fertility friend or TCOYF software?

[mokey4]

Hey everyone, I'm new here. In fact, I've just read through most of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and I'm on my 2nd day of charting. I think it will take me a couple of months to really figure out what the different kinds of cervical fluid look like, and get used to taking my temp first thing

Comments

[burntbuffalo]

First off as my disclaimer, I use FAM to know my body and what's going on. Eventually I'll use it for BC but I don't yet. I've charted for 5 or 6 cycles.

I've used a couple of different websites and I've found that I prefer pen and paper/an excel spread sheet over the software because I trust myself and like how I am able to note specifically. (like the type/severity of an acne break out or the specific type of breast tenderness). I've always been able to interpret my O-day correctly based on my luteal phase length. The first two cycles I used my own hand chart along with FF just to double check things kind of like training wheels while I was getting used to things.

I've found that a basal therm makes a noticeable difference in my charts.

As to whether your temp will change from 4:45 or 6:30, that depends a lot on your body and your environment. I can't temp more than 15 minutes late or my temp will go up as much as .4 degrees, largely because I sleep under a window and the sun heats me up a lot. You could try temping at 4:45 every day, and on the days you can sleep until 6:30 go back to sleep and temp a second time before you get up for the day and see how different the temps are.

[alasharia_la]

where did you get your spread sheet from? I personally prefer spreadsheets to FF and TCOYF, mostly because I recognise that computers (and programs) aren't always right.

[burntbuffalo]

I created one on Excel, complete with a graph. I just took the elements from both FF and TCOYF that I liked and added a couple of my own just for me. For me it's perfect.

[burntbuffalo]

oh, if you want some pointers on how to set up a graph or are interested in seeing how I have it set up I could probably email it as an attachment or something.

[mokey4]

Ooh ooh ooh could you email one to me too? I think danilangton at LJ will work.

[mokey4]

Interesting.. I've thought about charting other aspects of my cycle, to see if there's any correlation. Acne is one thing i'd like to chart, because whenever i go off the pill my acne gets worse.

I will try checking my temp at both times and see if there's much difference. I live in the basement with no window near my bed so it won't be sun-related!