Environmental Pollutants and Fertility

Perhaps you've overheard the news reports or glanced at the articles. You're aware that environmental pollutants are a growing concern, but now, as you are trying to expand your family, it is becoming particularity important that you pay attention to these findings. Analyses show that pesticides, plastics, cleaning agents, and other chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis contain toxic substances which disrupt our hormonal balance and increase our risk for infertility. Arm yourself with knowledge and learn about your options as you and your partner start on the journey towards parenthood.

Pregnancy Planning And The Environment

According to a press release issued by Friends of the Earth, there are over 300 recently developed substances our bodies can store that cause hormonal imbalance. Furthermore, women who are exposed to heavy metals such as lead, aluminum or cadmium are more likely to have irregular cycles and suffer from even more dramatic hormonal fluctuations. To enable your body's natural detoxification system to work properly and insure hormonal balance, it is important to take measures to avoid these harmful substances.

Limit Pesticide Consumption

The only way to remove pesticides from the surface of fruits and vegetables is by peeling them or removing the outer layers of leafy vegetables.But sometimes its not quite practical to peel everything - imagine trying to peel bunch of grapes! For those fruits and veggies that you can not peel, the go-to method of rinsing under water hardly removes the harmful residues. After peeling, the best way to remove pesticides is by soaking your produce for 10-30 minutes in a solution of water with a bit of dishwashing detergent or vinegar.


If you don't have the patience to soak your produce, a produce spray, available in most healthfood stores, is also a good option. Spray your produce and wash thoroughly before eating. You can also create your own produce spray by mixing up a 3:1 water to vinegar solution to keep in a spray bottle by your sink.


Nutritionist advise including a wide variety of fruit and vegetables into your diet to avoid ingesting too much of one particular pesticide.

Protect Yourself Against Plastics

Until recently, no one thought twice about our bombardment with plastics - plastic bottles, plastic food wrappers, plastic dishes, plastic bags and plastic containers for everything - but today, there is growing concern among scientists about these products.


Dramatic hormonal alterations were found in those who had high levels of the chemical compound Bisphenol A (BPA) that is common in plastics. One study proved that women who experienced one or more miscarriages had triple the concentration of Bisphosphate A in their blood than women who had never suffered a miscarriage. Another highlighted a scary phenomena where male workers developed breast after inhaling dust containing BPA.


Take these steps to protect yourself, especially if you are trying to get pregnant.

1. Use plastic containers and tableware that are clearly marked BPA-Free or that do not contain any softening agents. If you cannot determine this clearly from the product description or label, don't buy the product.

2. Do no cook or reheat food in plastic. Do not use plastic containers in a microwave oven.

3. When you buy food sealed in a plastic film, remove the food from the packaging straight away and store it in a suitable container. Be especially careful to avoid keep high-fat foods in plastic containers as Xenoestrogens are easily transferred to foods with a high fat content.

4. When you buy hard cheese sealed in plastic film, scrape the surface with a knife before consuming.

5.  Use glass bottles! Water is probably the most important ingredient in a healthy diet and detoxification regime, and there has been a huge increase in the consumption of bottled water. However, while this bottled water might be filtered, because it is stored in plastic, it absorbs BPA. We recommend you refill your own non-plastic water bottle instead of using toxic plastic bottles.

Avoid Heavy Metals

You might not realize just how often you are exposed to heavy metals. Aluminum cookware, metal cans, foil coatings, and even the material used to correct teeth are also causing concern among the scientific community for their high levels of BPA and other toxic substances. Below we will address some of the more common metals and their effect on fertility, and what you can do to avoid them.


Aluminum

Scientific studies have shown that aluminum impairs the absorption of nutrients and can negatively impact fertility. Aluminum is found in everyday goods such as antacids, deodorants, anti-clumping agents in dried milk, aluminum kitchenware, drink cans, and foil.


- Replace all your aluminum pots and pans with kitchenware made from iron, glass or stainless steel.

- Do not drink carbonated drinks from aluminum cans. Carbonated drinks in cans have high concentration of aluminum from the inner lining of cans that dissolves into the drink.

- Buy aluminum-free deodorants.


Mercury

You might already know that pregnancy women should avoid fish with high levels of mercury, but you probably don't realize where else mercury is shows up. Mercury is not only unsafe for pregnant women, it has an effect on your ability to get pregnant as well. Studies have shown that Mercury reduces fertility by accumulating in the pituitary gland, which is crucial to stimulating the production of sexual hormones. An alarming finding shows that female dentists and dental assistants, who are often exposed to mercury, have a particularly high rate of miscarriages.


The mercury in your teeth fillings can escape in the form of mercury vapor and pass into our bodies when we consume hot drinks such as tea or coffee, brush our teeth or chew gum. One study, in which over 100 research reports and medical files were assessed, concludes that the accumulation of mercury in the body can cause many different symptoms such as allergies, chronic exhaustion, depressive episodes, flu-like ailments, menstruation complaints, reduced sperm levels, ovulation disorders, and miscarriages.


If you need a tooth filled, ask your dentist for alternatives to the standard metal filling. Special tests can reveal if mercury is escaping from your fillings. If you find that it is, dentist can replace the fillings. However if the test reveals that there is no indication that mercury is passing into your body, you should not have the replacement work done while trying to get pregnant because large amounts mercury could be released during the procedure. Our advice is to have all of your necessary dental treatments completed three months before attempting to get pregnant.


Copper

Copper is one of the essential trace elements, but it too can be toxic in high concentrations. The body can absorb copper from water pipes or from contraceptive coils. The main problem with copper is that if its concentration increases too sharply, the absorption of zinc, and important component in fertility, will be impeded.


Try not to wear copper jewelry if you are trying to conceive, and if you cook in copper cookware, make sure the surfaces are not scratched.


Cadmium

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal found in cigarette smoke that has a very harmful effect on male and female fertility. Quit smoking and protect yourself against second hand smoke.

Chemicals in the Home

That fresh, chemical smell that permeates your house after you give it a good cleaning ––you know, the one that smells like a mixture of pine and bleach? Well, many experts believe that these chemicals are actually a great risk to your fertility because of the volatile off-gassing. Its important to live in a clean environment though, so lets take a look at some of the natural alternatives that do just as good, if not a better job, of eliminating those messes.


Vinegar. It's a magic cleaning agent with virtually endless possibilities.

- A dash of vinegar on a damp cloth is ideal for cleaning unvarnished wood.

- Add a few drops to your steam cleaner to it kills house dust mites and bacteria.

- A good alternative to floor cleaners, which contain lots of chemicals: add a cup of vinegar to a bucket of water.

- In a spray bottle, mix vinegar and water in the ratio of 1:1 for a natural window cleaner.


Baking soda also has excellent cleaning properties.

- Create your own room spray by mixing a few drops of essential oil with baking soda.

- For fresh clean carpeting, sprinkle baking soda over it before vacuuming.


While thinking about expanding your family, you might decide that this is the perfect time to expand or redecorate your house. Be careful though, many materials used in renovations have been linked to infertility.


Paints that contain solvents and turpentine substitute release gases which can hang in the air for weeks after the painting work has been finished. Also, new carpets often contain the preservative formaldehyde, which can irritate the mucous membranes of eyes, nose and throat and are generally unhealthy. An American study of women who were suffering from unexplained infertility revealed a high concentration of two chemicals which are present in carpets, leather upholstery and wood preserving agents.

Toiletries and Cosmetics

Many commercial toiletries contain detergents and artificial fragrances which can irritate your skin and mucous membranes. Read labels before making any purchases, and avoid those with chemicals.


For an all natural relaxing bath, try adding dried or fresh fragrant herbs (lavender, rosemary or peppermint), essential oils, or a cup of Epsom salts to warm water. Try switching to natural, organic soap which you can purchase in wholefood shops or pharmacies.


If you want to get pregnant it is best not dye your hair or use any chemical hair treatment that comes in contact with your scalp. Highlights are a good alternative to a full hair dye because to chemicals do not come in contact with the scalp. If you are already pregnant, it is recommended that you wait until your fourth month before dying your hair. There are also wonderful all-natural hair dyes available at health food stores.

Nature Knows Best

For better or for worse, advancements in technology have created a lot of unnatural products and byproducts, but when you are trying to concieve nature is still knows best. Making a baby and becoming parents is one of the miracles of nature that connects you right back to the majestic organic world we live in. Stay one step ahead of the game by keeping your food, environment and lifestyle choices wholesome and natural.

Read the original article here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/environmental-pollutants-and-fertility

Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Fertility

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Sexually transmitted diseases are a common cause of fertility issues. Many STDs have mild symptoms, but their affects on conception, and on a fetus fetus if pregnancy is achieved, are hardly mild at all.


Treatment for these diseases is usually simple, and of course, it is always better to diagnose and treat a problem before pregnancy than during pregnancy.


Take a look below at the information we've compiled on common STDs that have a severe impact on your pregnancy plans, and our recommendation for a pregnancy planing check-up requisite for both partners.

Pregnancy-Planning Health Check-up

We recommend all couples who wish to have a baby undergo the following health check-ups:

• - STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) test

• -Vaccination status checked and updated

• -Smear Test performed by your gynecologist

• - Breast Cancer (and other forms of cancer) exams

• - HIV test

• - Overall medical history of both partners

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Women

• - Itching, sores, tenderness or pain in the vagina

• - Abnormal vaginal discharge which has an unusual smell or color

• - Pain when urinating

• - Pain in the lower abdomen

• - Discomfort during sexual intercourse

• - Abnormal bleeding

• - Lumps or sores in the genital area

Typical Symptoms of STDs for Men

• - Discharge from the penis

• - Sores in the genital area

• - Frequent need to urinate and pain when urinating

• - Swollen lymph nodes in the groin area

• - Pain in the testicles or in the prostate

Chlamydia - The Hidden Dangers

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted bacterial infection that often goes unnoticed because of its mild systems. For those looking to become pregnant however, Chlamydia is a ticking time bomb. If the infection goes untreated for an extended period of time, 10-40% of women will develop pelvic inflammation. Pelvic inflammation is the cause of numerous fertility and pregnancy related issues.


If chlamydia infection goes untreated, it can spread to the higher reproductive organs including the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The untreated chlamydia infection can also trigger an inflammation of the neck of the uterus resulting in an impaired the uterine lining causing serious fertility issues.


Women infected with chlamydia face an increased risk of miscarrying, developing an ectopic pregnancy, or experiencing premature water-break (amniotic fluid surrounding the unborn child). A study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development concludes that pregnant women who are infected with chlamydia are two to three times more likely to experience a miscarriage.



As many as one in ten men are infected with chlamydia, and are also at risk for decreased fertility. The infection can often spread to the testicles causing a decrease in the quality and quantity of the sperm. Low sperm count makes conception much less likely, and the compromised quality of the DNA within the sperm can cause problems with the development of a fetus. A man infected with chlamydia is also at risk of unknowingly passing the infection to his partner.


Cyclotest now offers a home testing kit that enables you to discreetly test for Chlamydia in the privacy of your own home. Everything you need to get results is included in the kit with no need to mail in messy lab samples or wait for results. The Cyclotest chlamydia home testing kit delivers results within minutes, so you can start treatment immediately. If you are currently trying to conceive, this knowledge is indispensable.

Gonorrhoea and Fertility

If untreated, gonorrhoea can result in pelvic inflammatory disease and the closing of the fallopian. It can compromises fertility and increases the risk of an ectopic pregnancy.

Yeast Infections and Fertility

Although candida, or yeast infection is not a sexually transmitted disease, it significantly impairs cervical mucus and can therefore affect fertilely. Yeast infections can also prevent you from becoming pregnant simply because they cause sex to be painful, which takes away your desire to have sex. If you experience a burning or itching sensation in the vagina or a white clumpy discharge, make sure to speak to your doctor.


It is important that you get a yeast infection treated before or during pregnancy because your baby can become infected during delivery while passing through the birth canal causing significant and painful diaper rash and oral thrush that often results in difficulties breast-feeding. The vaginal secretions of pregnant women encourage the growth of yeast, therefore infections are quite common during pregnancy.



Yeast infections develop when the yeast that occurs naturally in our bodies becomes too plentiful. An unhealthy growth of candida albicans, or yeast, may occur if you eat foods with a very high sugar content. To avoid contracting a yeast infection, modify your eating habits by avoiding refined sugar and adding live bacteria that helps restore the natural balance of intestinal flora such as that found in live yogurt.


Antibiotics are usually used to combat yeast infections because they easy to take and very effective in eliminating the problem. But although antibiotics are safe, treating the infection naturally, especially during pregnancy, is an even better approach. Probiotic food supplements containing the bacterias acidophiles and bifidobacterium are ideal for warding off yeast infections. Another natural anti-fungal agent is garlic.


To prevent fungal infections, avoid wearing tight-fitting jeans, synthetic underwear, or unnecessary panty-liners. The washing cycles of modern low-temperature washing machines fails to kill off Candida albican spores completely so you may become re-infected by your own underwear. Try increasing the temperature of your washing cycle, or adding a laundry disinfectant to your rinse cycle. It is also a good idea to avoid foods with high sugar contents such as candy, cakes, processed foods, fizzy drinks and alcohol.

Antibiotics and Fertility

Antibiotics taken to treat an infection are necessary to destroy harmful bacteria but can also wipe out beneficial bacteria from the body. This in turn can cause other imbalances, such as fungal infections. To avoid these complications, it is advisable to take a probiotic food supplements with different strains of beneficial bacteria for three months after your antibiotic treatment. Avoid probiotic drinks as they often contain a lot of sugar and end up aiding the fungus in the body.

Importance of Examinations

STDs often go unnoticed and therefore regular examinations are important in order to diagnose and treat the disease as soon as possible. It is especially important to be diagnoses before becoming pregnant as treating STDs during pregnancy can often be much more difficult.

Check out the original article here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/sexually-transmitted-diseases-and-fertility

A Healthy Body and A Healthy Mind for Conception

As you dream of those tiny baby fingers wrapped around your own, you know one thing for sure - you want to give your baby the best start to life possible. Well, now is the time to give yourself a mind/body makeover because the best start for your baby begins with healthy, happy parents.

10 Rules for Good Nutrition and Reproductive Health

Your commitment to eating wholesome foods will obviously affect your health, minimizing your risks for heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, but it can also have a direct effect on your sex life and fertility. Current research shows that excess weight can decrease fertility and a Danish study interestingly concluded even if just the man is overweight, fertility can still be effected. So why don't you sit down with your partner and see how many of our 10 Rules for Good Nutrition and Reproductive Health you can integrate into your lives. The benefits will speak for themselves- we guarantee it.


1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Choose wholefoods that are high in fiber.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.

4. Eat highly nutritious proteins with every meal.

5. Make sure you have an adequate supply of highly nutritious oils.

6. Never skip breakfast and don’t eat after 8.00 pm.

7.Keep your blood sugar levels constant by eating small meals often. Try eating every three hours.

8. Avoid caffeine and sugar.

9. Choose organic foods when possible.

10. Reduce your intake of the following foods: red meat, saturated fats, ready meals, industrially produced foods and foods with high additive and preservative contents.

Keep Calm and Get Pregnant

Stress has such strong effect on our internal balance that women often find that their periods are interrupted, or stop completely, when they are subjected to extreme levels of stress. The biological havoc that a missed or interrupted period causes is not something you want deal with, especially while you are trying to conceive.


At the same time, many women find that rying for a baby is actually makes them more stressed.  It is normal to be plagued by worry about the pregnancy, fear of disappointment, a myriad of other concerns about pregnacy and parenthood, but remember that it is in your best intrests to relax and let nature take over. Below, we lay out a few tips that can be helpful in decreasing your stress levels and remain calm an relaxed during this monumental time.


- Lower your stress levels by making sure you are getting adequate levels of essential vitamins and minerals

- Eat well. You'll feel better and be less stressed.

- Plan your meals at the beginning of the week. That way, you won't have to worry about what healthy foods to choose when you are hungry.

- Set aside time each day to do an enjoyable and relaxing activity. Put it on your calendar, relaxing is indispensable.

- Meditation classes, yoga, aromatic baths or listening to calming music can help take the edge off a particularly stressful day.

- Make lists. You'll feel great ticking off each task as you accomplish it, and will be less stressed knowing you are taking care of of everything you need to be.

- Avoid unnecessary tasks which may ease your conscience but nevertheless increase your workload.

Get A Good Night Sleep

We tend to think that the real sleep deprivation comes after pregnancy, when your little baby is up yet again, hungry or needing a diaper change, but before you even get to that point, millions of women are putting their fertility at risk by not getting enough sleep.


Sleep recharges every internal system we have, and our reproductive systems are no exception. Without adequate sleep, our bodies focus on the most critical functions, and push anything secondary out of the way. For some women, this means that they will ovulate irregularly, or stop ovulating all together. Additionally, ovulation is shown to occur most often while sleeping, between the hours of midnight and four AM. If you do not respect your bodies need to relax and recharge, it can not take care of these critical functions for you.

A Bit of TLC for Your Body and Baby

Don't underestimate the importance of giving your body a bit of tender loving care while you are trying to conceive. We live in a high paced, stressful world, and many times our most basic critical needs, our physical and mental health, are pushed to the side. Take the time to eat healthy, relax, and sleep well. Your body, and your baby, will thank you.

Read the original article on our website here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/stress-sleep-diet-and-getting-pregnant

Cigarettes, Alcohol, Fertility and Conception

"As soon as a precious little baby is growing inside my womb, I promise I will stop all my bad habits: no more alcohol, no more smoking." Many women have this talk with themselves, vowing they will stop smoking or drinking after they become pregnant, but the reality is these habits are hard to break. Why put yourself in the position where you might be tempted to harm your unborn child. Stamp out any self-destructive habits before you become pregnant; you'll increase your chances of both conceiving and carrying a healthy, full-term baby.

 Smoking and Fertility Issues

By now everyone knows that by smoking can cause serious health problems, but a report by the British Medical Association (BMA) in 2004 added to the ever growing list stating that "smoking can massively impair both the female and male reproductive systems." Numerous studies verify that women who don't smoke are twice as likely to get pregnant then women who smoke.


Smoking affects your hormonal balance by significantly increasing the concentration of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). Any lack of hormonal balance will affect your ability to conceive. Smoking can also lead to the premature onset of menopause by reducing the estrogen levels in pre-menopausal women to an amount which is more typical of women in the menopausal age bracket. This is particularly worrying for women trying to conceive who are over the age of 35 and are reaching the end of their child bearing years.


Smoking has also been shown to reduce the amount of Vitamin C in the blood; insufficient levels Vitamin C are linked to poor egg quality. Zinc also has an important affect on the reproductive organs, and women who smoke often have very high levels of the harmful mineral cadmium in their blood, hindering the body’s absorption of zinc.


The risk of miscarriage is also drastically higher for smokers. Estimates show that smoking is the cause of over 5000 miscarriages per year and that women who smoke even one cigarette a day increase their probability of miscarrying.

Dads Should Also Quit Smoking

It is also important that your partner quite smoking, as smoking directly affects the sperm in a number of ways. It alters their number, mobility, and structure, making impregnation less probable.


Smoking alters the sperm head in a way that reduces its ability to penetrate the egg cell. Researchers at the University of Buffalo compared the sperm of men who smoked more than four cigarettes a day to those of non-smokers. They bombarded one half of an egg cell wall with sperm of smokers and the other half with sperm of non-smokers and observed how many sperm had permanently attached themselves to the egg cell after a few hours. Their findings showed that an the sperm of smokers was a frightening 75% less fertile than those of non-smokers


Smoking can also damage the DNA of sperm, resulting birth deformities and cancer, and an increase in miscarriage rates. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer shows that male smokers have an increased risk of fathering children who develop cancers such as leukemia and brain tumors, even if their female partners does not smoke.


Smoking also frequently impairs a man's ability to get an erection, and with out that, well, a baby is just not going to happen!

Smoking Harms Your Baby

Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 harmful substances that pass directly into the blood of your unborn baby and affect its development in different ways.


-Over 45 scientific studies show that smoking is one of the main causes of low birth weight.

-Pregnant women who smoke 30 cigarettes per day run a 33% risk of giving birth prematurely while non-smokers only have a 6% risk

-If a baby develops inside the womb of a smoking mother, he or she experience nicotine withdrawal symptoms at birth.

-Scientific studies have shown the probability of giving birth to a baby with forms of congenital deformities such as a cleft palate, harelip, squint, and deafness increases when either parent smokes.

- Smoking also causes oxygen deficiency (fetal hypoxia) that increases the risk of premature birth and congenital deformities.

Ready to Quit Smoking?

Free NHS support materials are available to help you quit smoking.

Order your free materials and begin your journey towards becoming a non-smoker by clicking here.

Alcohol and Fertility

Research shows that women who have a high alcohol intake are prone to experience irregular cycles and can often miss ovulation.


In a Danish study, more than 7000 women who had been trying to get pregnant without success for almost five years were questioned about their alcohol and nicotine consumption as well as any previous gynecological problems. The results showed that alcohol consumption was a significant factor in infertility in women over the age of thirty. Women in this age group who drank more then seven alcoholic drinks a week are half as likely to achieve a pregnancy. It seems that alcohol prevents the corpus luteum (yellow body) from producing a sufficient amount of progesterone, one of the most important hormones needed to maintain a pregnancy.

Alcohol and Fertility In Men

Your partner should also limit his alcohol intake if you are trying to conceive. Alcohol can lead to deformities of the sperm head leaving it incapable of fertilizing an egg. Alcohol also reduces the concentration of hormones needed to create sperm. Astonishingly, after an alcohol binge, the number of sperm is drastically reduced for several months.

Consequences of Alcohol During Pregnancy

Current research shows even small quantities of alcohol consumed by a pregnant women can affect the development of the fetus. Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can cause behavioral disorders and learning difficulties in the unborn child later in life.


Fully developed fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) results in brain damage, development disorders, reduced social skills, restricted growth, low birth weight, and heart and kidney deformities. There is also a milder form of FAS, known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) can cause coordination disorders, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or diminished IQ scores.

Just a Reminder...

It goes without saying that any other forms of recreational drugs should be strictly avoided by both partners.

Get Healthy Now

It is not as if the current research detailing the negative effects of smoking and alcohol on pregnancy come as a surprise. Common scene tells us that any substances that alter our natural equilibrium are going to have an affect on the delicate little life that is just beginning to form, and at that early stage, minor imbalances can cause major problems. If you are reading this page it is probably because you are taking steps to becoming a parent, so even if you don't have any major addictions, it can't hurt to do a self check and get all harmful substances out of your system while there is still plenty of time.

Check out our website and read the original article here http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/cigarettes-alcohol-fertility-and-conception

Downloadable Fertility Chart

Hooray! Your ready to take the plunge and start charting your fertility. You want to make this work. The idea of natural and sustainable birth control is invigorating. So go ahead, download the PDF, and begin to see what remarkable messages your body has been sending you all along.


DOWNLOAD A BLANK FERTILITY CHART HERE

Just make sure you completely understand fertility charting before you begin using it for contraception. No amount of information you read online should substitute a visit to your Doctor or Gynecologist.  We recommend seeking medical assistance when making any contraception based decision.



While manually charting your fertility is a great way to get in sync with your body, it can still be tiresome and complex. Rather than maintaining complicated graphs and charts why not switch to Cyclotest.  A simple fertility display like this will be displayed for you as the result of your daily temp reading — it can't get any simpler. Letting Cyclotest do the work also reduces the risks of errors that could compromise the reliability of your charting. Click around the site and learn more!

Check out our website and learn even more here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/download-fertility-charts

The Cervix Position as a Fertility Indicator

 

Another powerful tool to add to your toolbox of fertility indicators is the feeling and position of the cervix. The tip of the cervix, which can be felt deep within your vagina, feels acutely different at various stages of your fertility.

When it is hard and low within you vagina, you are infertile; when it is soft and high, you are fertile.  Learn to interpret these changes, and your even more likely to accurately pinpoint your ovulation date.

The German Sympto-Thermal method is so reliant on cervical position it substitutes examination of cervical discharge with examination of the cervix. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the examination of the cervix is just as important as the examination of mucus discharge as well as the Basal Body Temperature (BBT).

The observation of the changing position of the cervix is an amazingly reliable Fertility indicator The cervix noticeably changes during the menstrual cycle: After menstruation it will be closed, hard and positioned low inside the vagina. As ovulation nears it becomes softer, opens up,  and rises inside the vagina. After ovulation it will close again, become hard and lower its position.

Basic Assessment Parameters for Cervical Position Observations

• If the cervix is very open, soft, and is positioned high up in the vagina, this indicates the most fertile point of the cycle. 

• The infertile period starts on the night of the third day the cervix has appeared closed and hard, whenever your body temperature doesn't indicate anything else. 

Cervical observations should be incorporated into the fertility charts that are used for Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness. This combination of  many different fertility indicators link together to give you a remarkably accurate picture of when you are ovulation.

For example, the Sympto-Thermal method, which uses a number of different position fertility indicators, including, according to some, the position of the cervix, has a 99% pearl index rating.

That's right, it is 99% reliable for preventing an undesired pregnancy. And with fertility monitors like Cyclotest, implementing the Sympto-Thermal system is simple. A few straightforward clicks of a button and the monitor will automatically produce a clear visual chart detailing your level of fertility. Check out our pages on the Sympto-Thermal method and Cyclotest for more information. 

Read original article here: http://ethicalfamilyplanning.com/cervix-observation

How to Observe Cervical Mucus

 Have you ever been going about your daily routine, shopping, working, or making dinner, when all of a sudden you get an uncomfortable feeling of wetness down under. You know your not menstruating now — but what was that? You run to the bathroom and find its just that sticky white mucus that randomly seems to appear.


Stop! Pay attention! That mucus is not just a random fluke. It is a very accurate message your body is sending you to tell you when you are fertile.


And if you learn to interpret the different types and textures of mucus, you can be on your way to a birth control method that allows you to be one hundred precent in-sync with the natural rhythms of your body. No synthetic hormones. No plastic or rubber barriers. Just you, your partner, and your body.

How To Observe Cervical Mucus 

You can collect a sample of cervical mucus to observe  from the opening around your vagina with a piece of toilet paper or with you finger. Everyone will develop their own method with which they feel most comfortable.  Once you have some mucus on your fingers, press your thumb and index finger together and stretch the mucus.  Pay special attention to what the mucus does when it is stretched.

Infertile

You may find that you don’t have any mucus immediately after your period. No mucus means your are not fertile.  If you do have mucus during the days following you period, it will probably be sticky or come out as a blob. This mucus is usually thick, dense, sticky, flaky, and tacky.  It may be yellow, white, or opaque.  It will not stretch or move when pulled apart by your thumb and index finger. After ovulation, you will once again see a marked lessening of mucus, and if there is any mucus  at all, it will be again sticky and not stretchy.

Fertile

When you are fertile, your mucus will change to a more watery state and feel more slippery. You may also find that your fertile mucus is more abundant than infertile mucus.  This mucus is often described as wet, slippery, watery, thin, and fluid. It’s likely to be clear or have a cloudy or white color to it. Fertile mucus will even smell sweeter than less fertile mucus which may have a more vinegar scent.  The most important observation to make is the wetness/slippery observation in comparison to the infertile mucus.

Highly Fertile

When you are highly fertile, you are most likely to find what is commonly known as EWCM (egg-white cervical mucus) or spinn (short for spinnbarkeit which is german for spiderweb). EWCM is ‘stringy,' like a spiderweb. It may appear as a glob, or in smaller amounts in more watery mucus. It’s important to note that not all women experience this form of mucus, so don’t be alarmed if you don’t notice any EWCM.  If you were to stretch EWCM between your thumb and index finger, you may notice it stretches, unlike the infertile mucus which keeps its shape. This kind of mucus is ideal for sperm to swim through and creates an ideal environment for them to reach the egg.

Putting Cervical Mucus Observations Into Practice 

Interpreting the different textures of mucus might sound confusing, but when you put this knowledge into practice, it will quickly clarify itself. Keeping track of your observations on a chart will allow you to reference your finding to let you know when it is necessary to use a secondary method of contraception.


Observing your cervical mucus one way of monitoring your cycle and a component of the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) of contraception.  If you want to aid or avoid conception, cervical mucus observations are shown to be around 98.5% accurate in indicating the fertile and infertile times of your monthly cycle. Remember that your cervical mucus may be affected by external factors such as stress, medications, illness, dieting and travel.


It is advisable to consult a family planning specialist or a doctor if you have any more questions or concerns about cervical mucus observation.

Cervical Mucus In Different Fertility Awareness Methods 

The Billings Ovulation Method (BOM) is  based upon cervical mucus observations. John Billings who was recognized with a Papal knighthood and for whom the Pope sent condolences on his death, developed the method as a form of Natural Family Planning (NFP) in accordance with his religious faith as a practicing Catholic. However, Billings strove to raise awareness of the significance of cervical mucus to fertility to all people, regardless of their religion. Thomas Hilgers later created the Creighton Model Fertility Care System as a variation of the Billings method.



Cervical mucus observations are also one of the factors considered with the Sympto-Thermal method of fertility charting. Coupled with other observations such as LH hormone levels, cervix position and Basal Body Temperature (BBT) this method enables you to create cycle by cycle charts which clearly identify your unique date of ovulation and your fertility window.


If you would like to start observing and charting your cervical mucus, we suggest you implement  the Sympto-Thermal method of charting cervical mucus as well as other indecators . This method will give you 99% contraceptive reliability, and with contraceptive monitors like Cyclotest, achieving these outstandingly accurate results is simple. A few clicks of a button and the monitor will automatically produce a clear visual chart detailing your level of fertility. Check out our pages on the Sympto-Thermal method and Cyclotest for more information.

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