If you’re searching for family planning tools, fertility monitoring is something you may want to consider. The process works by tracking your fertility each month, giving you insight into which days you have the best chance of conception.
At Interior Women’s Health, we celebrate all tools that empower women to take charge of their health and wellness. Fertility monitoring is a great example and a wonderful resource for residents of Fairbanks, Alaska.
Here’s how fertility monitoring works and how you can get started.
Fertility awareness is exactly what it sounds like: increasing your understanding of the phases of your menstrual cycle with the intention of knowing which days you are most likely to conceive.
When used for birth control methods, this approach is sometimes called the rhythm method or natural family planning. There are a few ways to approach fertility awareness.
One approach is tracking your body temperature. You simply take your temperature at the same time each morning, and when your temperature rises, it’s a sign you’ve just ovulated. You are most fertile in the couple of days before this temperature rise, so tracking your cycle over time and assessing your temperature daily gives you the information you need.
You can also track your ovulation by an increase in your cervical mucus, which is the slippery, clear discharge that you might notice each month. Once ovulation is complete, the discharge will usually become thicker and cloudier.
Of course, there’s also the good old-fashioned calendar method, which works by charting your menstrual cycle on a calendar to predict when ovulation occurs. Many women use a combination of these three methods to track their fertility.
Electronic fertility monitors are a popular way to better understand the phases of your menstrual cycle. There are many options on the market, some with more features than others.
These devices can assess the volume of hormones in your urine using test strips, which let you know when you’re likely to ovulate. Some monitors also check your saliva and/or temperature to assess fertility. There’s even an option that uses a skin patch to gather the necessary data.
Fertility apps are another advancement in family planning. These apps allow you to turn your phone into a fertility tracking device. You simply enter in some basic information about you and your cycle, and the app calculates your more fertile days.
Given how much time many of us spend on our phones, having a fertility app installed can remind you to prioritize conception amid your busy life. Here again, there are many options to choose from and a variety of features.
No matter which fertility monitoring system you choose, the team at Interior Women’s Health encourages you to schedule a visit with our office to learn how to prepare your body for the challenges of pregnancy. We also offer fertility assessments if you’re concerned about your ability to conceive.
Scheduling a visit takes just a few moments of your time. You can always connect with our administrative staff by phone or use our online booking option.
