Fertility tracking

Fertility tracking by measuring cycle length and cervical mucus requires no additional devices or kits. However, many smartphone apps provide guidance and make the process much easier. Fertility tracking through measuring body temperature will require using a digital thermometer. Temperature should be taken every morning before getting out of bed or after rest for 3 hours. This is known as the basal body temperature. Various kits and subscription services are available for this technique, but you can use a fertility tracking chart template online at family planning websites.

Ovulation kits are available and measure hormone levels in the urine to predict if a woman is in her fertile period.

Natural family planning can be 99% effective if used consistently and correctly. This method requires patience and motivation because recording ‘fertility signals’ is needed daily. It can take 3-6 cycles before a woman is comfortable enough to read and understand her cycle. If this method is not used correctly, the effectiveness can be lower. Stress, illness and other lifestyle factors can affect a woman’s cycle and make it harder to interpret ‘fertility signals’ effectively. Recording a combination of different ‘fertility signals' can improve the effectiveness and accuracy of fertility tracking, and using a variety of natural family planning and barrier methods like condoms can increase effectiveness even more.

Advantages:

• No hormones or invasive devices needed: safe for women who cannot take hormones for any reason
• No side effects
• Acceptable to most faiths and religions
• Helps a woman to understand her cycle and recognize typical characteristics vs. abnormalities

Disadvantages:

• Effectiveness can range and fluctuate depending on user error and other factors such as illness and stress
• Requires daily monitoring of ‘fertility signals’
• High fertile days will require abstinence or other forms of contraception