chart interpretation

sandj · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2005, 01:25 PM

Ladies, I could use some advice. This is my first full cycle charting and I don't quite understand it yet. My signs don't make any sense to me. I'm at CD13, my cervix is high and soft, and my CF is watery or EW. So that would make me think I'm about to ovulate. But! my temps are all over the place (between 96.4 and 97.2) and my OPKs are all negative. Does anyone know what this means? Any ideas would be much appreciated. I'm so frustrated!

satyrngrl · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2005, 05:55 PM

Hi

Did you recently come off of hormonal birth control (pill, patch, etc)? If so, then that can make your chart pretty crazy for a while. Also, cervical position is a hard sign to really judge, so although its great to check, its too vague to rely on too much.

Also, some people have to be really exact on what time they temp as even 15 minutes can alter interpretation (although some others may be able to be less exact and still have a clear shift). If you are waking up at different times, try setting your alarm really early when you know you'd rarely wake up, then temp and go back to sleep. You can always record the temp later. This worked really well for me (I set it for 5am when I usually wake up around 7:00).

Also, are you using Fertility Friend website to log in your temps? If not, its a great tool and you can even put links to your chart in your signature so when you ask for charting help everyone will be able to see your chart and help you better.

I don't know if I've been any help, but I just thought I'd share my experiences for what their worth. Good luck & happy temping!

sweetpea1215 · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 05:07 AM

Hi Sophie! I agree with everything Nickie said, I just wanted to add a couple of things. How long do your cycles usually last? If it is longer than the average 28 days, then it is possible that you ovulate later than the average,day 14. Which could explain why you haven't had a positive opk test yet. I usually ovulate around day 12 or 13, which I never knew until I started temping.(My cycles are 27-28 days, but I have a 15-16 day luteal phase.) I had always thought I ovulated on day 14, because my cycles were always so close to 28 days. I missed my surge for 2 months because I started testing too late. Also, are you testing around the same time each day with the opk's? That is very important and some people test twice a day so they are less likely to miss their surge. Some people also get several days of fertile cm before they ovulate. Maybe this is your case and you just haven't ovulated yet.

I don't check my cervix anymore because it was getting too confusing and I was having trouble interpreting the changes. Sometimes they made no sense to me.

If you have just come off of bcp, then it could explain your wacky temps. If not, then it could be your timing or even your thermometer. I also strongly recommend using fertility friend. The basic charting is free and it is very user friendly. All you do is enter your info and ff does the interpreting for you!

I hope this helps. Good luck! Lots of

to you!

sandj · #4 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 08:42 AM

Thanks for the help. FF has been saying that I'm probably fertile even with the neg OPK results, so maybe CF and temps are more important? My cycle is usually 28 days, so maybe I have a short luteal phase. I've never really known when I ovulate, so this is all new to me. I'll keep up with the OPKs and maybe there will be two dark lines in the next few days. Thanks again for the tips. You ladies are awesome!

sandj · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2005, 08:51 AM

Wow, I just found a great resource! For any other charting newbies out there... I just discovered a feature on FF that I hadn't noticed before. Just under the traffic light icon below the calendar of your chart there is a link to 'details.' This provides a lot more interpretation and information than the chart or 'fertility analyzer.' And the good news for me: it says my temp fluctuations are within normal limits. Yay!