Determine your fertile days with the Billings method

The Billings method determines a woman’s fertile days by observing cervical mucus. You can find out exactly how the method works and how reliable it is here.

What is the Billings method?

The Billings method, also known as the cervical mucus method, is a method of natural family planning (NFP). It is used to limit the ovulation date as much as possible and thus to determine the most favorable time for fertilization. The method got its name from the Australian doctor couple Billings, who observed that the cervical mucus, a secretion that is secreted by the mucous membrane glands in the cervix, changes over the course of a woman’s cycle.

How does the Billings method work?

The Billings couple found that the production of mucus in the cervix is ​​directly related to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. The release of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone have a direct impact on the cervical mucus that changes during the menstrual cyclenot only changed in color and quantity, but above all in consistency. The Billings method requires daily monitoring of the condition of the mucus over a period of several months in order to estimate the date of ovulation as accurately as possible. To do this, the mucus is checked for signs of fertility in the morning either with your fingers or between two layers of toilet paper. The properties and changes in the cervical mucus are then recorded in a curve sheet or a progress log, from which the date of ovulation can be interpreted after a while.

Billings method: 5 phases are distinguished

The Billings method distinguishes five phases, within which two main types of slime are distinguished.

  • Phase 1 : Immediately after menstruation, the woman’s estrogen levels are still very low and mucus production is very low. Cervical mucus is present, but it forms a tight plug at the entrance to the uterus to prevent germs from entering it. The vagina appears dry, which is why this phase is also referred to as “dry days”.
  • Phase 2 : Some time before ovulation, estrogen levels rise and the mucous plug changes its consistency. Viscous, cloudy, yellow or white and sticky mucus is now also present in the vagina. Because of its relatively firm nature, this mucus still provides a natural barrier to sperm, preventing or making it difficult for them to enter the uterus before the egg is ready for fertilization.
  • stage 3: Estrogen levels are highest in women immediately before and after ovulation. At this point, mucus production peaks, which is why this phase is also known as “the wet days”. The slime is now much lighter, clear and elastic. Its consistency is reminiscent of raw egg white and can be pulled between your fingers or toilet paper into threads 6 to 15 centimeters long. This is referred to as the so-called “spinnability” of the slime. The phase lasts about 2 to 3 days and clearly indicates ovulation. Since sperm can only penetrate this “fertile” mucus well, it is advisable for couples who want to have children to have unprotected intercourse from the onset of this mucus. The sperm are also well protected from the acidic vaginal environment by the mucus and can survive 3 to 5 days inside the woman’s body. The chance of fertilization increases significantly.
  • Phase 4 : A few days after ovulation, the female body releases more progesterone instead of estrogen. As a result, the cervical mucus becomes less and tougher again, significantly cloudier and clumpy. Conditions for invading sperm worsen and fertilization becomes increasingly unlikely.
  • Phase 5 : During the premenstrual phase, mucus production continues to decrease and the body prepares for menstruation.

When using the Billings method, regular and continuous observation of the condition of the mucus is essential in order to be able to perceive even small changes and thus assess one’s own body as precisely as possible.

How reliable is the Billings method?

The mucus production in women depends on many different factors. Psychological stress, bacterial infections or the intake and use of certain medications, such as ointments or suppositories that are inserted directly into the vagina, can affect the quality and quantity of cervical mucus. Its properties are also subject to a large extent to hormonal fluctuations, which can make it difficult to reliably assess the characteristics. Furthermore, the drinking and eating habits of women can affect the production and quality of cervical mucus.

It should also be noted that the above-mentioned characteristics are differently pronounced in every woman. This is precisely why continuous observation of one’s own body is so important for the application of the Billings method. The method is therefore not suitable for every woman, since the changes in the cervical mucus over the course of the cycle are so small in some cases that changes in the mucus cannot be seen with the naked eye.

The Billings method can be used not only to determine the ovulation date if you want to have children, but also as a natural contraceptive method. However, the method alone is not considered reliable for contraception. A combination of the Billings method with the temperature method for the so-called symptothermal method is therefore suitable for both areas of application.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *