Comments | fam: Hello! :D

fushigi_na_chou in fam

Hello! :D

Feb 24, 2011 23:23

Hello everyone! My name is Andrea, but you can feel free to refer to me however you like. I'm new to the community (literally just joined like, ten minutes ago), and I've read through the FAQs to get started. I guess it'll help if I go ahead and use the question guide thinger to get things started:

1) Are you new to FAM or an experienced FAM user? ( Read more... )

*the basics, *frequently asked questions, fam as birth control, thermometers, ?s from newbies, charting

Comments 26

fivepoints February 25 2011, 07:05:05 UTC

Maybe your local library has a copy of TCOYF? It really is highly recommended...because it's amazing. Seriously ( ... )

fushigi_na_chou February 25 2011, 08:00:56 UTC

Omg, I always forget about libraries! You know you live in the technology age when. XD ( ... )

the_bone_doctor February 25 2011, 15:05:28 UTC

Yes, the time is really important. Your basal body temperature is your resting temperature. You have to take it first thing when you wake up, before you get up and pee, or pet the cat, or talk. Best thing is to keep the thermometer on your bedside table all prepped and ready to go and just do it laying down as soon as you wake up. When I first started, I was doing it orally, and noticed that my temps were all over the place with no discernible pattern. After asking here I realized that I'm probably a mouth breather at night, which would mess things up. I switched to vaginal temping, and it's clear and easy to read now.

Touching your cervix is fine if you wash your hands well before. Different people report different sensations, but I think it's not uncomfortable for most. Especially since you are in total control. I find it fascinating actually and have noticed that I am more comfortable with other people touching me in that area since I have been exploring it myself on a daily basis.

papercrane February 25 2011, 19:27:08 UTC

hey, thanks for the mouth breathing tip---i definitely breathe with my mouth at night, and have always had a really hard time getting consistent temps with digital thermometers. i switched to an old-fashioned fake-mercury thermometer and i leave it in my mouth for ten minutes, which seems to work, but switching to vaginal temping might make even more sense. how do you do it when you have your period? do you just stick the thermometer in there with your menstrual cup (or whatever)?

Thread 10

nightsinger February 25 2011, 07:11:56 UTC

Welcome ( ... )

fushigi_na_chou February 25 2011, 08:08:10 UTC

Oh! Why didn't I think of used bookstore. There's one right by my house, and I have so much credit for turning in my own books I could get it for free. Yay! :D

Now, you said basal thermometer. Is that different from a regular thermometer that you buy from the pharmacy/pharmacy section?

nightsinger February 25 2011, 08:29:58 UTC

Yes, a basal thermometer's a different animal from a regular fever thermometer -- it's much more accurate. Fever thermometers typically have an error margin of ±0.3°F, whereas a basal thermometer is usually accurate ±0.01°F. Since you're looking at relatively fine variations in your basal temperature to tell whether or not Ovulation has passed, 0.3°F more or less could make you think you've ovulated when you haven't, haven't when you have, or make it unclear whether or not you have.

As an example, my average post-ovulatory "jump" is about 0.56°F... So an error margin of ±0.3°F, being over half of that amount, could easily obscure the change.

E.G.: if my temps on a more accurate thermometer are (ovulation-date bolded):
96.85 96.43 96.85 97.19 97.32 ( ... )

fushigi_na_chou February 27 2011, 23:06:48 UTC

Oh, okay, thanks for clearing that up. Once I get some extra cash, I'll have to invest in a basal thermometer. :)

Thread 12

aunteater February 25 2011, 19:40:00 UTC

Like others said: definitely read TCOYF, and/or The Garden of Fertility. Both are pretty comprehensive guides.

re: Oral vs. Vaginal temping. I temp orally. I've never had any problem with it. But there are a couple of reasons you might want to temp vaginally instead: if you sleep with your mouth open, it can throw oral temps off. Also, if you tend to fall asleep waiting for the thermometer, oral might not work so well.

All those things you mentioned in the post sound like good things to include on the chart. You don't have to chart cervical position (I don't, because I can never feel any difference in the darn thing), but the more data points you have, the more accurate your chart will be. Plus, sometimes it's just fun to track random things and see if they are related to your cycle.

On charting cervix position: some people find this uncomfortable. Some don't. Your mileage may vary.

fushigi_na_chou February 27 2011, 23:02:05 UTC

Ah, thanks for the tips on temperature taking and cervix position tracking. :)

welcome! italiansweetie February 25 2011, 23:42:47 UTC

walgreens and walmart have basal body therm. in the same section where normal thermometers are sold. they are around 8 dollars. In my opinion, you can get away with a regular thermometer if you already have one of those. basal thermometers go out to .01 versus .1 but really either one is fine as long as you are consistent ( ... )

Re: welcome! fushigi_na_chou February 27 2011, 23:12:31 UTC

Thanks so much! Yeah, after taking a look at some of the online charts, I think I might actually use them in conjunction with my own, just to have a backup/something to compare it to.

And I will definitely be looking into that book, probably tomorrow. :)