Written by Gunjan Bedi
Your vaginal discharge can tell a lot about your reproductive health and fertility. You will just have to notice and understand its signs. The Billings ovulation method is one such effective way to comprehend what your cervical mucus wants to tell about your fertility chances. Based on your comprehension you can use the billing ovulation method to get pregnant.
So what is the Billings ovulation method and how does it work? How can I use this method to get pregnant? What are the advantages and disadvantages of such natural methods of fertility testing? Here is all the information that you are seeking.
In This Article
The Billings ovulation method is the most widely used method for predicting the most fertile time of a monthly cycle. In this method, a woman can get an idea of her ovulation period by interpreting the changing secretion patterns of her cervical mucus (1). This method gets its name from its inventors – Dr John and Evelyn Billings. It is the most natural, effortless, and reliable method of securing the best chance of getting pregnant.
To understand how the Billings method works you will have to pay regular attention to your vaginal discharge. The cervix or the lower end of the uterus constantly produces cervical mucus in a fixed pattern throughout the month. Mainly the estrogen and progesterone hormones regulate the amount, color, and thickness of the cervical mucus (2).
During the ovulation period, the estrogen hormone causes an abundance of slippery and cristal clear vaginal fluid (3). This fertile cervical fluid has a texture, color, and elasticity similar to egg whites. You can even feel your pants wet due to the huge discharge of vaginal fluid during ovulation.
Throughout the majority of your menstrual cycle, your vaginal fluid will be thick, sticky, and dry due to the progesterone hormone. This is called Basic Infertile Pattern or BIP in the Billings Method (4). But when you get closer to your ovulation day, BIP ends and you get your classic fertile mucus.
So, by checking the wetness in your underwear or the consistency of the vaginal fluid at the mouth of the vagina, you can easily predict your fertile days. And it is during this time when you get this type of vaginal fluid you should have good sex to get pregnant.
There are four basic rules of Billings Ovulation Method that you will have to follow to be pregnant (5).
Avoid sex during menstrual bleeding days. If you have a short monthly cycle length but prolonged menstruating days then your fertility may start even when you are menstruating but you may not know it due to the bleeding.
You can have sex on alternate nights when you observe BIP to avoid confusion due to seminal discharge after sex. The chances of sperm survival are also low in such types of dry vaginal mucus.
If you see a change in your BIP wait without sex until the day you notice the signs of a fertile mucus.
Have regular intercourse during fertile cervical mucus days and also one or two days after it to secure the best chances of conception. This is because the egg will be alive for 12 to 24 hours after release for the sperm to fertilize it.
So, by constantly monitoring your vaginal mucus, you can get an idea of when your fertility window opens. Let the sperm in through that window and if everything lays right you will get good news by the next few weeks.
You will get control over your reproductive health when you get the knowledge of how it works. The Billings ovulation method helps you to learn your fertility patterns and regulate your sex life accordingly (5A). The advantages of the Billings ovulation method are
Changes in cervical mucus can indicate ovulation but it cannot confirm it. There are disadvantages to the Billing ovulation method.
Hence for extra assurance, you can take a body basal temperature test along with the billing ovulation method.
In certain conditions, the Billings ovulation method of tracking the fertile period may not be that useful. You should not rely on the billing ovulation method in cases like;
Your cervix secretes vaginal discharge or cervical mucus out of the influence of sex hormones. And by noticing the changing patterns of cervical mucus you can tell which sex hormone is acting prevalently in your body. Hence you can predict when estrogen is causing ovulation through the billing ovulation method to get pregnant. So do not hesitate to look down.
The Billings ovulation method is quite an accurate method of understanding your fertile window. The accuracy of this method will however depend on your regular observation of the cervical mucus and hormonal balance. You will have to avoid irregular periods to increase the accuracy of this method.
The Billings ovulation method can be an effective measure to achieve or prevent pregnancy if you have a fixed menstrual cycle. In a standard 28-day menstrual cycle ovulation occurs on the 14th day. Cervical mucus starts changing after 10 to 12 days of the first day of periods and you can easily notice it. But for women with irregular menstrual cycles, the process can be a bit more challenging and confusing and requires constant monitoring.
To use the Billings ovulation method to get pregnant you will have to follow its four rules. Sex on alternating days during BIP regular unprotected sex during peak time of ovulation and two days after will be best to get pregnant.
References
Gunjan Bedi an inspirational writer and story teller. My background in medical science make me a perfect content writer in parenting and medical content writing niche. My content has touched millions of readers within three years. Since past three years I have worked with several clients in different niche and provide easy to read content that readers love the most.Read more.
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