I always say, it ain’t easy bein’ a gurl. No doubt, we are very complex creatures. After taking my first Creighton Model class, I’ve discovered even more complexity about how the female anatomy works.
Warning: This particular blog may gross some of you out.
The Creighton Model is a form of true family planning. It is similar to the Billings Ovulation Method in that women track their menstrual cycles in order to determine peak times of fertility. However, the Creighton Model asserts a direct correlation between cervical mucous and peak times of fertility.
As a woman nears ovulation each month, the production of mucous from the cervix increases. In addition, so does the stretchability and clarity. The survival of the sperm is also directly related to the presence or absence of the mucous.
Another very interesting fact I learned: During the times of pre-ovulation and ovulation when the mucous production is the most abundant, clear, and stretchy, the membranes near the opening of the cervix also change. During the “dry” periods, the outer cervical membranes look like a maze. But, when nearing ovulation, they physically change and form parallel channels for easier passage. It’s almost as if they’re telling the sperm “Hey, come on in!”
As you might guess, women who are using the Creighton Model to get pregnant (or avoid pregnancy), track their peak periods by carefully observing their mucous on a daily basis and recording details in a chart. And, it’s not just checking once a day. Try each time you go to the bathroom, and again before bedtime. Yes, it is a finger test, which includes taking the mucous between your thumb and forefinger and stretching it out to observe and measure it. Wet, dry, clear, cloudy. Aside from stretchability, it almost sounds like a weather forecast.
Are you grossed out now? Told ya it wouldn’t be pretty. 🙂
On the plus side, it is a natural method of family planning. No side effects like other forms of contraceptives. And it has a high success rate for pregnancy prevention or conception–whatever your goal is.
In addition, tracking cycles in this way can also reveal any abnormalities, if present, for further evaluation with a medical professional. Talk about getting really in tune with your body.
Interested in learning more or trying it out? Click here. Love to hear your thoughts and experiences, too!
Just a gurl 
After fourth child, happy to enjoy the gifts of a large family but wanting to try planning things a bit, dh wanted to “get snipped.” This just didn’t sit well with me, for various reasons, one of them that I have a hard time just blindly following others down a path…this led to checking out a free class about the Creighton Model – and three years later, great success. I’m glad we found this after number 4, because we might have had a smaller family and I couldn’t imagine life without all of my little crazy cherubs. The method does require that I check the “white tissue” first at every trip to the restroom – but that is not nearly as “involved” as some of the earlier methods or and a habit that is second nature now. Also, charting every day is important, and has been an eye opener in other ways. For instance, after pulling a stressful all-nighter to meet an important deadline, the daily charting quickly revealed how that stress translated for my body: delaying my impending ovulation and resulted in an extremely long cycle. The charting also helped me to plan the best week for a long overdue romantic getaway ;-).
What resonates best with me about the Creighton Model is that it ultimately works with my body, treating my fertility with respect, and really gives me an appreciation for it – something I’ll be happy to share with my daughters in the future.