Anyone Charting (FAM)? Some Questions

[Matadora]

The day after my daughter turned 8 months old AF returned. I discovered this past summer that I have a prothrombin mutation - basically it means that I can't ever take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy due to blood clotting issues.

This being said, we decided to research into FAM and I have started charting all the important information on paper, but I also signed up for a free 14 day trial with Ovusoft software. I'd like to know your experiences - would you recommend software or just plain using paper to chart your cycles. I am uncertain if I want to spend the money right now - but I've heard the peace of mind would be worth the money on charting software, especially because I am fairly new at this.

I haven't used FAM before, although I do know when I o and every time we tried to get pg we have been successful (therefore, every time we avoided we have been successful too!).

Anyway, I am just looking for opinions on how to chart and how confident you feel about your abilities after doing it for awhile.

BTW... I've read Take Charge of Your Fertility and that is where I got my charts and info on the software.

[TurboClaudia]

I started charting after reading TCOYF with the knowledge that we would probably start trying to make a baby within the next year or so. Charted for about 8 (I think???) cycles prior to trying and 6 cycles with the goal of baby-making before we became pregnant. I charted exclusively on paper, even though we are a geek couple (partner is a software engineer and he accumulates more computers and parts than we currently have room for in the house so our garage hasn't held cars for over 2 years!) and I am constantly on the computer. I found that having a binder in my nightstand with paper charts was easy to use and easy to access. I did start out using one of the sample charts that didn't have descriptions of cervical fluid on it and found it difficult, so I switched to the chart that had the descriptions and it was perfect. Whenever I encountered unexpected things in my chart, I would consult my copy of TCOYF and it usually provided the answer.

Hope this helps!

warmly,
claudia
mama-to-be in late spring 2004!

[Arduinna]

I personally prefer to paper chart. I do use the ovusoft software just because it's fun to tinker with. But the thing is that the new ovusoft program isn't able to be set to avoid pregnancy. The old one did have the option. So if your TTA then paper charting is the way to go. Plus I find ovusift and TCOYF books automatic and false assumption that every triphasic chart or any LP over 18 days means your definately pregnant annoying.

[Palmetto210]

I have been charting on paper for 3+ years and have been using Ovusoft for about a year. I am an IT consultant, and really liked the idea of being able to compare months to months, and figured the computer could do this better. Just the opposite has proven true. MY DH and teach NFP, so I am confident with the art of interpretation --- and we have not had any suprises yet. But according to Ovusoft, I would have been pregnant several times by now. The biggest confusion seems to be how they draw their coverline (to crosscheck the CM sign). I tend to have what's called a split peak pattern, where after the 3 more-fertile days, I dry up for a day or so, and then have about 4 very fertile days. Well, this completely confuses Ovusoft. None of my attempts to tweak its calculations have really worked. With paper charting, I can apply different "guidlines", depending on how strong the temp or the CM sign are that month. With Ovusoft, there have been 32 days cycles where we abstained from day 8 - 26, until our days were in the blue again. I think the challenge with us was using software designed for those trying to acheive pregnancy --- and so we if there was any doubt as to a full thermal shift or a less-fertile CM day, then we abstained. While we tend to be more conservative, we found thaat interpretation was *too cons.* for us : )

And one final note: when I was charting in the computer, my DH was not really involved, I mean the comuter goes with me to work. When we use the paper charts, he plots the temps and helps me interrpet...we have found this brings us closer.

Good luck.

[Matadora]

Thanks for all your input. I've been in a bit of a quandry over this, and your words have helped to give me more confidence in my own charting abilities.... after all - it's the same information and takes just about the same amount of time, although one costs $39.95!

I've always had a good idea on when I o - my body gives me strong signals without even temping, so I think I will just let the trial ride and keep up with my paper charts!

Thanks again for your help!