Charting Question

[Mi11ie]

Hi there ladies,

I am new to charting, have only started this cycle (currently on CD14), not actively trying to conceive just yet but think we will be within the next 6 months. Decided to start charting (using FF) as last year I had missing AF's (I came off Cerazette in the April) so had scans and blood tests done, I had a low progesterone level so the doc said that I wasn't ovulating (she put this down to stress as my mum passed away 6 months previously). I was sent to the hospital for a scan to make sure everything was ok (as year before that I had a small cyst) but my ovaries were being 'elusive' and they couldn't see them (common apparently!) but was told this was ok and if my cycles hadn't gone back to normal within 6 months to go back. I have been having regular cycles for the last 6 months, they started off at 33 days and have now gone down to between 29 and 30.

Anyway that's my reason for charting but my question really is do you always get a temp peak after OV? Also in terms of CM (never realised it varied so much) how is is supposed to vary over the month in terms of watery, sticky etc? I had a bit of EWCM yesterday but today seems to have gone? Bit confused as to how it is supposed to be. FF has me as being in fertile days since Sunday.

Thanks!

Yes you do always get a temp rise after OV but you don't always pick it up while charting as anything from a disturbed night's sleep to mild alcohol consumption to illness to a slightly earlier or later waking time can affect your chart. I'm pretty certain I ovulated on CD22 this month but FF is saying not.

In terms of cm you'll start off dry and then gradually see stickier and creamier discharge until you are approaching OV when you should see the gloopy clear stretchy stuff they liken to egg whites. You may also have dry days in between.

There are very good photos on the net somewhere, hopefully someone can provide a link.

That's great thanks for your reply Amanda, becoming obsessed with the charting already and not even at the TTC stage yet. Porbably not a good thing!

I managed to find this website which has photos of different types of CM. Note I am not recommending the website, I don't know what it is.

I'd recommend doing the charting course on FF, it's free and will help you make sense of your charting a bit more.
Also recommend taking charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler (you can get it on Amazon).

mi11ie feel free to join us on the charters anonymous thread. We'll be happy to answer any charting questions you have and if you want, you can share your charts with us and we will happily interpret when in doubt.

But to answer your questions, yes, your temp should rise after ov. Some people get a very clear rise, others a more gradual one. It is then supposed to stay up if your pregnant or come down again if not. Sometimes the temp does come down before AF and sometime after, but you will learn to interpret your charts after a couple of months.

As for CM, this can vary from person to person, but the general rule is that you will get a couple of dry days after AF, followed by sticky/creamy CM, which then turns watery/EWCM leading up to ov. Some people then stay dry until AF turns up, others have creamy CM for the 2WW, some even have fertile EWCM after ov. It really is a case of charting to learn what is the norm for you.

Others are right, Taking charge of your fertility is the book to read and FF has a lot of good guidance.

Thanks ladies! I might do that Scrummybumb and join you on that thread. FF has had me as fertile for the last 9 days! I didn't realise there could be so many days. I believe I ovulated Thurs/Fri as had ewcm and had what I would think is ovulation pain which thinking about I do notice most months. FF has me ovulating yesterday but I don't think that's right as no cm at all really since Friday! Also my temp rose Fri morn (not by much but shows on my chart) but has since dropped! Might need to get the book I think!

Thanks again!

Over a few months you should see a pattern emerge.

FF is likely to have considered you fertile for 9 days based on your CM entries. As you get more used to examining it, you might be able to refine it a bit. To begin with I just went on visual appearance and put a lot down as watery. But now I tend to touch it to test for stretchiness, etc and find it is often more sticky than it looks or whatever.

The temp rise is easier to see with hindsight. FF doesn't usually put in the cross hairs until a few days after ov.

G'luck with the charting.