This post is from The Fertility Acupuncturist, a great source for information on fertility charting and Chinese Medicine

Each of our bodies is very individual with it’s own patterns and rhythms. This is most apparent in the reproductive system. Women’s bodies are not textbooks that ovulate on Day 14 and bleed on Day 29.

Charting is not just for the sole purpose of telling you when you ovulate, but it helps you to really get in touch with your personal rhythm. I believe that ovulation is a delicate choreographed dance and when the choreography is off, this is often labeled unexplained infertility. Well choreographed ovulation is too delicate a process to be monitored by blood tests. This is why you may pass the HSG (hystosalpingogram), have normal hormone levels, have normal sperm assays and still experience difficulty conceiving. The reproductive system is working, but the timing may be a bit off.

The minute details of the egg’s journey from the ovary to the uterus, determine whether or not a fertilized egg will implant or not. A few of these minute details include the day of ovulation, the maturity of the egg, the health of the fimbria, the egg’s passage through the fallopian tubes, the integrity of the fallopian tubes, the quantity of mucus secretions in the fallopian tubes, the leakage of fluid into the uterus (hydrosalpinx), the timing of the release of the fertilized egg into the uterus, and the thickness of the endometrium.

Most gynecologists and reproductive endocrinologists don’t look at BBT (basal body temperature) charts and tend to rely heavily on blood tests. Blood tests take a picture of one constituent, like FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) at one moment in time. With the ebb and flow of hormones constantly responding to various triggers in the body, I believe that we should be cautious about putting too much trust in this number that only represents a snapshot of time.

I deeply appreciate the BBT chart as a valuable diagnostic tool that is representative of the overall cycle. With the overlay of Chinese medicine principles, the BBT chart gleans insight into a woman’s fertility, the health of her cycle and this choreography of ovulation. I hope to inspire you to chart your cycle and to use this data to get in touch with your fertility signs.

Proper charting can not be overemphasized as the key to understanding your fertility signs. Charting is the first step to interpreting your cycle, your body and your journey to pregnancy. Explore the various pages in the charting section to learn more about combining Chinese medicine practices with your BBT chart.

The best free ovulation calculator that I’ve found is in the book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. Many people just refer to this book as TCOYF. You can download copies of this chart at TCOYF. When you get to the site, scroll down to the Master Charts and choose from the top 3 Pregnancy Achievement Charts, depending your preference for Fahrenheit, Celsius or lower body temperatures (if your body runs cold). I find that charting on paper prevents the onslaught of computerized misinterpretation and stops the desire to please the computer. “