[Ithink]

So my chart is looking quite good this cycle but I am terrified to test because of my previous two cycles being such disappointments and so irregular (I am fairly recently off BCP, in April). I tested last two cycles at the appropriate times when FF gave me dotted crosshairs and got BFNs. My body was way out of whack!

This cycle is different. I didn't wild temp fluctuations pre-O, FF gave me solid crosshairs and my temps have been pretty solidly above coverline for the last 14 days. The problem is, I am scared to test now because I still think it's possible I didn't O on CD24 because a) of high temps I had on CD18 and CD20 and b) because right after O, temps weren't that high...

Anyone have thoughts on my chart? Is it possible I really O'd on CD33 and not CD24? Should I test? My pinching/twinging symptom by my hipbones in my lower abs on CD10 was also very different and not something I've felt before...

Please help!

[LiveLoveLaugh]

i would say that if your temp in the last 3 cycles dropped that much on 10/11DPO, and now youre on 14DPO and still up it looks very promising!!! im still a rookie at charting, so maybe someone else can offer more help then that GL!!

[ShawnaCAN]

There's no corresponding mucus information recorded, but based on temps alone I don't think you ovulated until CD33. There are some bouncy temps around CD23/24 - but not a sustained shift. There is a shift which begins on CD33. Did you notice feeling wet or slippery around that time?

[Ithink]

Can't say that I did. I check every day but I don't think I noticed anything besides creamy CM after CD24. I am a novice at all this so I may have misconstrued CM

I am glad I didn't test, if you're right. I would have just been disappointed.

[ShawnaCAN]

How are you checking CM? You can be highly fertile if you feel wet or slippery, even if you don't see any CM on toilet paper or underwear.

[kiwimum]

Are you getting any symptoms? my BBT temps are all over the place too (before and after and I'd chalk it to the cold lol, i'm not sure but things affect it) but I'm confident when I did O because I had a pos OPK test and corresponding CM signs, I'm happy with OPK's was my first try.

[Ithink]

Shawna: I am checking inside because there is rarely anything on my underwear (unless I am aroused and then there is a LOT!) and I can't understand how people can see anything re CM on white toilet paper - how can you tell watery vs. creamy on tp?!!?

Also, why can't the temp going down on CD26 after the big rise on CD25 be a fallback rise instead of just being bouncy temps? It went up and stayed up on CD26...

Kiwi: I don't use OPKs although I have a ton of them and should.

As for symptoms, on CD34, I felt some twinges/pulling in my lower abs by my pelvic bones (more on my right but also a bit on my left). Before people told me I may not have O'd until CD33, I thought it may have been implantation as my temps went up that morning and pinching/pulling started that afternoon.. Now I think maybe it was O pain. Although re the latter, I am not sure how I could have had a temp rise and then had O pain - shouldn't it be the other way around, O pain THEN temp spike?

[kiwimum]

I did that too, I chalked it to just being "off" and went by my OPK result and CM afterwards my temp rose then dipped again, to then rise again, uh oh I'm prob no good to you either

anyway

[ShawnaCAN]

Originally Posted by Ithink

Shawna: I am checking inside because there is rarely anything on my underwear (unless I am aroused and then there is a LOT!) and I can't understand how people can see anything re CM on white toilet paper - how can you tell watery vs. creamy on tp?!!?

Usually you won't find much CM on underwear. Some women do, but not all of us. One thing to know is that the pill shrivels up the parts of your cervix where good quality CM is produced. Because the cervix is so delicate, it can take some time for it to heal and produce good CM again. That may be part of the reason you aren't noticing much.

Secondly, CM found internally isn't always the most accurate indication of fertility. It goes through important changes as it passes over glands in the vagina called the Pockets of Shaw. Going in to find it disrupts that process.
Even if there is only a tiny bit of CM present - not even enough to see without a microscope - the nerve endings on the outer genital area are sensitive enough to feel it. It will feel like varying degrees of wetness. It just takes some practice to learn to pay attention to it.

Try paying attention to what you feel as you walk around during the day. If you notice feelings of wetness or lubrication - consider yourself fertile! Even if you don't see anything at all on toilet paper, or underwear, or by checking internally (though I recommend against that).

Hope that helps a little!

[Ithink]

Hmm, ok. I will! I didn't know that even a little was good enough. When I check internally, all I almost ever find is cloudy opaque creamy CM so maybe I'll just stick to paying attention to wetness in general.

Does fertility in anyway correspond to the amount of wetness during sex or how easily I can get wet? Because on CD31, within my new O window according to FF (it moved O date from CD24 to CD33), I had what literally felt like a gallon of it when we BDed (I know TMI, but I'd like to know if that's an indication I can pay attention to as well). It's usually pretty easy for me to get wet and we never use lubrication but this was highly unsual... Was it just a coincidence or is there something to it?

I apprecaite all your help, Shawna!

[ShawnaCAN]

Yes it does correlate. It's usually much easier to become aroused and produce arousal fluid during the fertile time. Any fluid produced by arousal doesn't automatically indicate fertility though, because arousal fluid is produced even during the infertile parts of the cycle as well. What indicates fertility is whether you observe wetness during the day, at times when you are not aroused.

[Ithink]

OK, I was hoping that was the case Yes, mine is always produced but this time there was an inordinate amount of it and it happened very quickly. I hope it worked!

Thank you for your help.

[kiwimum]

I have been going through a learning curve with charting, looking for CM, CP and I am amazed to hear that I have been disturbing the natural process! I have been reading lots about how to check it and have been doing it everyday!

[ShawnaCAN]

If you want to check CP, that's fine - just do it at the end of the day when you're finished observing CM externally.