Help with figuring out cycles?

[Anonymous]

Hi! I am new to this forum. I am in my early 30's and have a 16 month old baby and really want another baby! Before DD, my cycles were absolutely regular, so timing was fairly easy and we had no problems. I stopped breastfeeding 4 months ago. After I got my period (around 7 months ago), I have had irregular cycles. Thought I was back on a regular 28-day cycle (two times in a row) and then this month, I thought I was pregnant... took 3 pregnancy test... figured out that I had a 33-day cycle. This is so frustrating. I now realize that this time around may be a lot harder. We have been trying for 5 months, which is not that long, but I am getting really sad every month.

How do I get started with trying to figure this out?

[SurelyYouNest]

Toni Weschler has a great book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility that helps you chart your cycle. That and a fertility monitor might get you started. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

I recommend a fertility monitor. I tried without it for three months b/c I didn't want to spend the money,but the first month I used it, we conceived. Worth the money & we'll use it for the next one too.

[Anonymous]

Recommendations for which type of monitor and where to purchase?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I used the clearblue fertility monitor and the taking charge of your fertility book when my cycles were crazy because I was still breastfeeding. I got pregnant the second month of using the monitor (miscarried) then got pregnant again the first month of trying with the monitor after the miscarriage. I think both are great fertility aids.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I got the monitor at drugstore.com for $150 and then a 30 pack of test sticks for $40. You can also buy them used and you can use flex dollars to buy them if you have an account.

[Anonymous]

I used the Clearblue Fertility Monitor -- ordered it on Amazon with the test sticks (cheaper than CVS or something). If you want to start it this cycle, keep in mind you start using it on the first day of your period.

[Anonymous]

I actually would recommend temping (as Taking Charge of Your Fertility recommends) over the monitor. I'm in a pretty similar situation - 18 mos. pp and not having cycles that are totally back to "normal." The monitor just tells you that your body has released the one hormone that will trigger the release of a mature egg, and you only have a limited time period to have sex after you learn that. I actually had no luck relying solely on the monitor when I TTC #1, and I think it is because my body only releases the hormone for a very short timeframe and I was missing it.

With temping (as well other cervical fluid and cervix position observations), you can tell over the course of a month if and when your hormones are adjusting correctly. Because it is not just about ovulation, it is also about having the right hormones afterwards to sustain the pregnancy. It is true that temping won't tell you when you've hit the ovulation time frame until after it happens, but if you start having sex early enough in your cycle you'll be covered. And after a few months, you can see if there is a pattern and you'll know better when to time sex. Basically, temping is less expensive and provides a lot more information than the monitor (although plenty of women use both).

[Anonymous]

I bought the Clear Blue Fertility Monitor. However, I also temped and continued to use OPK's. I felt temping and OPK's were sufficient enough for me. I bought the monitor as I was hoping to have more warning before O date. It would tell me I had high fertility for 5 days straight - each month I was waiting for it to decrease the # of fertile days but it never did. There's a great website: www.fertilityfriend.com (its free) that will help you keep track of your cycles.

[Anonymous]

OP here - Thanks for all of the excellent advice! Any recommendations on websites where I can find out more about "temping"?

[Anonymous]

There is a website associated with the Taking Charge of Your Fertility book - tcoyf.com - that has a lot of great information under "Library." There also are charts that you can print out to chart your temping by hand. It also has software to do it electronically, but I believe there is a fee, unlike Fertility Friend.

[Anonymous]

Babycenter.com has some info and sample charts.

But for details and specific questions, get the book