Understanding Your Cycle & Fertile Signs

Transcription

1 Understanding Your Cycle & Fertile Signs Victoria Fitter 1

2 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this book is up to date and accurate. As the information provided in this book is of a general nature, it cannot be used for individual cases. This is an informational ebook about natural fertility awareness and is not intended to be medical advice. You are advised to obtain professional medical advice on all personal health matters or unusual symptoms. The author does not accept any legal responsibility for personal injury or other damage or loss arising from the use or misuse of the information and advice in this book. 2

3 Understanding Your Cycle and Fertile Signs Victoria Fitter 3

4 Contents Contents... 4 Introduction... 5 My Experience and Approach... 6 Chapter Overview of the Menstrual Cycle... 7 Chapter Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting: What, When, Why and How to Do it Chapter Cervical Mucus (CM) Charting: What, When, Why and How to Do it Chapter Other Fertility Signs and Techniques Chapter Interpreting Your Chart Chapter Interpreting Your Symptoms Further Support... Error! Bookmark not defined. About the Author Victoria Sophie Contact Victoria

5 Introduction Thank you for choosing Understanding Your Cycle and Fertile Signs. As you are reading this ebook, I know you must be interested in reproductive health and natural fertility. There are many aspects to fertility health and this ebook outlines natural fertility awareness techniques and fertility charting to help you gain a greater understanding of your own health and menstrual cycle. The ebook is designed for women who are preparing for conception or who experience menstrual symptoms and irregularities. It is a practical guide for those wanting to gain a greater understanding of their body and clues to what is going on with their hormones and cycle. This helps to identify any potential causes for concern, as well as providing you with records to show your GP and fertility specialists if necessary. You will cover natural fertility awareness tools and techniques for tracking and understanding your cycle. You will learn how to identify and record your fertile signs to maximise your chances of conception and become a master at interpreting your own unique charts. You will gain the natural fertility secrets I share with my clients and understand why some commonly used methods of fertility charting may be misguiding you. To optimise your fertility naturally, it is important to also address your diet, lifestyle and emotional health. If you are interested in learning more about this and devising your own unique plan to optimise your fertility naturally, you can book a one-to-one consultation with me. Alternatively, join one of the online courses for personalised advice from the comfort of your own home. For more information, visit 5

6 My Experience and Approach I have been working in the field of natural health and complementary medicine since 2008 and a large part of that has been in natural fertility. Among the hundreds of women I have worked with, they include those preparing for natural conception, for assisted reproductive techniques and many who have been given the devastating diagnosis of unexplained infertility. If you are like them, you want to learn how to reconnect with your body, to feel empowered by your knowledge and understanding of your own fertility and know what to do to optimise your chances of a full-term pregnancy and a healthy baby. Each individual is unique and requires dedicated tailored treatment and guidance to best suit her. However, the basics of understanding the cycle are the same for everyone and require a good knowledge of natural fertility awareness. I think all women should do this, as it provides an amazing insight into the ins and outs of our hormones! This is why I have produced this ebook; to provide you with the tools you need to get started and to empower you to take positive action to optimise your health and fertility. Once you have mastered the basics, you can use your records to work out if any further action or investigations are needed - whether Western medicine and/or complementary therapies. These are some of the values that make up my overall approach and philosophy: You should be treated as a whole person, not a set of symptoms. Self-care is vital in taking responsibility for your own health and bringing about positive change. Be kind to your body. Shower it with regular TLC, both physically and through internal self-talk. Enhance and expand your knowledge and understanding to ensure you play an important part in your own healing, rather than give yourself over entirely to someone else be that Doctor or Complementary Practitioner. Irregularities, imbalances and apparently bizarre symptoms can lead to positive change and transformation. Your body knows just what to do. Maintain trust in its ability. Sometimes it just needs a helping hand and the support to do so. I hope you enjoy reading Understanding Your Cycle and Fertile Signs. Please get in touch with any feedback; I would love to hear your thoughts. Victoria Fitter 6

7 Chapter 1 Overview of the Menstrual Cycle Before we go into further detail about preparing for conception and noticing your fertile time, it is important to understand the basics of the menstrual cycle. There is a complex interaction between many different hormones at various times during a cycle, all of which are governed by the hypothalamus and pituitary glands in the brain. This is why stress can have such a big impact on hormonal health and fertility. For the purpose of this ebook and with conception in mind, we are going to cover the essentials rather than trying to get through the entire inner workings of human biology! The 5 Key Female Hormones and How they Work in a Non-Pregnant Cycle 1. Gonadotrophin Releasing Hormone (GnRH): *Released from the hypothalamus *Tells the pituitary gland to release FSH and LH 2. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): *Produced by the pituitary gland *Tells the small follicles to mature *Production is switched off by high levels of oestrogen, just before ovulation 3. Luteinising Hormone (LH): *Produced by the pituitary gland *Stimulates the release of an egg = ovulation *Tells corpus luteum to produced progesterone *Levels drop quickly after ovulation 4. Oestrogen: *Produced by the ovary *Tells pituitary gland to increase LH *Tells pituitary to reduce production of FSH *Stops maturation of the egg and switches on egg release 5. Progesterone: *Produced by the ovary *Slowly increases over the second half of the cycle (luteal phase) *Maintains endometrium (womb lining) 7

8 This diagram shows the way that the hormones change through the cycle. In case you re wondering, estradiol is a type of oestrogen. The 2 Phases of the Menstrual Cycle 1. Follicular Phase: From day 1 of the menstrual period to the day of ovulation. 2. Luteal Phase: From the day after ovulation until the last day of the cycle. We will be discussing more about these phases when you come to look at your fertility charts so this is here for your reference. The Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System Many women don t know where their womb and ovaries actually are. I think it is important to have an understanding of your body ahead of your pre-conception preparation. Please note, I will use the terms womb and uterus interchangeably. They mean the same thing! 8

9 First of all, we are going to carry out a very simple exercise: Lie down on your back with a pillow under your head and one beneath your knees. Place your hands out infront of you. Join the tips of your thumbs together. Join the tips of your first fingers together. This creates a triangle. Keeping your hands in this position, place your joined thumbs on top of your tummy button. Allow your 3 rd, 4 th and 5 th fingers to relax and spread slightly apart. Where your 3 rd (middle) fingers fall is where your uterus lives. Where your 5 th (little) fingers fall is where you will find your ovaries. This is an approximate guide but is really helpful to find your lovely reproductive organs! Most women I see are surprised by how low down their organs are. You can see in this diagram how the other parts of the female reproductive system connect to the womb and ovaries. Fallopian Tubes Ovary Womb Lining (endometrium) Womb (uterus) Cervix Vagina 9

10 Things to Do: Carry out the exercise above and locate your reproductive organs. Be aware of the wonderful interaction between each of the glands and hormones of the endocrine (hormonal) system. Be grateful to your body and your organs for all they do for you each and every day - including your digestive system, lymphatic system and nervous system, as well as the hormonal system. Remember that your body knows exactly what to do and will do so automatically without any conscious thought from you. Occasionally it may get a little off track and simply needs a helping hand to head back in the right direction. Relax in the knowledge that your body wants to maintain balance and with a little support, this balance can be regained. In this chapter, we have covered the role of the glands and hormones that work through the female menstrual cycle. We have looked at the anatomy of the main organs of the reproductive system and you know where they are located. 10

11 Chapter 2 Basal Body Temperature (BBT) Charting: What, When, Why and How to Do it Basal Body Temperature Charting (BBT) is a consistently dependable method to give you an insight into what is going on with your body and your hormones. It is the only reliable way to confirm that you have ovulated (released an egg) in that particular cycle. After 3-4 cycles, you will be able to see a pattern to your charts. This will give you an indicator as to when you expect to ovulate in the next cycle and therefore when you are most likely to be fertile for conception to occur. BBT charting can also highlight potential irregularities and hormonal imbalances that you may otherwise be unaware of. For countless women I have seen in the clinic, this has been an instrumental tool in encouraging them to see their GP and request further investigations after facing conception difficulties. So you can see that this can be invaluable in helping you to understand your cycle and your body something that many women find incredibly empowering. You can download a chart by visiting Alternatively, I would highly recommend the Fertility Friend app. 11

12 What is BBT Charting? The method of BBT charting involves taking your temperature each morning and recording on a specific chart through each menstrual cycle. The change in temperature is the result of hormonal changes that occur through the cycle. How Does it Work? As we have learned, the initial phase of the cycle from menstruation to ovulation is called the Follicular Phase. In this phase, you would expect the Basal Body Temperatures to remain low and relatively even. What is normal for you in the follicular phase will vary but ideally will sit within a range of temperatures, which we will cover in Chapter 5. After ovulation, progesterone is produced in much higher quantities, to build the womb lining in preparation for a potential embryo. This increase in progesterone causes a subtle rise in our basal body temperature. This will be seen on your chart and 3 days of consistently high temperatures is the indicator needed to confirm ovulation has taken place (the rule = 3 consistent temperatures higher than the previous 6). Again the rise will differ sometimes by just 0.2 degrees, others by 1 degree. This will remain high until it drops when the next cycle begins. If conception occurs, the temperature will remain high throughout pregnancy. Why Should I do BBT Charting? It is a reliable tool used to confirm ovulation. This release of an egg is vital for conception to occur. Various hormonal imbalances and conditions can prevent ovulation so keeping a record can highlight any potential causes for concern early on. For irregular cycles, it can be very useful in planning conception and understanding your cycle. What s more, it gives a clear indication of your most fertile time; therefore increasing your chances of conception. BBT charting also tells us the length of each phase of the cycle. We may have a regular 28 day cycle but the Follicular Phase may be either too long or too short and the Luteal Phase could be too short. How else would you ever know?! It is a fantastic way to highlight any potential imbalances and address them before trying to conceive. Again we will talk through the phase lengths in more detail in Chapter 5. When to Do BBT Charting First thing in the morning, before getting up, eating, speaking or drinking. 12

13 How to Do BBT Charting * Get yourself a BBT thermometer to 2 decimal places. They are more difficult to find in pharmacies now than they used to be. Look in the Resources section of the website ( to find the link to a good one. * Keep your thermometer by your bed. * As soon as you wake up and before much movement, drinking, speaking etc., take your temperature under your tongue. Record your temperature on your chart. The first day of your period is day 1 so you may need to start half way through your chart, depending on where you are in your cycle currently. * Make notes in the designated sections about any circumstances that may affect your reading, e.g. Illness Alcohol Stress Disrupted sleep Things to Do: Buy yourself a Basal Body Temperature thermometer. Download your BBT and CM chart and print or download the Fertility Friend app Start taking your temperature each morning as per the directions above. Record your temperatures on your chart or in your app. In this chapter, you have learned what BBT charting is and its benefits, why it is a useful tool and how and when to do it. You can download and print your own chart and start using it right away! After a few weeks, you will begin to see a pattern. Take your chart with you to appointments with doctors, specialists and complementary therapists, as it is such a great indicator of what is going on with your hormones and your fertility health. A practitioner experienced in natural fertility will be able to help you interpret your chart, advise on ways to correct any imbalances and refer you for further investigations where necessary. 13

14 Chapter 3 Cervical Mucus (CM) Charting: What, When, Why and How to Do it Cervical Mucus (CM) charting is another simple tool you can use to identify the hormonal changes through your cycle and to pinpoint your most fertile time. By contrast to BBT, which can only tell you when ovulation has already occurred, CM is used to identify the time when you are most fertile BEFORE ovulation occurs. This can be very useful when identifying your most fertile time to optimise your chances of conception. Similarly to BBT, CM charting can highlight any potential irregularities or hormonal imbalances and a thorough chart can tell you an awful lot about what is going on inside! You don t need any tools or gadgets for this; you simply record your observations on each day. After some practice, this soon becomes second nature and you won t even need to think about what you are looking for. What is CM Charting? This method involves recognising and recording the mucus or fluid that is produced by your cervix each day. You may notice this in your underwear, as a sensation as you walk about during the day or on the toilet tissue when you visit the bathroom. As your hormones fluctuate and perform their little dance together through the cycle, the texture and sensation of your cervical mucus will change. By noting down on your chart your observations for each day, you will begin to see a clear pattern to help you identify your most fertile time. Together with your BBTs, this will create a clear picture. How Does it Work? As the Basal Body Temperature fluctuates through the month, so does the CM. The changing patterns reflect the hormones through the cycle; moving from an initial infertile pattern, to fertile in the middle of the cycle and then back to infertile towards the end of the cycle. You will notice different textures such as creamy, sticky, crusty or stretchy. You will feel sensations such as dry, damp, wet or slippery. Our bodies are very clever. These changes come about for a very good reason. During certain times of the month, the cervical fluid is more hostile to sperm, preventing conception. This is seen as sticky, crusty, dry or you may notice nothing at all. During the fertile time, the mucus has vertical channels to allow the sperm to swim up towards the egg. This will be seen as clear, stretchy and with an appearance of raw egg white. The sensation will be wet and slippery. By recognising the different types of CM through the month, you can more easily identify your most fertile time, thus enhancing the chances of conception. Some couples who have had trouble conceiving are simply missing this most fertile time each month! 14

15 Why Should I do CM Charting? It is a quick, simple and free way to gain an understanding into what is going on in your body, what your hormones are up to and to identify your most fertile time to maximise your chances of conception. It is something that doesn t require too much thought or effort. You simply take note of your observations as you go about your day. Fertile mucus is crucial for nourishing sperm and is only produced during a small window in the cycle. Non-fertile mucus that is produced at other times in the cycle can be hostile to sperm or block it altogether. No noticeable cervical mucus can also highlight a potential cause for concern. So being aware of your own pattern provides a lot of information about your fertility. When to Do CM Charting Any time, as you go about your day. It is easiest by checking your underwear and/or the toilet paper after using the bathroom. How to Do CM Charting On your chart or app, there is space for you to record the Cervical Fluid and Vaginal Sensation. As you go about your day, take note of any sensation at the cervix. It may feel dry, wet or slippery. The fertile mucus you are looking out for is slippery. You may notice when you go to the bathroom that you feel very wet and slippery and you may find you have to wipe twice. Notice any mucus in your underwear. Throughout most of the month, it may look creamy, sticky or you will notice nothing at all. The fertile mucus you are looking out for 15

16 is clear and stretchy. It resembles raw egg-white and can be stretched between the fingers. On your chart according to the appropriate day of your cycle, note down whatever you have noticed that day. If you haven t noticed anything at all, write dry. It is normal to have a few dry days after the end of your period and in the latter days of your cycle so don t panic if you don t see anything! If you have noticed e.g. creamy just once that day and nothing for the rest of the day, you would write creamy. Things to Do: Start to notice the appearance of your cervical mucus in your underwear through the day and on the toilet paper each time you use the bathroom. Become aware of the sensation around your vagina as you walk about during the day. At the end of each day, note down whatever appearance and sensation you noticed on your chart or app, according to the key again according to the appropriate time in your cycle. Chapter 3 has covered what CM charting is and its benefits, why it is a useful tool and how and when to do it. You can add your observations to your existing chart, along with your temperatures. CM charting is something that many women find a bit tricky at the start. After one cycle, you will be much more confident in knowing what you re looking for! If you have any questions about how to record CM or your own observations, please book in for a one-to-one consultation for personalised advice. 16

17 Chapter 4 Other Fertility Signs and Techniques We have covered BBT and CM - the two key tools to measure hormonal activity through the month and that help you to identify your most fertile time (we will be going through how to identify your most fertile time in Chapter 5). Cervical Position Another common technique is to feel for the position of the cervix, as this changes through the month. I haven t yet found anyone who finds this a reliable method and many women do not wish to use their fingers to feel for the position. It can get quite confusing and in my opinion is far too much hassle than it s worth! If you do wish to use this technique, it should only be used as a secondary method to back up your BBT and CM charts. Ovulation Predictor Kits Many of the women who I see in the clinic use Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs). They are designed to detect the surge in Luteinising Hormone (LH) in the urine, which occurs just before ovulation. By using the OPK to monitor hormone levels around the time of expected ovulation, you can catch your most fertile time, according to the smiley face or other image on your OPK that indicates there has been a surge in LH. This can be useful when your cycles are regular, you know you are ovulating and you want to narrow down your fertile window to maximise your chances of conception. However, the most important thing to remember is that OPKs do not confirm that ovulation has occurred. Instead, they detect the LH surge. This surge can still happen and yet the egg is not released. This is most common in conditions such as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, where the body is trying to release an egg and the hormones will do their thing but not quite enough to trigger ovulation. According to your OPK, it looks like you are about to ovulate but this may not be the case. Without your BBT, you will not know. 17

18 Why OPKs are Not Always Helpful You may notice one LH surge and then another a few days later and think that you have ovulated twice. This is unlikely to be the case so they can be very deceptive. They are expensive when you re doing them for a few days each month. They are of very little use for women with irregular or very long cycles, as you won t know when in your cycle to start testing! They can be misleading for women close to the menopause, as again they can show the surge as the body tries to ovulate but fails. They take you away from being in touch with your own body and recognising its signs, as you are reliant on a gadget. Many women don t get on with OPKs and find them unreliable and a bit of a faff! If you want to use OPKs, my advice would be to combine with BBT and CM charting and use only as a secondary method to confirm the findings from your chart. There is a space on your chart to record your OPK result. Things to Do: Continue to record your BBT each morning. Continue to record your CM each day. Try the other forms of fertility awareness that we have discussed if you would like to and see if they work for you. In this chapter, you have learned about two other forms of fertility charting. This exploration into your own health and fertility is for you and different people relate better to different methods. If you would like to learn more about cervix position and Ovulation Predictor Kits, do some research and see whether you would like to try. In this ebook, we will be looking at BBT and CM charting only. After many years of experience, I believe these to be the simplest, less invasive tools and without doubt the most reliable. They are also free! 18

19 I believe that one of the greatest benefits of charting is to understand what is going on with your own body and to feel empowered and inspired by the miracles it performs for you every day. There are all sorts of gadgets you could buy but in my opinion, these get in the way of the relationship between you and your body. A thermometer could also be thought of in that way but your temperatures can tell you so much more about the pattern of your cycle so this is my exception and it really is worth it! After a few months, it is rarely necessary to keep temperature charting, as you will be able to predict your own unique pattern. You don t need an OPK to tell you when your LH is surging! Instead, listen in to the subtle messages and signs from your body and this will tell you all you need to know. 19

20 Chapter 5 Interpreting Your Chart As we discussed previously, a menstrual cycle is split into two phases the follicular phase and the luteal phase. Follicular Phase: Day 1 Ovulation Day Luteal Phase: Post-Ovulation Day Last Day of Cycle Follicular Phase This phase is governed primarily by the luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). The first few days include your period. This begins with the first day of full flow. Not spotting (spotting would fall into the Luteal Phase of the previous cycle). This is usually 3-6 days. It will differ between women but 4-5 days is average, with the first couple of days being heavier flow and gradually tailing off over the next 2-3 days. The next few days approach your fertile time, when cervical mucus becomes increasingly nourishing to sperm and your body and hormones prepare for conception. The follicular phase ends on the day of ovulation. Luteal Phase The luteal phase begins on the day after ovulation. It is governed primarily by progesterone and oestrogen and is the time when your body is preparing for supporting an embryo in the event that an egg has been fertilised. The womb lining continues to build and will either remain in the event of a pregnancy or will shed if fertilisation has not occurred. Cervical mucus dries up and makes it more difficult for sperm to enter the cervix. 20

21 Basal Body Temperature Through the Cycle Follicular Phase Temperatures will remain low. They may begin low at the start of the period or sometimes fall gradually over a couple of days. Ideally they should sit at around C and will fluctuate slightly. If your temperatures are consistently lower than 36.3 C, I would advise pointing this out to your healthcare provider and requesting a thyroid profile blood test. There is no confirmed link between hormonal contraception and low basal body temperatures but I have seen many women presenting such temperatures following time on the oral contraceptive pill or similar. Usually with some bodywork, nutritional and herbal support, this balances after a few months. This is one of the reasons I always recommend women to stop taking oral contraception as soon as possible before wanting to conceive 12 months at the very least to allow the body to readjust. It also gives time to rectify nutritional deficiencies caused by the contraception. It is more unusual but if your temperatures are running consistently higher than 36.6 C in the follicular phase, I would suggest seeing an acupuncturist or Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner specialising in women s health. This can indicate imbalances that can again be rectified with some support. Luteal Phase After ovulation has occurred, you will notice a significant rise in your temperature usually 1 to 2 days later. This is usually between 36.6 C and 37 C. The temperature rise is caused by progesterone. This is a natural response to keeping the body warm to nurture a growing foetus. You can think of your womb as a little incubator to support the growth of a baby, in the same way that animals prepare a warm and cosy nest for their eggs and young. It is important to keep warm during this phase in particular when preparing to conceive. Keep your feet toasty especially and don t allow yourself to get really cold or wet. If your follicular temperatures are on the low side, your luteal phase temperatures probably will be too so follow the advice above. 21

22 The luteal phase is when progesterone is produced to build the lining of the womb to hold a growing embryo and build this nest. This requires days. If your luteal phase is short, i.e. fewer than 11 days, it is unlikely that you will be producing enough progesterone to build the lining effectively, for the embryo to implant or to sustain a pregnancy. A short luteal phase Luteal Phase Defect is also associated with a higher risk of miscarriage. This is another crucial reason why it is so important to look at these factors BEFORE trying to conceive so you are aware of any potential difficulties and are able to do something about them. Look at the pattern of your BBT chart. A fertile chart should look something like this: Temperature Day of Cycle Here we can see the follicular temperatures remaining relatively low, followed by a small dip and then a sharp rise at day 15. This would suggest that ovulation occurred the DAY BEFORE, i.e. day 14. This is an example and of course everyone will present with slightly different charts. Remember to note down any factors that might affect the temperatures such as illness, alcohol, stress, disturbed sleep etc. Your optimum fertile window is 3 days before ovulation, the day of ovulation and the day after ovulation. So in this chart, the most likely time for conception to occur would be between day 11 and day 15. The most fertile day is the day of ovulation, i.e. day 14 in this chart. Once you have completed a few cycles and combined the BBT with your CM charts, you will have a much better idea of when you are due to ovulate and can therefore time intercourse accordingly. Cervical Mucus Through the Cycle Gatekeeper Mucus For 3-4 days after your period, you probably won t notice any cervical mucus at all. At this point the sensation is dry and nothing seen is put in the texture box of your chart. During this point in your cycle, the Gatekeeper mucus is present. It forms a plug at the cervix until the beginning and after the fertile phase of the cycle. This plug prevents sperm from entering. 22

23 L Mucus After the dry couple of days, you may notice a slightly damp or sticky sensation and you may see changes in texture such as creamy. Note these on your chart. The L Mucus is the filter it eliminates low quality sperm. Fertile Mucus As the name suggests, this is the type required for conception to occur. You will notice a very wet and slippery sensation as you go about your day and particularly when you use the bathroom. You will see the texture as stretchy, clear and it looks like raw eggwhite. Your most fertile day is the LAST day of Fertile Mucus. This is ovulation day. You will notice this type of mucus for anything up to a few days before ovulation. Fertile mucus assists the sperm to swim up the vaginal canal towards the ovum. It nourishes and protects the sperm for 3-5 days. If you notice fertile mucus but do not see a temperature rise on your BBT, this can indicate hormonal imbalance and it is important to get this investigated. After ovulation, you will notice the texture may vary between dry, sticky and damp. The texture may be creamy, crusty or nothing seen. Factors that May Result in Lack of or Poor Quality Cervical Mucus Oral Contraceptive Pill - A long time on the contraceptive pill can damage the crypts that produce the mucus, which may take some time to recover Retroverted/retroflexed uterus (tilted backwards) Anovulatory cycles (when you do not ovulate) Use of anti-histamines and cough mixtures 23

24 Clomid or Clomiphene medication used to induce ovulation but they affect oestrogen responsive cervical mucus cells and block the natural mucus production Damage to the cervix, e.g. in surgery Low oestrogen this can be caused by too many xeno-oestrogens from our environment, smoking, caffeine and not enough real oestrogens Being underweight will prevent ovulation and you therefore will not produce mucus If you think that any of these factors affect you or that you have a lack of cervical mucus, we cover all the things you can do to improve its quality and enhance the health of your womb in Modules 2 and 3 of the Healthy Woman, Healthy Womb online course. Things to Do: Continue to record your BBT each morning. Continue to record your CM each day. Start to look for patterns in your charts. Notice your temperature range. In Chapter 5, you have learned how to interpret your personal BBT and CM chart. After a couple of weeks of charting, you will know your temperature range and whether this highlights any cause for further investigations. You know the different types of cervical mucus, how they work through the cycle and what you are looking for. You know the common factors that affect mucus quality and quantity. Remember that the BBT and CM patterns outlined through the cycle will vary between women so there is no normal chart. Instead, use yours to recognise your own personal fertile signs and changes through the cycle. 24

25 Chapter 6 Interpreting Your Symptoms You may find it helpful to add any pre-menstrual or other symptoms that you experience through your cycle to your chart. This can be a useful tool to notice any patterns emerging. There are many common pre-menstrual and menstrual related symptoms that women report, including: Headaches Fatigue Cravings (usually for sugar) Lower back pain Abdominal cramps Bloating Nausea Irritability Skin breakouts While these are extremely common, it is so important to remember that they are not normal symptoms that all women have to put up with. They are usually a sign that your body is not quite processing the hormonal fluctuations as well as it could be. For all of these symptoms, looking after your detoxification system is key. This means providing your body with whole, nutritious foods rather than artificial, foreign toxins 25

26 that require lots of energy to process and excrete from the body. The liver, kidneys and skin are the primary detoxifying organs of the body. If these are burdened with having to deal with toxic waste (both physical and emotional), they will not have the resources to remove excess hormones from your blood. Left floating freely through your body, they play havoc and tend to cause some or all of the symptoms listed above. Your menstruation and related symptoms can also tell you a lot about what is going on with your body and your hormones and we are going to cover some of the most common ones here: Pain This is probably the most frequently cited symptom that women report. It is useful to ask yourself: Where do you experience the pain? Is it dull, aching, sharp and/or dragging? When does it start? When does it end? Does it prevent you from carrying out your normal daily activities? I have seen so many women go from severe debilitating pain to significantly reduced levels or sometimes none at all. There are so many things you can do to help yourself, such as specific dietary changes, exercise and movement, reducing your toxic load and self-fertility massage. The type and location of pain are key indicators of potential misalignment of the body or of the womb and is assessed on an individual basis during a consultation or Fertility Massage treatment. Pain should always be investigated by your healthcare provider, as it may be an indicator of fibroids, cysts, adenomyosis or another more serious condition. 26

27 Length of Menstruation Extremely heavy, long periods lasting longer than 6 days may be an indication of conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis or adenomyosis. This may also come about as a consequence of hormonal imbalance. Very light or short periods (less than 3 days) may be indicative of low progesterone (this is secreted to build the womb lining), ovarian cysts, poor circulation or other hormonal imbalance. Bleeding between periods may be a sign of something more serious such as disease of the reproductive organs. All of these should be investigated by your healthcare provider. Colour and Texture of Bleed The colour and texture of your menstrual flow are also good indicators as to the health of your womb and its circulation. Healthy blood should be red and flow easily without clots or stickiness. Dark brown blood before and after menstruation is old blood that has not been cleared after the last menstrual period. This may come about due to hormonal imbalances, poor alignment of the uterus or poor circulation to the pelvic region. Clots and thick, sticky blood can be an indication of stagnation, lack of circulation and poor diet. Spotting before the period may suggest low levels of progesterone, causing the uterine lining to shed too early. All of these can be improved with various self-help techniques and lifestyle changes. 27

28 Things to Do: Pay attention to your pre-menstrual symptoms and write them on your chart or in your diary Notice your menstrual symptoms, e.g. length and colour of menstrual flow, location and type of pain Pursue further investigations if necessary to ensure the health of your womb and ovaries ahead of conception In this final chapter, we have covered the common menstrual symptoms and possible reasons. You also know when it is important to seek professional medical advice. There are a huge number and combination of symptoms that women experience and these must be assessed on a unique basis. This is why the information provided in this chapter is a guide and not to be used as an individual diagnosis. If you are concerned about a particular symptom, please visit your healthcare provider. Conclusion This ebook has outlined the menstrual cycle to provide you with a greater understanding of its patterns, as well as helping you to recognise the fertile signs that your body provides for you each and every day. After a few weeks, you will begin to see patterns in your BBT and CM charts. I hope you have enjoyed it and that you have gained lots of useful information. For one-to-one support and guidance and Fertility Massage treatments, please victoria@thenaturalfertilitytherapist.com. 28

29 About the Author Victoria Fitter After many years working in the holistic health industry, a natural progression in training and experience led me to work with women preparing for conception, those having difficulty conceiving and those preparing for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). You may seek out treatment for help with stress and anxiety related to fertility issues you are experiencing and for more specialised bodywork for conditions such as menstrual irregularities and pain, fibroids, ovarian cysts and support following some time on hormonal contraception. You may feel at a loss as to what you could be doing to positively affect your chances. You may feel a lack of control over your situation, particularly when faced with medical intervention so empowering them you with self-help tools is key. My training in natural fertility includes nutrition and lifestyle factors that affect hormonal balance and fertility, natural fertility awareness techniques and specialist treatments including fertility massage, reflexology and acupressure. There are countless situations that I have been a part of, in which a woman has achieved her goals with some support, guidance and an enhanced understanding and respect for her body. I have also worked with hundreds of women who have pursued ART and have been empowered by the tools they have learned and knowing they have done everything within their power to increase the chances of a positive outcome. It is worth noting that research by Foresight the Association of Pre-conceptual Care in the UK demonstrated that adopting natural fertility methods increased success rates of IVF patients from 25% to 47% (2003). I am so passionate about this area of natural health, as I have seen incredible transformations in women after committing to implement small changes to benefit their fertility. There is SO much that we can all do to help ourselves and I want more women to know the facts, to feel empowered and to gain a greater understanding of their body. This is why I wrote this ebook; to reach and inspire more women like you, who are serious about their health and fertility and to reassure you that there is so much you can do to help yourself. I feel very strongly about conscious conception and pre-conception preparation for the enduring health of the new lives we are creating. Contact Victoria w: e: victoria@thenaturalfertilitytherapist.com 29