Altern Ther Health Med. 1999 Nov; 5(6): 70-83.

Gauging a woman's health by her fertility signals: integrating western with traditional Chinese medical observations.

Ehling D, Singer K.

Women's Health Services, Santa Fe, NM, USA.

This article presents observations of traditional Chinese medical and Western concepts of a woman's fertility signals. A woman of child-bearing age cycles through processes of heating and cooling and moistening and drying to make her fertile. Her fertility signals--basal body temperature, cervical fluid, and cervix changes--can be observed and charted to gauge the woman's gynecological health as well as to avoid or enhance her chances of achieving pregnancy. Introductory information about charting fertility signals, an introduction to traditional Chinese medicine theories, and various basal body temperature charts with analysis from traditional Chinese medicine and Western medical perspectives are included.