CCL Method Rules


Phase I Rules


Tips:

  • To allow time to learn mucus observations, Phase I is not available for your very first chart. If you have prior charting experience, you can indicate this at CycleProGo.com by completing the Startup Questionnaire.
  • Begin observing and recording mucus signs as soon as menstrual bleeding lessens (light flow or spotting), or by Cycle Day 5, whichever comes first.
  • Select Charts > Select Phase Dates to see how the rules apply to your specific chart.

Day 5/6 Rule

Assume infertility on Cycle Days 1-5.

For women with cycles 26 days or longer in the last 12 cycles, assume infertility on Cycle Days 1-6.

Conditions for use:

  • This rule assumes the absence of mucus.

Doering Rule

Subtract seven from the earliest first day of temperature rise in the last 12 cycles. Mark that cycle day as the last day that you can assume Phase I infertility.

Conditions for use:

  • This rule assumes the absence of mucus.
  • This rule requires six cycles of temperature history.

Last Dry Day Rule

The end of Phase I is the last day without mucus sensations or characteristics.

Conditions for use:

  • This rule requires six cycles of experience.
  • Woman should have at least six days of mucus from its onset through Peak Day.


Phase III Rules


Tips:
  • CycleProGo will not make assumptions about your mucus. If you do not record mucus symptoms around Peak Day, Phase III may not be able to find Phase III using the ST or Mucus Only rules.
  • Select Charts > Select Phase Dates to see how the rules apply to your specific chart.

Sympto-Thermal Rule

Phase III begins on the evening of:

  1. The third day of drying-up after Peak Day, combined with
  2. three normal post-peak temperatures above the LTL (temps must be at least 0.1 degrees Fahrenheit above the LTL), and
  3. the third temperature at or above the HTL or the cervix closed and hard for three days.

If condition #3 is not met, then Phase III begins after waiting an additional post-peak day for another temperature above the LTL.

The ST Rule requires temp and mucus to agree. CycleProGo enforces this by requiring the temp shift to occur no earlier than 3 days before Peak Day and no later than 4 days after Peak Day. Additionally, in determining Peak Day, CycleProGo requires 2 out of 3 days of More Fertile mucus as part of 4 consecutive days of more or less fertile mucus.

Temperature-Only Rule

Phase III begins on the evening of the fourth day of normal temperatures above the LTL. The last three temperatures must be on consecutive days, and at or above the HTL.

Mucus-Only Rule

Phase III begins on the evening of the fourth day of drying up or thickening of the mucus after Peak Day.

CycleProGo requires the last 3 consecutive days leading up to Peak Day to have More Fertile Mucus and 2 additional days prior to have more or less fertile mucus.

Post-Hormonal Rule

For the first cycle after stopping the hormones, Phase III begins on the evening of:

  1. The fourth day of drying-up after Peak Day, combined with
  2. Four normal post-peak temperatures above the LTL.

If discontinuing injectable hormones, discuss with your Teaching Couple and see the Reference Guide section of The Art of Natural Family Planning® Student Guide..


Postpartum and Premenopause


Note: If you are postpartum or in premenopause for more than 10 months or so, you need to create a new chart by checking this box for "this day should start a new chart". Breaking up charts makes them easier to navigate. CycleProGo will not analyze a chart lasting longer than 1 year. For these reasons, you should break up your charts. (This will not start a new cycle, just a new chart.)

Mucus Patch Rule

Phase I infertility returns on the evening of the fourth day of dry, nothing after the last day of the mucus patch or non-menstrual bleed.

Conditions for use:

  1. Postpartum Breastfeeding or Premenopause
  2. No thermal shift

BIP Rule

Phase I infertility begins when a Basic Infertile Pattern is established and returns on the evening of the fourth day of return to the BIP.

Conditions for use:

  1. Postpartum Breastfeeding or Premenopause
  2. No thermal shift
Additional Considerations:
  1. You should record a Mucus Description when postpartum or in premenopause. This is a brief description of your mucus sensations and characteristics. Be specific and avoid general terms like tacky or stretchy. Use any words that you think best describe what you are observing. If the mucus is about the same from one day to the next, use the same word(s) to describe it. If it differs, create a new Mucus Description and record that instead.
  2. A Basic Infertile Pattern is established after 14 days of unchanging mucus.


Supporting Medical Evidence


  • "The effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy in relation to a couple’s sexual behavior during the fertile time: a prospective longitudinal study," Frank Hermann et al. Hum. Reproduction. 2007;22(5):1310-1319
  • "European multicenter study of natural family planning (1989–1995): efficacy and drop-out," The European Natural Family Planning Study Groups. Advances in Contraception (1999) 15: 69.
  • "Natural family planning with and without barrier method use in the fertile phase: efficacy in relation to sexual behavior: a German prospective long-term study." Frank-Herrmann P, Freundl G, Gnoth C, et al. Adv Contracept. 1997;13:179–189
  • "About the dependability of the temperature method to avoid conception," Doering, Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift 92: 1055-196, 9 Jun 1967
  • "Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives," Gnoth et al Gynecol Endo. 2002; 16:307
  • "Timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation," Wilcox et al, New England Journal of Medicine 1995; 333, 23:1517-5121
  • Natural Conception Regulation, Roetzer, Freiburg: Herder, 2006
  • "A prospective sympto-thermal trial in Austria, Germany and Switzerland," Roetzer, Presentation III International Congress IFFLP/FIDAF, Hong Kong, Nov 20-30, 1983
  • "Fertility awareness-based methods of family planning: A review of effectiveness for avoiding pregnancy using SORT," Manhart MD, Duane M, Lind A, Sinai I, Golden-Tevald J. Osteopath. Fam. Phys. 2013; 5:2-8.