You can time ovulation by charting your menstrual cycle. This Complete Fertility Charting Guide will help you to learn different ways to chart your cycle and predict ovulation!
If you have considered learning how to chart your monthly cycle, but are not sure where to begin, this guide is for you! I find that combining multiple methods of charting can greatly help you to determine if you are ovulating. Charting helps you to know if and when you may be ovulating, which will help you to know when to try to conceive. Charting will help you to know when to take your supplements, while also helping you keep track of when you last used them. You can also monitor your progress. Keeping a chart, either written or online will help you to map out your entire cycle. This gives you a window into the inner workings of your fertility, especially your hormone fluctuation. Get to know your most fertile days!
The intention of this page is to help you find the tools you need to chart. There are different methods to learn for charting your cycle. There are also useful tools you will need to chart. Last, but not least, there is support. I wanted to provide you with information to connect you to charting support groups. Feelings that often come up when charting can be strong. So, if you ever feel lost, frustrated, confused, or happy you just ovulated; you can share it with other women. Many women in charting groups have been charting their cycles for a long time; they have become experts with very useful tips for charting correctly, as well as providing immense encouragement!
How-To Fertility Chart Video Series
Fertility charting is one of the most important tools you have on your natural fertility journey. Following is a series of how-to videos, sharing with you how to fertility chart using one of our favorite tools; Fertility Friend.
Part I: Ovulation, Fertile Days & Getting Pregnant
Learn how fertility charting can help you to find your most fertile days and your ovulation date to maximize conception chances while trying to conceive. Determine which days in your menstrual cycle give you the best chance of getting pregnant.
Part I: Ovulation, Fertile Days & Getting Pregnant - Fertility Friend
Part II: Fertility Signs, Hormones, Ovulation & Fertile Days
Learn how your fertility hormones, estrogen and progesterone, relate to fertility signs that can show you what is happening throughout your menstrual cycle. Understand how to observe your cervical fluid and basal body temperature signs and how to use these signs to find your ovulation date and fertile days; create a fertility chart to help you get pregnant faster.
Part II: Fertility Signs, Hormones, Ovulation & Fertile Days - Fertility Friend
Part III: Fertility Chart, Detecting Ovulation and Fertile Days
Learn how to chart your fertility signs, how to read and interpret a fertility chart, and how to identify your ovulation date and fertile days by observing and recording your basal body temperature and cervical fluid observations. See how recording your fertility signs can show you when you ovulate, which days you can get pregnant, when you can expect a positive pregnancy test and how to find your most fertile days in your menstrual cycle.
Part III: Fertility Chart, Detecting Ovulation and Fertile Days - Fertility Friend
Complete Charting Series: Articles to Help You Learn the Basics
Part 1: Cervical Mucous
Part 2: Basal Body Temperature
Part 3: Charting
Ovulation Tools and Resources
Ovulation calculator
Below is a quick and easy way to estimate your most fertile days based on your menstrual cycle length. It is important to note that this ovulation calculator is for estimation only and should not be relied upon as a sole means for calculating ovulation. Every woman has a unique ovulation time and cycle length.
Instructions: Enter the first day of your last menstrual period and how many days are in your cycle. The ovulation calculator will provide you with your estimated fertile days and estimated due date if you get pregnant during this time frame.
 When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” ~Author Unknown |
Free Fertility Charts
To print out a fertility chart, click on one of the links below:
Fertility Chart (Fahrenheit)
Fertility Chart (Celsius)
Ovulation Tracking Tools
OPK Tests
Ovulation Predictor Tests (OPK Tests) detect Luteinizing Hormone surge (LH). LH surges right before ovulation. OPK tests may help you determine when you are about to ovulate.
Digital Basal Body Thermometer
A woman can predict ovulation by taking her temperature. If you are not sure you are ovulating, you can take your basal body temperature (BBT). The body’s resting temperature increases four-tenths of a degree Fahrenheit or two-tenths of a degree Centigrade under the influence of progesterone at ovulation. Observing this sign involves taking your temperature at the same time each morning before rising. Once your temperature rises, you have already ovulated and will not be fertile.
Ovulation Microscope
This fertility tool has 97% accuracy in alerting you to ovulation up to 72 hours in advance. This allows you enough time to get you and your partner’s schedules coordinated. Ovulation Microscopes allow you to identify your most fertile days by testing and viewing the visual changes that take place in saliva throughout your monthly cycle. Just prior to ovulation, women experience an “estrogen surge,” and a distinct fern-like pattern becomes visible in saliva due to the hormonal changes.
Cycle Beads
CycleBeads is an easy way to plan or prevent pregnancy naturally. This color-coded string of beads enables a woman to track her cycle and know if she is on a day when pregnancy is likely or not.
Clearblue® Easy Fertility Monitor
The Clearblue® Easy Fertility Monitor tracks 2 hormones to typically identify up to 6 fertile days – it not only shows you your 2 Peak Fertility days, it can also inform most women of an extra 1-5 days of high fertility prior to their peak fertility. We find this is one of the best tools on the market to predict your most fertile days!
Fertility Friend
Is an amazing fertility charting website, dedicated to serving women who desire to connect to their cycles in an intimate, knowledgeable way! Fertility Friend also helps women who want to maximize their chances of conception!
Other Helpful Articles
Are you looking for more information? Below are links to helpful articles related to charting and the menstrual cycle. Perhaps you have not had your period in a long time, or have irregular cycles and are wondering how charting may help you? The articles below will help you to get to know your cycle better, as well as learn ways to encourage a regular cycle, detect signs of ovulation and calculate the length of your menstrual cycle.
How To Get Your Period Back
Natural Guide for Menstrual Health
Cycle Beads: A Fertility and Ovulation Predictor
How to Tell When you are Ovulating with a Fertility Microscope
Practicing natural health and herbalism for over 18 years, Dalene received her training and herbal certification under the guidance of Lynn Albers at Yarmony Mt. Herbal College in Colorado in 2000. She went on to become a Certified Birth Doula at Birthingway College of Midwifery in Portland, Oregon in 2007. As a Birth Doula, Dalene has helped to bring many new lives in to this world. Dalene has written 280+ fertility articles and with her vast array of herbal and holistic healing knowledge has helped 1000’s of women on their journey to Motherhood.
Hi, I found your web site wonderful. I am 40 years old, I have I daughter 4 years old and trying to conceive second one for 2 years. I have been charting and see the pattern that can not explain. Im on Femara currently. My cycle is around 29 days long and I see usually around day 13 BBT dip (97.3) following next day rise (98.1), but then the temp goes down for two or three days(97.8) -doesn’t go below cover line and then slowly rise up again. My understanding was that in order to confirm ovulation there shuld be rise after the dip for at least 3 days. Am I correct? What wuld cause my temp go down after the rise. thank you
Hello!
I’ve seen many BBT charts in which the BBT dips and then spikes indicating ovulation and then dips again for one or two day before rising again. These are still considered ovulatory cycles.
What the experts at Fertility Friend say is, “Individual temperatures can fluctuate at any time of the cycle, for both hormonal or non-hormonal reasons. A single dropped temperature usually doesn’t mean much. You want to look at “the big picture” and see a pattern of temperatures over time. As long as you can see a biphasic pattern and a trend towards elevated temperatures after ovulation, there is no need to worry about a single dropped temperature or two.”
Have you been seeing this consistently with a consistent bi-phasic chart for several cycles? I’m curious when this BBT event happened in relation to starting Femara also.
Hi, thanks for this brilliantly helpful website! I am 40 (just) and my cycles have become very long and irregular in the last year. The last half of 2018 I had 4 cycles; 34, 42, 35 then 47 days long respectively. So I’m now going to start following the advice above and look for signs as I’ve struggled to pinpoint the window! Have had blood tests and apparently all normal.
My question is, are such long cycles normal for my age, or do they point to anovulation or perimenopause, or indicate anything I should be worried about?
Am considering seeing a specialist.
Thanks in advance for your time,
Nicola
Thank you for your kind words Nicola!
Cycles with lengths in the mid-30s aren’t often concerning to our team, as long as there is pattern. Sometimes “longer” cycles are a woman’s “normal” (there is a broad definition of that word). It is okay to chart your cycle though, to get to know it more intimately. It is near and after age 40 that we have from women about cycles shifting, often with concern, but this can be very normal. Cycle shifts do not immediately indicate perimenopause. They can be caused by a number of this aside from aging, thing like shifts in diet, exercise and stress levels and even travel, as well as stress.
Give charting/tracking some time, at minimum 3 cycles, to see if you see pattern or can pinpoint anything. You are welcome to reach back out to our herbalist team for support (click that link) at that point. We can look over charts and give you our thoughts, as well as help get you any helpful information.
My best!
Hi, I’m 41, have been trying to conceive for years without any success. From this year, my cycle is getting shorter, from 27-day long down to 23-25 days. Sometimes cervical mucus turned up around the 7th day, and BBT showed 0.2 degree centigrade increase on the 10th day without BBT drop on the previous day (is this an ovulation sign?) My BBT can stay in high temperature range for 13-14 days. Your advice for my situation will be much appreciated. Thank you
Dear Karen,
It may be a sign if the BBT temp the rose and stayed risen. I can’t be certain without seeing a few charts. Did you have other signs of ovulation – thinning/change in cervical mucus, abdominal fullness, twinges on one side or the other, or a surge in libido? These all indicate ovulation as well. Have you had testing to determine what may be standing in the way of conception?
what would you suggest me to pregnancy:
both me n my husband has no issues
Done laparoscopy and found all ok
under medication for 3 months to get pregnant but not success
Go through 5 IUI and 2 IVF
im 38 and my husband 39
if i order the product, when i get here in Malaysia
Hello Anne!
I am sorry this journey has been so challenging!
Do you know why the IVFs weren’t successful? Have your specialists talked to you about the possibility of immunological infertility, about whey you have learn more here…?
As you contemplate this conversation with your healthcare providers, consider also learning about the Top 10 Natural Fertility Boosters.
Thank you for the videos, they were very clear and explanatory! I am currently trying to for my first child (I’m 20) and I had no idea how fertility tracking worked (on other websites, it’s just information thrown together and it’s very hard to understand what all of the terms mean).
That said, I do have 1question I was hoping could be answered.
1) Does the fertile window occur after the end of the period? And if so, how many days after (usually)? I’ve seen different answers but no good explanations. I have periods that can last anywhere from 6 days to 2 weeks, and because I wasn’t charting, I don’t know when I’m fertile. Could my irregularity cause me to be infertile?
Best,
Jasper
Dear Jasper,
A woman’s fertile window is typically mid-cycle. While it depends on total cycle length, this is typically around day 12-14 (with a 28-day cycle). Every woman is different though. There’s a nice graphic in our Natural Guide to Menstrual Health that may help show this.
Irregular cycles can make conceiving a challenge for some yes.
Hi- I have tried bbt charting before but found it very difficult to sustain – but would love to try it again based on what I have read here. I am concerned that certain factors might affect the accuracy of my charting such as not going to bed at the same hour every night, not getting consistently the same number of hours of sleep, disrupted sleep some nights or even not waking up a the same time everyday. That being said, can you give me some advice as to how I can guarantee accurate BBT charting and do these factors significantly affect my BBT? Thank you!
Dear Jessica,
Yes, sleep disturbances like insomnia, night-waking, poor sleep and even upsetting dreams can impact BBT charting according to Fertility Friend, our go to BBT charting resource. What is best is to take your BBT at the same time every morning (or as close as you can to it), after at least 3 solid hours of sleep or the longest stretch of sleep (even if you go back to sleep). It may help to explore Fertility Friend for additional tips or support from others who know what you are going through.
Hi ,I am a 25 yr old female my family has a history of fibrosis and endometriosis.I haven’t been diagnosed with this however i have been having trouble conceiving.
I have longer periods than most sometimes it goes between a 34 day cycle to 35 day cycle my period lasts for 5 days .I was wondering if my blood type had any affect on me conceiving ? My blood group is O- and my Partners blood group is AB+ . I was told it would be very difficult for us to get pregnant. I have been pregnant before when i was younger but i sadly miscarried, and ever since i haven’t been able to fall pregnant, Can i make any lifestyle changes that will help my situation ?
Kimone (25)
Dear Kimone,
I’m sorry this is all a concern!
A 34-35 day menstrual cycle with 5 days of menstruation (a period) does not immediately indicate that there is a fertility health issue or problem. The usual range of a healthy cycle is between 21 and 35 days, with menstruation lasting 3-5 days, bright red blood and little-no pain or discomfort.
There is some research that the combination of a certain blood types may pose fertility risks, increased chances of miscarriage and jaundice in infants, but this really would be best to talk with your doctor about. Rh incompatibility also needs to be determined through testing and that is easily managed. Your healthcare provider will test you and offer support if need be in pregnancy.
Without knowing a bit more about you, I think the lifestyle changes to consider that are also easy are shared in our guide Top 10 Natural Fertility Boosters.
Hello my name is sherri and I am 31 years old TTC. I do have fibroids and endometriosis that are pretty much under control. My OB/GYN have been monitoring them over the last 2 years and nothing has changed besides a little growth. Ive been off the pill for 1 yr and 1/2 and still no positive pregnancy test. I just started taking home ovulation test and have not gotten a LH positive test. I notice I also don’t have a change in cervical mucus during my cycle. I have a period every month which on average are 25 days apart consistently. Could it be possible that my periods are normal but I’m not ovulating? Is there any herbal supplements that you would recommend to help boost ovulation?
Dear Sherri,
It is possible to have a period and not ovulate.
We offer two guides that may be of interest,
Getting Ovulation Back on Track
5 Simple Ways to Promote Regular Ovulation
May I know if you are doing/taking anything to keep the fibroids and endometriosis under control?
I honestly just eat healthy exercise and drink raspberry leaf organic tea which I noticed have changed my life drastically. The fibroids have grown a bit but nothing concerning as of yet.
That is great to hear Sherri!
There are perhaps some additional tips to consider in my guide 3 Things Women with Uterine Fibroids Should Be Doing Daily.
I hope this too is helpful!
hello mam,iv got married four yrs ago,,taking fertility treatment from 2 yrs..in that i kam to know my left tube has a block and a small fibroid of 0.2 mm has been calculated..how can i be treated ..what are the ways of getting pregnant naturally..though im taking folic acid,multi vitamin tablet also im unable to conceive..are there any chances of getting pregnant with these two problems beside..pls answer
Dear Suchi,
Thank you for reaching out to us!
With one functioning, healthy fallopian tube conception may happen the months that ovulation occurs from the ovary on that side. Ovulation happens from one ovary one cycle and the other the next – the event alternates from side to side. So, knowing this, it is also going to be helpful to learn the tools available to help you detect ovulation (if you do not already do this).
The effectiveness of natural therapies however will depend on the location and/or severity of the blockage, in addition to what has led to, or is contributing to the blockage. Consider asking your healthcare provider if he can help you understand these factors as you contemplate the best plan for you. The good news is that natural therapies can be used alongside any type of treatment options you are considering, which may greatly help to improve outcome.
Please take some time to read the article that our founder wrote about naturally supporting fallopian tube health to learn more: http://natural-fertility-info.com/blocked-fallopian-tubes. Many of the suggestions in that guide are also known to support a healthy uterine environment, but consider also the 3 Things Women with Uterine Fibroids Should Be Doing Daily.
I hope this is helpful!
hello i am an 32 day cycle but this mouth i noticed that i got cervical mucus on day10 of my cycle .but my question is if am between an 28-32 day cycle would i be ovulation on day 17 and do they consider a 28 -32 day cycle normal?
Dear Erica,
Cervical mucus as soon as day 10 up until ovulation and then ovulation on day 17 can be normal. If your cycle is 32 days long and ovulation is on day 17, that is a 15 day luteal phase which would be considered healthy.
Thank you for sharing!
I stopped taking the pill two cycles ago and can’t wait to get pregnant, but it hasn’t happened yet.
I’m looking into fertility monitors right now, so let me ask you this: how does clear blue compare to daysy (https://www.usa.daysy.me/). It seems that clear blue is more established, but daysy look more attractive to me. Has anyone had experience with both?
Dear Elie,
I had not ever seen the Daysy fertility monitor. Ultimately it comes down to using the monitor that will be easiest for you and comparing them side by side (on their websites perhaps) to choose the best one that fits your needs.
I hope others will chime in here for you!
Hi there…I’m getting started late with learning all about my fertility. I am 44 years old, have always had irregular periods. From 2008-2014 I gained a lot of weight due to lack of sleep and working two full time jobs. I’m down to one full time job, and have regulated my sleep for nearly a year. I’m also exercising and eating healthier too…I finally had my menses in March after not having it for 9 months…i don’t know what I need to do next. I’m taking fish oil, vitamin D3 and a multi-vitamin along with 20mg Lisinipril for high blood pressure. My goal is to be medication free and I just want to know if I’m fertile…Please help.
Hi Ginger,
Thank you for your questions. To be honest, there is no way for me to know if you are fertile or not, only a doctor can help you determine that. Due to your age, coupled with your irregular menstrual cycles and high blood pressure, it would be best to have your doctor run a full hormone panel, which will help you determine not only where your hormone levels are, but ovarian reserve and egg health. I think taking fish oil, vitamin D3 and a multivitamin are great start for anyone.
All the best!
Great info! I started charting about 2 years ago, and wow! It has been so empowering! I feel 100% confident with managing my fertility and understanding my cycle — to both avoid and get pregnant just by tuning in to my body and tracking the signs. Tracking sounds really daunting at first, but I found some great tools to help, such as the Kindara mobile app (https://www.kindara.com/home). I’m excited to get their basal body thermometer soon which pairs nicely with the app (https://kindara.com/r/V28iFwi5a). Thanks for being a resource for natural fertility!
Hello. I am 41 with a 6 year old. TTC. Tried Clomid & Letrozole per RE suggestion. Both medications affected my eyesight. Scary! So now I am trying charting. Thank-you for all the info. I am also reading TCOYF. I just started charting my first cycle. On cd8-10, I noted VERY stretchy, clear with blood tinge cervical mucous on cd8-10 with soft,open cervix. The cd11-12 were dry, closed cervix. Expected a peak T any day now. Still have no shift to peak temp as of today. Then this morning I got another batch of more wet, stretchy, creamy & clear mucous. I’ve noticed this in past cycles (2 to 3 separate batches of fertile mucous) but never charted before now. Any idea what’s going on? Thank-u!
Dear CoBo,
The consistency of cervical mucus fluctuates throughout the cycle. As you may know, the cervix produces different types of mucus depending on where a woman is at in her menstrual cycle. Just after menstruation, the cervix produces a fluid that is thick and acidic which is designed to prevent sperm from entering the vagina. This is known as infertile mucus. When a woman is about to ovulate there should be an increase in cervical mucus, as well as a change in the mucus texture, from “wet” to a more pliable, stretchy, egg-white like mucus. This fertile cervical mucus (or “CM” which is also known as cervical fluid or “CF”) content is higher in water and electrolytes, and has a lower acidity.
It could be that ovulation happened early. Some women see a bit of blood tinged mucus when ovulation occurs. Or it could be that it approaching. I can not know for sure. I am sorry that is not very insightful. 😉
What led you to try Clomid and Letrozole? Do you have a fertility health concern that led you to an reproductive endocrinologist? Are you taking and herbs or nutritional supplements that could impact cervical mucus? Knowing these things may help me better guide you.
I am 48 yrs married for 8 yrs and no child yet having low sperm count, staphylococcus infection treated but no cure, pls help
Hi Abdul,
You will need to get your staph infection monitored and taken care of by a doctor. If your doctor isn’t able to help, you need to seek a second opinion. Do you know why your sperm count is low? That would be helpful to know..hormonal, structural issues, etc. You can learn natural ways to improve sperm health and count here: http://natural-fertility-info.com/mens-fertility
Hi, im 30 yrs old 7 yrs marriage and I have pcos trying to concieve. Need help.
Hi ging,
Here is a great place to learn natural options for women with PCOS: http://natural-fertility-info.com/pcos-fertility-diet
Update 2014 – We are back! We have been away for a while and we sure have missed all of your wonderful questions and thoughts on our articles. Moving forward, one of our staff herbalists will be here to respond to comments! We look forward to connecting with our readers once again!
Hi thanks for the information, i have been married for 5months and am wondering y i have not been able to concieve, am 30 years old, what would you recomend for me..
Vivian,
First you are here desiring to learn how to chart, which is good, so that is step one. Find out through fertility charting when and if you are ovulating and then try for a baby during that fertile time.
Next, I am not sure of your age, but the general guideline for women under 35 is that if you have been trying to conceive for a year or more with no success, then it is time to see a doctor to get some testing done to determine if there is a problem. The male partner should be tested as well. If you are over 35, testing should be considered after trying to conceive unsuccessfully for 6 plus months.
If you need personalized guidance, we do offer consultations.
Hi, is there anything I can do when my doctor says my ovaries are not working properly? Pls advice on what to do as am 39yrs now.
hello i am taking CLOFERT 50 for ovulation from 2months how long i can use these tablets with out any side effectcs plz help me
Hi Sree,
This would be a question for your doctor, the person who prescribed this medication for you. We are not medical doctors, we are herbalists, therefore we cannot comment nor are experts on medications.
Best wishes,
Dalene
How many months can you take maca, royal jelly, prenatal pills, and the pills with all greens in it?
Hi Pam Raft,
Maca is best taken for 3-6 months consistently.
Same for Royal Jelly.
Prenatals are best taken every day through pregnancy preparation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.
I am not sure what green pills you are speaking of, we carry a loose powder greens supplement called FertiliGreens. This product has been shown fine to consume daily, long-term.
Best Wishes,
Dalene