Cycle Charting Confusion.

Knowing when, how and what exactly to chart can be a very difficult and stressful task. The first thing to know is that there are several things you will need to look for every month concerning your body.

One of the easiest things to keep track of it your cervical mucus (CM). Your CM will change throughout your cycle and there are certain CM consistencies and colours that you should be aware of. When you are close to ovulating and on the actual ovulation day(s) you will notice that there is an increase of CM and it will be thin, clear, stretchy and of egg-white consistency. Once ovulation has pasted, you will notice that your CM either becomes dry or thicker that during ovulation.

The next thing to do is keep to buy an ovulation prediction kit (OPK). These are useful as they pinpoint your exact ovulation day(s) 12-24 hours before hand so that you have time to prepare for your ovulation.

Another easy but sometimes inaccurate way of charting your cycle is to keep a track of your body basal temperature (BBT) which will be at its lowest point while you are ovulating. After your ovulation days have passed, your BBT increase by about a tenth of a degree. Please note that tracking your BBT shouldn't be used as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s) - it is only use to confirm that you have actually ovulated. If you track your BBT every month, then you may be able to use it as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s).

Cramping is also another sign of ovulation and could be a useful method of charting your cycle (if done correctly). You may feel a twinge of pain or abdominal pains which is thought to be the release of an egg from an ovary. So make sure you pay close attention to and pains in the lower part of your tummy!

Getting to know your cervix is yet another method of charting your cycle. As ovulation occurs, your cervix will high, soft and slightly open which makes it easier for sperm to travel through it. You should check your cervix daily using one or two fingers to feel for changes and be sure to chart/ record the positioning of your cervix.

Last but not least, you can use a calender to keep a track of the day(s) you will be ovulating. As different women's cycles vary from month to month, you should rely completely on ovulation calendars as they are just a rough estimate based on the pattern of your period.

I also recommed you visit www.fertilityfriend.com as they can gie you tutorials on how to chart your cycle with accuracy.

Hopefully this information is useful!

Good luck and happy trying!