Recognise your fertile time

 

The Billings Method can be used during all phases of life - with regular cycles, irregular cycles, during breastfeeding or approaching menopause.

It teaches women to recognise when they are fertile by being alert to when their body produces fertile mucus. All evidence supports the theory that no fertile mucus equals no pregnancy. Put simply, sperm cannot survive without it due to the acid environment of the vagina. The fertile mucus protects and nourishes the sperm, helping to retain their fertilising capacity for 3-5 days. It helps guide the sperm to the fallopian tubes and acts as a filter, removing damaged sperm cells. Recent trials of the Billings Method indicate a method effectiveness of better than 99% for contraception. This is because couples are advised to avoid intercourse when fertile mucus is present (or when there is bleeding as menstrual blood can obscure mucus should it be produced during a period which is possible during short cycles). This compares well with other contraceptive methods: The Pill (99%); Mini Pill (96%); IUD (94-99%), Rhythm (53-86%).  This just proves what scientific studies have shown us - that fertile mucus is essential for conception.

Mucus production starts from an average of about 6 days before ovulation. It can feel slippery or lubricative and if you see it, it will have stringy qualities and look like raw egg white. Some women will see no mucus but if they can feel a lubricative or slippery sensation that is all that is needed for conception.

 

Fertile mucus is caused by the rising level of the hormone oestrogen acting on the cervix (and if you are on the homeopathic fertility program you will be given a daily remedy to assist your body to produce oestrogen for this reason). The Peak of fertility is the last day of any sensation or appearance of mucus - studies show that ovulation usually occurs within a day of the Peak mucus signal. The Peak does not have to be the day of maximum mucus - this is a common misconception. The lubricative or slippery sensation is the most valuable sign. You will only know the Peak day in retrospect but regular observation will give you a good estimate of the Peak.

 

Some women produce fertile mucus every cycle. Although for some women it may not appear in every cycle. It may last for several days or only half a day in a cycle so you need to watch carefully for it. You can still ovulate but not produce any fertile mucus if your cervix is unresponsive to the rising oestrogen - such a cycle would be considered to be infertile and the homeopathic fertility program can assist with this situation.

Check for mucus during the day whenever you go to the toilet or you may be able to feel it as you go about your daily activities. You will feel it or see it just outside your vagina (it can be a similar feeling to the start of your menstrual flow). You do not need to feel inside your vagina as this will confuse you because the vagina is always moist. It is not recommended that you check your cervix either as this can cause infection and also alters mucus production. You need to be up and about for a few hours for fertile mucus to be felt or seen.

 

Dry days are considered to be infertile. If you have a daily pattern of unchanging mucus that is dense, flaky, and scant that is also considered to be infertile. Any pattern of unchanging discharge is considered to be infertile. It is the change that signals your fertile time. You may notice a sticky thread-like mucus after dry days, or a feeling of moistness after a series of sticky days. You may see a lump of cloudy mucus. Day by day, you may notice that the mucus becomes thinner, clearer, more profuse and then slippery. You may notice a feeling of fullness, softness or swelling in the tissues around the opening of the vagina at the same time as the mucus is present. There may be an increase in libido. Remember that you do not need to see any mucus, just be alert to the sensation it produces. If it feels slippery or lubricative then you are fertile.

When using the Billings Method for contraceptive purposes it is recommended that you keep a chart. For the first month of charting, it is recommended that you avoid intercourse as seminal fluid and vaginal secretions can obscure fertile mucus. After the first month of charting, intercourse is allowed every second evening during the first part of the cycle (during the dry days or unchanging mucus days). Morning intercourse is not advised because it can obscure the fertile mucus during the day. If you do not want a baby, intercourse is avoided during the fertile mucus days and for 3 days after the Peak, then the rest of the cycle is available for intercourse day and night*. These guidelines are not essential for couples wanting to conceive but it is important to note that intercourse can interfere with your observations.

*Please read the Billings Method or consult with a trained Billings Method teacher before attempting to use the method for contraception.

The Billings guidelines to achieve a pregnancy are to have intercourse two or three times a week before the fertile mucus appears, while maintaining a close check on your mucus pattern so you can recognise your fertile time. If you usually have several days of fertile mucus, aim to have intercourse on these days, as close to the Peak as possible. If you produce fertile mucus only in some cycles, and for only a short time have intercourse at this time. Timing intercourse with the fertile mucus is extremely important for conception. For some women, a small amount of mucus present for only part of the day is sufficient for conception.

Some couples trying to conceive will have intercourse daily, which can prove counterproductive. While some men can maintain a high quality of semen production with frequent or daily intercourse, others cannot. If you are having frequent intercourse which is not resulting in pregnancy, then it is recommended to have a break for at least 3 days from intercourse (or ejaculation) before the fertile mucus appears.