Why chart?

Lue94 · October 2012

I don't chart, but this is our 1st cycle trying.

Is charting just for couples that don't or can't have sex EOD and did you ladies start charting from the 1st cycle of trying or after a few BFN cycles?

ScarletOflaherty · October 2012

I don't do temps yet, but it's supposed to be the only really reliable way short of u/s to tell if you actually ovulated since OPK's just catch the hormone surge.

swirl25 · October 2012

Charting is a good idea no matter your TTC situation. Especially if you aren't sure of how your cycles work, or how your body works in general, it will really open your eyes to the entire process.

ilovemyducks21 · October 2012

My intention was to wait a few cycles to see what happened, but I gave in and started charting. I am so so so glad I did. "Average" ovulation is CD 14, but mine has been a week later than that. For me, I find a lot of value in pinpointing ovulation and also knowing when to expect AF. This way, we can time sex way better and allows us to actually go ED during our FW. I also learned that I've been fairly regular so far, which surprised me coming off BCPs.

I do highly recommend it for anyone that can manage it, it's been really helpful for me and a lot of other ladies.

CharmedBAcMF · October 2012

I started charting from go. I wanted to be able to know what was going on with my body and not ask people on the internet if I could be pregnant.

pettycrocker · October 2012

Charting is for anyone who wants to know for sure when and if they ovulated. Ovulation strips for example, can tell you are gearing up to ovulate but they can't tell you if you actually did or not.

I started charting the first cycle after LO was born, this is my 12th cycle charting and 6th cycle ttc#2.

Also, I have no desire to have sex EOD especially if I am no where near my FW.

PrimRoseMama · October 2012

For some reason my douchedar is going off...

Edit1: I attempt to chart but my sleep is all over the place so I'm not sure how effective it is for me. I will keep trying though.

Edit2: Ah yes: https://m.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=69477665

rainy369 · October 2012

I started charting my 5th cycle and I am sooooo glad I did. I had absolutely no idea when I was ovulating and my guesses were way off. Turns out,we were missing a big chunk of our FW because I thought I had ovulated earlier than I actually do. Also, I like knowing my body. Temping can also help you identify any problems you might be having.

It's a personal choice whether or not to do it but I'm happy to chart. Good luck!

tripletgirl03 · October 2012

Seriously best decision I ever made. When i wasn't charting I bought so many pregnancy tests....had no clue what was going on. I find that charting actually lets me relax a little more because I don't wonder every week if I could be pregnant. Also I don't know about you, but for me having sex EOD is not realistic. I mean we go through spurts where we have sex all the time but we also go through spurts of not having sex that often so I want to make sure that when we are having sex often it is during my fertile times.

Lue94 · October 2012

Thanks ladies. DH and I have regular sex so I saw no need to chart, however, after reading your post, I realize I never thought that I could not be ovulating at all, so I would need to chart to find that out.

Oh boy. Now I'm worried. I think I will start charting if this cycle ends with a BFN.

Good luck to you all.

Robi1 · October 2012

swirl25:
Charting is a good idea no matter your TTC situation. Especially if you aren't sure of how your cycles work, or how your body works in general, it will really open your eyes to the entire process.

This absolutely. I started charting 7 cycles before actually TTC. I wish I had started years ago! I can't believe how unaware I used to be about how my body works. Having sex EOD would not have helped me through the anovulatory cycles I've had, and I'm so glad I'm aware of them so I can see if they become a regular thing or not. I also love not worrying that my period is late. This month, I'm already "a week late" for my period based on my usual cycle length alone. But I know I ovulated quite late, so I'm not worried about it.

Also, doing it every other day is not easy! Maybe some people have a lot of free time together, but we have a hard time fitting it in during the week because we both work late, have long commutes, have extra activities and events going on in the evenings, and it's hard to hit every other day even when I know the exact date to shoot for, much less for the whole cycle.

I like what a PP said about having the information handy if it turns out you have trouble TTC. I know I'd feel more confidant going in to a Dr to talk about fertility issues with 6-12 months of charting info.

jenaw84 · October 2012

I chart because it helps to know when/if I O, giving me a better idea about my cycles and I never take a HPT.

I couldn't imagine having sex EOD for what is now 10 months for us. I love H and all, but damn.

sunlavender · October 2012

Charting is for confirming ovulation. I started the first month we were TTC. It helps me to know what's going on with my body.

Twinkie0612 · October 2012

I started charting at the end of my first cycle and I'm glad I did.

Charting gives me a lot of useful info about my cycle. I know exactly when I O and when to expect my period. And since I know when to expect my period I know when I can take a pregnancy test and get reliable results. I also know how well we timed sex in relation to O. It also gave me some important info about my cycle that helped when we started IF testing. I already knew that I O'ed each month and that my LP was normal length. Charting also helped me time my 7 DPO (progesterone) blood work, so that I knew I was getting accurate results.

Lue94 · October 2012

comeongetdown:

PrimRoseMama:
For some reason my douchedar is going off... Edit1: I attempt to chart but my sleep is all over the place so I'm not sure how effective it is for me. I will keep trying though. Edit2: Ah yes: https://m.thebump.com/cs/ks/forums/ShowThread.aspx?PostID=69477665

good call!!

I tried to C&P, but it didn't work.

ETA- Nevermind. I got it Sad

l5e3a2h4 · October 2012

I don't temp yet but I keep up with cm and opks to give me a general idea. I highly suggest atleast becoming familiar with what your body is doing by using a couple ovulation testing methods. GL!

RunningGal900 · October 2012

With DS I started charting 6 months before we started TTC. I wanted to understand my body, when (and if) I was ovulating, understand what my CM looked like, etc. I got pregnant the first cycle trying with him. I understand that I just as easily could have not gotten pregnant and I was very lucky, but without knowing that I typically O'd later (day 19 or so) I think I would have missed my FW altogether. This time around I didn't start charting right away. I wish I had started as soon as I got my first pp period. When I did start charting I had a short LP and I didn't know if that was just a fluke cycle or if it was something to be concerned about. I like know that I definitely did O and when to for sure expect AF. I like understanding my body and what is happening with it.

KLN1179 · October 2012

I charted because I didn't have regular periods and my cycles were super long. I didn't not enjoy having sex EOD for 50 some odd days, it makes my vag hurt just thinking about it. I would have never gotten a + test if I just had sex around what I thought was my fertile time, around CD14.

The tone of your post kind of ticks me off, just saying.

purplepeanut6 · October 2012

KLN1179:
I charted because I didn't have regular periods and my cycles were super long. I didn't not enjoy having sex EOD for 50 some odd days, it makes my vag hurt just thinking about it. I would have never gotten a + test if I just had sex around what I thought was my fertile time, around CD14.

100% Agree. I only got KU because of charting and OPKS.

Lue94 · October 2012

CLECyclist:
Lue94:

I don't chart, but this is our 1st cycle trying.

Is charting just for couples that don't or can't have sex EOD and did you ladies start charting from the 1st cycle of trying or after a few BFN cycles?

You kind of asked this in a crappy tone/way. But no, that's obviously not who it's for (do you really think it's for a certain subset of people or were you trying to get a jab in because you think a bunch of "charting elitists" post here?). Anyone can chart. I personally like tracking data. Data FTW. I like knowing what's going on, when it's actually going on.

Boy oh boy. I need to figure out why my wording is not the best. Anyway, I didn't think I was asking that question in a crappy tone and yes I do think that a lot of ladies on this board are "charting elitist" , hence me asking the question.

During my lurking, I saw having sex EOD during your FW was best, but for now, I'm having sex EOD so I wanted to know what would charting help for me. After reading responses, I see the benefit of charting because our sex may decrease over time and I won't know even if I'm ovulating if I don't temp.

tinydove · October 2012

Charting is not just for people who don't have sex EOD. Charting is about being aware of your body. It helps to see and confirm ovulation... or in some cases, lack thereof. I did chart my very first cycle trying, though I wasn't very good at remembering to temp every day. It is good to temp from the beginning, that way if you're having problems down the road you have those charts to show your doctor. Honestly, I wish I had read TCOYF and started charting months before TTC, but I never even knew that type of charting existed before then.

Lue94 · October 2012

KLN1179:

I charted because I didn't have regular periods and my cycles were super long. I didn't not enjoy having sex EOD for 50 some odd days, it makes my vag hurt just thinking about it. I would have never gotten a + test if I just had sex around what I thought was my fertile time, around CD14.

The tone of your post kind of ticks me off, just saying.

Wow, I just read CLE's post and explained myself and then I have to come down and see you feel the same way. That blows. Didn't mean to tick you off, I just wanted to know the pro's of charting because it seems that most of the ladies on the board chart.

Thanks for responding though.

CharmedBAcMF · October 2012

Lue94:
KLN1179:

I charted because I didn't have regular periods and my cycles were super long. I didn't not enjoy having sex EOD for 50 some odd days, it makes my vag hurt just thinking about it. I would have never gotten a + test if I just had sex around what I thought was my fertile time, around CD14.

The tone of your post kind of ticks me off, just saying.

Wow, I just read CLE's post and explained myself and then I have to come down and see you feel the same way. That blows. Didn't mean to tick you off, I just wanted to know the pro's of charting because it seems that most of the ladies on the board chart.

Thanks for responding though.

It has to do with how you are saying things. The tone is off. The way you are communicating sounds kind of abrasive.

I don't mean make your posts full of unicorn farts. Just watch how you are wording things in your op and your responses. When regs point out that your tone kind of sucks, you get a IDGAF type of attitude in your response to them. They are just trying to point that out to you.

peanutmuse · October 2012

The other thing that hasn't been brought up (I think) is the fact that there are other things that charting does for you besides pinpoint ovulation. For example, if you have a short luteal phase, you might have problems conceiving -- charting will help you determine that.

HD12 · October 2012

I started temping mid-way through our second cycle of trying. Temping is definitely not just for people who can't have frequent sex. I find charting to be incredibly valuable and I would definitely recommend it. GL!

Lue94 · October 2012

talon1226:
Lue94:
Boy oh boy. I need to figure out why my wording is not the best. Anyway, I didn't think I was asking that question in a crappy tone and yes I do think that a lot of ladies on this board are "charting elitist" , hence me asking the question.
You do seem to be having a hard time wording things so they don't come across as rude or abrasive. It's great that you keep apologizing, but it might be a good idea to start watching how you word things in the first place. Although I acknowledge that it's hard to tell someone's intentions from an internet post, to me it sound like you think your way is better when you know a lot of us do things differently or are in different situations than you.

Some of the ladies on this board have children already and I have never gotten pregnant, so I don't think my way is better. I just see that most women here chart and I sincerely wanted to know the benefits and I got some great responses.

I did think about my wording before even posting and I was just asking a question, not thinking or trying to be rude in any type of way. I thought maybe I should just stop posting, then I decided not to because I wanna be KU just like everyone else here does and the responses that I received regarding charting were very helpful.

Thanks for your input.

Lue94 · October 2012

peanut+muse:

The other thing that hasn't been brought up (I think) is the fact that there are other things that charting does for you besides pinpoint ovulation. For example, if you have a short luteal phase, you might have problems conceiving -- charting will help you determine that.

So many things that I have not thought of. Charting does seem beneficial in a lot of different ways. Thanks.

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