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hi all
my partner and i recently decided that now was the right time to ttc. i finished the bcp last friday & i'm waiting for the withdrawal bleeding (it always took till about mid-week for my 'period' when on the bcp) - has kind of started but not really.
to be able to chart, do i need to wait until i get my first 'real' AF to start?
sorry - hope this isn't a ridiculous question!
its not a ridiculous question at all....from what ive learnt from here lol id probably say yes...but im sure the other ladies will be able to answer
thank you!
it's one of those questions that i was thinking - i'm sure it's a very logical answer, but i need to ask anyways! :lol:
Hi Sloane. Welcome to the world of ttc. I am currently on my 2nd cycle since coming off the BCP and started charting the second my "withdrawal bleed" began. If you check out my ff link in my signature you will see that my second cycle after a real AF is very similar to the first cycle since coming off the BCP so I think it's fine to start charting right away. Also, just for interest's sake I have a few friends who actually fell pregnant first mth coming off the BCP. They thought it would take a few cycles for their bodies to regulate and fell right away (2 before their wedding when they went off just before their wedding thinking that by after their honeymoon they'd be ready to start ttc). So you never know! Best of luck hun.
thanks so much for that jaxi - and it's great to know that there are other people in a very similar situation! i've been so impatient because i knew i was going to go off the bcp but i wanted to wait until the end of the packet because i'd read that stopping in the middle could mess around with getting a regular cycle back.
i think i'd like to chart because when off the bcp my cycles were a bit irregular & i think the charting would help with that.
there's something about this whole process that makes me very impatient!
I hear you sister. I broke all the rules - stopped halfway through the packet and started actively ttc right away. Now that it's my second cycle trying my patience is non existent! Come join us in the ttc 1-6 mths belly thread when you're ready :)
Hi Sloane, welcome to the world of TTCing! :D
It is completely up to you when you want to start temping. Fertility Friend is a great website that you can chart your temperature on and it's free (unless you become obsessed and buy the VIP membership like me :ROFL: ). The program is pretty smart and you can even start temping mid-cycle if need be.
The only problem you might find if you start with your first cycle is that your first cycle might not be a "regular" cycle. The only reason this can cause problems is because FF will include the temps from your first cycle when calculating averages and when it thinks you might ovulate and get AF etc... I hope you understand what I mean because I swear I'm going to confuse myself soon! Hehe.
Hmmm, maybe if you have a peek at my chart (in my signature) you'll notice that I have lots of little green squares in the "stats" row. That's because I had a miscarriage and my first cycle afterwards was longer before I ovulated again. Now FF is confused as to when I will ovulate and so has to give me all those possible "green" ovulation days. Then if you look at someone's chart that always has regular cycles, you'll probably see that they only have 2 or 3 green squares.
Anyway, I am rambling. If you would be happy for FF to possibly be a little confused then I say GO FOR IT! I hardly even loot at the stats because it's the pattern of the temps that is really important anyway. You'll be amazed how much you learn about your cycles and your body. I thoroughly enjoy temping and I hope you do too honey!
Good luck on your TTC journey! :hug:
thank you KL - that was definitely helpful!
i've signed up to FF & have put in my cycle info but haven't started temping. mostly because we don't have a thermometer!
i'm already beginning to see what you mean about learning about our bodies - i'd never even paid any thought to CM before i started this process. but everything i read makes so much sense :redface: i'm a bit slow off the mark haha.
I started temp charting before I went off the pill - mainly so I'd get in the habit. started off with a one decimal place themometer but last cycle after going off the pill I bought a BBT themometer from the chemist (about $25 from memory) and I've noticed a slight difference in some of my temps.
Best of luck getting to know your body better.
Liz