[bluebawler]

hi this is my first time ttc and im completely at a loss. i do temp myself in the morning and i also chart. my temperatures go up and down constantly. i have a short cycle(that or there irregular) my last was 25 days with a 3 day period. ive tried to do my homework and read up on how tochart and i even did the tutorial of fertility friend. my questions are how to check the cervix( i cant tell if its firm or soft or open or closed) nor how to check the cm. sould i just go out and buy opks or keep trying this? (i dont buy the opks cause there too expensive.) any input would be great!

[stargatemommy]

OPKs are easier, but more expensive... I have never checked my cervix... I get infections easily and I don't want to risk it. I check CM but only by what I can see when I wipe. When I am about to O I have so much EWCM that I don't need to check from the inside.

If your cycles are short they could prevent you from getting/staying pregnant. You should check with your Dr...

a cycle is considered short if it's under 21 days and temp fluctuations are normal for coming off hormonal contraception. I recommend the book tcoyf, it has a lot of info on cm and cervical positions etc. For me, I count it high I it's har to reach and soft if it's real squishy. Firm is obvious (for me), it's not sqishy. Low is very easy for me to reach and can make sex a little painful. Anything in between I consider medium. Ewcm will be very stretchy and usually clear but can be a little whitish. It will also be slippery or lubricative. Creamy I consider to be like lotion. It's white (or yellow) and doesn't stretch. Sticky is just that. Sticky. I've had eggwhite tpye cm that was rubbery, I counted that as sticky cause it didn't stretch and wasn't slippery.

I personally have seen too many people have hard time reading opks so I wouldn't recommend them but i'm sure someone else will prefer them.

[Ithink]

That is one of the best explanations/answers to a similar question I have ever seen. Thank you, TAU!

[bluebawler]

well i just bought the book what to expect before your expecting and its just as confusing but i just checked and i had some clear mucus on the tp it was clear and had some white in it. is that the ewcm? sorry im one of those gals that does better with pictures i also bought the opks and it said negative. can someone tell me what the mucus i described above means? you all are very helpful

iwas the clear mucous stretchy?

I should also add when checking your cervix to do it about the same time each day (i think) and the same position since diiferent positions make it easier/harder to reach. I've found the easiest position for me is to squat down and then check it. I was checking with a leg up, but this seems easiest for me.

to check the opening, you can check during af when it's open or just wing it and see if you notice changes. Women who have aleady had children will always be partly open (or a fingertip dilated when pregnant with no 2+).

[Mod-LilSunshine]

You've been given a lot of good info already, but you may also want to check out these links from the Fertility Charting School Subforum:

Checking your Cervix (has links to pictures): http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f1...ur-cervix.html (How to find your cervix)

Tips for checking your CM: http://www.justmommies.com/forums/f1...questions.html

Welcome to charting!

[alicenwonderland]

For temps, i had trouble with them going up and down, so i started temping vaginally. It really helped.

For my cervix i checked it on the toilet. I had to sort of bear down to reach it. (clean hands) My cervix didn't feel at all like described in the books. Its good to monitor it for a couple cycles to see what yours is like. (my puzzlement was later confirmed on ultrasound. When my cervix is closed, it curls over on itself and is high. When my cervix is soft and open, it uncurls and drops down. Weird i know)

After checking my cervix i would examine what was on my finger. Everyone's cm is a little different. I never got true eggwhite cm, and had to depend on the position of my cervix and opks.