MyFertilityGuide

A fertility calendar is a personal tracking of signs of fertility to best time sexual intercourse for a successful pregnancy. A few months of tracking hormonal patterns and temperature changes help predict when ovulation will occur in future cycles.

What Signifies Fertility?

About 14 days after the first day of menstruation, your body begins to show signs of ovulation. To signal to your body that it is about to be fertile, hormones trigger reactions in your body. For example, you may experience increased cervical fluid of a thicker consistency than usual. This is a sign that your body is increasing its production of estrogen, which occurs when the ovarian follicle is maturing and just before ovulation. During this period before ovulation, the body is the most receptive to sperm and prepared to nurture it until the egg is released and ready for fertilization.

What Primary Fertility Signs Should I Track On My Fertility Calendar?

Three basic signs should be tracked on your fertility calendar with dedicated accuracy: cervical fluid consistency, luteinizing hormone surge, and basal body temperature. Cervical fluid is a sign of fertility and should certainly be tracked but it may dry up before ovulation, during or after; it’s different for every woman and so therefore cannot signify fertility alone. Over the counter ovulation prediction kits (OPKs) help track luteinizing hormone and this, too, should be marked on the fertility calendar, especially the surge which signifies ovulation within 48 hours. Basal body temperature (BBT) should also be marked on the fertility calendar daily as it tends to spike with the release of progesterone after ovulation has occurred.

What Secondary Fertility Signs Should I Track On My Fertility Calendar?

Because every woman’s body is different, secondary fertility signs should be tracked in addition to primary hormonal shifts. Some women depend on these entirely and can more accurately track their ovulatory patterns through them than with over the counter tests or cervical fluid. On the other hand, should none of these signs be evident, is in no way a sign of infertility.

Secondary signs of fertility include:

• Abdominal pain – This may occur as a tenderness or ache on or near the ovary when ovulation occurs. This is difficult to track because abdominal pain can signify many things and some women do not feel ovulation at all.
• Spotting – During ovulation, some women notice spotting: light blood on the toilet paper when they go to the bathroom. Others notice a pink tinge to the thickened cervical fluid.
• Sore breasts – Sensitive breasts may correlate with increased progesterone and may occur during menstruation or before. Some women notice a pattern in relation to their cycle.
• Increased sex drive - Your sex drive may come in waves in relation to the shifts in your cycle. Some women show increased sex drive during their fertile period.
• Personal preference – Only you know your body well enough to know what changes with your cycle. You may experience cravings, extreme fatigue or high emotion. Whatever they are, note your symptoms on your fertility calendar.