Introduction to Organismal Biology (BIOL221) - Dr. S.G. Saupe; Biology Department, College of St. Benedict/St. John's University, Collegeville, MN 56321; ssaupe@csbsju.edu; http://www.employees.csbsju.edu/ssaupe/

Natural Family Planning

Setting:  Imagine that you are a natural family planning counselor.  Jane Doe, a newlywed, seeks your services to learn about her fertile and infertile times.  You recommend that she should monitor her basal body temperature immediately upon awakening every morning for two months and then return to your office for a consultation.  When Jane returns to your office, she hands you a table with her temperature data (see Table 1).  The first thing you do is graph these data [prepare a graph plotting temperature (F) vs. date]. 

1. Do you expect the temperature graphs from her two menstrual cycles to be identical? Why or why not?  Link to graph.
2. What is the average length of Jane's menstrual cycle?
3. On what day of her cycle does Jane ovulate?
4. How long (in days) is Jane's follicular phase?________  Luteal phase? ________
5. If Jane wants to get pregnant, on what day(s) of her cycle would you recommend intercourse.  Explain.  On what date(s) during her next cycle (July) would you recommend intercourse?
6. If Jane want to avoid pregnancy, on what days of her cycle should she avoid intercourse?  On what date(s) during her next cycle (July) should she avoid intercourse?
7. What do you predict was the consistency (watery or sticky) of Jane's cervical mucous on May 31?  __________. June 6 __________.  June 12 __________.  Explain.