Can you help analyse where in my cycle I am? (Silly OPK questions/temps/TMI!)

[jaykay987]

I'm using CB advanced digital and temping daily.

Last month I had two flashing, followed by a solid smiley so exactly as the instructions suggested.
I'm currently on day 6 of flashing smileys. I know lots of people have had problems with getting lots of continuous flashing smileys. There's lots of threads on it, so although frustrated I wasn't worried.

BUT now Im confused. FF has today changed all my stats (based on my temperatures) and thinks I ovulated on cd11. This would be early for me (it was cd17 last month). But I have been taking Angus Castus so a move in ovulation dates wouldn't be alarming (though I only started taking them this month so a large jump would be unexpected)

If I started doing the opks too late this month, would they not read accurately? I know they look for surges (hence why you have to use the same monitor everyday and not start using a new one if you run out of sticks and buy a new box).

My readings were low cd9 through to cd 12. They have been high cd13 to cd18. If FF is right and I ovulated on cd11, if I had been testing from the beginning of my cycle then my peak would have showed up on Cd9. But cd9 was the first day I tested.

So - my question is: is it possible for the CB advanced opks to "miss" peak ovulation if you start testing too late?

I feel like AF is coming. I was confused as I didn't think I had ovulated yet. My back cramps have been getting worse the past few days and I've started having infrequent but sharp stabbing pains in the front. I dont normally get pain this long/painful at ovulation.
Also tmi - I have had several days of very loose bowels last few days. This is unusual for me.

I had EWCM cd11-13. But I frequently get more than one lot of this each month, so don't normally read too much into it.

Help me diagnose where in my cycle I am!

My charts....

www.fertilityfriend.com/m/home.php/415098

The more I look - the more confused I get!

Today was my sixth day of flashing smiley. Argh. I have no words of advice for you, but wanted to say that you are not alone in your frustration. This is my first month ttc as well and no peak!! Beginning to think that maybe I don't ovulate!

What cd are you coffee?

I had day 7 flashing today. I'm cd 20. So currently on track for a 36day cycle! Aaaggghhh! Normally 30-32 days. I'm happy Im tracking though, otherwise Id be getting my hopes up that AF was late!

I am convinced now FF was wrong to change my dates. I am certain I haven't ovulated yet. My temperature dropped again today. Fingers crossed I get my fixed tomorrow which probably means Ill ovulate Monday. PIL are here this weekend, this would give us a chance to dtd Sunday and Monday whilst still in fertile window. I hope it isn't delayed much past Monday -otherwise this is turning into a mammoth cycle!

I refuse to give up hope. THIS IS OUR MONTH! ( did I say that loud enough for it to be true?)

Jay, why do you say FF thinks you ovulated on CD11? I am looking at your chart and there are no crosshairs. Based on how FF calculates ovulation it is unable to pinpoint ovulation based on the data you have. If you had ovulated already it is unlikely FF would identify that based on the discarded temps on CD13 to 16.
Anyway I would suspect you're just ovulating later this month and have ovulated yet.

Also can I ask why you are taking Agnus castus?

I am cd16 today jaykay and 7 th day of flashing smiey. Usually have 28-31 day cycles. I am glad that you know you ovulated last month. This is first ttc month for me and I am going out of my mind worrying.

Coffee - we can be cycle buddies (until you over take me and my long cycles and then I'll be a jealous rival )

Merkin - FF changed its mind after I entered this morning temp and removed the cross hairs (hence why you can't see them any more). It makes much more sense to me that Im cd20 - pre ov - than DPO 9 which is what it said yesterday!

I'm taking Angus Castus as I a friend believed it increased their fertility. From the Internet research I conducted I thought it might slightly shorten my cycle too, but tha does not seem to be the case. I might stop. I'll see how as feel at the end of this cycle.

Looking back at my stats my cycles have been 30, 29, 31, 39, 30 and now Im on track for 34. I've not been on the pill for a clue of years, so not sure how "normal" this level of variation is.

Hi, not sure if it will help but I read a post a while back on another forum from a natural fertility expert on how to tell when you are fertile, it was all about recognising your bodies signs leading up to and during ovulation and also after. It was quite interesting, I guess sometimes it just happens and we aren't really aware of it?! Anyway, hope it helps, will put link at the end for you incase you want to have a read. Good luck forum.prideangel.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=537

Jay I would be careful about medication with Agnus castus as it can mess with the hormonal balance throwing your cycle out (including delaying or preventing ovulation in previously ovulating woman). If you feel you need help with your cycle I would suggest talking to your doc first and foremost.
Good luck

If you start the OPK too late it might not pick up on the oestrogen surge, but it should still detect the LH surge (that will give you a fixed). Do you keep the sticks and check the lines? On a fixed one you should get a dark lh line.

Your chart, you seem to have taken temps at different times. This could affect you readings. I don't know how much the time differences are?

FF put in the cross hairs because your temps became higher than the six temps before that, but your temp on cd14 already suggested that it was not ov. So my guess is ov is yet to come. Maybe it started preparing for it (hence the ewcm), but then for some reason didn't go through with it. Could be the AC doing this, but could be something else. I agree with Notwithout, saying that AC can mess with regular cycles. I think having 30-32 day cycles is not bad at all!

Thanks for all the comments. I think you're right about AC.

However, I got my fixed smiley this morning (plus my first positive IC OPK). So I am really happy.

Unfortunately I was drinking at dinner last night, so my temp is high this morning. I assume drinking doesnt register as positive on opks for some reason? I think I'll disgard today's temp and hope I get a genuine rise in the next couple of days!

Forgot to add - there is a two hour gap in temperatures. I refuse to set an alarm to temp, but we have a fairly consistent waking time on weekdays and on weekends. So I temp at approx 5am weekdays and 7am on weekends. I know this isn't ideal. But l think I should still be able to see a pattern - without the need to set a 5am alarm on weekends

Jay the problem with not setting an alarm is that your temp rises (enough to make a pattern difficult to see) through the normal process (10 to 30 mins) of waking up. To do it accurately you need to set an alarm at least 30 mins before you naturally wake and temp immediately. It doesn't need to be the exact same time every day

Ahh - I am awoken by an alarm 7 days a week. DH loves to set an alarm (even on a weekend!). I just refuse to set the alarm at 5am on a weekend just to do my OPK, when the alarm has already been set by DH for 7 or 7.30!

So I think it's fine. I saw a clear pattern last cycle.

Jaykay, congratulations on your fixed smiley. I got mine today too. Relief is an understatement. Yay cycle buddies!!