Knowing your own menstrual cycle well is the best strategy for women who want to get pregnant or even for those who wish to avoid pregnancy. Knowing which phase you are in your cycle and keeping track of it with a menstrual calendar makes life much easier for the modern woman. Many women may think that the menstrual calendar or the infamous “rhythm method” is useless, until they start using it and see that it is a great tool for planning, whether it is a trip, a romantic night, getting pregnant more easily or even avoiding pregnancy by protecting themselves during fertile days.
IMPORTANT: For women without a regular cycle, the menstrual calendar should not be used as a contraceptive method. If you want to prevent pregnancy, use condoms!
How to Make My Menstrual Calendar
Making your menstrual calendar or your rhythm chart is very simple. Just have a paper calendar in hand or use a mobile app to keep track. If you prefer a paper calendar, just write down the first day of your period and from that date, start counting your cycle. 
To know your fertile days, it is necessary to know how many days your cycle lasts (from the first day of one period to the first day of the next) and for that, you will need to be sure of at least your last 2 menstrual dates. If you haven’t been keeping track, start writing it down in this cycle so you can use your menstrual calendar with more confidence in the next cycle.
Chart for Those Wanting to Get Pregnant
As we’ve already mentioned, the menstrual calendar can be used for several purposes, including helping those trying to conceive know when their fertile window is and which days to try a bit harder to get that positive result faster. Let’s give an example with a regular 28-day cycle. You should mark the first day your period starts in your calendar, and from that day, count forward 14 days. The number of days you should count is always half your cycle (for a 28-day cycle, half is 14 days). Since the cycle can change a bit due to daily stress or hormonal changes, you should also consider the 3 days before and 3 days after as possible fertile days. For example: if your period came on the 12th, the 14th day will be the 26th. So on the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th, these are the most fertile days of your cycle. Make the most of these days for intimacy!
Chart for Those Wanting to Avoid Pregnancy
The menstrual calendar is also very useful for women who wish to avoid pregnancy. We must emphasize that it is not a 100% safe method, especially for those without a regular cycle, which is why we always recommend using other methods for prevention. However, the menstrual calendar will help indicate the highest-risk days when you should avoid having unprotected sex. But just like for those who want to become pregnant, the method must be followed strictly with the correct day count to avoid mistakes. To ensure the effectiveness of the menstrual calendar and to know your fertile period, you need to know how long your cycle lasts, for that you should know the dates of at least your last 2 periods and count the cycle’s duration. In the same way used for getting pregnant, let’s assume the woman has a 28-day cycle. The menstrual calendar should be marked on the first day your period comes and count to the 14th day (always count half the cycle). Because the cycle can undergo natural changes every month, we recommend always considering three days before and three days after the 14th day to ensure the effectiveness of the method. For example: If your period came on the 5th, your 14th day will be on the 19th. So the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd are your possible fertile days and you should avoid having sex. If you want to have sex on these days, use a condom to protect yourself. You can mark this period of higher risk in red or any other standout color to stay alert. If you wish to avoid pregnancy, use other methods together with the menstrual calendar to make sure. Using condoms, spermicidal lubricants, the vaginal ring, or even oral or injectable contraceptives are temporary options and can be discontinued once you want to get pregnant.
Other Ways to Identify the Fertile Window
Besides the markings on the menstrual calendar being very valuable, other methods used together with the rhythm chart increase the chances of greater success. For example, measuring basal temperature, using ovulation tests, observing cervical mucus, and paying attention to body signs and discomfort.
Basal Temperature
Basal temperature is an asset for modern women trying to conceive. The temperature should be measured orally or vaginally, always in the morning and at the same time to guarantee good tracking and reliable results. The temperature must be taken with a proper basal thermometer. As ovulation approaches, the temperature usually rises by 2 to 5 degrees, which indicates that it is time to try or to avoid sex, for those who do not want a pregnancy.
Ovulation Tests
Another ally for those trying to conceive, the ovulation test serves to detect the ovulatory phase, making it easier for those who want to become pregnant faster. Using the ovulation test together with the menstrual calendar, the chances of getting pregnant are even higher. The ovulation test is a small strip, similar to a drugstore pregnancy test. The test is also done with a small urine sample. The only differences are that it is sensitive to the LH hormone (pregnancy tests are for the HCG hormone) and the best time to test is late afternoon (from 3 pm to 7 pm).
Cervical Mucus
One of the changes the female body goes through with each cycle is the mucus. By the appearance and consistency of the mucus, you can know if the woman is close to ovulation, in it, or has already passed it. At the beginning of the cycle, it’s normal to notice whitish mucus similar to moisturizer. But what indicates that the fertile period is approaching is clear mucus, more consistent, with a phlegm-like appearance. The most obvious mucus of ovulation is the elastic mucus, also clear but with a stretchy consistency. When touched with your fingers and pulled apart, the mucus stretches. This is the best mucus for those who want to get pregnant.
Issues During the Menstrual Cycle
During the menstrual cycle and all the changes your body goes through, it is normal for various situations to appear such as discomfort, pain, discharge, or spotting. All are part of hormonal changes in each phase.
Discomfort at the Start of the Menstrual Cycle
The start of the cycle is marked by menstruation and with it all the discomfort, abdominal swelling, breast tenderness, menstrual cramps, and in some cases even malaise and exhaustion that some women experience in this phase. But with the end of menstruation, all these symptoms disappear.
Discomfort in the Middle of the Menstrual Cycle
Considered the middle of the menstrual cycle, the ovulatory phase comes with various symptoms and changes, some easily noticed and others less so. During the middle of the cycle, it is common for women to feel a mild pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen, often barely noticeable. This mild discomfort is the well-known ovulation pain, where in some cases it’s possible to feel the egg being released. The pain may last minutes, hours, or sometimes is immediate, lasting just seconds.
IMPORTANT: Ovulation pain is not felt in every cycle and some women are not even aware they feel it
At this stage, vaginal moisture is different and the presence of cervical mucus is evident in some cases. Libido is also increased at this stage, and the sense of smell is sharper and more sensitive.
Discomfort at the End of the Menstrual Cycle
The end of the menstrual cycle is marked by the body preparing to menstruate again. At this stage, PMS (premenstrual tension) appears, making women even more sensitive. In this period, it is common to feel abdominal bloating, increased breast sensitivity, breakouts and acne may appear, and above all, mood swings become more noticeable. Fatigue, decreased libido, appetite and sleep changes are also common. In extreme cases, where these symptoms affect a woman’s professional and social life, a doctor should be consulted for appropriate treatment and symptom control.
