Checking for Mucus
The technique described here for observing mucus is proven the most effective for reliably defining days of fertility and infertility.
You begin with a piece of toilet tissue folded flat. Wipe the vulva area from front to back, paying attention to the sensation you feel as the tissue moves over the perineum towards the anus. The perineum is the flat, smooth piece of skin between the opening of the vagina and the anus.
Once you have decided what the sensation is sensation, observe the tissue for the presence or absence of mucus. If mucus is present, finger test it for colour, and consistency. To finger test mucus pick it up off the tissue hold it between your thumb and forefinger at eye level, try and stretch it between your thumb and forefinger and observe how much the mucus stretches, and notice its colour and consistency. Then make a mental note of the observation.
At the end of the day chart the most fertile observation you have seen during that day. As well, note how many times you saw the most fertile sign.
Check every time you go to the bathroom. Check before and after urination, before and after a bowel movement, last thing at night before you go to bed, and before and after bathing. At first you must remind yourself to do these observations, but quickly it becomes a habit. Once learned, you know how hard it is to break a habit!!
The observation most commonly forgotten is before urination. Many women find it helpful to make the observation while still standing just before they sit down to use the toilet.
Check for mucus every day throughout your cycle, except the days of heavy and moderate menstrual flow. No checks are made on those days because you would not be able to differentiate cervical mucus from endometrial fluids that are flowing out during menstruation. However, on the light and very light days of the menstrual flow, observations can be made as reliably as on any other day.
Accuracy and confidence in determining fertility or infertility depends on making observations 100% of the time. It may be expected that not consistently following the routine of checking for mucus will decrease accuracy in overall observations, and decrease user effectiveness and confidence.