Pregnancy
Cervical Fluid (Billings
or Ovulation Method)
In this method ovulation is predicted
by observing and recording daily changes in the amount , consistency and colour
of the cervical mucus. The mucus sample is obtained from inside the vagina using
either your fingers or a tissue. The mucus changes from day to day can be recorded
in a chart. A woman's cervical fluid varies greatly
throughout her cycle. Immediately following menstruation, in the pre-fertile stage,
there may not be any mucus present (early dry days) or the vaginal mucus is cloudy,
sticky, dryish and the amount is relatively little. If you pull it between your
fingers it will break and not stretch at all. As ovulation and fertility approaches
the mucus changes from cloudy and thick to thin, clear and slippery resembling
egg white and suddenly increases in amount for one or two days. If you pull this
mucus between your fingers, it will be clear and stretchy. Ovulation occurs 24
hours after this mucus peak and this is the mucus which will enable the sperm
to swim rapidly through the cervix. This period is considered as the most fertile.
After ovulation, mucus decreases in quantity and becomes cloudier and stickier
again and may be absent altogether for a few late dry days, until your next period
starts. 
|
|
