Trying to Conceive's Most Pressing Questions: When Fertile? And How Long Fertile?

Are you trying to figure out when fertile days are approaching in your monthly cycle?  You don't have to guess.  And you don't have to buy expensive equipment to find out.  You are considered "fertile" during the few days before ovulation day and including ovulation day. How do you know when those days are? You have to check your cervical fluid and know when you have "fertile" cervical fluid.

Checking your cervical fluid does not involve any supplies. Some suggest just swiping the opening of the vagina with a finger or toilet paper, but I have found it most helpful to insert a clean finger within the vagina and swipe around inside. I usually do it when I am in the shower squatting. This way, I get a good sample of what kind of fluid I have.

Cervical fluid changes throughout the month. After your period is over, you may find that your finger comes out pretty clean. That's normal. Within a few days, you will probably start observing some type of cervical fluid. It starts off "not fertile", which is usually sticky or gooey or dry. Then it will start to get wetter (another few days or so) and become more gooey wet or creamy. Then when you have reached your "fertile period", it will become slimy and slippery with a clear or streaked coloring. Your fertile fluid looks and feels a lot like egg whites or semen. You may even be able to stretch it between you fingers. How long fertile? you may wonder.  Your body will produce this fertile fluid for up to 5 five days or so before ovulation day.  When you find this fertile fluid, your body can support the life of sperm, which can live in this fluid for up to five days. It is during this time, that you are fertile and therefore should aim to have intercourse at least every other day throughout this time up through ovulation day.

How do you know when ovulation day is? You will observe a shift in your morning temperatures of at least .2 degrees to a higher range the day after ovulation day. You need to be taking your temperature every morning around the same time before you get out of bed to even go to the bathroom. Record these temperatures. They will stay in a low range before ovulation. My low range is between 97.0 and 97.9. After ovulation day, my temperatures rise to 98.1 to 98.4. (Each person's temps are different, but mine are pretty normal.) The last day of low temperatures is ovulation day. Your cervical fluid will dry up either the day of ovulation or the day after ovulation.

In summary, you are fertile during the days that you have fertile cervical fluid before the shift up in morning temperatures.   Join the Bonded From Birth email club and receive your special e-report to learn more about how to track your fertility signals.  Get your free fertility e-report here.