Two 29 day cycles then a 24 day cycle, how to chart ovulation?

[Anonymous]

So I got my Mirena out in June. Since then, my first and second periods were 29 days apart, then this last one was 5 days early, so a 24 day cycle. How do you chart ovulation when the cycles are not the same length? Should I just get the ovulation sticks? We have been having sex 3-4 times every other day or so around the time I am supposed to be ovulating but maybe it hasn't been around the right days? Thanks for any thoughts!

[Anonymous]

Charting does not require your cycles to be the same length. What do you mean by charting? To most people, it means charting your basal body temperature and watching for a thermal shift to confirm ovulation. Most women also chart cervical fluid along with temps as that is a good indicator too. And you can use OPKs also if you want to.

I guess I'm not clear on what you mean by charting since very few women have cycles that run like clockwork and charting works just as well when your cycles vary from one to the next. What is it that you are charting? (temps, cervical fluid, etc,)? It should work regardless of cycle length.

[Anonymous]

Um, I guess I don't really know too much about charting I was just trying to chart my periods to get an idea of when I was ovulating. Most of the calendars require you put in your cycle length, so I was confused what to do if your cycle lengths were different. I naively thought I would just get pregnant in about 30 seconds ( 1st DC was conceived by accident so that's why I was thinking that way) but that doesn't seem to be happening. I guess I will start charting my temperature to get a better idea about ovulation. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

You will need a special thermometer, a basal body thermometer to check your temperatures. I like to use fertilityfriend.com which has a lot of tutorials for those new to charting. You might want to check it out.

Also, you may be having sex too much. Most doctors will tell you that having sex once every other day is plenty. It takes time to produce more sperm and sex 3-4 times/day can interfere with your husband's ability to produce more sperm. You're likely only getting semen without much sperm on those days.

[Anonymous]

OP, I also recommend fertilityfriend.com, but before you go there, you may want to get the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. It explains all the ins and outs of checking your fertility signs.

[Anonymous]

Charting your cycle length alone isn't going to tell you anything. You can have anovulatory cycles and still get your period on schedule, you can ovulate later in some cycles and earlier in others, etc. The length of your cycle really won't give you any idea of if/when you are ovulating, so it won't help you to time intercourse accordingly. You need to chart your fertility signs: basal body temperature, cervical fluid, cervical position (tho I have charted for years and have never charted CP, but some people do), and you can also add in ovulation predictor tests if you like.

I also agree with PP that intercourse 3-4 times per day around your fertile time is overkill. Once every other day is fine, and if there are no sperm issues, you can try once a day in the couple of days leading up to ovulation.

[Anonymous]

OP here, thanks for the advice. Just to clarify, the wording came out weird in my original post. We were having sex every other day, 3-4 times total over the course of the week I was ovulating; not 3-4 times a day