The August CTA/Fertility Awareness Thread - Page 6

[AnnieA]

WRT to the spotting issue, in my classes, I teach that all genital contact should be avoided any time blood is present. (Keep in mind this is a class I teach at my Catholic church so the FAM rule would be use a back-up form of protection). Part of the reason we teach that is because there can be O spotting or if you are not sure that you O'd the previous cycle, what looks like AF might be highly fertile. So to be completely safe, you need to only DTD on the days when you are completely dry and no spotting.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by AnnieA

WRT to the spotting issue, in my classes, I teach that all genital contact should be avoided any time blood is present. (Keep in mind this is a class I teach at my Catholic church so the FAM rule would be use a back-up form of protection).

So you don't teach the first 5 day rule? Even if you have a confirmed O the previous cycle?

[Smylingeyz]

Thanks to everyone who's been helping me figure out my chart! I actually didn't know that about the spotting - that really stinks. I guess any sex before O should be protected if we really want to avoid pg, we usually end up using w/d at some point every cycle, but we hate it and try not to because we're Catholic. Every month we decide to abstain till after O but it's too hard and we change our minds at some point.
I had originally thought I had O'ed a few days later too, but FF didn't think so. I've been charting for over two years, not all my charts are in FF but I have home charts that go back over two years, so we recently felt confident in my consistent O day to use the Doering rule.
I still feel really sick/dizzy/headachey today, and having major food aversions, which I haven't gotten since I had DD. But at the same time, at this point I could be getting PMS depending when I O'ed, so I guess any symptoms I get won't be a clear indicator either way. I'll test again tomorrow.

[katiedidbug]

I had my yearly ob appt today, which I hate. Since I've used a mw and had a hb, I hate going anywhere near the ob, but that's just another rant.
Anyway, after my pap, he made a comment on the excess of mucus--which was kinda weird, but whatevs--so I simply explained to him that I will be ovulating in the next few days. He didn't really care to have a discussion and seemed satisfied with my answer. So, I guess that just confirms that O is on its way.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by katiedidbug

I had my yearly ob appt today, which I hate. Since I've used a mw and had a hb, I hate going anywhere near the ob, but that's just another rant.
Anyway, after my pap, he made a comment on the excess of mucus--which was kinda weird, but whatevs--so I simply explained to him that I will be ovulating in the next few days. He didn't really care to have a discussion and seemed satisfied with my answer. So, I guess that just confirms that O is on its way.

That's cool that you got mucous confirmation. I hate going to the OB now, too. I haven't had a pap in at least 2 years because of it. Can't your MW do them?

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by Toolip

So you don't teach the first 5 day rule? Even if you have a confirmed O the previous cycle?

No we teach no contact whenever blood is present. Of course if a couple decides to engage in intercourse when blood is present, that's their choice but they understand that it comes with increased risk. Like a PP said, just because someone has never ovulated before CD 15 it doesn't mean that they will never ovulate before CD 15. If you truly need to avoid pregnancy, then you should always err on the most conservative side with the rules.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by Toolip

So you don't teach the first 5 day rule? Even if you have a confirmed O the previous cycle?

I'm fairly certain the first 5 day rule is still taught in NFP, not everyone bleeds for all 5 days. I've had cycles that I've only had bleeding for 2-3 days or cycles where I might have been "clear" for Day 4 and then started up again on Day 5.

[katiedidbug]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

That's cool that you got mucous confirmation. I hate going to the OB now, too. I haven't had a pap in at least 2 years because of it. Can't your MW do them?

Yes, my MW can do them; however, I have a version of Medicaid that will cover women's health stuff done by an OB (my MW is a CPM) so I had to use the OB. Plus, I needed to see him to get a certain prescription, and that was technically the reason I even went.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

I haven't had a pap in at least 2 years because of it. Can't your MW do them?

I haven't had one in that long either. I guess I should. I put it off b/c I'm not going to use the same midwife I used last time, and don't have an OB that I see regularly. I should probably do that soon. Do they do a pap if you're pg?

So, half of everyone I've asked agrees w/FF's CL and half don't. Ill see what my temp is tmw. My BFF said that if I get a higher temp tmw, FF might move my CH's to CD14. We'll see what happens, I guess. I'm confused and mad that I don't have a clearer temp shift.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

Do they do a pap if you're pg?

Yes, they will do a pap if you are pg but I'm paranoid about that. The MW I'm seeing Wednesday probably does them but I'm not sure I would consent. Maybe in the 2nd trimester.

My insurance covers OBs and CNMs but since all the CNMs work in OB offices I haven't gone to see any of them. There are several FP/GP practices that do them. I could maybe go to one of those but I'm very particular about having a woman do that and I don't know if I'd be guaranteed to see a women even with an appointment.

No way it's cd13. Your CL should be 97.1.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife

No way it's cd13. Your CL should be 97.1.

Thank you!!! This is what I told my BFF and my other girlfriends! But they agree w/FF.

[Toolip]

Originally Posted by AnnieA

No we teach no contact whenever blood is present. Of course if a couple decides to engage in intercourse when blood is present, that's their choice but they understand that it comes with increased risk. Like a PP said, just because someone has never ovulated before CD 15 it doesn't mean that they will never ovulate before CD 15. If you truly need to avoid pregnancy, then you should always err on the most conservative side with the rules.

but isn't the first 5 day rule based on the fact that it takes a certain number of days for an egg to mature, so as long as you O'ed last cycle, there is a certain amount of time when you definitely won't O.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by Toolip

but isn't the first 5 day rule based on the fact that it takes a certain number of days for an egg to mature, so as long as you O'ed last cycle, there is a certain amount of time when you definitely won't O.

This is how I thought the rule was based, too.

Ok, so I just found a bunch of EW. This cycle has been very odd that I didn't get a lot of EW last week, when I usually get a ton. How common is finding EW after O? I'm worried now that I didn't O yet, but don't see how that's possible at this point looking at my temps. And it's not semen, we didn't dtd last night. I'm confused.

I entered it in FF and it confused her, too, enough to change my solid CH's to dotted.

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by Smylingeyz

we recently felt confident in my consistent O day to use the Doering rule.

This is probably what you meant anyway, but just so all those reading are clear, Doering is based on your earliest O, not your typical O.

[RaraAvis]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes

This cycle has been very odd that I didn't get a lot of EW last week, when I usually get a ton. How common is finding EW after O? .

This happens to me sometimes, esp when I've had a lame temp shift -- I'll feel a lot "drier" and then suddenly get a big wad a EW. Warning-- last time it happened I actually think I hadn't O'd with the lame temp shift (just baaaarely over the line if I shaved one temp) and the late wad was (I think) actually O. So watch out!

[annie2186]

Thanks for all the congrats everyone - it still really hasn't sunk in yet...............

I just have a question............what happens to all the FF data I have accrued if I don't use it again for approximately 19 months? (my PPAF returned two times when baby was ten months old, so just approximately)

Does it keep my account active? I just have the free one

[katiedidbug]

Yes, it stays around. I didn't use mine for two years, and I signed back in and it still had everything! Pregnancy and lam is two years for me, and it sounds like it's a long time for you, too.

[Smylingeyz]

Originally Posted by MovingMomma

This is probably what you meant anyway, but just so all those reading are clear, Doering is based on your earliest O, not your typical O.

Oh I know, I've never O'ed before cd15, it was later when I was PP, but since things have been back to normal it's been cd15 like clockwork I believe. I can double check, but we always use cd9 as the last safe day, unless I suddenly were to have fertile CF.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by RaraAvis

This happens to me sometimes, esp when I've had a lame temp shift -- I'll feel a lot "drier" and then suddenly get a big wad a EW. Warning-- last time it happened I actually think I hadn't O'd with the lame temp shift (just baaaarely over the line if I shaved one temp) and the late wad was (I think) actually O. So watch out!

Crap. I wonder if I didn't actually O yet now. I'm still having O pains, which makes me wonder. Though, sometimes for me the pains linger for a few days after O, so there's nothing to do but wait and see.

Originally Posted by Smylingeyz

Oh I know, I've never O'ed before cd15, it was later when I was PP, but since things have been back to normal it's been cd15 like clockwork I believe. I can double check, but we always use cd9 as the last safe day, unless I suddenly were to have fertile CF.

The part I bolded is what's important, lol, if you really want to avoid!

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by Smylingeyz

Oh I know, I've never O'ed before cd15, it was later when I was PP, but since things have been back to normal it's been cd15 like clockwork I believe. I can double check, but we always use cd9 as the last safe day, unless I suddenly were to have fertile CF.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here & I'm sorry, but again, this is for clarity's sake for everyone who's reading. Doering is earliest O -7=last safe day, and NFP adds "if dry." So if your earliest O was CD 15, then your last safe day would be CD 8. And it's not "unless you have fertile CM," it's only if dry. Doering's group did not use CM so theoretically it may not matter, but obviously observing and using backup/abstaining/etc in the presence of CM would be safer. One thing that's nice about CTA is you can exercise varying degrees of caution based on how important it is to avoid...