My Time of the Month - Cycle Chart

The author Caroline Oblasser suffered from severe menstrual pain for years until she discovered freebleeding for herself after the homebirth of her second daughter. Other books by Caroline Oblasser: "Der Kaiserschnitt hat kein Gesicht" * "Luxus Privatgeburt - Hausgeburten in Wort und Bild" * "Brüt es aus! Die freie Schwangerschaft" * "Lass es raus! Die freie Geburt" * "Leg dich nieder! Das freie Wochenbett" * "Still die Badewanne voll! Das freie Säugen" * "Regelschmerz ade! Die freie Menstruation" * "Ausgewickelt! So gelingt der Abschied von der Windel"

Every cycle is different. This is why the chart on the opposite page is simply an example to illustrate filling it in. You will have to record a few cycles until you are fully familiar with your particular cycle pattern. You will notice that the temperature on day 6 and 7 of the example chart was unusually high and has therefore been put into brackets and was not counted as true ‘thermal shift’. The reasons for this random rise in temperature were going to bed late and alcohol consumption the nights before. The temperature was also taken later than normal at 9am. You will also see that a temperature shift of more than 2/10th of a degree occurred on day 17 (circled), 2 days after the estimated and felt time of ovulation (O). The cervical mucus confirms that this was the transition from fertile to infertile period: it turned from e = eggwhite consistency into s = sticky consistency on day 18. From when on and for how long are you fertile? We can assume that a woman is infertile after ovulation including peak cervical mucus day, from the third evening after the true thermal shift until the start of her next period. In our example chart, this would be from the evening of cycle day 19 until cycle day 29. The first 6 days of the following cycle (cycle start: true thermal shift to lower temperatures after a period of higher ones including the start of menstruation) can also be considered infertile. Once you are very familiar with your cycle and your cycle is very regular, your will likely be able to stretch out your infertile period at the beginning of each cycle for longer with careful observation of mucus, temperature and ovulation symptoms. However, before ovulation, there is always the theoretical potential for conception. You should most certainly consider this if you are definitely trying to avoid conception and await the more accurate infertile period in the second half of your cycle. You have to remember that sperm can survive in your body for a few days and that ovulation can be somewhat unpredictable. So you need a few days as additional ‘buffer’ (minus 8-rule) to avoid unwanted pregnancy.

Every cycle is different. This is why the chart on the opposite page is simply an example to illustrate filling it in. You will have to record a few cycles until you are fully familiar with your particular cycle pattern. You will notice that the temperature on day 6 and 7 of the example chart was unusually high and has therefore been put into brackets and was not counted as true 'thermal shift'. The reasons for this random rise in temperature were going to bed late and alcohol consumption the nights before. The temperature was also taken later than normal at 9am.You will also see that a temperature shift of more than 2/10th of a degree occurred on day 17 (circled), 2 days after the estimated and felt time of ovulation (O). The cervical mucus confirms that this was the transition from fertile to infertile period: it turned from e = eggwhite consistency into s = sticky consistency on day 18.From when on and for how long are you fertile? We can assume that a woman is infertile after ovulation including peak cervical mucus day, from the third evening after the true thermal shift until the start of her next period. In our example chart, this would be from the evening of cycle day 19 until cycle day 29. The first 6 days of the following cycle (cycle start: true thermal shift to lower temperatures after a period of higher ones including the start of menstruation) can also be considered infertile.Once you are very familiar with your cycle and your cycle is very regular, your will likely be able to stretch out your infertile period at the beginning of each cycle for longer with careful observation of mucus, temperature and ovulation symptoms. However, before ovulation, there is always the theoretical potential for conception. You should most certainly consider this if you are definitely trying to avoid conception and await the more accurate infertile period in the second half of your cycle. You have to remember that sperm can survive in your body for a few days and that ovulation can be somewhat unpredictable. So you need a few days as additional 'buffer' (minus 8-rule) to avoid unwanted pregnancy.