SymptoThermal Method

SymptoThermal Method is a free application for iPhone available on the App Store, that helps you to use natural birth regulation. This is a method of self-observation which allows:

• . Every young girl and woman to find out more and learn about their body and their cycle.
  
• . You to determine the beginning and the end of the fertility phase, based on the signs of mucus and temperature.
  
• . Any couple to have a dialogue based on trust and tenderness, to make the responsible choice to welcome a new child or to space births, or to avoid pregnancy.
  

Know your fertility, not only to better explore your femininity, but also increases your sense of responsibility. Self-observation methods, experienced within the couple are a source of greater dialogue, greater confidence and greater love.

Explanations of this help do not answer all individual cases. For proper use of this symptothermal method, it's important to contact and be trained by a monitor* in your country.

* UK : https://www.fertilityuk.org/

Purpose: The feeling of humidity or mucus observation determines the start of the fertile period.Method

• . sensation:
• This is what women experience during the day in the vulva: dry, humid, wet, lubricated.

• . observation:
• This is what women observe in the vulva passing her fingers or toilet paper over the vulva: thick mucus, creamy mucus, egg white mucus.

• . In practice :
• Women note 3 times a day sensations and their observations. In the evening, after selecting the date, they note on SymptoThermal Method the most important signs of fertility.
  
• 
  
Sometimes we can see the presence of vaginal secretions. This is different to mucus because women aren't fertile in the presence of vaginal secretions alone. At the beginning, you need the help of a monitor to recognize this difference.

In practice on SymptoThermal Method

• . Last low point
  

We must identify the last low point of temperature before the offset temperature. It is noted retrospectively by selecting "Yes" in "Last low point". It will draw three lines:

• . A blue (base line) which will be the average of the last 6 points of temperatures.
  
• . An orange offset of 0.2°C or 0.4°F.
  
• . A red offset of 0.3°C or 0.6°F.
  

The top line is used (red line) to identify high and stable 3 consecutive points.

• . T ° analyzable
  

If a point is not interpretable (Ex: fever due to angina), select "No" at "T ° analyzable" which will eliminate the point of the calculation of the "Base line".

• . Base line
  

Usually the "Base line" is calculated on 6 points. But in case of long cycle, after a birth or after the pill, analysis of the "Base line" should be on 21 points. 

Purpose: To determine the start of the fertility phase, the sign of the mucus is sufficient for most women. But sometimes this is not enough and you may need to observe the cervix.

Method

We do the observation in evening after hand washing and urinating.

Standing with one foot on a chair, we introduce the index and middle fingers into the vagina, directed upwards and backwards.

After selecting the date, we note on SymptoThermal Method:

• Height: low - medium - high
• . The orifice of the cervix: closed - open
• . The presence of mucus: no mucus - mucus
• . Hardness: hard (like the end of the nose) - soft (like the ear lobe)

Learning to observe the signs of the cervix requires at the beginning the help of a monitor.

Cycle start

The cycle start is the first day of the menstriesmenstruation. Note on SymptoThermal Method the first day will display the days of cycle and will allow you to navigate between cycles.

Peak day

This is the last day of wetness and observation of egg white mucus followed the next day by a big change in the feel and appearance associated with an offset temperature offset.

We note on SymptoThermal Method the following evening after selecting the date of the previous day.

Union

It notes on SymptoThermal Method when you have a union in the first part of the cycle.

After the offset temperature offset, the first union is noted on SymptoThermal Method but it is not necessary to note further unions as it does not change the interpretation.

Comment

Free text field to record any useful information to assist in the interpretation of the cycle. Examples:

• . 'Abdominal pain'
  
• . '+ 2 hrsH' if temperature taken 2 hours after the usual time
  
• . 'Angina' explaining a peak of temperature 

Fertility phase:

Begins with the feeling of humidity or mucus.

Finishing the third day in the morning with an high and stable temperature of 0.3°C or 0.6°F.

Aanalysis:

Rule 1: During menstruationthe bleedings, if it is a short cycle, the mucus could be present but it will be unseen due to bleedingsmenstruation. Therefore we will not know when the fertility phase begins.

. Note 'Unknown' or '?'.

Rule 2: After menstruationthe bleedings and before the appearance of the sign of the mucus, the couple is infertile in the evening.

. Note 'Infertile the evening' or 'Ie'.

The day after an union, the couple will not know if the woman is fertile because the mucus can be masked by the residual sperm from the previous day.

. Note 'Unknown' or '?' the day after a union.

Rule 3: After an episode of mucus or bleeding (not followed by a offset temperature, so before ovulation), the couple becomes infertile after the 4th day in the evening without mucus or sensation.

. Note 'Fertile' or 'F' in the presence of mucus.

. Note 'Unknown' or '?' in the presence of bleeding.

. Note 'Unknown' or '?' the next 3 days after the presence of mucus or bleeding.

Rule 4: as soon as there is mucus or a sensation of humidity, the couple is fertile.

. Note 'Fertile' or 'F'.

Rule 5: After the offset temperature, the couple becomes infertile the third day in the morning after the temperature is high and stable with an offset of 0.3°C or 0.6°F.

. Note 'Infertile the day' or 'Id' from the third day in the morning.

Rule 6 : If it misses a data for analysis :

. 'The analysis isn't possible' and the we note: '??'.

. The 3 days after will be marked 'Unknown': '?'.

If you wish to avoid pregnancy:

You can have unions only when you are 'Infertile the evening' (first cycle period) or 'Infertile the day' (second cycle period).

If you wish to fall pregnant:

You need to have unions around the peak day.