Fertility Specialist told me to Stop Charting

srprincess · January 2009

We met a new doc yesterday and at the end of our visit I started to hand her my charts to update my file and she stopped me. In the nicest way she said she thinks they provide a lot of good information but that they also cause a lot of stress. Of course analyze each temperature and symptom as I log them and until the next bit of info is obtained, so maybe she is right. She has given me a plan for the next four cycles and wants me to use OPK's but drop the charting. She wants me to relax as much as possible about TTC, she said the whole relax thing so nicely, not illiciting the usual response that makes you want to slap the person.

Has anyone else been told to stop charting and what did you do? I have been charting for over two years and I am very attatched to it.

Thanks,

Shannon

kimarino13 · January 2009

My OBGYN and RE both told me to stop charting because it's too stressful. I stopped for several months and hated it. I have long, irregular cycles and I like knowing what is going on with my body. I recently started charting again.

frustrated and ttc · January 2009

I have never been told to stop charting ESPECIALLY if you have PCOS (like i see you do). For MOST women with pcos the only way you can really tell if you o'd is by charting or blood tests. USUALLY opk's will give you false positive when you have pcos. Is she going to do b/w everytime you get a positive on your opk? I guess follow your doc's advice but this just doesn't sound right to me.

SkypekWithoutAC · January 2009

I have PCOS and don't chart. I did for a while, but I never ovulated, or had a period without inducing it, so I just don't see the point. If I was doing unmonitored clomid, I would definitely chart. But, my doctor said that clomid alone wouldn't be likely to help me, so we started right in with a combination cycle and since I'm going in every other day and getting a trigger shot, I don't need the extra info.

However, if you're on clomid and NOT being monitored w/ultrasound and bloodwork throughout, I wouldn't be comfortable with that either.

GuitaristsGirl · January 2009

Yep, part of the reason I was excited to go to an RE was so I could stop charting. My blood work showed that I did O, but I never really got an "o" from charting or OPKs. My RE monitored me starting on CD 3 or 5 or something, so there wasn't any point in charting any more.

schoolsoutbride · January 2009

I think for some people charting causes stress. For others (like me), not knowing WTF is going on causes more stress. I generally chart until I confirm O and then give up b/c it's the 2ww that stresses me out. Could you do something like that?

jmkatz · January 2009

My RE told me to stop charting too since I will be monitored via u/s. The only sad part is that I never, in a year and a half of charting, got to see CHs!

smeyer · January 2009

Yep, my RE told me to stop charting, too. ?He didn't have to tell me twice - I chucked the thermometer as soon as we got home and haven't charted since.

katerena · January 2009

As soon as I started cycling with the clinic I had a thermometer destroying ceremony!!!

SmilingMrsF · January 2009

I don't chart anymore either because I'm monitored by ultrasounds and b/w.

mybobble · January 2009

My re told me to stop and I didn't think twice about it. I figured since I was now going to be treating w/ her I wouldn't need to chart. Meds, u/s, b/w and what not would be taking over for the charting.

naflmj · January 2009

I stopped when I started seeing RE. The first month or so was really hard because I felt like I wasn't in tiouch with my body but now it is much less stressful. ANyways, once you start with meds, there's really no point since you are being monitored closely.

katieranck2202 · January 2009

I was told the same thing about 3 years ago and I just couldn't because i was doing it more out of habit than anything. I tried stopping and only lasted one cycle, I hated not knowing what was going on. However, the last year I have switched from temp charting to cm only charting with Creighton teacher and that has been more helpful than any of the temp charts (I am also seeing a Creighton doctor).

ghjunkie · January 2009

When you're going for US/BW on a daily-every other day basis, who in their right mind would want to stress themselves out anymore than need be?...it's just TOOO much!

Good luck, and BFP's to ALL OF US!!!!....SOON!!!!

Quizzle · January 2009

I've never been told not to chart.

Of course, I don't stress out with it. I stress more if I have no idea what is going on! My cycle is so irregular, the only way I know when to expect my period is by charting. Especially when unmedicated.

Now granted, once we start the IVF cycle I'll probably be super lazy about it, since I will know whats going on!

mrspresley · January 2009

it's common for them to tell you to stop charting b/c it can cause a lot of stress for some women....and while you are being monitored, they already can see when you are ovulating by u/s and confirm it with b/w

i'm just starting out on my IF journey so i'm not monitored every other day right now... but i am monitored so i am not charting right now. we will be triggering so i don't need to pinpoint ovulation with temps or OPKs. i haven't been charting so far this cycle but i may after the trigger just b/c i want to know when to expect AF. of course i'm hoping for a BFP so i won't have to see AF, but if we get a BFN i'd like to know too....my temp always drops a day before i get AF so i will be charting just to see if/when my temp drops.

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