Variations of the Cycle

Normal Fertile Cycle
Application of Rules to Postpone Conception
Continuous Discharge
Short, Early Ovulation
Long, Delayed Ovulation

1. Normal Fertile Cycle

Note: In cycles of average length (cycles under 35 days) there is only one BIP ... either dry or a continuous unchanging discharge. There is no sperm survival during the BIP.

Note: Days of spotting only and with a dry sensation at the end of menstruation are infertile.

Chart 1. A normal fertile cycle - the observations made at the vulva.

day

Peak

possibly_fertile

wait

infertile

Sensation

wet

dry

not dry

wet

slippery

slippery SV*

dry

sticky

dry

sticky

moist

dry

wet

Appearance

spotting

sticky cloudy

cloudy

cloudy stringy

clear stringy

clear

opaque

cloudy

* SV = swollen vulva

2. Normal Fertile Cycle: Application Of Rules to Postpone Conception

The Pre-Peak Rules

Rule 1: Avoid intercourse on days of heavy bleeding during menstruation.

Rule 2: Alternate evenings are available for intercourse when these days have been recognized as infertile. (Basic Infertile Pattern)

Rule 3: Avoid intercourse on any day of discharge or bleeding which interrupts the Basic Infertile Pattern. Allow 3 days of Basic Infertile Pattern afterwards before intercourse is resumed on the fourth evening. Rule 2 continues.

The Peak Rule

Rule 4. From the beginning of the fourth day following the Peak until the end of the cycle intercourse is available every day at any time.

Chart 2. Application of the Early Day Rules and the Peak Rule to postpone conception in a normal fertile cycle.
BIP = dry;
Rule 1: days 1-3;
Rule 2: days 5-6;
Rule 2: days 8-9;
Rule 3: days 10-18
Rule 4: days 19-30.

day

Peak

possibly_fertile

wait

infertile

Sensation

wet

dry

wet

dry

wet

not dry

wet

slippery

slippery SV

dry

sticky

dry

wet

moist

dry

wet

Appearance

spotting

SF*

sticky cloudy

cloudy

cloudy stringy

clear stringy

clear

opaque

cloudy

* SF = seminal fluid

3. Normal Fertile Cycle: Continuous Discharge

Some women never experience dry days but always notice some slight discharge at the vulva. This is usually normal but may be due to infection when symptoms of discomfort and signs of odour or discoloration usually occur.

Note: The BIP remains the same cycle after cycle, varying in the number of days. Three cycles should be recorded before the Pre-Peak Rules are applied.

Chart 3. Illustrating continuous discharge in a normal fertile cycle. The change from sticky, cloudy will not always be on the same day in every cycle.
BIP = sticky cloudy

day

Peak

possibly_fertile

wait

infertile

Sensation

wet

sticky

damp

wet

slippery

slippery SV

sticky

dry

sticky

damp

dry

damp

wet

Appearance

spotting

cloudy

cloudy stringy

clear stringy

clear

thick

little

smear

cloudy

little

cloudy

4. Normal Fertile Cycle: Short, Early Ovulation

Short cycles occur occasionally for no known reason.

They commonly occur at:

Menache
Pre-menopause
During breast-feeding
Post-Pill

Chart 4. Early ovulation in a short fertile cycle.

day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
Peak							X
possibly_fertile								1	2	3
wait
infertile
Sensation	wet	wet	wet	wet	slippery	slippery	slippery SV	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry
Appearance				spotting	spotting	stringy spotting	clear

5. Normal Fertile Cycle: Long Delayed Ovulation

Oestrogen fluctuations stimulate cervical mucus from time to time without ovulation. When this occurs, there is no progesterone rise and no Peak. Raised oestrogen levels stimulate the endometrium which bleeds. When the level is high, this bleeding is called breakthrough bleeding and when the oestrogen level falls, it is called withdrawal bleeding.

Occurrences

Stress
Breast-feeding
Pre-menopause
Post-Pill
In a few women normal cycles may be very long due to infrequent ovulation.

Chart 5. Delayed ovulation in a normal fertile cycle. The record begins in the pre-ovulatory phase.
BIP = dry;
Rule 1: days 1-3;
Rule 3: days 8-11;
Rule 3: days 13-17;
Rule 3: days 20-28;
Rule 3: days 31-36;
Rule 3: days 39-49;
Rule 4: days 50-57
Rule 1: day (58) 1.

day	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27	28	29
Peak
possibly_fertile
wait									1	2	3				1	2	3									1	2	3
infertile
Sensation	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	wet	dry	dry	dry	dry	wet	wet	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	sticky	sticky	sticky	sticky	sticky	sticky	dry	dry	dry	dry
Appearance

day	30	31	32	33	34	35	36	37	38	39	40	41	42	43	44	45	46	47	48	49	50	51	52	53	54	55	56	57	58
Peak																	X
possibly_fertile																		1	2	3
					1	2	3				1	2
infertile
Sensation	dry	wet	wet	wet	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	wet	dry	dry	wet	slippery	slippery	slippery	slippery	sticky	sticky	sticky	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	dry	wet
Appearance															strings spotting	strings bleed		opaque	opaque	opaque
day 58: menstruation begins

Reference: Evelyn L. Billings and John J. Billings, Teaching the Billings Ovulation Method Part 2. Variations of the Cycle and Reproductive Health, Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia, pp. 2-3, Melbourne, 1997.