Let's dwell on physiological methods of contraception... They do not involve the use of drugs, various devices and manipulations. Knowing the characteristics of her body, a woman can plan her intimate life in such a way as to protect herself from unwanted pregnancy. Who are these methods shown to and how effective are they?
Physiological, or biological contraceptive methods belong to the natural methods of family planning. They consist in abstaining from intercourse during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle (the period during which a woman can become pregnant).
During the menstrual cycle, the woman's body prepares for conception and pregnancy. If conception does not occur, this process is repeated again. The duration of the menstrual cycle is determined from the first day of menstruation (the onset of bloody discharge) to the first day of the next and is 21-36 days, more often 28 days.
Phases of the menstrual cycle
Phases of the menstrual cycle. In the first phase of the menstrual cycle (in the first 14 days with a 28-day cycle) in ovaries the growth and maturation of the follicle (a bubble with an egg inside) occurs. The growing bubble gives off estrogens(female sex hormones). Under the influence of estrogens, the mucous membrane grows uterus - endometrium... On the 14-16th day of the cycle, the follicle bursts, and a mature egg, capable of fertilization, comes out of its cavity, that is, it begins ovulation.
Natural family planning methods can use:- women of reproductive age who have regular menstrual periods
- couples who are not allowed to use other methods of contraception by religious, ethical and other convictions;
- women who, for health reasons, etc., cannot use other methods;
- couples willing to abstain from intercourse for more than one week in each cycle.
Shouldn't use these methods:
- women whose age, number of births or health conditions make pregnancy dangerous for them;
- women with an unsteady menstrual cycle (breastfeeding, immediately after an abortion);
- women with irregular menstrual periods;
- women who do not want to abstain from sexual activity on certain days of the menstrual cycle.
Types of physiological methods
To biological (physiological) or natural methods family planning (EMP) includes: calendar (or rhythmic), temperature, cervical mucus method, symptothermal (a combination of the two methods listed above), interrupted intercourse, lactational amenorrhea method (during lactation, there is physiological suppression of ovulation due to breastfeeding by the baby), abstinence (abstinence from sexual intercourse).
Calendar (rhythmic) method of contraception
To determine the fertile phase, it is necessary to analyze at least 6-12 menstrual cycles. During this period, abstinence from sexual activity or protection is necessary. barrier methods of contraception.
When analyzing the menstrual calendar for 6-12 months, the shortest and longest cycles are distinguished. From the number of days of the shortest, subtract the number 18 and get the day of the beginning of the "dangerous" period, and subtract the number 11 from the number of the longest menstrual cycle and find out the last day of the "dangerous" period.
Let's give an example of calculating a "dangerous" period with a constant menstrual cycle of 28 days.
- The beginning of the "dangerous" period: 28 - 18 = 10th day of the cycle.
- End of the "dangerous" period: 28 - 11 = 17th day of the cycle, inclusive.
- The duration of the "dangerous" period is 8 days. It starts on the 10th day of the menstrual cycle and ends on the 17th day.
Attention! This method can be used only with strict accounting of all menstrual cycles in the calendar and with a small variation in the menstrual cycle throughout the year. If for 6-12 months you have not marked the duration of the menstrual cycle on the calendar and cannot say with certainty about the stability of the cycle, then this method is not suitable for contraception, as well as for calculating the most favorable days for conception.
Temperature method of contraception
The temperature method of contraception is based on determining the time of the rise in temperature in the rectum ( basal temperature).
It is known that at the time of ovulation, the temperature in the rectum decreases, and the next day it rises. By daily measurement basal temperature for several (at least three) months and abstinence from intercourse in the first phase of the menstrual cycle, including the first three days of a rise in temperature after ovulation, a woman will be able to determine when she is ovulating. The effectiveness of the method depends on the accuracy of determining the timing of ovulation.
Therefore, it is necessary to measure the temperature, observing the following rules: always in the morning, within 10 minutes, immediately after waking up, without getting out of bed, using the same thermometer and with closed eyes, since bright light can provoke the release of some hormones and contribute to a change basal temperature... The thermometer is inserted into the rectum to a depth of 4-6 cm. The temperature value is marked on the graph.
Schedule
basal temperature
(see graph 1): normal from the very beginning of the menstrual cycle (its duration is calculated from the first day of the previous menstruation to the first day of the next) and before ovulation, the basal temperature is below 37 degrees C and can fluctuate within small limits, for example, from 36 , 6 degrees C to 36.8 degrees C. At the time of ovulation, the temperature decreases slightly (for example, to 36.4 degrees C), the next day basal temperature rises above 37 degrees C (37.2-37.4). At this level, she keeps until the beginning of the next menstruation. A decrease in temperature and a subsequent jump beyond the 37 degrees C line allows us to determine ovulation period... With a 28-day cycle in a healthy woman, ovulation usually occurs on days 13-14 of the cycle. It should be noted that due to an increase in body temperature with various diseases, the figures basal temperature are also getting high.
But can only these two days be considered "dangerous"? Not at all. Even having clearly defined your individual term for ovulation, you can not protect yourself from accidents. If you are nervous, overworked, drastically changed the climate, and sometimes for no apparent reason at all, ovulation may occur 1-2 days earlier or later than usual. In addition, the duration of the viability of the egg and sperm must be taken into account. If, on the eve of the expected menstruation, and especially during the expected, but delayed menstruation, a slightly elevated temperature in the rectum persists, then this allows one to suspect that a pregnancy has already arisen.
Temperature method of contraception determining the period of increased fertility presupposes sufficient discipline of the woman and the exclusion of haste in the morning. The disadvantages of the method are associated with the need for daily temperature measurements, and rather long abstinence. Nevertheless, when used correctly, the effectiveness is quite high. In women with genital diseases, the basal temperature graph may change. In this case, the question of the appropriateness of using this method should be discussed with your doctor.
Cervical (cervical) mucus method
In different phases of the menstrual cycle, cervical mucus, different in quantity and consistency, is produced in the cervix. Its quantity and consistency is influenced by female sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone). At the beginning of the cycle, immediately after menstruation, when estrogen levels are low, mucus is low, thick and sticky. This thick and sticky mucus forms a fibrous network that "clogs" the cervix and creates a barrier to sperm entry.
In addition, the acidic environment of the vagina quickly destroys sperm. Rising estrogen levels gradually alter the cervical mucus, which becomes clearer and thinner. In the composition of mucus, nutrients appear to maintain the vital activity of sperm, and its reaction becomes alkaline. This mucus, when it enters the vagina, neutralizes its acidity and creates an environment conducive to sperm. This mucus is called fertile, and its amount increases 24 hours before ovulation. The last day of slippery and wet mucus is called peak day. This means that ovulation is near or has just occurred. After ovulation, under the influence of the hormone progesterone, the cervical mucus forms a dense and sticky plug that prevents the passage of sperm. The vaginal environment becomes acidic again, where the sperm lose their mobility and are destroyed. 3 days after the appearance of sticky, viscous mucus, a phase of absolute sterility begins, during which, until the start of the next menstruation, pregnancy will be impossible. Application method of cervical (cervical) mucus with the aim of contraception involves keeping records. In this case, you can use a number of codes (see graph 1).
It is believed that the first day of menstruation is the first day of the cycle, subsequent days are numbered. The phase of relative infertility: red squares with an asterisk indicate the days of menstrual bleeding; the green squares indicate the period of dryness in the vagina, the so-called "dry days". The fertility phase (yellow squares with the letter M, 11 days of the menstrual cycle) begins with the appearance of mucus in the vagina. Ovulation has not yet occurred, but the sperm that has entered the female genital tract at this time can remain viable and "wait" for the egg. As ovulation approaches, the cervical mucus becomes more abundant and elastic. In this case, the tension of the mucus (when it is stretched between the thumb and forefinger) can reach 8-10 centimeters. Next comes the peak day (M). This means that ovulation is near or has just occurred. The fertility phase continues for another 3 days and its total duration in our case is 7 days (from 11 to 17 days of the menstrual cycle). The phase of absolute sterility begins on the fourth day after the maximum discharge (on our chart from day 18) and continues until the first day of the next menstruation.
Since mucus can change its consistency during the day, observe it several times a day. To do this, the thumb and forefinger are inserted into the vagina and the existing discharge is taken away. The mucus is then graded for consistency and stretch between the toes. On "dry days" there is no discharge. Every night before bed, check your fertility level (see legend) and map the appropriate symbol.
Abstain from intercourse for at least one cycle to determine the days with mucus.
After the end of menstruation during the "dry days", you can safely have intercourse every other night (the rule of alternating dry days). This will prevent the mucus from being confused with semen.
If any mucus or moisture sensation appears in the vagina, you should avoid intercourse or use barrier contraception during this time.
Mark the last day of clear, slippery, stringy mucus with an X. This is peak day - the most fertile period.
After peak day, avoid intercourse for the next 3 dry days and nights. These days are unsafe (the egg is still viable).
Starting in the morning of the 4th "dry day" and before the onset of menstruation, you can have intercourse without fear of becoming pregnant.
The effectiveness of this method is low: 9-25 pregnancies per 100 women within 1 year of use.
Withdrawal of intercourse
consists in removing the penis from the vagina before ejaculation (ejaculation) begins, so that sperm does not enter the vagina and cervix. Its advantage is that it does not require any preparation or special devices, it can be applied at any time and does not require money. The method requires considerable attention on the part of a man, since some men contain sperm in a secret that is released even before orgasm.
In addition, sperm, getting on the skin of the genitals, retains its fertilizing properties for some time. There is a widespread opinion regarding the violation of sexual function of partners using interrupted intercourse. The harmless application of this method is possible with a high sexual culture of partners, with sufficient motivation for choosing. Not recommended for young, inexperienced men and those who have difficulties with erection, potency and premature ejaculation.
Instructions for partners:
- To improve consistency in their actions and to avoid mutual misunderstandings, partners should discuss their intention to use method of interruption before intercourse.
- Before having sexual intercourse, a man should empty his bladder and wipe the glans penis to remove sperm that may have remained after a previous (less than 24 hours ago) ejaculation.
- When a man feels that ejaculation is about to occur, he must withdraw the penis from the woman's vagina so that sperm did not get on her external genitals. A woman can help him by moving back a little at this time.
Lactational amenorrhea method (LAM)
using breastfeeding as a contraceptive for pregnancy. It is based on the physiological effect that the sucking of the mother's breast has on the suppression of ovulation (physiological infertility develops during lactation).
Who can use the MLA
Women who are exclusively breastfeeding who have been less than 6 months after childbirth and have not returned to their period.
Who shouldn't use MLA
- Women who have resumed their periods.
- Women who do not exclusively (or almost exclusively) breastfeed.
- Women whose baby is already 6 months old.
It's important to know!
- Feed your baby from both breasts on demand (about 6-10 times a day).
- Feed your baby at least once at night (the interval between feeds should not exceed 6 hours). Note: The child may not want to eat 6-10 times a day, or may prefer to sleep through the night. This is normal, but if any of them occur, the effectiveness of breastfeeding as a method of contraception is reduced.
- As soon as you start replacing breast milk with another food or liquid, the baby will suck less and breastfeeding will no longer be an effective method of preventing pregnancy.
- The return of your period means that your fertility has recovered and you should start using other methods of contraception immediately.
Natural (biological) contraception is one of the safest methods of contraception for a woman's health, but it is not effective. Even when applied correctly, these methods are not very reliable.
Natural contraception is based on observations of physiological signs, which make it possible to identify cases when a woman is capable of conceiving (fertile) and when she is not capable of conceiving (infertile). The main goal of this method is to determine the period when the fertility is highest.
Many couples can use natural contraception methods: when a woman cannot use other methods; if the woman has a regular menstrual cycle; couples who may refuse intimate relationships on certain days of the cycle; when other methods of protection are not available.
Natural contraception has several advantages: no side effects; free; both partners are involved, which helps to strengthen the relationship in a couple; can be used to plan pregnancy; for some couples - more pleasure after abstinence on dangerous days.
Natural contraception has the following disadvantages: pregnancy occurs in almost 50% of cases; does not protect against sexually transmitted infections; difficulties in identifying dangerous days, especially for women with an irregular cycle; requires up to three months of instruction and counseling; tensions often arise due to uncertainty about the effectiveness of the methods used; well, etc.
Natural contraception includes: abstinence, interrupted intercourse, calendar method, temperature method, cervical method, symptothermal method.
If you need a reliable method of contraception, if you have contraindications to the use of hormonal drugs, if you are shocked that the spiral does not prevent conception, but only leads every month to mini-abortions at very early stages, if you know that the spiral can lead to infertility, and you want to have children in the future, if your husband does not want or cannot use condoms, if you do not want to use hormonal drugs while breastfeeding your baby, if vaginal pills or calendar / temperature pills are too unreliable for you methods of counting days, then this method is just for you.
Few people know about this method of contraception. Cervical method- This is a method for determining the fertile phase by changes in the nature of cervical mucus.
The method is based on the fact that before and during ovulation in a woman, the nature of vaginal discharge changes. These changes are well visible if you know what the matter is. But in order to understand, you will have to spend a month or two on everyday measurement of the basal temperature and comparing the changes in this temperature with the change in discharge. But then you can live happily for many years. Later I will write what to do if you feed the chest and the cycle has not yet recovered, but for this you still need to know the theory:
1. The ovum after ovulation lives no more than 48 hours, if fertilization has not occurred, therefore, two days after ovulation and up to menstruation, it is impossible to become pregnant (if a woman became pregnant on the 25th day of the cycle, this only means that her ovulation was delayed and did not occur on the 14th, and on the 25th day). The first thing that the method of natural control gives - a woman sees: ovulation occurs or is delayed, or will occur earlier.
2. Spermatozoa after excretion can live up to 5-6 days, but only in the fertile cervical fluid, which is secreted from a woman shortly before and during ovulation (usually in the middle of the cycle). At the beginning and at the end of the cycle, this fluid is absent and the spermatozoa die within a few hours. The second thing that the method gives is that a woman knows exactly what day before ovulation she needs to start being prevented or not having sexual intercourse if she does not want to get pregnant.
So, only a few days in the middle of the cycle should be reserved, and these days are known for sure.
The first two months you will have to draw up a temperature chart. Basal temperature is measured in the morning, without getting out of bed, preferably at the same time, preferably in the vagina (the main thing is not to fall asleep with a thermometer :-) It is unnecessary to measure the temperature during menstruation.
In addition to basal temperature, you will need to record under the graph the changes in vaginal discharge during the cycle. Like this:
I decode:
1. dry - when there is no discharge, or they are very insignificant, the spermatozoa in such an environment die immediately.
Some women never have "dry", immediately after menstruation and after ovulation until the next menstruation - the second type of discharge:
2. sticky discharge - white, in a small amount, not sticky, if you try to stretch it between the fingers, droplets in the form of white bumps remain on the fingertips. This is a sterile discharge, the spermatozoa die in a few hours, and a few more days before ovulation.
The main thing is not to let the sticky discharge begin to transform into the following form:
3. watery (or creamy) - transparent like water or whitish like highly diluted milk, completely liquid, and some more like a liquid cream for hands. This is already a fetal discharge, in them spermatozoa can wait five days before ovulation.
4. "i. b. " - on the day or on the day of ovulation, discharge appears, similar to egg white, the discharge becomes thick, viscous (stretched between the fingers), translucent, there are a lot of them. Many women have such a discharge, at least 1 day, for some it is 2, 3 days. This is the most favorable time for conception. In some women, "protein" does not appear at all, but simply the amount of watery discharge is greatly increased. It also happens that the discharge appears only on the cervix and almost never comes out. In this case, they can be taken directly from the neck with two fingers with clipped nails. (You should also remember that the sperma can greatly distort the nature of the discharge, do not confuse the remnants of the sperm with the fetal fluid).
On the day of ovulation (on the last day of the greatest amount of discharge), the basal temperature still does not rise, and for many it even drops by one tenth of a degree - the lowest temperature per cycle (the graph shows a downward wave).
As soon as ovulation has occurred, the discharge becomes sticky again or disappears altogether, and the temperature rises by about 0.5 degrees and remains elevated (about 37 ° C, but not lower than 36.8) until the end of the cycle, that is, for about 16 more days. After ovulation, you can become pregnant within 48 hours, although there is no fertile fluid anymore, but there is an egg in the uterus, to which the sperm cells can reach faster than die.
If the body slowly reacts to progesterone, then after ovulation the temperature rises slowly and reaches 37 degrees three to four days after ovulation, BUT during these 4 days there is no decrease in temperature. In this case, the equally barren period begins 2 days after ovulation, and not 2 days after the highest temperature. If the temperature does not rise, then ovulation has not occurred, then either it will occur later (and the pattern of secretions will repeat) or this cycle will be non-volatile (and this happens).
So, you need to protect yourself or not have sexual intercourse:
Starting on the day the sticky discharge turns into a creamy one, and for even greater reliability - one day before the appearance of a creamy discharge (if the cycle is regular, they will appear on a certain day of the cycle, if irregular, then when "dry" turns into "sticky". however, you do not have a "dry" state, then - when the amount of sticky secretions begins to increase).
Ending on the third day after ovulation - when the discharge decreases, and the basal temperature of the second day is kept at a high level.
To do this, you need to observe your secretions and measure the temperature for 5 days in the middle of the cycle: starting from the day of the greatest secretions - egg white or very strong watery ones (you can start measuring earlier if in doubt about the nature of your secretions) and three days after reducing / stopping secretions to make sure that ovulation has occurred and the temperature does not drop for three days in a row.
When feeding with a chest
Until the cycle is restored, it makes no sense to measure the temperature. After childbirth, when bloody discharge ceases, observe yourself for ~ 2 weeks. If within 2 weeks there is no discharge ("dry") or they are sticky, you do not need to preserve. But sometimes you will observe individual appearances - the sticky liquid can become watery or "dry" turns into "sticky". In the first version, you can consider yourself safe 4 days after the disappearance of the aqueous liquid, in the second version - after 2 days after the disappearance of the sticky one. And so on until the first menstruation appears. It may happen that a sticky liquid appears and remains for at least 2 weeks, then consider this a new version of your infertility, up to the appearance of a watery liquid. (And remember that on the day of intercourse, the remnants of sperm can distort the picture - do not mistake them for fetal fluid). In a small number of lactating women, the discharge is consistently "watery" rather than sticky. In this case, it is recommended to keep the entire time until the cycle is restored.
Additional (not all women have) signs of ovulation - a slight cutting pain in the lower abdomen (can be felt only with a sharp abdomen), small bloody brown discharge.
With an illness / cold, with an increase in the general body temperature, the basal temperature also rises, and if this happens in the middle of the cycle, it is difficult to determine whether ovulation has occurred or not. In this case, after recovery, it is recommended to wait for three days to measure the body temperature (should be 36.6), and monitor the basal (in the region of 37 degrees three days in a row).
There are other signs of ovulation, they are not used in the above method, but maybe someone is useful if the cycle is very irregular or some gynecological problems:
1. there is a test for the determination of glucose in urine, a paper strip that changes color depending on the amount of glucose. In the region of the day of ovulation, the amount of glucose in the composition of the cervical fluid increases, the strip, if you drop this fluid on it, begins to change color two to three days before ovulation and stops changing color two to three days after ovulation. The strip acquires the most intense color on the day of ovulation;
2. during ovulation, the cervix opens and becomes soft, and immediately after ovulation it closes (in women who have given birth, a small gap remains) and becomes hard.
Note: if you do not have sexual intercourse on "dangerous" days, then the reliability of the method is very high - 98%. If, on dangerous days, you use preservatives, then the reliability of the method will be equal to the reliability of the prevention with the help of the preset.
Cervical contraceptive method (also cervical mucus method, Billings method)- one of the methods of both preventing pregnancy and natural family planning. It acquired its name on behalf of a doctor from Australia, John Billings, who noticed that before ovulation, cervical mucus changes in consistency, so it can be used to determine days with fertility in the menstrual cycle.
Description of the method of cervical contraception
The cervical method of contraception consists in daily monitoring the state of the consistency of cervical mucus and recording observations from a specially created table, starting from the last day of menstruation. For this purpose, you need to select the so-called legend. "Dry" days, when the inside of the vagina remains dry to the touch, the so-called. "Fertile" days, when you can observe different species, as well as the so-called. "Dangerous" days, during which the mucus has a moist and stringy consistency. The last “dangerous” day is the most favorable for conception, the so-called “peak day”.
According to the cervical method of contraception, in an unfavorable time period for conception, cervical mucus has a thick, possibly lumpy consistency, it forms a so-called "plug". In this case, the discharge is almost invisible, and the vagina is more "dry" to the touch. Closer to the period of ovulation, the discharge becomes more fluid, as well as transparent. From this point on, it is necessary to refrain from sexual intercourse or use other contraceptive methods (for example, a condom) if the method of cervical contraception is used to avoid unwanted pregnancy.
During the most favorable period for conception, the mucus is rather "stringy" and can be easily stretched between the fingers. This cervical mucus resembles a crude egg white in consistency. After the cessation of ovulation, the discharge becomes thick again, and then completely disappears. Since the structure of cervical mucus is modified a few days before, and also a few days after the end of ovulation, you can calculate the approximate day of ovulation. After three days after the "peak day" favorable for conception and before the onset of menstruation, according to the method of cervical contraception, it is allowed not to use contraception.
Disadvantages of the method of cervical contraception
The cervical method of contraception has the following disadvantages:
- an imbalance in the level of hormones that affect the production of cervical mucus can serve as a source of stringy and moist mucus several times during the menstrual cycle, although ovulation does not occur. Therefore, it is possible to make a mistake, consider that the "rush day" has already passed, and stop using the means of protection before the required period;
- the cervical method of contraception is not suitable for women with diseases of the uterine cervix or vagina, since in this case it is not possible to determine the consistency of the secreted mucus;
- "Dry" vagina means "safe" days, that is, days that are unfavorable for conception. However, many females experience discharge throughout their menstrual cycle. Therefore, the cervical method of contraception is also not suitable for them;
- the cervical method of contraception as a method of preventing pregnancy is not very effective, the Pearl index is approximately fifteen, that is, fifteen women out of a hundred who were protected by this method for one year, nevertheless became pregnant. But with proper implementation, as well as skilled training, the Pearl index for the cervical method of contraception is between one and three.
Combination with other techniques
The combination of the cervical method of contraception with the temperature method increases its effectiveness, the resulting combination (the so-called symptothermal method) has greater reliability, almost similar to that of hormonal contraception.
| Contraceptive methods |
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| Symtothermal method of contraception |
There are many methods by which a woman is able to determine the most favorable days for conceiving a child. One of these methods is the assessment of cervical discharge, that is, discharge from the cervical canal. Observation primarily concerns the quality of these secretions. This method is named after the names of the authors - the Billings spouses, and, in fact, is a way to determine the moment of ovulation cherished for every planning woman.
Indeed, structural changes in the secretion released from the cervix may indicate the time of release of the egg from the ovary. Cervical mucus is, as it were, a mirror of all the processes taking place in the female genital glands. It is noticed that during the period of ovulation, it becomes more transparent and liquid, which often gives a woman discomfort. Such changes in the cervical secretion are inherent in nature itself - in a liquid medium, the sperm reaches the egg faster, which significantly increases the chances of conception.
Cervical secretions are fluid present in the cervical canal that helps the sperm get to their target, the egg. The environment of cervical secretions, in contrast to the environment of the vagina, is alkaline, which plays an essential role in maintaining the viability of male germ cells that have entered the vagina. The properties of cervical secretions change depending on the day of the menstrual cycle, and are under the control of female sex hormones - estrogens. Therefore, by carefully following these changes, a woman has a chance to track ovulation without the use of expensive tests or ultrasound diagnostics.
Assessment of the quality of cervical secretions:
The time when the onset of pregnancy is almost impossible is accompanied by the release of thick cervical secretions. A viscous liquid clogs the lumen of the cervical canal, & nbsp & nbsp thereby preventing infection from entering the uterine cavity. It is very difficult for sperm, like bacteria, to enter the uterus during this period. Due to its dense consistency, mucus practically does not stand out. When building a graph of cervical discharge, a woman should put a mark on it "dry".
Closer to the moment the egg leaves the follicle, the cervical mucus liquefies, and when you feel it with your fingers, it stretches between them. The discharge becomes like egg white. It must be remembered that this is the most favorable day for conceiving a child. As soon as ovulation has passed, the discharge like an egg white disappears, and a cloudy and viscous liquid comes to replace them.
Of course, the described method does not have one hundred percent reliability, because the female body does not always work perfectly. For example, hormonal disorders significantly affect the nature of cervical secretions, making them either cloudy and viscous, or liquid and transparent, regardless of the period of ovulation.
Time to watch:
When filling out the graph of changes in cervical fluid, you need to pay attention not only to the nature and properties of the secret, but also to your own feelings.
Research can be done at any time of the day. Normally, secretory changes are as follows:
Immediately after menstruation: no cervical discharge.
On the eve of ovulation: a sticky liquefied secret.
At the time of ovulation: clear liquid discharge, like an egg white.
At the end of ovulation: again a sticky liquefied secret.
At the end of the cycle: the discharge is insignificant or disappears altogether.
Some women use discharge monitoring as a way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. But you should be aware that this is rather unreliable and does not give a 100% result.
Advantages of the method:
Accessibility to use for any woman.
Lack of side effects.
This method of determining ovulation is suitable both for preventing unwanted pregnancy and for determining the highest chances of conception.
By monitoring changes in mucus, it is possible to determine not only the moment of ovulation, but also to identify some inflammatory diseases.
The method can be practiced even during lactation.
Cons of the method:
Individual features of secretory changes.
Unreliability of data in case of concomitant inflammatory diseases, in particular, with cervicitis and colpitis.
Due to the dependence on hormonal levels, the method can be used only after a stable menstrual cycle has been established.
Difficulties in assessing the nature of the discharge after the use of sirmacides.
Insufficient reliability of the method as a means of contraception.
Some rules for assessing cervical secretions:
1. Assessment of mucus is carried out throughout the cycle, excluding the days of menstruation. 2.
2. A mucus sample is taken three times a day (morning, afternoon and evening). You need to do this with your finger, after washing your hands. Mucus can be taken directly from the surface of the cervix.
3. Pay attention to the color and quality of the mucus, determine how sticky and viscous it is.
4. Watch for stains on your underwear.
5. The more often you make observations, the more accurate the result will be.
6. Record the results of your observations. By assessing throughout the cycle, you can reliably answer the question on what day ovulation occurred.
Cervical mucus is something that most women pay attention to from their teens or a little later in adulthood. At these stages, they may wonder what it is? This information becomes more valuable in the reproductive age. Although the term mucus can be a little annoying to the ear, its various conditions are useful to know as they indicate ovulation, fertile period, and menstrual cycle in which there is a minimal chance of getting pregnant.
Cervical mucus (CA)- secretions produced by the glands in the woman's cervix in response to changes in hormone levels (estrogen and progesterone). Depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle, mucus can act as a barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the cervix or the environment, or, conversely, facilitating faster movement of sperm.
How is cervical mucus related to fertility?
You can find many ovulation tracking tests on the market, but there is an exceptional predictor (predictor) found in every woman's body. Periodic observation of changes in the secretion that is produced in the cervix is helpful and provides an easy way for women to control the cycle as well as determine the most. It is a good alternative or addition to vibration measurements, which mostly changes only after ovulation. Changes in cervical mucus occur several days before ovulation, indicating an appropriate time for intercourse to conceive.
The cervix lies just at the entrance to the vagina. This is where cervical mucus is formed and secreted. Hormonal abnormalities change an important role and affect the consistency as well as the amount of secretion. The cervix is the entry point for spermatozoa that float through the cervical mucus of the CS, they must travel all the way to fertilize the egg.
CS for most of the cycle can function well as a barrier or impediment to the advancement of sperm. It contains white blood cells and other chemicals that prevent foreign bodies from entering. In addition, it mechanically closes the cervix to prevent them from spreading.
During fertility, church secretions change in composition and consistency, thus facilitating the passage of sperm through the cervix. They also increase the lifespan of sperm, allowing them to live up to five days in a woman's body. Observing the condition of your cervical mucus can greatly help you determine the timing of a successful conception attempt.
How does cervical mucus change in different phases of the menstrual cycle?
There are some descriptions of the characteristics of your discharge that can help you determine the different phases of your menstrual cycle.
|
Cycle phase |
Characteristics of cervical mucus |
|
Before ovulation |
In the first few days after your period, you may experience very little or no discharge. The area around the vulva can often be dry and the chances of getting pregnant are close to zero. |
|
Approaching ovulation |
A sticky and moist secret is noted, which is usually cream or white in color. Usually, the discharge does not stretch much between the toes when the cervical mucus strain symptom is checked. Its volume increases as it approaches the release of the egg, and the color becomes less transparent. |
|
During ovulation |
At this stage, the CS looks more like an egg white, and it is mostly liquid and pronounced - there is a lot of it. It stretches for a longer distance before breaking. The volume peaks during ovulation, when the possibility of conception is high. |
|
After ovulation |
The secretions return to their previous state, are easily torn when stretched between the fingers and their volume decreases. The vulva also becomes dry. |
It is possible to incorrectly designate the phase of the cycle if cervical mucus is confused with semen, and therefore one should be careful when checking for a symptom of cervical mucus distension. In addition, there are other factors that can lead to misinterpretation, such as diseases, vaginal infections, and birth control methods.
After tracking changes in cervical mucus, you may find that most of the time during ovulation, it does not contribute to fertility (does not match the description). In addition, it can be sticky and thick, rather than elastic and liquid. This can be caused by stress, diet, hormonal factors, or even medication. You can follow these tips if you encounter these problems:
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- Use FertileCM, which is a dietary supplement that increases the production of cervical mucus.
- Finally, you can use a special lubricant that helps the sperm, such as Pre-Seed. It has a consistency and pH similar to cervical mucus. This can help the sperm survive and reach the egg in order to fertilize it.
How to check cervical mucus
1. Collecting cervical mucus
Collecting samples is very important and you need to make sure your hands are clean beforehand to avoid bacterial infections.
- Insert one finger into the vagina and try to slide it around the cervix to get enough secretion. This is the most accurate method.
- Or try wiping the opening of your vagina with a tissue and carefully analyze the collected secretions.
- You can also use a cotton swab.
Taking a sample - Get the Right Sample: Sometimes you might just want to test your underwear or napkin. But in order to get an accurate sample, it is better to use the method described above.
- Do not test after sex: Do not analyze the CA while you are sexually aroused or immediately after sex, as the sample may not be accurate.
- Check after bowel movement. If you have difficulty in analyzing, do it after a bowel movement and remember to wash your hands before placing your finger in the vagina.
- Combine with basal body temperature measurement in cases of (polycystic ovary syndrome): Women with PCOS sometimes have a slight discharge that may look like fertile mucus throughout their menstrual cycle. In this case, you may have to rely on basal temperature to give you an idea of when mucus might be related to ovulation.
- CA can disappear with medication: some drugs, such as antihistamines, can reduce or even eliminate it, and you will find most of your fertile CA after ovulation.
- See your doctor if your cervical mucus never becomes thin or egg-white: you can see a doctor as CS that is hostile to sperm can cause infertility.
A discharge that resembles an egg white before menstruation is not a sign of ovulation: you may find that the cervical mucus is moist and somewhat yellowish white before your period; of course, this is not a sign of the release of an egg from the follicle and
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