Most couples are unaware of the significance of the cervical mucus secretion in avoiding pregnancy. Once a woman has learned to identify her fertile days, a couple can learn to avoid pregnancy 98.5% of the time -- that's as good a rate as any method of contraception.
The fertile phase begins in a woman's cycle on the first day a woman observes the presence of mucus, or feels a slippery, wet sensation. It is not necessary to check the mucus with the fingers, its presence and changing pattern can be observed when the vaginal opening is wiped with tissue.
Women find that their ability to recognize changes in mucus develops rapidly and becomes second nature to them. Studies show that most women can chart a recognizable mucus pattern after only one month of learning the Ovulation Method. We suggest that a couple abstain the first month they are learning the Ovulation Method. This initial constraint leads to the freedom from artificial contraceptives for the rest of your life!
The cervical mucus has some exceptional qualities: it assists sperm transport and provides the proper environment in the vagina that is necessary for the maintenance of sperm fertilizing capacity. The importance of fertile-type mucus is now recognized by infertility specialists throughout the world.
A couple of normal fertility is fertile on an average of three to six days. The woman's egg lives an average of 12 to 24 hours, the man's sperm can survive inside the woman's body only during the days when cervical mucus is present in her body. This cervical secretion enables sperm to be fed and provides them with the necessary energy to be able to fertilize the egg. Sperm survival can be approximately three to five days, depending on the presence and number of days of fertile-type mucus secreted by the cervix.
Here's a brief summary of the Ovulation Method:
1. Avoid sexual relations on the days of menstrual bleeding. Watch for the beginning of mucus as menstrual bleeding diminishes. In some cases, there are no dry days after menstruation. Why? The bleeding could conceal the presence of mucus when the fertile phase begins early in the cycle.
2. Early Days Rule: If there are dry days after menstruation, restrict intercourse to every other evening. Why? Seminal fluid on the following morning after intercourse could conceal the presence of mucus.
3. Once there is a change from dryness to the presence of mucus or sensation of wetness, avoid sexual relations until the fourth day after Peak Day. Sexual relations can be resumed on the morning of the fourth day after the Peak. Why? The egg survives only between 12 to 24 hours. The sperm can survive only when fertile cervical mucus is present in the woman's body. By the end of the Third Day, the cervix prevents sperm from entering the uterus by developing a thick mucus plug.
4. The Peak Day: The Peak Day is the last day that the mucus is stretchy or feels wet and/or slippery at the vulva. There are times when the wet sensation persists, even though the mucus is not seen. The Peak is identified the day after it occurs when a change to sticky, non-elastic mucus, or to dryness is observed. The correct identification of the Peak will be verified by menstruation occurring 11 to 16 days later. Why? Ovulation may be on the day of the Peak, or one to two days before or after the Peak. Sperm entry is possible into the uterus during the fertile phase and for three days after the Peak. The cervix prevents sperm entering the uterus after the third day by developing a thick plug of mucus through which the sperm cannot pass.
5. Late Days Rule: On the fourth day after the Peak, sexual relations are open to the couple anytime, day or night, until the next menstruation. During this time, the cervix prevents sperm entering the uterus after the third day by developing a thick plug of mucus through which the sperm cannot pass.
