chart stalkers.... quick question

mindyschaller

Is there always an implantation dip? If so, does it look like I had one? This is my first full cycle charting my temps, and i'm a little confused.

TIA

Mrs.EmmaLouise

Not all charts have an implantation dip.  Some BFN charts will get an implantation dip- so its not a very reliable 'symptom'.

mindyschaller

thanks, but I was looking at cd4 or cd7 as the implantation dip... if there is a dip, does it have to be really obviously lower than the previous temps?

jen-dale

I had them with both bfps. look at my charts from sept and april. FF tells me yesterdat "could be" one but mine are always below coverline

Mrs.EmmaLouise

Do you mean 4 or 7 DPO?  It would have to be a considerable dip, otherwise it is just a normal temperature fluctuation.  And implantation usually occurs between 7 and 10 DPO.

mindyschaller

Mrs.EmmaLouise:

Do you mean 4 or 7 DPO?  It would have to be a considerable dip, otherwise it is just a normal temperature fluctuation.  And implantation usually occurs between 7 and 10 DPO.

 Oops, yes I meant 4dpo and 7dpo.  a considerable dip, huh? Does it have to be below the coverline? (Sorry, I know I'm being kind of a pest with these questions)

Mrs.EmmaLouise

Depends on your coverline- I suppose.  These arent annoyin questions at all

mindyschaller

If you get a sec, check out my chart.. there should be a link in my siggy, I dont know what to think anymore, and I'm driving myself crazy with poas

Mrs.EmmaLouise

You are only 10DPO- you still have a good chance this cycle.  If you are going crazy, maybe test every other day.  And never test before 10dpo.  Here is what FF says about implantation:

What causes an "implantation dip?"

The term implantation dip is often used to refer to a luteal phase dip that occurs around the time of expected implantation (7-10 days past ovulation). While this pattern does not always result in pregnancy, the term is often used because of the timing of the dip and because this pattern appears with greater frequency on pregnancy charts than non-pregnancy charts. There are a couple of factors that may help to explain why this pattern appears with greater frequency on pregnancy charts.

1. The corpus luteum (which produces the heat inducing hormone, progesterone) normally peaks in its production of progesterone and then begins to recede around the middle of the luteal phase. In conception cycles, it is "rescued" when the embryo implants and then continues to produce progesterone until the placenta can take over hormone production.
   
2. Estrogen, in opposition to progesterone, has a lowering effect on temperatures. A secondary estrogen surge in the middle of the luteal phase may cause a temperature dip at this time. Indeed this may explain why this pattern also occurs on non-pregnant charts. Mid-luteal phase estrogen levels, however, have been found to be higher in conception cycles than non-conception cycles and this may also contribute to the greater frequency with which we see this pattern on pregnancy charts.

When you see a mid-luteal phase dip on your chart, however, it does not necessarily mean that you are pregnant. Likewise, you do not have to see this pattern to be pregnant. As long as you have intercourse in your fertile time, you have a chance to be pregnant with any ovulation pattern.

See also a statistical study on this topic.

Mrs.EmmaLouise

And this is the accuracy of HPTs based on DPO (and why you should never test before 10dpo- because its not even on the chart)

HPT Accuracy Results Percentages: (Based on a 25mIU sensitive test)
10 dpo : 35%
11 dpo : 51%
12 dpo : 62%
13 dpo : 68%
14 dpo : 74%
15 dpo : 80%
16 dpo : 88%
17 dpo : 92%

lil_rhody

Those dips  you have look like just normal variation.

JacobsGirl

Check out my chart from last cycle, 6 dpo.  Huge dip, not pregnant.  I think an "implantation dip" needs to be fairly significant to be considered one.

 I just read somewhere recently that the dip is actually caused by a surge of estrogen that occurs about half-way through the luteal phase.

mindyschaller

Thanks! I'd seen the hpt percentages before, but I used early pregnancy tests that detect 20mIU, and I guess I was hoping that I'd get an early bfp and the % wouldn't apply. Thanks for the info on implantation! I didn't realize why the dip happens. so I guess I should be able to relax now... although i don't see that happening.

redshoegirl

I agree that it just looks like normal variation dips on your chart. Check out my BFP chart - there is a mother of a dip on 10dpo, waaaaay lower than all the other temps (lol ignore the high temp on 9dpo - not sure what that was from, although it looks like I burst into flame that day). I think that was implantation day for me, so that should give you some idea of what the dips look like. But like pp said, not everyone gets them (hell, I might not even get one again next time), and even if you do see a dip, it doesn't always mean implantation.