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Billings Ovulation Method

© Kristin Steinmetz

Natural Family Planning offers a variety of methods to its users. Recently I retired my thermometer and filed away my complicated fertility charts. Am I afraid of getting pregnant? No, because I’ve begun using the Billings Ovulation Method as my natural way of avoiding conception. In contrast to the sympto-thermal method (detailed in earlier articles on this site), the Billings Ovulation Method relies on changes in cervical fluid alone to prevent or achieve pregnancy.

Developed by Australians Drs. John and Evelyn Billings, the Billings Ovulation Method claims a 99% contraceptive effectiveness rate when taught and used correctly. This article will provide a brief introduction to the method. I draw most of my information from a beautifully illustrated and simply written book called Your Fertility Signals by Merryl Winstein. I recommend this book highly and also refer you to the links under “Billings Ovulation Method” at right, for more information.

FERTILITY 101 Let’s briefly review some fertility facts. Men are fertile every day of the year. Women are fertile just a few days out of each cycle. By observing and recording these times of female fertility, couples who use natural family planning can decide to avoid conception or achieve conception by abstaining from intercourse or engaging in intercourse during fertile times.

Around the time of ovulation, estrogen causes the cervix to secrete wet, slippery mucus. (I prefer the term “cervical fluid,” but I will use the term “cervical mucus” in this article since that is the language of the Billings Ovulation Method.) An ovulated egg only lives for about 12-24 hours, but sperm can live 3-5 days in cervical mucus, which nourishes it and helps it travel. The basic premise of the Billings Ovulation Method is that cervical mucus is a reliable indicator of fertility and that a woman is fertile on any day of cervical mucus, plus the first four dry days after the mucus ends.

FERTILE / INFERTILE TIMES *The menstrual period is considered fertile since bleeding could cover up fertile mucus *Dry days, days when there is no mucus all day long, are considered infertile *Fertile days occur when there is any wetness, spotting, or mucus, even once during the day. All mucus is considered fertile, whether it’s pasty, creamy, lotiony, egg white, etc.

RULES FOR OBSERVING AND CHARTING CERVICAL MUCUS 1. Throughout the day, notice your vaginal sensation. Does it feel wet or dry? 2. Wipe downward across the vaginal opening before and after each bathroom visit. Use a clean fingertip or t.p.