Grade 11 Healthy Active Living Education Additional Supports ...

• progesterone released by the ovary after ovulation causes the basal body temperature
to rise
• there are changes in the cervical mucus that provides information about the phase in
the cycle
− cervical mucus is scant, slippery and may be milky coloured prior to ovulation
− mucus is abundant and becomes sticky and stretchy during ovulation when
woman is fertile
− mucus becomes scant and rubbery after ovulation when woman is no longer
fertile during that cycle
• women are more likely to become pregnant when ovulating
The fertile period of the menstrual cycle, may be calculated 4 ways:
1. Basal Body Temperature (BBT) method: daily temperature readings detect
ovulation.
2. Cervical Mucus (Billings) method: changes in cervical mucus show signs of
ovulation.
3. Sympto-thermo method: a combination of the temperature and cervical mucus
methods.
4. Calendar method: the length of past menstrual cycles predicts the fertile period
Warning: This method depends on a consistency of cycle length. It is common
for young womenÕs cycles to vary from month to month. For these young women,
this method should not be recommended.
How the Methods Work
Basal Body Temperature
Take your temperature with a special thermometer (available in drug stores) each
morning immediately upon waking. Take it for 4 minutes the same way each day. Record
your temperature on a graph and note the days of menstruation, sexual activity and any
factors influencing your temperature. Draw a line on the graph one tenth of a degree
higher than the highest temperature recorded earlier in the cycle. When the temperature
remains above this line for three days in a row, the fertile period is over.
* Effectiveness: perfect use 2%, typical use 20%
Cervical Mucus
Use your fingers to examine the cervical mucus present at the vaginal opening every day.
Each day you note sensation at the vulva (dry, moist or wet), colour of the secretions
(yellow, white or clear), and consistency (slippery, sticky or rubbery).
Grade 11 Healthy Active Living Education (PPL30), Module #1 Healthy Relationships and Sexuality
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