Lunaception is a practice that purports to enable a woman to know ahead of time when she will be fertile each month, based on practices found in many non-urban cultures. It was named and described by Louise Lacey in her 1974 book Lunaception. The practice includes making a daily chart of temperature, condition of vagina, mood, and other observables, and sleeping in complete darkness except for three days each month. The name comes from the belief that most women's menstrual cycles usually become synchronized to one phase of the Moon during the three nights of sleeping with light. Lunaception has not received scientific testing; it consists of heuristic knowledge shared through anecdotes and practice.
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The theory is primarily based upon personal testimonies of the author and anthropological studies of various ancient cultures that drew a link between menstruation and the moon. Lacey claims that hundreds of different references to connections between women and the moon, and also between menstruation and the moon, have been documented. Furthermore, Lacey documented that many languages have a common root word for "moon" and "menstruation." For example, in English, "menstruation" comes from the Latin word "mensis" which means "month" and is related to moon. Lacey also claimed that in many cultures, menstruation arrived with the new moon and fertility came with the full moon.
Lacey posits that before electricity, most women experienced their menstrual cycles with the phases of the moon and at more or less the same time as all other women. The method uses light to control ovulation. In practice, all light should be blocked from coming into the bedroom at night. During the three fullest days of the moon (the day of the full moon and the days preceding and following), a small light should shine throughout the night in the room. This can be as simple as a small nightlight or desk light. After several months, the menstrual cycle should come into balance with the light. When attempting to conceive, intercourse is had on those three nights when the moon is fullest.
Lunaception has also been linked with helping to increase the production of fertility-quality cervical mucus[1], sometimes known as "egg white cervical mucus" in reference to its unique resemblance to egg whites. This fertile cervical mucus is what bathes the sperm in a protective and enriching coating in order to sustain the sperm until the egg is released and aid their journey to the fallopian tubes. Studies have shown that shortly after the night light is introduced during sleep, the natural production of this fertile-quality mucus is triggered and enhanced, bringing together the critical combination of timing of ovulation with coinciding of fertile mucus.
Lunaception has also been linked with resolving abnormal cycle lengths (excessively short or long cycles), regulation of FSH levels, reduction of spotting, reduced incidence of miscarriage, and relief of premenopausal symptoms.[2]
In cases where most light cannot be eliminated from the sleeping quarters, a dark, well-fitting eye mask may be substituted, although it is debated whether the effectiveness is retained when the entire body is not immersed in total darkness.
Tom Robbins made lunaception a subplot in his novel, Still Life with Woodpecker.
Barbara Kingsolver makes reference to it in her novel, Prodigal Summer.