my chart...

[longing4bb]

I was wondering if my chart is looking any better then last month? Any comments?

[Jaimee]

Are you temping differently this cycle?  Vaginally or at a different time than last cycle?  Your overall temp pattern seems to be much higher- in the mid-97's instead of the 96's/low 97's.  I am curious to see if your spike is up into the 98's and if your CF will line up with it better this cycle.  How confident do you feel about your EW observations vs. residual from DTD?  Otherwise prolonged periods of creamy and eggwhite could be associated with a medical condition like cysts or PCOS.  It also be caused by stress- your body trying to O over and over again and not succeeding.  I know I've read several of your other posts, but I cannot remember... are you dealing with PCOS?

[longing4bb]

Vaginally this time...first two temps this month were oral then I switched.

No pcos here. As far as ew....its hard for me to tell. I've read a lot but I just don't feel I get it completely but when in toilet it balls up. My husband and I BD often but when we don't I notice its not as 'ew" so I'm wondering if it really is me or him.

I didn't wanna seem stupid so I just stopped asking on here about it hoping I figure it out.

[Jaimee]

Oh, please don't worry about asking questions... that's what these forums are for: advice and support!  I personally tend to forget what I've already said to whom in the past.  Sometimes I can figure it out b/c the thread has gone on back and forth for a while.  But other times if new threads are started, I forget what I've said and the background info the OP has provided. 

So have you heard of doing kegels after DTD? 

[longing4bb]

Thank you for always giving me advice.

I have heard of kegels afterwards. I try to do them after but hubby and I usually DTD before bed.....I usually I go to sleep shortly after. Then I don't check cm until before sex the next night.

I'm getting discouraged with this and trying to keep up charting. We want this so bad and have for so long its very hard because I feel like I'm doing something wrong that we aren't getting our baby.

[Jaimee]

I know how frustrating it can be to keep trying and keep waiting.  But you've only been charting for 1.5 cycles so we have yet to determine exactly what is going on with them.  Just based on last cycle's LP, that could be your major challenge.  Based on both cycles' CF patterns, there may be more going on than just a short LP.  But more data needs to be collected before you will know what your normal cycle looks like.  Then action can be taken beyond just supplements if necessary.  Your charting information will be valuable to share with a reproductive expert if it comes to that.  The good news is that it does appear that you are ovulating!  So for now, working on your LP with diet, exercise, and supplements is probably your best course of action.

Someone else just posted about lengthening their LP... check out the responses for some more ideas.

[longing4bb]

Thanks for the encouragement.
Are you able to tell when I ovulated? Last month or this month?
I'm taking b6 now if that doesn't lengthen my LP should I up to 100mg?

[Jaimee]

I would say that you have not yet O'd this cycle.  I don't see a biphasic pattern.  As for last cycle, it's hard to say.  I really think you were/are dealing with high estrogen, which is giving you excessive fertile CF and lower temps.  FF may be right with your O day, but it could also have been late on CD 24.  With the two temps below the CL and the mid-LP spotting, it screams low progesterone/high estrogen.  I'm curious to see what happens with this cycle.

[longing4bb]

My mom and sister have low progesterone and I know my mom always used progesterone cream.... know anything about that?

When my mom was pregnant she was always on progesterone pill...does that mean anything for me?

[Jaimee]

There are several threads in this forum about low progesterone and progesterone supplements.  Besides the cream there are other ways to boost your progesterone levels.  One is wild yam.  Low progesterone could absolutely have a hereditary component, but whether you will need to be on supplementation in order to get pregnant and/or sustain a pregnancy is really unknown at this point since you have only just started discovering issues with your cycle.  Your temps this cycle are significantly higher than your temps were last cycle, so if I were you, I would continue to chart and TTC naturally and see what happens for a few months.  If your charts consistently indicate progesterone/hormonal issues then would be the time to seek further medical attention.... IMO, but you have to go with your gut.

[longing4bb]

I overslept yesterday and took my temp 4 hours late. What is my chart telling me now? Can anyone interpret for me?

I've been checking my cp and its always feels the same but today I can't even find it! I guess it's so far up I can't get to it today to check it out. That's normal to happen near ovulation right? How close does that normally happen? Before?

[Carlin]

Yep, that could definitely mean you're close to ovulating. How soon prior to O the cervix moves up is pretty individual. For me, it's usually a day before. Looking at your July chart, I actually think you may have ovulated around cd 21, which would put you right on schedule, and mean that your luteal phase is absolutely fine. Although there aren't enough early temps to tell for sure. It'll be interesting to see if you see a more clear temperature jump post O now that you've changed your method of temping and are getting more consistent temps. Good luck!

[dejagerw]

Honestly, to me it doesn't look like you ovulated at all last cycle. How long have you been charting?

[longing4bb]

Thanks Carlin...
Only been charting since last cycle...I'm new to all this and trying to learn more.
But more then anything just ttc our first baby. My heart aches these days.

[Jaimee]

How have you been checking your CP?  Have you tried squatting in the bathtub while showering?  It would be good to know if it's soft and open as well as high.  Usually HSO happens the day or two prior to O, but it can still be HSO on the day of the spike depending on when the egg was actually released.  But in general you should be able to expect fertile CF and a spike within 24-48 hours of HSO- very much like an OPK- unless your body is only gearing up and does not succeed.  Your chart is so much more consistent this cycle.  I really think a temp rise will be obvious IF it happens.  As dejagerw mentioned, it is possible that you did not O last cycle, though I lean more toward yes than no.

[longing4bb]

Yes I check squatting. Just waiting for my temp rise trying to master the cm and cp

[dejagerw]

I've actually read it's better to check CP later in the day, and not first thing in the morning. (I'm assuming you're taking a morning shower here.) Something about laying down all night affecting CP, giving you inaccurate positions.

[longing4bb]

I normally check at night before bed . I'm not sure how kit will feel open. I feel an indent and to night that's where the cm was coming from....it looks like the start of ew so well see. When its open will it feel like a hole? Its soft that's for sure.

[Jaimee]

The important thing about CP is that you check it at the same time each day- not like CF where you can observe it all day long.  An indent, or dimple, is always present.  For a woman that has delivered vaginally before it will be more like a slit.  It will actually open up to a hole that you could potentially insert the tip of your finger into when you are most fertile.  In TCOYF she uses an acronym to help you remember:

S: Softness (firm, medium, soft)

H: Height (low, midway, high)

O: Opening (closed, partly open, open)

W: Wetness (nothing, sticky, creamy, or eggwhite)

She also says that checking after a morning or evening shower is probably the most convenient.

[longing4bb]

Sounds good. Thanks. I'm guessing its coming soon...