Chart Help

[zoe77]

I would love it if some seasoned charters could take a look at my chart.  I kind of slacked off this month and missed a few temps while I was out of town last weekend.  I also haven't been tracking CM.  Well of course wouldn't you know I then go and have sex the day this chart says I ovulated!!  But, what are the chances this is an accurate ovulation date?  We were going to start trying this summer, just didn't think we'd jump right in so fast ;)

[url=http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/58ccc/]My Ovulation Chart[/url]

[Jaimee]

Without CF observations it's much harder to make a guess with this chart.  You can see that FF is unsure as well b/c you got dotted crosshairs.    Any chance you recall EW or creamy CF around CD12-16?  I would be more inclined to say you O'd on CD16 instead of CD14 b/c CD17 is the first temp that is significantly higher than your other pre-O temps.  This would put your coverline around 98.2, which nicely contains the slightly erratic pre-O temps as well.

[zoe77]

Thanks Jaimee!!  I didn't know about the dotted cross-hairs, good to know!!  Hmm, I think you are onto something there with CD16.  There is no telling what was going on CD12 and CD13!

Thanks for the analysis.  I guess I'll know for sure in about 2 weeks!!

[Jaimee]

Once you feel confident about your O day and if you disagree with FF, you can manually override the crosshairs if you scroll down below your chart.  You'll see a button called "Tuning/override" and it will allow you to enter in your own O day and coverline.

[JMJ]

I would also say that CD 16 is much more likely, but you have CD 17 marked as a disturbed temperature, so it's hard to say we can be sure about ovulation happening since you haven't had a temperature rise without it being a disturbed temperature yet.  What made you mark CD 15 and CD 17 as disturbed.  If tomorrow and following are higher, I would count ovulation at CD 16 and put your cover line at 98.0.  Shave the disturbed temperature on CD 15.

[zoe77]

I think they are marked as disturbed because of the time.  My temp time averages in the 5'oclock hour but sometimes my son gets up even earlier.  I take my temp as soon as I hear him coming to get into bed with us.  On CD15 he slept in (miraculous!!) and we woke naturally around 6:15 so I took my temp later than normal that day.

 

[JMJ]

That could definitely make your temp a little higher than normal.  What time did you take it today?

[zoe77]

4:45AM

 

[JMJ]

Then I think it's pretty likely that you ovulated yesterday.  Your temperature would likely be lower than it normally would, yet you still had a pretty good temperature rise today.

[zoe77]

My temp continued to rise today so I think you guys are right:

[url=http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/58ccc/]My Ovulation Chart[/url]

 

[zoe77]

And just to complicate things even more, I had some spotting today!  Huh???  I am known to have some mid-cycle spotting though so I guess it could be meaningless . . .

[Jaimee]

Well, I wouldn't tend to think of spotting as meaningless.    But it doesn't make sense for implantation spotting at 4 DPO anymore than it does at 2 DPO.  Certainly some women spot with ovulation and if it's brown spotting that is a possibility especially if you said you're prone to it... maybe.  Otherwise I would think it's hormonal fluctuations.   Did you recently get off hormonal  birth control?  Have you ever suspected low progesterone and/or had a short LP?

[zoe77]

I haven't taken any hormonal birth control since about 2004.  I had a copper IUD removed in April.  I suspect my hormones are a little off because a few months ago I had a really short cycle (about 24 days) followed by a cycle where I bled for 14 days and that total cycle was about 38 days.  They have been very normal for me since then and last month I ovulated on D14.  I don't think this is implantation bleeding either and it was def red not brown.  I looked back at my charts and I've had spotting about this point in my cycle for the past 3 or so months.  Does mid-cycle bleeding usually signal low progesterone?  I don't think my LP is short, but I've really only been temping again the last two cycles.  I never had mid-cycle spotting before I had my son but it's now a regular occurance for me.

 

[JMJ]

Yes, that would likely be low progesterone, but it is good news that your LP is long enough.  You might consider getting some extra vitamin B6.

[zoe77]

Thanks, I bought a B supplement yesterday.  After a few more days of temping FF also moved my O day to D16 :)  I guess that means I'm even more likely to have conceived, only time will tell. 

Thanks to everyone for tha analysis :)

[zoe77]

My mystery is solved 1 week early, got my period today.  That is a super short LP of only 7 days (full cycle only 23 days)!!  I did start taking a B supplement.  Does anyone have any other ideas on how to regulate my hormones?  I'm not too dissapointed since it's really early in the trying game, but it does seem like it's not going to be as easy as the first time (1 month).

[Jaimee]

Sorry about AF and the short LP.  You mentioned the first time was easy for you... how far are you postpartum and when did AF return?  Are you still breastfeeding?  It can take over a year for your cycles to regulate again after AF returns.   If this is the case it is possible that you simply need more time. 

Otherwise, I had good results with 50 mg of B6 as well as tweaking my diet and exercise routine to make sure that I was approaching a healthy weight for my body type.  Underweight or overweight can affect progesterone and estrogen.  Focusing on moderate exercise, lowering your sugar intake, and monitoring your protein and fat intake (make sure you're getting enough healthy fats) can go a long way.   Some women have a lot of success with vitex, but it's not usually a quick fix- more like a several month fix.

[zoe77]

My son will be 3 in August and AF returned August last year (the week he turned 2).  I do still breastfeed (about twice a day, more on weekends).  Hopefully you are right and I just need time :)

I am a healthy weight and get a lot of good fats in my diet.  I could stand to cut some carbs/sugar though so I will be more adament about that.  I will look into the vitex.

I suppose there is a chance it could be implantation bleeding.  It was a small amount and is now more brown than red (but was red when I first discovered this AM).  So all hope is not totally lost!!  But again, I am totally ok either way at this point.

Thanks again for your advice.

[JMJ]

What is your weight like compared to when you conceived last time?  A lot of women loose a lot of weight while breastfeeding, and they don't necessarily have enough body fat to conceive with even a minimum of breastfeeding.  All the hormones that you need to ovulate are fat soluble, and prolactin works against progesterone, so you likely need over 20%ish body fat while become fertile again while breastfeeding.  A lot of the good fats (milk fat, coconut oil, stearic acid, etc) actually increase your metabolism so that you have more energy, but they do not help you to gain weight.  Marilyn Shannon (author of Fertility Cycles and Nutrition) recommends more complex carbohydrates for those who tolerate them well and long-chain fats to gain weight.

[zoe77]

My weight is almost exacty the same as when I conceived before.  I have a decent amount of fat on my body, but I'm not overweight.  I'd say it's def over 20% :)  I'm pretty sure I'm ovulating, but it's the mid-cycle spotting and short LP that has me concerned.  My LP is not short every month though, so maybe I just have to catch the right month.

I did a little reading about vitex and it says it's not safe while breastfeeding.  Anyone have thoughts on that?