Natural Family Planning – Billings Ovulation Part III

In my first write up of the Billings ovulation method, please note this method is a God-given gift to mankind thru Dr. John Billings and his associates. We don’t need to take contraceptives to space the birth of our children.

In the second write up, ovulation (release of the egg from the ovary) starts at puberty and the fertility of the woman ends in menopause. However, there are women who menopause at the early age of 37 or 38 and women who menopause at a later age of 50 and above. As I mentioned the window of opportunity to conceive is approximately seven days but this window lessens to six days, then five days, then four days, then three days, then two days, then one day, then the window closes forever (menopause). I am emphasizing this because there are women who does not want to have children yet after they get married and use contraceptives to ensure this happens. And when they are ready to have children they later realize they can never have children. How pitiful when that happens.

I am giving more facts on the Billings ovulation method.

There are three things to remember in attaining pregnancy:

1. Sperm – which comes from the man.
2. Egg – which comes from the woman.
3. Mucus- produced in the cervix of the woman

The cervical mucus –
There are different kinds of mucus. Observation is necessary to identify the fertile mucus produced by the cervix in the days leading up to ovulation. Sperm of the man needs this fertile mucus to survive. When it is present, sperm may live for three to five days. Without the fertile mucus, the sperm cannot reach the egg.

While everyone’s body is different, the general changes that cervical mucus go through are dry or sticky, to creamy, to wet, to a raw egg white consistency, and then back to dry and sticky. These are discharges that a woman would see in her underwear.

To make it clearer –

1. If what you find seems sticky, or findings are scant, you’re probably not ovulating yet. You are infertile.
2. If what you find is creamy, ovulation may be coming, but not just yet.
3. If what you find is wet, watery, and slightly stretchy, ovulation is very likely close. Find time for some baby-making sex because this marital act becomes lifegiving.
4. If what you find is very wet, stretches between your fingers for an inch or more, and resembles raw egg white, your cervical mucus is very fertile. Ovulation is right around the corner, and now is the ideal time for marital act.

Take note for following –

1. Check your underwear during evenings every day. Don’t check during or right after intercourse, or when you are feeling sexually aroused. Your wetness might be caused by vaginal fluid or semen from the man.
2. You can also check your cervical mucus by looking at the toilet paper or your underwear.
3. If you have finding anything, checking your cervical mucus after a bowel movement may be easier.
4. There is also the feeling or sensation. Sometimes you may not see the mucus, but you feel wet. This is also a sign of ovulation. When you feel dry, you are infertile.

Tips:
If you pay daily attention to the mucus produced throughout your menstrual cycle, you will notice a pattern including:

• In the days following menstruation, you may either feel dry or notice a consistent pattern of discharge (infertile phase)
• Then you observe a change from the infertile phase, either in sensation or the appearance of the mucus. You no longer feel dry (beginning of the fertile phase).
• In the days leading up to ovulation, you will notice a changing pattern of sensation and mucus. The vulva will begin to feel slippery (fertile phase).
• The last day of the slippery sensation is the peak of fertility. Ovulation occurs no more than 48 hours after the peak.
• After the peak, the vulva feels dry or sticky. The woman is infertile form the fourth day past her peak until the next menstruation.
• Menstruation occurs 11 to 16 days following the recognition of the peak.

As I mentioned in my second write-up, charting is a must. This will help you identify your ovulation or your fertile phase. You will also know your reproductive health and the sex of the baby. This will also enhance the relationship of husband and wife.

For more clarification, please contact your parish priest or any Family Life Apostolate member in your area. You may go to the internet and look for www.woomb.org.

Maria Theresa L. Acuna/Contributor