Newbie needs help....how should I proceed?

ASUBride

Ok, this is my 3rd month off BC and 2nd month charting, so I'm pretty new at this and I know my body is still pretty messed up from the pill, but I need some advice.

Since I'm new at charting, I've realized how important it is to chart accurately - check out my chart for this month.  It sucks.  It's my own fault.  I'm also new at checking CP and using OPKs, so those notations could be totally inaccurate as well....sigh....

Thing is, FF gave me an O date on CD 24 then took it away yesterday after my temps stayed low.  I had ALOT of what I'm guessing now is mid-cycle spotting (anywhere from a little bit of red, mostly brown and pink) and I've been getting BFNs.  Things are looking annovulatory, but I keep telling myself there's hope.  Maybe my chart just sucks and maybe I am pregnant.  Maybe I have PCOS since I seemed to have ovulated last month and not this month and all my OPKs looked pos. to me. I don't know...

(Side note: I went through on a paper chart and adjusted my temps to see what would happen and it still looked annov.)

Should I keep testing until 18 DPO (with the CD 24 O date)? Should I change my mindset and start using OPKs again and keep having sex?  What could the mid-cycle spotting mean???  Should I get checked for PCOS?

If I never read this board and never charted, I probably would have counted the spotting as a period and went on my merry way.  In a way it sucks to know so much, but it's also good to know if I'm not ovluating so I can get help sooner rather than later.

Advice?  Suck it up and realize this cycle is annov?  Keep hopeful and keep testing?  Call my Dr.? (which BTW, I don't have an OBGYN, would they even want to see me as a new patient?

Just feeling down, hopeful, alone and confused all at the same time.  Sorry so long and so many questions!  Thanks for the support

ramfan05

My advice...keep charting. You may not have O'd yet. You can't tell if a cycle is annovulatory until AF shows up, so keep trying. If you get to CD60 with no AF and no BFP, call your doctor. GL!

sail123

I admit that I didn't read your post in detail but here goes...

I don't think you ovulated yet, I'm sorry. Keep using OPKs and having sex until AF shows.

You have only been off the pill for a few months so it is way too early to be jumping to conclusions about PCOS or any other problems. If I were you I would give myself a few more cycles before seeing the doctor. Unless you go 60 days without AF, in which case you should call your doctor.

I don't understand how you don't have an OBGYN. You should definitely get one pronto, regardless of how your cycles turn out. You should see an OBGYN at least once a year for a pap and breast exam.

Good luck and try not worry too much yet!

MSC03

Sorry, it doesn't look like you've O'd yet to me. Keep charting and GL!

STL34

I am not the best charter or chart interpreter.  However, I think that all the open circles could affect your chart.  So, as you said, it may not be accurate. 

I saw an OBGYN before we even started TTC.  I wanted to find someone I was comfortable with and ask some questions.  So, it might not be a bad idea to go this route.  Other than that, I think you should test once a week until you get a +, AF comes or you reach CD60.  If you reach CD60 (without a +HPT), you should really get in to see an OBGYN.

Joyous1106

I don't think you've ovulated yet this cycle, and yes, you still have time.   It is not uncommon to have wonky cycles after stopping bcp, even if you did have a normal cylce or two, and it may happen again. 

I would continue with the charting and OPKs and give it a while longer to see what happens.  I know how very frusterating it can be to wait and wait to ovulate, but you can do it.  In the meantime, I'd start looking for an OBGYN and get established there so you have that resource when you need it (either for TTC or because you're pg).  You really don't want to have to go to a general practicioner if you get the that 60 days/no O. (Been there, done that, and it sucked majorly!)

GL.

jteneback

sail123:

I don't understand how you don't have an OBGYN. You should definitely get one pronto, regardless of how your cycles turn out. You should see an OBGYN at least once a year for a pap and breast exam.

This!  Find one and make an appointment now!  It can take a long time to get in.

ToshaGirl

I just skimmed that but my advice is to keep charting and see what happens.

GL.

Joyous1106

sail123:

I don't understand how you don't have an OBGYN. 

Lol, I don't have an OBGYN either because I went to a Planned Parenthood clinic with NPs who do the annuals and the prescribing.  Once we hit the trouble mark, I skipped the OB and went straight to the RE.   Now I'm shopping for an OB for the sticky baby we're hoping for.

MrsTechie

I think you're overreacting right now. You've only been off BCP for 3 months. In that time, you've had a withdrawl bleed and one actual period. You may not O every month just yet. Or, you may find that you have seriously long cycles now. Other ladies on this board have cycles that can last close to 60 days before getting AF.

Spotting can be caused by a few different things. First and foremost would be that your body still hasn't regulated yet. Another cause can be an irritated cervix. If you're checking your CP you might have irritated it. Sometimes sex can cause cervical irritation which leads to spotting.

I feel the same way you do- I want to know ASAP if anything is wrong so that I can get medical help right away. But the fact of the matter is- it can take months of charting and watching before you will know if there is a problem.

You also have a lot of open circles in your chart. (I generally end up with this as well). This absolutely creates a more screwy chart and can mess with the way your temps are interpreted.

My advice is to keep charting and checking your CM. Back up your findings with OPKs if you want. (It's what I would do) and see what happens. If you go 60 days without a red bleed then you need to call an OB or even your MD if you have no OB.

ASUBride

Thanks ladies.  I know I'm being impatient and the support that I get here has been great.  I have been getting yearly paps from my general practitioner, so I've never been established with an OB.  I was naively hoping to get PG right away and just float in there with no problems.  I have an OB in mind, I just wasn't sure if they'd see me for a potential problem if I'd never been there.

I think I'll stock up on OPKs and pregnancy tests and wait for CD60.

Thanks!!