18 days of EWCM and no sign of O?

[lilacvioletiris]

My am so confused this month.  I thought I Od around CD 18 but my temp has not stayed spiked and FF hasn't put cross hairs for O.  Also, I am still having ewcm?  ON CD 30!  This is totally unusual for me.  This morning I woke up to a whole slathering of watery almost ewcm on tp.  My temp has been all over the place.

I stopped drinking soy milk and have greatly reduced my soy product consumption over the last month.  Could this weird chart be the result?

I started school on CD1 so stress could be a factor.  But it just seems so weird!

http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/LilacVioletIris

Any ideas on what is up with this chart of mine?

[dejagerw]

How are you checking for CM? Internally or externally? If internally, I'd just stop doing that and check externally only.

To me, it just seems like you're having a really long cycle and are about to ovulate soon. I wouldn't necessarily say there is anything wrong with your chart, this just seems to be a REALLY long cycle. I got pregnant with DS1 on a long cycle, so no worries.

[Jaimee]

I agree with dejagrew... if you're checking internally, stop and only take external observations throughout the day.  Check what is on your panties, the TP, and falling into the toilet.  Remember to mark the most fertile CF you see that day.  I would say that you have not yet O'd this cycle and that it should be on its way soon.  Stress can absolutely delay O for days or even weeks.

Looking back over your previous charts I see you have a history of long patches of EW, temps dipping below the CL, and lower temps overall.  Your LP temps are rarely high.  This is often an indication of high estrogen and/or low progesterone or thyroid issues.  You do have several very solid charts where your LP is a good length and all above the CL.  So for now, I wouldn't necessarily recommend pursuing a bunch of herbal supplements (like vitex) or medical attention (like progesterone cream).   It just looks like your body is going through something last cycle and this cycle especially. 

I see you cut out some of your soy consumption and that's probably a good thing for you.  I might also try increasing some basic nutrients/vitamins like B6, magnesium, omega-3's, etc.

[lilacvioletiris]

@dejagerw, that is encouraging about maybe still getting pregnant on a cycle that is super long.

I am not an internal CM checker, I just look at TP to see what has come out.  When it was a big patch this morning, I was sort of weirded out since it was more than even I would see on a "normal" cycle.  This afternoon there was some EWCM that was really stretchy, so maybe I am just getting ready to O.  I have been having cramping this afternoon, as if AF is coming, so maybe this will just be an anovulatory cycle.

I have also added a B vitamin supplement to my life over the last 2 months in addition to dropping soy consumption.  What is magnesium and omega- 3's good for?

I have wondered about my lower overall temps as I compare myself to other women TTC.  Lower temps could have something to do with a thyroid issue?  Hum.  I think I had those levels checked a few years ago when I was having some really tired spells and not feeling like I had energy.  But they were normal.

[Jaimee]

Fertility Cycles and Nutrition (by Marilyn Shannon) recommends extra zinc, magnesium, essential fatty acids (especially EPA), Vitamin E, B Vitamins (especially B12 and B6), Vitamin A and Vitamin D.  Getting these from food sources would be best, but supplements can help as well.

Consistently lower temps could indicate thyroid or low progesterone/high estrogen.  So in general a hormonal imbalance.  The long patches of EW support the latter as well. 

[lilacvioletiris]

Well, the trend continues.  Still watery/egg white CM and my temp continues to stay in my "low" low range.

[lilacvioletiris]

Finally O has arrived based on FF.  Today is 3 days past O because my temps have been elevated for 3 days.  If I conceived this cycle, my due date would be June 11, 2012 (two days after my 36th birthday!)  Here is to hoping.

[Jaimee]

Looks promising!!!  I might say you O'd the next day and are 2 DPO today based on temp and CF.  One more high temp will confirm O for certain and then I would personally count days from CD 34 just to play it safe.  Keep us updated!

[lilacvioletiris]

Well, today's temp was a bust.  96.48.  FF took away the crosshairs and said it didn't look like a ovulation pattern that indicated ovulation.  I will have to wait until tomorrow and see what my temp is.  Bummer.

[Jaimee]

Yep... that's FF for you!  Got you all excited, but it chose the wrong day to count from and made too hasty a decision.  Sorry... I hope the next O attempt comes quickly!

[lilacvioletiris]

Well my temp jumped back up to 97.33 today.  FF put the crosshairs back in place and says I am now 5 DPO.  In May, I had a similar pattern where the temp the 3rd day dropped below the coverline.  The house is the same temp, I have had the same amount of blankets on, and the night my temp dropped I was tossing turning but I figured that would have made the temp higher, not lower.  Just shake my head.

[Jaimee]

Yeah, those are dubious crosshairs, though.  Hopefully your temps remain high, but the way you've been going, you could easily drop back down tomorrow and away go the CH's.  Sigh...  FX that this is it though!!!  Your dry CF is hopeful!

[Belia]

I'm not an expert like Jaimee, but your chart has me completely confused.   I'm actually pretty shocked that FF gave you crosshairs with your temps all over the place.  Don't mean to be a downer- just wanted you to know that you asked a really good question about your chart.  Fingers crossed you get the results you're looking for this month!!!

[Jaimee]

Belia, you're too kind!    I'm no expert either, but I have seen several charts that look like Lilac's where everything is crazy and then there is a "calm" of more even temps before a jump and then the temps stay there, indicating O. If you count back 6-7 temps prior to the dry you'll see the temp spike is actually quite pronounced.  But when they drop back down... that's when I'm skeptical to call O.  Even so, one temp does not make a pattern, so if all the rest remain high, I would call it b/c of her EW to dry CF.   We'll see!

[lilacvioletiris]

My DH is dubious that I didn't O weeks before.  I know my CM though and EWCM was definitely abundant for 3 weeks, then it dried up!  Onto what tomorrow's temp will be...waiting, waiting, waiting.

[lilacvioletiris]

Today my temp was even higher than before, I took it 45 minutes later than normal (it was a Sunday and I just woke up when I woke up, took my temp, and went back to sleep).  I was not going to set an alarm.  Seems good so far.  Now to wait for tomorrow.

[lilacvioletiris]

Monday, temp dropped a tiny bit.  Implantation?

Tuesday, temp going back up.  Seems a bit low compared to my average temp, so I will wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Yesterday I was just feeling like I need go pee, NOW!

Today, a little sick to my stomach.

[Jaimee]

I would still count from CD 34 and put your CL at 96.9, making you 7 DPO today.  Your temps look fine over all, I think.  That dip on 3 DPO is strange, but one errant temp is just an outlier.  Implantation occurs between 6 and 12 DPO and 84% of the time between 8 and 10 DPO.  It is unlikely that your little dip is from implantation on 6 DPO, but implantation dips are not common anyway.  When I have seen them, they are usually quite dramatic, dipping well below the coverline like your temp on CD 37 (which is too early for implantation anyway).  But your chart is looking good, I'd say!  Just keep hoping for continued high temps and you could try testing in 3+ days!!!

[lilacvioletiris]

My temps didn't stay high, I got AF a couple of weeks ago.  Made an appointment with my doctor to look at thyroid function.  Had three different thyroid blood tests done.  Got the results back today - "borderline low".  She is going to put me on a small dose of thyroid medication.  It will be interesting to see where this goes, how it affects my temps, and if my ovulation pattern changes.  Time will tell.  Getting ready to O this cycle. 

[Jaimee]

Interesting!  And other than CD 15 (which is disturbed anyway) your temps look more consistent this cycle so that's good!  FX for a nice spike.