Understanding your cycle: The Creighton model explained

Welcome, dear readers! As natural fertility advocates, at BIRTZ we are passionate about empowering you to truly understand the magnificent wisdom held within your own body. Today, we're diving into one of the most powerful tools available for achieving this clarity: The Creighton model fertility care system (CrMS).

Often, we feel disconnected from our bodies' natural rhythm and it’s all normal with the many things that demand our attention nowadays. The Creighton method (CrMS) provides you with a reliable, evidence-based language to interpret the subtle signs of your reproductive health.

🔍 What exactly is the Creighton model system?

The Creighton model is a highly standardized, formalized modification of the previous observational method used in natural fertility called “Billings ovulation method”, which had been developed 30 years before, in the 50s. The Creighton method It is not just about avoiding or achieving pregnancy; it is a true system of reproductive health monitoring.

The main principle is simple and easy to learn: It teaches you to identify and track your natural, biological markers of fertility and infertility through observation of cervical mucus.

The key advantage: standardization

Unlike some other charting methods, the Creighton method (CrMS) involves a highly structured process:

-        Standardized Observations: You learn exactly how to observe and record your cervical mucus.

-        Standardized Charting: You use a specific, uniform chart with clear, unambiguous symbols.

-        Standardized Follow-Up: A fertility care practitioner teaches you the system and follows up regularly to ensure accuracy and help interpret your unique pattern.

🎯 The main points to pay attention to

To use the Creighton Model effectively, you must learn to focus on the key biomarkers:

1. The Cervical Mucus

This is the central focus of CrMS. Cervical mucus is a vital fluid produced by the cervix, and its presence and quality indicate the shifting hormonal landscape (estrogen and progesterone).

The big picture: Mucus acts as a biological "gatekeeper." When fertile, it nourishes and transports sperm. When infertile, it acts as a barrier. But what precisely do we have to observe? pay close attention to three main characteristics:

Color: Is it clear, cloudy, or yellow?

Consistency: Is it sticky, pasty, tacky, or thin and watery?

Sensation: How does it feel at the vulva? Is it dry, lubricative, or smooth?

For the correct use of this method, the observations should be noted in order to track the cycle, its particularities and so, detect your specific patterns.

2. The peak day

This is arguably the most critical observation in the entire system.

The peak day is the last day of experiencing the most fertile type of mucus (often described as clear, lubricative, stretchy, or resembling raw egg white).

It signifies the time of maximum cervical opening and is highly correlated with the day of or the day just before ovulation. In a healthy cycle, ovulation typically occurs within one to two days after the Peak Day.

3. The basic infertile pattern (BIP)

Your chart must clearly show the difference between your fertile signs and your non-fertile signs. For this, this system uses the “basic infertile pattern” (BIP), which is the recurring pattern of vaginal discharge or lack thereof when you are not fertile. How interesting is this? We can have such a valuable information about our body functioning from this, it is way beyond a simple question of “dryness”.

💖A holistic approach to fertility

The Creighton Model System is more than just a tracking tool; it is a language that allows you to confidently converse with your body. When used correctly, this method removes the guesswork and prove high efficacy. By charting these signs, not only can you naturally achieve or avoid pregnancy, but you can also detect and manage underlying reproductive health issues like Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), recurrent miscarriage, and hormonal imbalances with the help of a NaProTechnology-trained physician.

Understanding your body’s wisdom is beautiful, but it requires that we care for the whole system. Therefore, it is essential to remember that convenient, nutrient-dense nutrition is the foundational pillar of hormonal health and fertility. Healthy cervical mucus is created from the nutrients and hydration you consume. Without the proper building blocks—essential fatty acids, B vitamins, antioxidants, and adequate protein—your endocrine system cannot function optimally, regardless of how accurately you chart. Chart your signs, nourish your body, and embrace your natural fertility!