[stilltrying09]

I've been using OPK strips from CD5 to today (CD14). Yesterday's results looked like 2 identical lines which I guess would mean I would ovulate today. I just took another test today and there are still 2 identical lines.

So how do I know if I ovulated today or if I'm ovulating tomorrow?

Shouldn't my LH surge have declined already if I ovulated today? Which would've meant unidentical test results today?

HELP! Because we're trying the Shettles method of conceiving a girl and we had sex on Sun and Mon only. If I ovulate tomorrow and based on sperm living up to 5 days only, there's no sperm in me anymore to meet and greet my egg.

[Tammyms]

OPK's can be different for everyone so there is no right answer. Some only get 1 day of positives, some will get 2 or 3 days of positives. And sometimes you'll O the day of your positive, sometimes the day after... there's really no definite timeframe. Are you temping as well to be able to confirm whether or not you've O'd?

[stilltrying09]

I'm not temping. I've never tried that.

[ShawnaCAN]

OPK's aren't that precise. They just tell you when LH is surging, but that doesn't tell you *exactly* when ovulation is going to occur....or even if it will. The LH can surge even if the process of ovulation is interrupted and isn't successful at this time.

The CM pattern is much more useful for applying the Shettles Method. For a girl, make sure to BD when you first begin to feel wetness or see cervical mucus. Once it starts to make you feel slippery - then WAIT! Wait until at least 4 days after the slippery mucus disappears.

[stilltrying09]

That's the thing. I never have CM or can never tell if I have CM. When do you start to produce CM anyway?

[ShawnaCAN]

If you don't have any CM at all, then conception is not possible until that is fixed (even if you're ovulating nicely). Sperm need CM to survive in your body. Have you discontinued a hormonal contraceptive within the last 18 months? Hormonal contraceptive can damage the parts of your cervix where CM is produced.

You can tell if you have CM just by paying attention to how you feel in the vaginal area while you walk around during the day. If you don't feel anything, that's called "dry" - no CM. If you notice that you feel wetness or lubrication at times, that's the CM. Sometimes there is enough that you can see on toilet paper, but not everyone has that much. If there is enough to make you feel wet, there is enough for conception.

Here's some information on fertility and tracking CM:
http://www.woomb.org/learningBOM/B20...nstruction.pdf

I am an instructor with the Billings Ovulation Method. If you would like some help learning to monitor your CM and how to sway the odds of conceiving a particular gender, please feel free to PM me.

[stilltrying09]

Sometimes I have discharge but it's not the stretchy egg white consistency I read about, so I always took that as not CM. If I didn't get pregnant this month, I'll pay more attention to my CM next month.

The link has alot of info, but confusing.

[ShawnaCAN]

CM doesn't have to be stretchy egg white. Any kind of discharge you observe is potentially fertile.

Yeah, it is a lot of info at first. Seriously, I can walk you through it if you want.

[stilltrying09]

If you can please walk me thru so I'm prepared for next month if I'm not already pregnant.

[ShawnaCAN]

There are two ways you can start. You can sign up for a chart at nfpcharting.com
or just download a Personal Record Chart here:
Downloads | Resources

If you use nfpcharting.com, just click "Share Chart with your Teacher" and pick my name from the list. I'm the only Shawna on Canada list.

Then each day, as you go about your daily activities, pay attention to what you feel. In the evening, write down what you felt on the chart. If you felt nothing all day, write "dry" and use a plain green stamp. If you feel anything at all, describe it in your own words and use a white baby stamp. I'll help you figure out what it means once you have a week or two of observations recorded. The practice you get now will help next cycle!

Anytime you DTD, put an "I" on the chart and mark the next day with a white baby stamp - because seminal fluid usually causes some wetness the next day.

[LifesGood]

thank you for all the information Shawna!

[stilltrying09]

Hi Shawna...I created my account on nfpcharting and chose you as my teacher. Today is CD21 and I should be expecting my period sometime Memorial weekend. Should I start using the charting now or when my period/spotting starts?

[ShawnaCAN]

Start right away; it's good practice!

[stilltrying09]

Ok, so anything I chart, you will see automatically or do I have to send it to you every time I comment or change something?

[ShawnaCAN]

I will see it automatically if I click on your name in my student list. But I won't go looking at it unless you ask me to.

[stilltrying09]

Hi Shawna. I've been using the chart the past 3 days and would like for you to take a look at it anytime.

[ShawnaCAN]

Great! Want to discuss it here, or can I email you?

[stilltrying09]

You can discuss here. I'm open and there may be other women having the same problem and can get advice reading this.

[ShawnaCAN]

Ok, so does "dry" mean you're feeling nothing and seeing nothing at all during the day?

[stilltrying09]

Dry meaning no wetness or wetness feeling. I tend to feel wet and uncomfortable before my period which can't mean I'm going to ovulate.