Do you remember learning the alphabet? In France, my teacher would have each of us face
away from the blackboard, one by one, and recite the letters until we got them right.
At home, I was encouraged to read books: simple ones with pictures at first, then gradually
more complex stories as I got older.
But no one ever taught me how to read my menstrual cycle.
It made sense, in a way. Most adults believed there was nothing to understand beyond: “You
get your period, and it can hurt. One day, you might get pregnant. And to avoid that, take the
pill.”
My own education began when my doctor told me my body was rejecting the pill. After nearly
a decade of not having to think about my cycle, I was suddenly left to face its return and the
fear of an unwanted pregnancy, totally alone.
That’s when I discovered the symptothermal method.
The Symptothermal Method
Developed by Professor Josef Rötzer in the 1960s, this method involves tracking two key
fertility signs daily: cervical fluid and basal body temperature (also known as waking
temperature).
Cervical fluid, which is secreted at the cervix, changes in consistency throughout the cycle.
During the fertile phase, it often becomes very stretchy and transparent. Basal body
temperature, on the other hand, is only useful after having ovulated, as that is when it rises
slightly. This temperature shift confirms the occurrence of ovulation.
By combining these observations, we can pinpoint when ovulation has passed and
pregnancy is no longer possible. As you might have guessed, this tracking can also be used
to identify the optimal window for conception.
This being said, the benefits go far beyond fertility management. Tracking your cycle offers a
window into how your hormonal fluctuations may affect your daily life. For example, you
might notice how rising estrogen boosts your energy, or how progesterone makes you crave
quiet and order.
The menstrual cycle can be divided into two halves: before ovulation, and after ovulation.
- Before ovulation, estrogen gradually rises, peaking just before ovulation.
- After ovulation, estrogen dips and progesterone rises. If no pregnancy occurs,
progesterone falls, and menstruation begins shortly thereafter.
For too long, we’ve clung to the myth of the “28-day cycle”, assuming ovulation always
happens on day 14, and a period arrives exactly two weeks after that. But after five years of
working with over 700 women, I’ve seen cycles where ovulation occurred as late as day 52
or as early as day 10. I’ve also seen periods arrive 11 days after ovulation, or 16, or
sometimes even fewer than 11.
Why does this matter? A prolonged pre-ovulatory (follicular) phase can signal hormonal
imbalances, like SMOP (Systemic Metabolic Ovarian Profile), or unmet needs regarding
sleep, nutrition, and emotional safety. A shortened post-ovulatory (luteal) phase can lead to
irritability, PMS, heavier periods, or fertility issues, and requires special attention to help it
reach a healthier length (at least 12 days).
Tracking your cycle helps you understand why you might feel or act differently at certain
times of the month. On top of that, it also empowers you to address imbalances that could
be affecting your life and the lives of those around you.
By teaching women to read their cycles, we give them the tools to know themselves better
than anyone else ever could, and the agency to seek help if something is out of balance.
