bleed may be a true period. Let me explain.
It has been said that our menstrual cycle is our fifth vital sign but what most don’t know is the menstrual cycle isn’t just our period. It starts from day 1 of our bleed through to the very last day of our cycle before we bleed again. In the middle of that is ovulation, the true star of the show. If we don’t ovulate we don’t get a “true period.” We in the fertility awareness world call that a breakthrough bleed. Our body shows primary and secondary signs throughout this time and these signs can be beautifully illustrated on a personal chart.
As you can see in the graphic below provided by a fellow classmate of mine; our hormones coincide with our temperature, cervix height and opening, as well as the type of cervical fluid that is produced. All of these are primary indicators of fertility.
Image used with permission from Hayley Neil @wombhoney
Writing down daily observations using basal body temperature (BBT) and Cervical Fluid (CF)as well as other signs of fertility allows you to know exactly where you are within your cycle. If you work with a Fertility Awareness Educator (FAE), we can teach you how to confirm ovulation as well as interpret when you are fertile and when to expect your period or confirm pregnancy without a test. FAE’s can also help you spot other health issues such as imbalanced hormones, luteal phase deficiencies, thyroid and adrenal issues, PCOS, and other common issues that those with a womb face.
The key is to not only pay attention and chart your basal body temperatures and cervical fluid descriptions but also to chart secondary signs of fertility and symptoms you may be experiencing. Some items that might be helpful would include:
- Mood
- Exercise
- Stress
- Sleep
- Any medications or supplements you are on
- Libido, self love, or intercourse
- Self care items like castor oil packs, hot baths, acupuncture
- Breast changes
- Headaches or Migraines if you get them
- Acne
- Spotting
- Dreams
- Cravings
Honestly the list can be endless.
When we start being more body literate or self aware, we start to really understand what is happening in our bodies. This allows us to correctly identify the root cause rather than just chase around symptoms. It also empowers us to identify times when we are fertile and allows us to make educated choices of whether we avoid pregnancy or TTC.
Now I don’t expect you to learn all of this on your own nor should you. Learning how to chart your cycles is more effective when working with a FAE. And heck maybe you are content charting period to period. If that’s the case then keep doing you! But if you are looking for more help you can either work with me one on one or take one of my classes such as my Learn How to Chart Your Cycles 101 here or join me in person at Gathered Botanicals on September 20th, 2024.
You will learn how to:
• identify your fertile window
• classify cervical fluid
• confirm ovulation
• take your temperature accurately
• learn the lengths of your follicular and luteal phase
• know if you are pregnant or when your period will come
• become more embodied and empowered by understanding what is actually happening daily within your body
Have questions or want more clarification? Drop them in the comment section below.