Observations, Charting and Rules

Observation of Mucus

A cycle lasts from the beginning of menstruation to the beginning of the next menstruation. It can be short or long.

As a woman walks she can tell when menstruation begins. She feels wet at the vulva. When she looks she sees blood.

In the same natural way she feels the presence of mucus when it begins and notices how it changes from time to time. The sensation and appearance change. Sperm live in the mucus. The mucus tells the woman when she can conceive and when she cannot conceive.

A record is made every evening of any bleeding and mucus that has been observed during the day, paying particular attention to vulval sensations.

The first record is made for 2 to 4 weeks without any genital contact.

learn your fertility - know your fertility

 

 

Summary of observations, charting and rules of the Billings Method

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

1

2

3

Peak

 

X

 

possibly_fertile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

2

3

 

wait

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

infertile

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phase

Menstruation

Basic Infertile
Pattern

Change

Peak

Days 1,2,3
past Peak

Luteal Phase

Next Cycle
begins

 

Menstruation

  

Heavy bleeding obscures mucus when ovulation is early

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Wet, bleeding (red) ----------Dry, spotting-----------No mucus felt or seen

To avoid conception:

Wait during heavy bleeding

If you want to have a baby:

Wait during heavy bleeding

Endometrium is shed. Ovary is resting Vulva wet

Basic Infertile Pattern (BIP)

 

 

Unchanging pattern before the fertile phase, varying in length.

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Dry, nothing felt or seen ------OR------Dry, slight mucus seen, same every day

To avoid conception:

Alternate evenings are available for intercourse when BIP is identified

If you want to have a baby:

Alternate evenings only during BIP

Sperm cannot enter uterus. Sperm die. Ovary is resting. Vulva dry

Change

  

Fertile pattern - Changing pattern

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Change No longer dry at vulva
Sensation change, appearance change; Wet, slippery at vulva
Clear mucus strings may appear, then disappear - Slipperiness at vulva continues

To avoid conception:

Wait no genital contact

If you want to have a baby:

Wait until mucus becomes slippery

Ovary is active: cervix produces fluid mucus and plug leaves cervix making sperm entry possible; Vulva no longer dry

Peak Fertility - Vulva feels swollen, soft and slippery

 X

Fertile pattern - Changing pattern

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Continuation of Change (see above)

To avoid conception:

Day of maximum fertility. Genital contact should be avoided until the 4th morning past the Peak.

If you want to have a baby:

Have intercourse when the sensation is slippery and the vulva is soft and swollen.

Peak fertility - Vulva feels swollen, soft and slippery

Days 1, 2 & 3 After Peak

1

2

3

Fertile for 3 days after Peak, sperm may still enter.
Ovulation occurs on only one day in cycle: Peak or Day 1 or Day 2 after Peak

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Sticky mucus - Dry - No longer wet or slippery

To avoid conception:

Still waiting, intercourse is available from the 4th morning past the Peak.

If you want to have a baby:

Intercourse may still result in conception during these 3 days.

Sperm joins egg in tube. Endometrium prepares for pregnancy. - Vulva no longer wet or slippery.

Luteal Phase - infertile, egg is dead

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Infertile, egg is dead

The Daily Record (Observation/Sensation/Appearance)
Dry or some variable mucus felt and seen over next 2 weeks

To avoid conception:

Intercourse is available at any time until menstruation begins.

If you want to have a baby:

Intercourse is available at any time. Conception is no longer possible.

Next Cycle

    

Next cycle begins (red)

To avoid conception:

Wait

If you want to have a baby:

Ovulation sometimes occurs before bleeding ends

Slippery mucus indicates the best time for conception