Cervical Mucus Method

The Cervical Mucus Method is sometimes also called the Billings or the ovulation method. 

By charting the change in cervical mucus (or vaginal discharge), a woman can tell when she is ovulating.

When a woman has her period, the vaginal discharge is masked by the menstrual flow.  Following her period, there are often a few days where there is little to no vaginal discharge.  After this there will be a period of discharge that is white, cloudy, and somewhat sticky.  When ovulation occurs, the discharge becomes like egg whites: clear and stretchy.  This is generally followed by a period white and sticky discharge, and then sometimes a period of no discharge.

The Cervical Mucus Method says that ‘safe days’ for unprotected sex are the days when you are dry.  The days when there is white and cloudy discharge you might get pregnant, and days when you have clear and stretchy discharge, you have a high chance of getting pregnant.  It is not safe to have sex during menstruation if you are trying to prevent pregnancy, because the menstrual flow can mask the cervical discharge.

If you only have sex on dry days, you have a lower chance of getting pregnant than if you have sex on both dry days and days when your cervical mucus is white and tacky.

There are a few ways of checking the cervical mucus.  You can wipe the outer vagina with white toilet paper before you pee.  You can also analyze your vaginal discharge on your undergarments.  You can also insert a clean finger into the vaginal canal to check.  Be consistent in your method of checking.

It is best to keep records with this method of contraception, like all fertility based methods. 

Consult a professional for instructions on how to properly use this method.