Come and talk to me about temps/charting and other methods

[frustratedpants]

I'm not completely convinced by OPKs.

But what about basal temps is that charting?

and what do you ladies think about about saliva ferning?

There's a great website called fertility friend. Loads of info and tutorials. I like charting temps and cm. didn't do saliva ferning tests. Opks were a useful adjunct.

Will check that site out, thanks bonzo

Another vote for fertility friend! I bought a thermometer and it hasn't left my bedside table since :o fertility friend has loads of information about charting your temps and patterns or trends you should see during your cycle, I find it helps! Good luck x

Temping is good but takes a lot of commitment - you have to temp at the same time each day, first thing. You need immense bladder control because you can't pee til you've temped! I found charting very helpful when I wasn't sure I was ovulating (irregular cycles and blood tests) and temping along with monitoring cervical fluid made me sure I was ovulating. The only issue I had was getting a bit obsessed with the temps towards the end of the cycle. I've more recently started using clearblue OPKs with the smiley faces. I find them more consistent and I like getting a :)

I found charting very helpful to get to know my cycles. I didn't find it intrusive. I just kept the thermometer right next to my alarm clock and as I reached out to switch it off in the morning, I picked up the thermometer and stuck it in my mouth on the way back! I didn't bother waking up early specially to take my temp on days I could have a lie in unless I was expecting to ov right at that time and wanted to be clear whether I had or not (I was taking drugs that I could only take post-ov so I wanted to be as precise as possible).

I used fertility friend too.

I've found temping is the best way to track what's going on with my cycle. I set my alarm clock for the same time every morning and reach for the thermometer while I'm barely awake - it's just routine now.
I use fertility friend and find it essential to pin point ovulation using bbt and cm tracking. You start building up a picture - recognising patterns over the months. I've tried using OPKs but you have to time it right and I've missed getting positives a couple times because my pee was too dilute or took the test at the wrong time of day and missed the LH surge. You're supposed to test between 10am and 8pm but that's tricky if you work long hours and I'm not poasing at work!