infertility

Fertility awareness is particularly valuable for couples with fertility problems as this can help to:

• identify occurrence of ovulation and the timing of ovulation
• predict the days of maximum fertility
• optimise the timing of intercourse to conceive
• time tests used for investigation of fertility problems

To conceive
For the normal fertile couple, conception is possible at any time during the fertile phase, but intercourse is most likely to lead to conception on days when highly fertile mucus is present, when there is a wet or slippery sensation at the vulva, and the cervical mucus is clear and stretchy like raw egg white. The most abundant fertile mucus normally occurs one or two days prior to peak day and is a time of very high fertility. Peak day, the last day when highly fertile mucus is present, frequently coincides with the day of ovulation. The temperature shift confirms that ovulation has taken place. At the time of maximum fertility, the cervix is high, short, straight, soft, open and flowing with fertile mucus.