NFPS-7813 S-T CHART CYCLIC PROBLEMS

For the woman experiencing cyclic problems....

A woman who uses a natural method of family planning will be more in tune with her body and alerted to cyclic problems, including changes in bleeding pattern, or cervical secretion.

She will also have an early warning of vaginal infections or other gynaecological problems.

Women are taught to recognise cyclic irregularities and to be alert to changes in the pattern of fertility and infertility - for example:

Stress commonly delays ovulation, or may be sufficient to suppress it completely.

Some analgesics are anti-pyretic and will therefore often result in a lower temperature reading than expected.

Antihistamines may have a drying effect on cervical mucosa and therefore reduce the amount or affect the quality of the secretion.

Post-pill irregularities

There are many variations to be expected after stopping the pill. Some women will recognise normal fertile symptoms very quickly, others will find disturbances lasting for several months and still others will notice an apparent return to normal fertility with disruption later.

The following cyclic changes are commonly seen post-pill, in some cases for up to a year or longer

Variations in cycle length and in the pre-and post-ovulatory phases

Long, normal length and short cycles.
Variations in shift day
Short post-ovulatory phases, around 8-10 days
Anovulatory cycles

Effects on mucus pattern

Persistent dry days
Unchanging mucus pattern
Continuous scant sticky mucus
Continuous watery or milky pattern
Erratic mucus patches of varying types of mucus
Heavy mucus flow
Mucus symptoms not in relation to temperature shift

Effects on temperature

False high temperatures
Temperature and mucus signs not correlating

This very long seventh post-pill cycle, continues off the end of one chart and on to the next - a non too rare occurrence particularly post-pill.

The cervical mucus is a continuous thin white secretion showing more fertile characteristics from day 41 leading to peak on day 43.

The temperature is quite erratic but using the coverline technique the shift can be seen days on day 42.

Correlating the temperature with the mucus symptom, as the peak day occurs after the shift, the post-ovulatory infertile phase does not start until day 46, that is after three high temperatures past peak day.

Pre-menstrual syndrome

Pre-menstrual changes such as breast tenderness and irritability are considered ‘normal’ by most women, but if symptoms are severe, and lasting up to half the cycle, they can cause serious disruption to a woman, her family and social life.

A swinging temperature in the post-ovulatory phase may indicate a disturbance in the progesterone levels.

Recording cyclic irregularity on a fertility chart can help women to understand their symptoms.

It also provides an opportunity to discuss diet, lifestyle and stress factors, and to consider indication for referral for further treatment.

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