• Taking your temperature with a Basal Body Thermometer (BBT)
  
• Feeling for cervical mucous (CM) changes
• Purchasing both ovulation and pregnancy tests

1. First off, you need a Basal Thermometer. The reason for this is that it has a more accurate reading which measures to the .10 degree. You need this to record the minute changes in your body.
2. Start on the first day of your menstrual period (also referred to as CD 1), when you see the first signs of menstrual flow. Choose a time when you will wake up every morning (even on the weekends) before you get up or go to the restroom to take your temperature. It is very important that this be after at least 3 hours of sleep and before any amount of activity such as getting up, taking a sip of fluids, etc. If you find that you had disrupted this routine by taking your temperature later than expected, you can offset this later. Just note it.
3. Record your data.
4. Get up to use the restroom and, with clean fingers, insert one or two inside the vaginal cavity and touch the tip of your cervix with them. Not all women are comfortable doing this or can easily find their cervix, but this is a great way to get in touch with your body and take control of your fertility. Notice what the cervix feels like and the fluid ratio.
   

   Cervical Mucous
   Dry: At the beginning of your menstrual cycle, prior to ovulation you will likely produce little to no cervical mucous. Also right before your period should start your cervical mucous may become dry again. If you do not notice cervical mucous you will want to record this on your chart as dry.
   Sticky: You may notice sticky cervical mucous prior to ovulation. It feels sticky to your fingers when you touch it
   Creamy: As you get closer to ovulation you will notice thicker, creamy-looking cervical mucous. This mucous looks and feels similar to lotion.
   Eggwhite: Eggwhite cervical mucous is the term used to describe the mucous you have during ovulation. It looks like eggwhites and is slippery, clear, and stretchy.
   Watery: Watery cervical mucous is wet and may be stretchy. You may notice this type of cervical mucous during ovulation or before having eggwhite cervical mucous.
   
   Cervical Positioning
   To find your cervix you may want to be in a squatting position or have one foot on a stool. Insert one or two fingers into your vagina and push them towards the back of the vaginal cavity. You will reach a spot that feels firmer than the rest of your vagina. Your cervix may feel soft like your lips or firm like the tip of your nose. You may notice your cervix feeling more open or closed.
   Right after menstruation, your cervix will be low and easier for you to reach. It will feel firmer and closed. During ovulation your cervix will be higher and more difficult to reach. It will also feel soft, wet and you may notice it feeling more open. Find a comfortable position to check your cervix and use the same position each time you check. If you use a different position, you won't be able to compare the position of your cervix accurately. It may take a few cycles to determine when your cervix is softest, firmest, highest or lowest. If you have given birth before your cervix may feel more open than someone who has not. After ovulation, your cervix normally returns to a more firm, lower position.

5. Using a fertility monitor. Follow the directions on the package. These predictor kits detect the LH ( Luteinizing Hormone) rise in your body which helps release the egg from the ovaries. They look very similar to a pregnancy test, only you use them close to your predicted ovulation period and plan intercourse around when the line is darkest or more resembles the test line, unlike a pregnancy test where any visable line means a positive. You can find out more information here.