An effective system of recognizing potentially fertile days through temperature curve has been comfirmed by more than 10 years experience of Doering (Munich) Holt (Holland) Ryan (London) and several American workers. To avoid the serious failures which occurred with former systems when a couple would abstain at the calculated fertile time but could not recognize a variation from an expected pattern of ovulation the cycle should be considered from 3 phases -- the postovulatory phase the fertile phase and the postmenstrual infertile phase. While learning the postovulatory phase is the exclusive phase to be used as a safe period. It begins when the daily temperatures taken orally with the accurate Ovulindex thermometer have risen above a critical level for 3 consecutive days. For most women this is 98 degrees. Only about 10% of women have a critical level as much as .3 degrees higher or lower than this. The temperature curve finally rises to about 98.3 degrees. A numerical chart is simpler to use than a grid and permits records to be reviewed over the telephone when necessary. This phase lasts for about 10 days and ends eith the onset of menstruation. The fertile phase the time for absolute abstinence is predicted from a calendar of previous ovulations with variable success. Temperatures drift downward usually to below 97.5 degrees but they do not identify this phase nor the exact day of ovulation. Patients can recognize this phase more exactly by characteristics changes in the cervix and the cervical mucus. Ovulation for all practical purposes should be considered as occurring only once in a cycle. the approach of ovulation sometimes is irregular or interrupted. Preovulatory changes in the cervical mucus are only a response to a rise of the estrogen level and are not to be confused with ovulation itself. The postmenstrual infertile phase variable in length begins at the end of the menses. A formula to calcualte its end day (the beginning of the possible fertile time and of abstinence) is to take the length of the shortest menstrual cycle recently observed and subtract 19 days. After becoming experienced women may take only a shorter sequence of temperatures from just before the fertile phase until it has passed. The efficiency of this guide to periodic continence depends on the care the doctor takes to instruct and supervise. Other determinants include the couples motivation to avoid conception their ability to learn as shown in the management of personal affairs intensity of the sexual drive and cooperation between them in a mature love.

Menstruation

Natural family planning

Cervical mucus

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[The change in position of the uterus in the menstrual cycle].

PubMed (1989)

Edward F. Keefe

Position (finance)

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