Cheapie OPKs and temping - advice needed

[Mrskbpw]

Hi all

I'm ttc baby number 3 and so far (5 months so far) it's all been a bit tricky. I'm 39, so had an inkling it wouldn't be easy (it took 9 months to conceive number 1 and six for number 2). Basically my cycles, which have always been very regular and shortish, are now extremely long (cd21 today and no sign of ovulation) and unpredictable.

We've decided to give it until April then stop, so I want to break out the big guns for these last couple of months, as it were and start temping. Can anyone give me a v easy how-to guide? I've got a BBT thermometer. Is it literally as soon as you wake up? Should I start now or is it best to wait until next cycle?

Also, as I was fed up with weeing on super-expensive Clearblue OPKs I've got some internet cheapies. They say to test twice a day between 10am and 8pm. I work four days a week, so testing at 10am is difficult but I can do it when I first get to the office at about 9am as I'm the only one in at that time. Is that ok? And then if I do it again when I get home at about 6.30pm?

I'm also trying to chill out a bit but that's easier said than done as life is pretty hectic.

So, any and all help would be very gratefully received.

Hi- with the temping you must do it as soon as you wake up- moving around makes the reading less accurate. Since you haven't yet ovulated you may as well start this cycle as you could still get enough data. There's a good summary of the charting process at fertilityfriend.com.

HTH

F
X

I'd suggest you read Taking charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler - it'll give you plenty of info on the how To's of temping. I used Fertility friend to put my temps in and it would try to pinpoint ovulation.

On the internet cheapies, you are most likely to be fine with once a day. I suggest trying that first rather than trying to fit in two which can be a pain when you have other things to do in life other than pee in pots. I suggest straight after work, making sure you haven't peed in the last couple of hours.

My experience is the following - once a day around 4 because that's what fits in my day best, I get warning one (almost positive) a positive the following day. When I was temping too, my temp would be up the next day suggesting I was ovulating the same day as the positive.