Fertility charting, also known as fertility awareness or natural family planning, is a method of tracking a woman’s menstrual cycle in order to identify the most fertile days for conception. While this method is often used for family planning purposes, it can also be a valuable tool for identifying underlying issues that may contribute to recurrent miscarriages.
Recurrent miscarriage, also known as recurrent pregnancy loss, is defined as three or more consecutive pregnancy losses before 20 weeks of gestation. This heartbreaking experience affects approximately 1-2% of couples trying to conceive and can be a result of various underlying issues. By utilizing fertility charting, women can gain valuable insight into their reproductive health and possibly identify the root cause of their recurrent miscarriages.
In this blog post, we will explore the connection between fertility charting and recurrent miscarriage, and how this method can help identify underlying issues.
Understanding Fertility Charting
Fertility charting involves tracking various reproductive signs, such as basal body temperature, cervical mucus, and cervical position, to determine when a woman is most fertile. This method is based on the fact that a woman’s hormonal levels fluctuate throughout her menstrual cycle, leading to changes in her body’s reproductive signs.
Basal body temperature (BBT) is the body’s temperature at rest, and it can be used to track changes throughout the menstrual cycle. After ovulation, a woman’s BBT will rise slightly, indicating that ovulation has occurred. By tracking BBT, women can pinpoint when ovulation occurs and determine their most fertile days.
Cervical mucus is another important indicator of fertility. The consistency and color of cervical mucus change throughout the menstrual cycle due to hormonal fluctuations. Around the time of ovulation, cervical mucus becomes clear, slippery, and stretchy, resembling egg whites. This type of mucus creates a hospitable environment for sperm to survive and swim through the reproductive tract.
Cervical position, which refers to the position and texture of the cervix, also changes throughout the menstrual cycle. During ovulation, the cervix becomes softer, higher, and more open, allowing sperm to enter the uterus more easily.
By tracking these reproductive signs, women can create a fertility chart that helps them identify their most fertile days and increase their chances of conception. However, fertility charting can also provide valuable information about a woman’s reproductive health, including potential underlying issues that may contribute to recurrent miscarriages.

Fertility Charting and Recurrent Miscarriage: Identifying Underlying Issues
Identifying Underlying Issues with Fertility Charting
One of the most common underlying issues that can contribute to recurrent miscarriage is hormonal imbalances. Fertility charting can help identify hormonal imbalances by tracking changes in BBT and cervical mucus throughout the menstrual cycle. For example, a consistently low BBT may indicate low progesterone levels, which can make it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant in the uterus and result in pregnancy loss.
Similarly, changes in cervical mucus can also indicate hormonal imbalances. For instance, a lack of clear and stretchy cervical mucus around the time of ovulation may suggest a lack of estrogen, which is essential for maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Fertility charting can also help identify potential issues with ovulation. By tracking BBT and cervical mucus, women can determine if ovulation is occurring regularly and identify any potential issues, such as anovulation (lack of ovulation) or luteal phase defect (shortened second half of the menstrual cycle).
In addition to hormonal imbalances and ovulation issues, fertility charting can also provide valuable information about a woman’s overall reproductive health. For example, consistently high or low BBT can indicate thyroid issues, which can affect fertility and pregnancy. Changes in cervical mucus can also suggest infections or hormonal imbalances that may need to be addressed.
Using Fertility Charting to Address Underlying Issues
Once underlying issues have been identified through fertility charting, women can work with their healthcare providers to address them and improve their chances of carrying a healthy pregnancy to term. This may involve hormonal treatments, lifestyle changes, or further testing to determine the root cause of the issue.
Fertility charting can also be used in conjunction with other fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI). By identifying the most fertile days, these treatments can be timed appropriately, increasing the chances of successful conception.
In some cases, recurrent miscarriage may be caused by structural issues, such as uterine abnormalities or cervical incompetence. Fertility charting can help identify these issues by tracking changes in cervical position and mucus throughout the menstrual cycle. This information can then guide further testing or treatment to address the underlying issue.
In summary, fertility charting is not only a valuable tool for family planning but also for identifying underlying issues that may contribute to recurrent miscarriages. By tracking changes in BBT, cervical mucus, and cervical position, women can gain insight into their reproductive health and work with their healthcare providers to address any potential issues. Fertility charting can also be used in conjunction with other fertility treatments, making it a powerful tool for couples struggling with recurrent miscarriage.





