Newbie to charting - help!

[Livvyloo]

Hi All,

My husband and I have just recently started TTC, I went off BC pill in late January.

I decided to start charting, as I wanted to get an idea of when I may ovulate as since Jan I have not yet had a period. I've been to the doctor who did all sorts of tests but said everything was fine and I just needed to wait it out for awhile, and that it was all quite "normal". Anyway, since I do not have a "last first day" of my period, as I haven't had one, it's really hard for me to figure out when I may be ovulating so I figured I would start charting my temp as that might give me an idea as to whether it has happened.

So obviously I didn't start charting on "Day 1" but I have been doing it for the last 10 days.. for the first 4 days my temp was consistantly 36.2 then on the fifth day it dropped to 36.1, I had read a bit about temping and thought maybe that drop might indicate ovulation so I kept my fingers crossed that I may have ovulated that day. The following days my temp did rise. It went from 36.1 to 36.4 over night, and then to 36.6 followed by 36.7 and today back down to 36.6.

I also had a bit of pink spotting on the days preceding (and including) the day of the temp drop to 36.1... I wasn't sure if this may be ovulation spotting?

Does anyone think that perhaps this sounds like I may have ovulated??? I'm new to this and not sure if that constitutes enough of a temp rise to indicate ovulation, and if my temp is high enough to be considered a "post ovulation temperature" as everything I read seems to say that the temp should be closer to 37 post ovulation. Also not sure whether it's a bad sign that might temp went to 36.7 and then dropped the next day or whether that's normal. Biiit confused!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

hi, its been a while since i charted so someone else on here might be a bit more helpful. the things i wanted to mention though were that when you ovulate you get a temp rise.. it keeps rising until you get a drop right down and then within the next few days you will get your period. OR, it will stay high which means you are pregnant. but to confirm an ovulation you need at least 3 or 4 temperatures registering higher than your lowest temp of that cycle. (i think)

also, you need to make sure you are taking your temperature properly. you need to be in bed/asleep for at least 4 hours before you take your temp. even if you get up to the loo or get up to go get your themometer it can put it out.

another way to confirm ovulation is to keep track of your cervical mucous (CM). it means you have to feel around down there to see what kind of dishcarge you are getting. it will get really slippery like eggwhite when you are about to ovulate.

also, from memory i think a temp rise is going to get real high, so at the moment the ones you listed are still 36. something. if it gets up to 37 then that is good.

jump into the TTC buddy threads, those girls are really helpful. also, do you use the online charting Fertility Friend page? thats great, heaps of handy hints and explanations too.,

hope you get your BFP soon.

[Livvyloo]

Hi there, thanks for your input.

I have been keeping an eye on CM as well, I certainly had an increase in CM in the days leading up to my temperature dip and then the following jump in temps. Added to that, I had a bit of spotting which I thought MAY possiby be ovulation spotting.

I did notice that a lot of the sites say that you have to near 37 for it to be considered a post ovulation temp, but my temperature also started lower than the temps they suggest, so i figured that might have been a consideration also, I thought that perhaps because I started lower it's unlikely to get quite as high.

Just going by what you said in your response.. I have had 4 consecutive temperatures .3 degrees or more (the highest being .6 degrees more) than my lowest temperature.. so that's why I thought I may potentially have ovulated.

I have been ensuring to take my temperature as soon as I wake up, same time everyday, after at least 4 hours of sleep (although for me it's been minimum 7 hours each time anyway) and not after getting up to pee. I keep the thermometer next to my bed so I don't even have to get up to take my temp. I'm hoping that will keep my temp's legitimate.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i think the temps need to be higher quite a bit higher than just .somethings.. KWIM? :-) you could google some charts and see what others look like?

[Livvyloo]

Hmm strange, everything I google says that the temp rise only has to be .2 to .6 degrees celcius to be considered a spike indicating ovulation...even the information included with my BBT thermometer says so..

and I googled some "ovulatory" charts that had very similar figures to mine..

are you sure it has to be an entire degree because I can't find anything that says that?

[2CheekyMonkeys]

no not an entire degree in one day, but a steady increase each day til it gets up to a whole degree.

dont forget, it has been years since i charted so i could be entirely wrong. :-)

[Livvyloo]

heheh thanks

I found this (and similar statements on other websites):

In women, ovulation causes an increase of one-quarter to one-half degree Celsius

My temp definitely rose within the scale of 1/4 to 1/2 a degree celcius ... so not sure..

[Cassius2]

hi there!

i would hazard that it sounds like you may of ovulated. the post O temps seem to be in keeping and with the mid-cycle spotting it could all be related to O spotting.

i reckon that considering AF hasnt returned it would be advantageous to you to try some OPKs (ovulation predictor kits). this will really let you know if you are in fact ovulating (sometimes even with a dip it can be questionable). that way you know for certain whether there is an eggie coming down or not.

I also recommend that you join a TTC buddy group here on BB! great way to share the journey and compare charts etc.

goodluck with it all!

[spiceoflife]

Hi scliviachy - welcome!!

I agree - sounds like you may have O'd.
I've been charting for more than 10 cycles and my temps are usually 36.2-36.4 pre-O, then 36.6-36.7 post-O. Nothing wrong there!

I've never used OPKs but I think they're only useful BEFORE you O, whereas bbt is useful AFTER you O. At this point, I would just keep temping (assuming you take bbt at the same time each day, following all the guidelines etc) and keeping an eye on CM. If you haven't O'd yet, you're still potentially fertile - yay!! And if you have, then you can measure your luteal phase (time from O until AF), celebrate the arrival of AF, and then get on with some serious ttc

Good luck!

[Livvyloo]

hi there!

i would hazard that it sounds like you may of ovulated. the post O temps seem to be in keeping and with the mid-cycle spotting it could all be related to O spotting.

i reckon that considering AF hasnt returned it would be advantageous to you to try some OPKs (ovulation predictor kits). this will really let you know if you are in fact ovulating (sometimes even with a dip it can be questionable). that way you know for certain whether there is an eggie coming down or not.

I also recommend that you join a TTC buddy group here on BB! great way to share the journey and compare charts etc.

goodluck with it all!

Thanks for the luck, I think I'll need it!

I've just hopped into a ttc buddy group in the other forum and definitely plan to keep posting.

I actually bought some OPK's today but am not sure when to start using them - when you know your cycle length I understand it, but since I don't (because of the lack of AF after going off BC) it feels like I'd just have to randomly take them all the time. Or do I just start using them when I feel like my temp and CM are doing the right thing? Also.. with an OPK.. if you take it AFTER you think you've ovulated, it's just gonna be negative right? it wouldn't tell you whether you HAD ovulated??

[Livvyloo]

Hi scliviachy - welcome!!

I agree - sounds like you may have O'd.
I've been charting for more than 10 cycles and my temps are usually 36.2-36.4 pre-O, then 36.6-36.7 post-O. Nothing wrong there!

I've never used OPKs but I think they're only useful BEFORE you O, whereas bbt is useful AFTER you O. At this point, I would just keep temping (assuming you take bbt at the same time each day, following all the guidelines etc) and keeping an eye on CM. If you haven't O'd yet, you're still potentially fertile - yay!! And if you have, then you can measure your luteal phase (time from O until AF), celebrate the arrival of AF, and then get on with some serious ttc

Good luck!

I kind of want to avoid OPK's, it might sound silly but I don't want to get too extreme about it, I already feel a bit fanatical taking temps! I have bought some, but I'm not sure when/if I'll use them.

I do follow all the guidelines with temping, all my temps have been taken at 6:10am, and no getting up to wee or having anything to drink, keep the thermometer right by the bed and have been getting minimum 7 hours sleep before hand.

I've been nervous about my temps a little bit because I am scared that after going off the pill I'll never ovulate again.. I know it might sound silly but it was really daunting to discover I hadn't ovulated in the first cycle off the pill and got no period. It made me really upset. I decided to chart my temp because it felt like 'knowledge is power' and i have to admit that these last couple of days thinking I may have ovulated have made me feel a little better.

Interestingly enough, I don't know if this is relevant at all, but I counted back from the day I THINK i may have ovulated (the day of the dip) and it was 14 days exactly from the day I SHOULD have started my period had I ovulated last month. Don't know if that's a complete coincidence or not, but before going on the pill I always had regular 28 day cycles, never early never late.. so who knows?!?!

[spiceoflife]

I kind of want to avoid OPK's, it might sound silly but I don't want to get too extreme about it, I already feel a bit fanatical taking temps! I have bought some, but I'm not sure when/if I'll use them.

I do follow all the guidelines with temping, all my temps have been taken at 6:10am, and no getting up to wee or having anything to drink, keep the thermometer right by the bed and have been getting minimum 7 hours sleep before hand.

I've been nervous about my temps a little bit because I am scared that after going off the pill I'll never ovulate again.. I know it might sound silly but it was really daunting to discover I hadn't ovulated in the first cycle off the pill and got no period. It made me really upset. I decided to chart my temp because it felt like 'knowledge is power' and i have to admit that these last couple of days thinking I may have ovulated have made me feel a little better.

Interestingly enough, I don't know if this is relevant at all, but I counted back from the day I THINK i may have ovulated (the day of the dip) and it was 14 days exactly from the day I SHOULD have started my period had I ovulated last month. Don't know if that's a complete coincidence or not, but before going on the pill I always had regular 28 day cycles, never early never late.. so who knows?!?!

Sounds excellent, schliviachy - kind of the way I want to be as well I don't think temping has made me more neurotic, I tend to like the 'knowledge is power' thing, too. And I do find it really empowering.

A couple of things. Some people say that your cycles coming off the pill will look very much like what they were before you went on the pill, so when it evens out for you, you might be able to expect things to seem just like 'normal.' And when you count cycle days, remember that days post-ovulation (DPO) are the most consistent - usually between 12-16 days, and whatever it is for you, it's generally the same cycle to cycle. It's the number of days prior to O that varies, as I discovered this cycle! There are lots of natural ways to bring each of these phases into good balance, but I recommend seeing a professional (e.g. naturopath) rather than trying to work it out yourself.

Anyway, hope that helps. I look forward to seeing you around on the ttc forum next month, and let's hope our stay is not too long

[2CheekyMonkeys]

glad you found some more accurate help from these lovely ladies. :-)

[Livvyloo]

Sounds excellent, schliviachy - kind of the way I want to be as well I don't think temping has made me more neurotic, I tend to like the 'knowledge is power' thing, too. And I do find it really empowering.

A couple of things. Some people say that your cycles coming off the pill will look very much like what they were before you went on the pill, so when it evens out for you, you might be able to expect things to seem just like 'normal.' And when you count cycle days, remember that days post-ovulation (DPO) are the most consistent - usually between 12-16 days, and whatever it is for you, it's generally the same cycle to cycle. It's the number of days prior to O that varies, as I discovered this cycle! There are lots of natural ways to bring each of these phases into good balance, but I recommend seeing a professional (e.g. naturopath) rather than trying to work it out yourself.

Anyway, hope that helps. I look forward to seeing you around on the ttc forum next month, and let's hope our stay is not too long

Thanks for the tip re the DPO being the more consistant than the days prior to O. I plan to count from the day I THINK I might have o'd this cycle 12-16 days and hope to get my period (or early pregnancy symptoms!!! i wish) around that time.

I have to say though, I'm still really nervous, I feel like I'm maybe being too hopeful that it was only one cycle that disappeared post pill.. Im actually really scared i won't ovulate this month either, despite my temps perhaps indicating I might have O'd.

[spiceoflife]

Thanks for the tip re the DPO being the more consistant than the days prior to O. I plan to count from the day I THINK I might have o'd this cycle 12-16 days and hope to get my period (or early pregnancy symptoms!!! i wish) around that time.

I have to say though, I'm still really nervous, I feel like I'm maybe being too hopeful that it was only one cycle that disappeared post pill.. Im actually really scared i won't ovulate this month either, despite my temps perhaps indicating I might have O'd.

Well, I think it's very common for it to take a while for cycles to sort themselves out after coming off the pill, even if you tolerated the pill well enough. If you haven't been releasing eggs for months/years, your body has to remember how to do that again. There's also some knowledge around that says that it takes 90 days to produce an egg healthy enough for release. So that old guideline of 3mths after coming off the pill might have some merit Either way, you could see it as 3mths (6 weeks for you now!) of preparing the rest of your body for the demands of pregnancy - e.g. establish good patterns of diet and exercise, start taking prenatal vitamins (with folate - in fact all of the B vitamins are especially important coming off the pill as the pill tends to deplete your body of these), and practice relaxation. It's also time to practice temping!

That said, plenty of people get pregnant soon after stopping the pill. People get pregnant whilst on the pill, so go figure!

I know you're keen, and results that seem unusual can make you wonder, but it may just be a matter of letting nature take its course for now. If things on your chart still look screwy after 3mths, I would consult a professional. Doctors may order blood tests which really only rule out the nasty stuff and don't help with the finer points of balancing your cycles. Natural therapists - esp. naturopaths, herbalists and homeopaths - will take a much more wholistic approach.

FYI - my chart looked like the Rocky Mountains in both phases for about 6 cycles after coming off Implanon. Even then, there would still have been the chance of pregnancy had we been trying

The only other thing I will mention is 'coverline'. If your coverline is 36.4 and you get a lp temp of 36.5, it's still above and probably counts as a post-O temp. Look out for the 7-8DPO dip sometimes below coverline - often people call this an 'implantation dip' but even non-pregnant women show this on their charts. It corresponds to a surge of estrogen midway through lp.

HTH!

[Livvyloo]

Well, I think it's very common for it to take a while for cycles to sort themselves out after coming off the pill, even if you tolerated the pill well enough. If you haven't been releasing eggs for months/years, your body has to remember how to do that again. There's also some knowledge around that says that it takes 90 days to produce an egg healthy enough for release. So that old guideline of 3mths after coming off the pill might have some merit Either way, you could see it as 3mths (6 weeks for you now!) of preparing the rest of your body for the demands of pregnancy - e.g. establish good patterns of diet and exercise, start taking prenatal vitamins (with folate - in fact all of the B vitamins are especially important coming off the pill as the pill tends to deplete your body of these), and practice relaxation. It's also time to practice temping!

That said, plenty of people get pregnant soon after stopping the pill. People get pregnant whilst on the pill, so go figure!

I know you're keen, and results that seem unusual can make you wonder, but it may just be a matter of letting nature take its course for now. If things on your chart still look screwy after 3mths, I would consult a professional. Doctors may order blood tests which really only rule out the nasty stuff and don't help with the finer points of balancing your cycles. Natural therapists - esp. naturopaths, herbalists and homeopaths - will take a much more wholistic approach.

FYI - my chart looked like the Rocky Mountains in both phases for about 6 cycles after coming off Implanon. Even then, there would still have been the chance of pregnancy had we been trying

The only other thing I will mention is 'coverline'. If your coverline is 36.4 and you get a lp temp of 36.5, it's still above and probably counts as a post-O temp. Look out for the 7-8DPO dip sometimes below coverline - often people call this an 'implantation dip' but even non-pregnant women show this on their charts. It corresponds to a surge of estrogen midway through lp.

HTH!

Hi there, thanks for this response, much appreciated!

Even though I've only been charting for like 10 days..based on the follwoing info:

36.2
36.2
36.2
36.1
36.4
36.6
36.7
36.6
36.5




I figured out roughly that my coverline COULD be considered 36.3 as that's 1/10th higher than my highest temps before the temp rise. Of course, you're supposed to use 6 temps but I haven't been doing it for long enough..

I've been kind of freaked out by the fact that I got to 36.7 but now it's going backwards.. I feel like maybe that's an indication that I didn't ovulate after all and have got all sad.. but I don't know.. it would still be above my "coverline".. so not sure! That said, my coverline may not be accurate because I've not been temping for long enough to know for sure!

[spiceoflife]

Scliviachy - yes, this is confusing and you have no way of knowing other than waiting. Really.

You *might* be in a TWW (I think there's a fair chance ) or you might be still waiting to O. But hey, now I'm waiting with you, and lots of others here on BB! In fact, this is where we're all learning to wait better than we ever have before I feel really privileged to be here with you.

So let us know how things develop!

[Livvyloo]

Scliviachy - yes, this is confusing and you have no way of knowing other than waiting. Really.

You *might* be in a TWW (I think there's a fair chance ) or you might be still waiting to O. But hey, now I'm waiting with you, and lots of others here on BB! In fact, this is where we're all learning to wait better than we ever have before I feel really privileged to be here with you.

So let us know how things develop!

thanks so much

I've done a chart at FF although the big stretch before it all starts is just indicative of the fact that I didn't start charting until 10 days or so ago. and it does say that I had a period but I didn't.

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ttc/c...&ts=1268612682

by the way, scuse my ignorance but what does TWW stand for??