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4: Pinpointing the Peak
The last day of the slippery sensation is the most
fertile day of your cycle. It is called the Peak of
fertility, and is very close to the time of ovulation…
good to be aware of if you are wanting to avoid a
pregnancy! You can be sure that if you recognise the
Peak of fertility then you have identified the time very
close to ovulation.
Just before ovulation another hormone called
progesterone starts to be produced. This hormone
prepares the lining of the uterus in case there is a
fertilised egg ready to implant. Progesterone also
causes changes in the cervical mucus. It activates
the cervix to produce the thick, impenetrable mucus
that forms the plug in the cervix. It also activates
the reabsorption of fluid from the mucus so that the
slippery sensation disappears. So it is the rising level
of progesterone that causes the abrupt change in
sensation that helps you identify the Peak.
It is important to
realise that the Peak
is not necessarily the
day of most mucus.
The amount of mucus
may decrease but
the slippery sensation
may continue for a
day or two— the
sensation is the most
valuable symptom.
