Help & Support Center

What is Cycle Charting/Fertility Charting?

It is a method of predicting ovulation and fertility. It involves recording different symptoms each day to look for signs and patterns that indicate increased fertility. These may include oral/vaginal temperature taking, cervical fluid observations, cervix position, texture and opening, saliva ferning patterns, etc. These signs can be charted to enable analysis of changes throughout your menstrual cycle.

Cycle/fertility charting can help you get pregnant. Healthy couples and couples experiencing fertility problems can benefit from cycle charting. Tracking the signs that are proven indicators of fertility allows you to understand when your fertility is highest and you can then time intercourse accordingly.

As your body prepares for a possible pregnancy, the brain sends hormonal triggers to your body to prepare for ovulation and the release of an egg. These hormonal triggers also produce signs and symptoms that you can observe and track. By keeping track of these symptoms, you can begin to understand when ovulation occurs.

What does charting involve?

Cycle/fertility charting involves recording daily symptoms. The idea is to pinpoint your most fertile time each cycle. The most commonly used are basal body temperatures, cervical fluid observations and ovulation predictor kits. Other signs you can record are cervix position, texture and opening, saliva ferning patterns and fertility monitors results.

It is not necessary to chart every fertility sign. Most women start by charting basal body temperature (BBT). It is useful to identify when and if ovulation occurs during your cycle. BBT data can also help indentify a potential fertility problem and your charts may be useful for your doctor.

Cervical fluid observations can be very valuable as well. BBT only identifies/confirms ovulation after it has occurred. Cervical fluid, on the other hand, indicates approaching fertility. Knowing when ovulation is approaching is key!

Charting multiple fertility signs and symptoms increases your chances of timing intercourse correctly (the days leading up to ovulation are most likely to result in pregnancy). The more information you have the better prepared you will be each cycle. Knowing that you are in fact ovulating and knowing what signs indicate impending ovulation will increase your chances of conception greatly!