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{In no situation do we ever recommend that fertility diagnosis or treatment be undertaken without the oversight of a qualified medical practitioner. Please use the enclosed information as quick reference and for discussion aids with your practitioner.}

So, you know all there is to know about a woman's ovulatory cycle, but you're still trying to conceive? Let's overview ovulation prediction methods:

Calendar Method

This refers to the standard information that "a woman's cycle is 28 days in length, therefore she ovulates on Day 14." Unfortunately, this is a huge generalization. In fact, there is a wide range of normalcy when it comes to menstrual cycles (24 to 35 days), and most women do not have cycles of the exact same length each time.

This means that finding your most fertile time strictly based on the calendar is leaving a lot to chance, which may work out fine if you're of average or above fertility. If, on the other hand, you're average or even subfertile, it could result in a tremendous waste of precious time.

Sympto-Thermal Method

This is a combination of methods gaining widespread popularity through books and websites. Sometimes referred to as the "Billings method," "natural family planning" (NFP), or "fertility awareness methods," it basically consists of understanding and being aware of the various signs that a woman's body offers to signal approaching fertility.

Basal Body Temperature (BBT):

BBT simply refers to a baseline reading of your body's temp, that is, the temp your body typically runs before any physical activity occurs (other than the activity of your organs doing their thing). Keeping track of your BBT, commonly referred to as "tracking" or "charting," over a period of several cycles can help detect a pattern of fertility.

It is often recommended (or required) by fertility professionals (and insurance companies) that a woman chart her BBT for at least three months before moving forward with any other treatment decisions.

More On Ovulation Prediction >

• More Sympto-Thermal Methods 2
• OPK's, Microscopes, & Other Devices 3
• Ovulation Tracking Software & Calculators 4