What Is Fertility Awareness?

Fertility Awareness is getting in tune with your menstrual cycle so that you know when you are fertile, when you likely ovulated, and when you are past ovulation.  Ovulation, which occurs one day a month, is when your body releases an egg to be fertilized.  By checking your fertility signals, you can know exactly where you are at in your cycle.  Your two primary fertility signals include cervical mucus and basal body temperatures.  Cervical mucus is the fluid that leaks out of your cervix, down your vaginal canal and out of your vagina.  It changes consistency throughout the month based on where you are at in your cycle.  Several days before ovulation, your cervical mucus becomes slimy, stretchy and clear, which tells you that ovulation is soon to happen.  Basal body temperatures are your resting temperatures.  They stay in a low range before ovulation and rise to a high range after ovulation.  Fertility awareness involves checking and keeping a a record of your cervical mucus and basal body temperatures throughout the month.  Gathering this helpful information only takes a few minutes every day.  Every woman who wants to take charge of her gynecological health should consider practicing fertility awareness.