The Third Indicator -INTERPRETING CHANGES IN THE CERVIX


Guidelines for interpreting cervical signs:

  • A low, long, tilted, firm, closed, dry cervix indicates infertility

  • A high, short, straight, soft, open, wet cervix indicates fertility
To conceive - Intercourse should coincide with the signs of maximum fertility

To avoid pregnancy - Intercourse should be avoided from the onset of fertile signs until the third evening of the post-ovulatory infertile cervix.

Cervical signs alone should not be relied upon as a means of avoiding pregnancy.



The following chart show how the changes in the cervix can help to confirm the other indicators of fertility to ensure the highest degree of efficiency.

Length of this cycle - 28 days

The fertile phase starts on day 9, as indicated by :

  • First sign of mucus

  • First sign of change in the cervix - (softening)

The post-ovulatory infertile phase is confirmed on day 17:
  • Following the third high temperature past peak day

  • After the cervix has returned to its infertile state - low, firm, closed and tilted.


Cervical signs may be helpful as a double check with mucus symptoms, especially at times when the temperature cannot be considered a reliable guide such as during illness.

In such circumstances intercourse should not be resumed until the fourth evening after peak day which usually corresponds with the third evening of an infertile cervix.

The cycle illustrated above was recorded by an experienced user who has limited her observations to the necessary part of the cycle - from the end of the period (unless a woman has very short cycles) until post-ovulatory infertility is established.

There is no benefit in continuing to record cervical signs or mucus symptoms during the post-ovulatory infertile phase, as this is both unnecessary and potentially confusing.



Return to 'Cervical Changes - an Indicator of Fertility'



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