It’s a common misconception that women are fertile every day (think about it... hormonal birth control is taken daily to prevent pregnancy). But in fact, we’re only fertile 5-7 days per cycle. We ovulate on one day per month and that egg survives 12-24 hours; however, as ovulation approaches, our bodies produce cervical fluid that can keep sperm alive for up to 5 days.

Because the average menstrual cycle is 28-ish days (somewhere between 26-and-34 days for most women), this means you’ll have more success conceiving if you know your cycle well. There are numerous ways to do this: tracking your period on your calendar or using an app (MyFLO, Flo, Clue). 

However, the best way to get super in tune to your cycle and specifically, pinpoint ovulation, is by tracking fertility signs. This will involve measuring and tracking your daily basal body temperature or BBT, which is your temperature first thing upon waking. You can use any thermometer that measures to 2 decimal places or a fertility tracking device like Daysy, Kindara Wink, or even the Ava fertility bracelet. A rise in BBT occurs after you ovulate and drops when you get your period (or stays high if you get pregnant). You will also track your cervical mucus (and ideally, cervical position, too).

This book and this book are wonderful resources to help you learn all about the Fertility Awareness Method to get started. 

To read more posts about all-things fertility, check out our dedicated section to the topic on our blog, Period Matters. Our seed syncing can help you balance your hormones naturally, shop our organic moon seeds or moon bites today.

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This is an excerpt from a post written by Kim Perez, MA, FNTP, a Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and owner of Root and Branch Nutrition. She specializes in helping expectant and new moms thrive postpartum and through motherhood while feeling amazing in their bodies after having babies. Kim is passionate about all things women's health and wellness, particularly filling the major gaps in postpartum care and support as well as helping moms overcome challenges like fatigue, chronic stress, hormonal imbalances, painful periods, digestive symptoms, body image struggles, and more. Check her out on Instagram. Abridged content curated and edited by Nayla Al-Mamlouk.