Fertility Friend Question

[monkeyscience]

So right now, Fertility Friend is doing a special on Facebook where you can get a one year VIP membership for $24.95. Apparently this is a lot cheaper than their normal price. My question is, is it worth it? I own and have read Taking Charge of Your Fertility, so I feel okay about interpreting my own charts. But I'm wondering if any of the search/statistics/graph options make it worth the money.

If you have/have had a VIP membership, was it worth it to you? Why/why not?

[kittenbritches]

I purchased the VIP membership when I was TTC #2, and while I feel confident in my chart interpretation on my own, it is nice to have the extra analysis and feedback.  I currently have a 30-day VIP trial that a friend won on FB and shared with me.  

Getting a year for $25 really is a good deal.  If I'm not pregnant this cycle, I will probably pay for a couple of months of VIP (I imagine I'll miss the special price).  

Another thing I really like is that the VIP charts show your special data, and I like being able to compare my symptoms from one day to the next.  That didn't use to be a VIP feature -- I wish it was still part of the free membership!!

[monkeyscience]

I guess I should also add that I don't track CM or CP right now, so all I'm really putting in are temps, BD, and some other random symptoms that I don't think are cycle-related. So it wouldn't really help me predict ovulation, I don't think.

[KM84]

I just signed up for VIP, and I think it's worth it. I don't track CM either, just temps, and the VIP version lets you switch to the "research" method of ovulation tracking, which in my case seems a little better at pinpointing O. I also find the various additional charts and statistics interesting, but YMMV.

When I weighed the price of FF ($25) against all the other TTC-related expenses (uh, hello FRER) it seemed like a nominal fee for the wealth of information on the site.

[KM84]

Oops, double post. Not sure what happened there!

[Jaimee]

There is a lot of information available only to VIP members including access to the forums.  I also found the VIP version more fun b/c it would give you exciting tidbits as your chart progressed.  It felt like someone else was on the journey with you.  Of course, you can get that from MDC, too!

[janellody]

I will continue using VIP until I get my BFP!  Mine expires in 12 days... that is a good deal but I am too cheap to buy it now because.. what if I get my + this month!  Then I would have paid for a year for no reason :P  See, I am CHEAP!  It is a good deal for a year and it is SO fun to look at all the VIP info.  Also, if you aren't charting CM... you should :) 

Here is something I get to see today with my VIP membership: Frequencies of your top signs on pregnancy charts at 4 DPO:
CM Creamy:26.4%, Cervix Firm:6.4%

THAT IS SO COOL, RIGHT?!?

[monkeyscience]

Thanks for the input! I wish I knew how long the special was going to last, 'cause I'd rather not do anything till paychecks come next week!

janellody - I don't track CM for several reasons. I have tried in the past, but I have PCOS and have nearly never ovulated while I've been charting, so I haven't really gotten to see my CM change, and I have a hard time figuring out what, if any CM I have, despite reading TCOYF and looking at the pictures. Also (TMI), we tend to DTD pretty frequently, so telling CM from semen is also a major issue. If I had anything like regular cycles, I might try abstaining to get the hang of the CM charting, but I wouldn't know when to start.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by monkeyscience 
I don't track CM for several reasons. I have tried in the past, but I have PCOS and have nearly never ovulated while I've been charting, so I haven't really gotten to see my CM change, and I have a hard time figuring out what, if any CM I have, despite reading TCOYF and looking at the pictures. Also (TMI), we tend to DTD pretty frequently, so telling CM from semen is also a major issue. If I had anything like regular cycles, I might try abstaining to get the hang of the CM charting, but I wouldn't know when to start.

Establishing your BIP will allow you to see when changes are occurring. So, if I were you, I would mark down whatever it is that you are seeing regardless of uncertainty so that you can begin to pick out your BIP, which will make any variations a signal to you that O might be coming.  With PCOS it is not uncommon to have long stretches of fertile CF broken up by periods of dry/sticky as your body tries over and over again to O so I can understand having difficulty figuring out what indicates fertile.  But at least having it on your chart will allow you to see what is "normal" for you and that way you can spot any changes. 

As for confusing semen with CF, the easiest way to avoid this is by doing kegels a few hours after DTD.  The sperm only need a few hours to get where they need to go, so doing kegels at that point will not reduce your chances of pregnancy.  Once you've gotten rid of the excess semen, you can get accurate CF observations the next day.  It only takes a few minutes of sitting on the toilet and working the kegel muscles... contract, let go, contract, let go.  I usually feel it draining out of me, then I keep going for a bit after that to make sure.
 

[monkeyscience]

I have tried the Kegel thing, but not totally sure if it's working. Also, I'm a bit confused as to vaginal secretions vs CM. I may consider trying it again at some point, but right now I'm mostly using charting to see what's happened retrospectively, instead of using it to time BD.