Marquette University | Natural Family Planning

	WWW.MARQUETTE.EDU CAMPUS CONTACTS SITE INDEX

| Login

Breastfeeding protocol
for fertility monitor

Breastfeeding protocol
for mucus

NFP and long cycles

NFP and short cycles

Perimenopause

NFP after using
hormonal contraception

Stress

Vaginal Hygiene
and Vaginal Infections

Premensteual Syndrome (PMS)

Continuous Mucus
and Other Body Fluids

Management of
Continuous Mucus

Return to fertility
after child birth

Medical referral
for women's health problems

NFP and unusual bleeding


	Mucus monitoring tip: differentiating cervical and vaginal fluids: If you have difficulty differentiating between cervical fluid and vaginal secretions, dip the sample in a glass of water. If the sample is cervical fluid, it will form a blob and sink. If it is vaginal secretions, it will dissolve. Slippery cervical fluid should feel slippery even when held under water - like a FISH.

NFP and Management
of Continuous Mucus

Continuous mucus can be one of the most frustrating situations (for both the NFP teacher and the woman user) in trying to interpret NFP charts that utilize cervical mucus as a fertility indicator. Many women users of NFP will experience mucus patches (one or two days of mucus) or continuous mucus rather than a dry pattern. There are many reasons for the experience of mucus patches or continuous mucus. The following are some of the most common reasons for non-dry patterns of infertility, how to manage these situations and example charts:

•	Seminal fluid can appear as peak type mucus and may be present 3-5 days after intercourse.
•	Arousal fluid can appear as peak type mucus and may confuse mucus readings for the day.
•	Poor vaginal hygiene may cause continuous high or peak type mucus.
•	Vaginal infections.
•	Normal vaginal discharge up to a year after the birth of a baby.

First 6 cycles mucus:

Second 6 cycles mucus:
Management of continuous mucus:

Click to enlarge

THE BEGINNING OF FERTILITY:
1.	Fertility BEGINS on day 6 of the first 6 cycles.
2.	After 6 cycles, fertility BEGINS on the earliest day of “peak” type mucus during the last 6 cycles minus 6 days or the first "high" mucus reading - whichever comes first.

THE END OF FERTILITY:
3.	Fertility ENDS on the last “peak” day of cervical mucus plus 3 full days.
4.	After 6 cycles, fertility ENDS on the last “peak” day of the last 6 cycles plus 3 full days, or the last "peak" day of cervical mucus plus a count of 3 full days - whichever comes first.
5.	Mucus that has a High rating after the count of three days post peak may be ignored if there is a clearly identified monitor peak-day and/or BBT temperature shift.

This Site was made possible
by a generous donation from
Our Sunday Visitor Institute