We bless your name, O Lord,
for sending your own Incarnate Son,
to become part of a family,
so that, as He lived its life,
He would experience its worries and its joys.
We ask you, Lord,
to protect and watch over these families,
so that in the strength of your grace
their members may enjoy prosperity,
possess the priceless gift of your peace,
and, as the Church alive in the home,
bear witness in this world to your glory.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
•
•
•
You are 45 years +
Or younger if you have a family history of early
menopause before 45.
You have experienced the first unexpected short
or long cycle (<23 days or > 40 days)
Definition: The 5-8 years prior to menopause when
one or more of the following occur:







Menstrual cycle irregularities
Unusual bleeding
Decreasing fertility
Altered menstrual and cervical mucus patterns
Fewer thermal shifts
Shorter Luteal (high temp)phases
FSH is high, estrogen is low.
Menopause Definition: 12-14 months with no
menses. Average age is between 50-52.
Previous reliance on Temperature or Rhythm
Method
Unusual bleeding; vaginal atrophy
Decreased cervical mucus is common
 Hot Flashes
Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy
Fear of pregnancy, birth defects
A time of decreasing fertility: 45-50 yrs: 1.3/1,000 are fertile/
50 + yrs: 1/25,000 are fertile. Risk of Down Syndrome is
higher, but only 3.6% risk at age 45.
File: Premonpause Age: 46 Gyn Age: 34 M: 2 F: 3 MC: 1
Cycle #: 104 Range: 21-94 Temp: Oral Time: 7:00 a.m.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Note: Menses = fertile/dry days after = infertile .
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
99.0
PK
.8
.6
.4
.
L L d
d d d d d d d d d d d
M
.2
EWEW EW Ø Ø Ø
98.0
Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
Ø
.8
6
.6
5
4
3
2
1
.4
.2
97.0
Cycle #: 105
1
Range: 20-94
2
3
4
5
6
Temp: Oral
7
8
9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
99.0
PK 1
.8
2
3
4
PK 1
2
3
4
.6
.4
.
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
L
Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
M EW M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M M M EW EW Ø Ø Ø Ø
.8
.6
.4
.2
97.0
d d d d
Ø
.2
98.0
L
6 5 4 3 2 1
Onset of True
Menses
Relatively
Infertile Time
Completely
Infertile Time
Start of
Fertility
Possibly
Fertile Time
3rd High Temp
Peak Day
Cervical Mucus
- Wipe
- Look
-Test
Wipe
Look
Test for Cervical Mucus
Each time you go to the bathroom, day & night, use
white, unscented tissue, folded flat, several layers
thick.
1. Wipe front to back at the vaginal entrance.
2. Look at tissue.
3. Test for stretch, color, clarity.
Tissue-Dry:
Ø
Sticky Mucus:
M
Traits: P, O, ¼, ½, ¾.
Egg-White Mucus:
EW-M
Traits: 1, OT, T, G.
Separate from tissue examinationa mental awareness of internal and external vaginal
sensations felt throughout the day.
d
=
“nothing,” dry, or slightly itchy
m
M
=
“something,” as if “secreting
moisture”
L
=
lubrication, slipperiness or
runny-wet feeling
Peak Day (PK) is the Last Day of the Most Fertile
Sign.
(by Tissue & Sensation)
d
m
M
L
m
M
d
EW
Ø
M
M
M
Peak Day
Ø




Avoid perfumed toilet paper and feminine hygiene
sprays, as well as powders that contain talc (cancer).
Avoid use of deodorant tampons, soaps, lotions,
powders, or bubble baths that are perfumed or irritating
in any way.
Wear only cotton lined underwear and panty hose, as
nylon and other synthetics do not absorb moisture.
The vagina is a self-cleansing organ – daily baths and
showers are all that are needed for good hygiene.
F = firm
S = soft
L = low
H = high
C = closed
O = open
Ø = dry
M or EW-M = wet
Let’s Say Peak Day Is Here:
Pk
EW EW EW
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
Ø
Ø
6
5
4
3
2
1
6
5
4
3
2
1
PRB
6
5
4
3
2
1
FTSL
.4°F
PRB
2
5
1
6
3
4
*FTSL = 0.36° F or 0.2° C
CIT starts the evening of the 3rd post-peak high in a
row, if it is on or above the FTSL.
PK
EW EW EW
M
M
M
M
M
M M
FTSL
.4° F
PRB
6
5
4
3
2
1
Ø
Ø
If the 3rd post-peak high is not on or above the FTSL,
wait until the evening of the 4th post-peak high to
assume the CIT.
PK
EW EW EW
M
M
M
M
M
M
M
FTSL
.4°F
PRB
2
5
1
6
3
4
Ø
Ø
TRUE MENSES
HIGH TEMPERATURE (1-2 WEEKS)
OVULATION SPOTTING OR BLEEDING
UNDIAGNOSED BLEEDING


At age 40 and beyond, women who are
avoiding pregnancy should no longer use the 6
or 5 Day Rule.
The new rule for this last phase of your
reproductive lifetime takes into account
changing cycle lengths and by starting at age
40, it anticipates the first unexpected short
cycle.
File:
Premonopause ? Age: 41
Gyn Age: 30 M: 3
F: 1
MC: 1
Cycle Nr : 117 Range:2724-37
32 Temp: vaginal Time 6:15 Earliest 6th Last Low
10
Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
PK
Menses
BT
X
X
37.2
99.0
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
36.2
97.0
°C
°F
m
d d d m
M M d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
EW
.
Cycle Day 1
Ø Ø M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
6 5 4 3 2 1
EW EW
Ø M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
F
2
3
4
S
5
S
6
S
7
S
8
S
F
F
F
F
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 19
To avoid pregnancy while using the RIT:
(Pre-Ovulatory Relatively Infertile Time)
1. Abstain during menses until tissue and sensation can
be considered dry, even if still spotting.
2. Crosscheck tissue, sensation, and cervix, and assume
fertility with any change from:
 Ø
to
M or EW-M
 d
to
m/M or L
 F,L,C,Ø
to
S, H, O, W (M or EW-M)
Whichever change comes first!!
If avoiding Pregnancy, intercourse is available only
in the evenings of every other dry day, unless
experienced with cervix checks and cervix is FLCD
just prior to intercourse.


Using Menses Fertile, Dry Days Infertile
Rule, mark the first change of fertility by
tissue, sensation, or cervix with a wavy,
vertical line.
Apply the Sympto-Thermal Rule
Be vigilant in observing all other signs…
d
m
M
Ø
M
L
m
M
d
EW
M
Ø
Peak
Day
DO NOT USE Patch Rule- the variation of the Basic Mucus Rule
which omits the count on 1-2 day patches of M and m/M and is
NEVER recommended during Pre-Menopause.
File: Premonopause Age: 46 Gyn Age: 34 M: 2 F: 3 MC: 2
Cycle #: 5 Range: 29-36 Temp: Vaginal Time: 7:00 a.m.
Month
Day
Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
Menses
37.2
99.0
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
36.2
97.0
°C
°F
PK 1
.
Cycle Day 1
d d d d d d d d
2
3
4
d d d d d d d d d d d d d
Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M M M EW EW Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
6 5 4 3 2 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39
Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Menses
PK 1 2 3 4
d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d mM mM mM mM L L mM d d d d d d d d
37.2 99.0
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
.
6 5 4 3 2 1
Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
36.2 97.0
°C
°F
Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40




Go over with instructor and bring home to
husband if he isn’t present to go over again
with him.
Be sure to chart everyday, at end of day.
Be patient and take good care of yourselves.
This stage of your life doesn’t last forever!
We are always happy to provide chart
review!
“ I don’t have hot flashes, I have short, private
vacations in the tropics!”
“ The menopause fairy ate my brain!”
“ I don’t want to go through Menopause, I want to go
around it!”
“I’m trying very hard to understand this generation. They
have adjusted the timetable for childbearing so that
menopause and teaching a sixteen year old how to drive a
car will occur in the same week.” Erma Bombeck
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity
under the heavens…” (from Ecclesiastes, Ch. 3)
May our Lord enlighten our minds and touch our hearts.
May we learn more about, and keep faithful to, all of the
Church's teachings.
May our Lord give both of us strength, courage, peace, and the
deepest faith.
In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen