Cycle Charting Confusion.

Knowing when, how and what exactly to chart can be a very difficult and stressful task. The first thing to know is that there are several things you will need to look for every month concerning your body.

One of the easiest things to keep track of it your cervical mucus (CM). Your CM will change throughout your cycle and there are certain CM consistencies and colours that you should be aware of. When you are close to ovulating and on the actual ovulation day(s) you will notice that there is an increase of CM and it will be thin, clear, stretchy and of egg-white consistency. Once ovulation has pasted, you will notice that your CM either becomes dry or thicker that during ovulation.

The next thing to do is keep to buy an ovulation prediction kit (OPK). These are useful as they pinpoint your exact ovulation day(s) 12-24 hours before hand so that you have time to prepare for your ovulation.

Another easy but sometimes inaccurate way of charting your cycle is to keep a track of your body basal temperature (BBT) which will be at its lowest point while you are ovulating. After your ovulation days have passed, your BBT increase by about a tenth of a degree. Please note that tracking your BBT shouldn't be used as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s) - it is only use to confirm that you have actually ovulated. If you track your BBT every month, then you may be able to use it as a method of predicting your ovulation day(s).

Cramping is also another sign of ovulation and could be a useful method of charting your cycle (if done correctly). You may feel a twinge of pain or abdominal pains which is thought to be the release of an egg from an ovary. So make sure you pay close attention to and pains in the lower part of your tummy!

Getting to know your cervix is yet another method of charting your cycle. As ovulation occurs, your cervix will high, soft and slightly open which makes it easier for sperm to travel through it. You should check your cervix daily using one or two fingers to feel for changes and be sure to chart/ record the positioning of your cervix.

Last but not least, you can use a calender to keep a track of the day(s) you will be ovulating. As different women's cycles vary from month to month, you should rely completely on ovulation calendars as they are just a rough estimate based on the pattern of your period.

I also recommed you visit www.fertilityfriend.com as they can gie you tutorials on how to chart your cycle with accuracy.

Hopefully this information is useful!

Good luck and happy trying!

Patience is a Virtue.

When you are trying to conceive (TTC), it can feel like it's taking forever to get pregnant. A lot of women get upset, angry and frustrated when they are greeted with a period every month, but remember that there's only a 25% chance of a young healthy couple conceiving every month. There's only a small window every month in which to fall pregnant, so it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when you are ovulating.

It's important to know your body thoroughly so that you can make accurate predictions and give yourself the best chance of falling pregnant. Try not to be disheartened when your period arrives - remember that it can take up to a year to conceive even if you and your partner are in perfect condition and perfect health.

If after a year of TTC you still haven't fallen pregnant, you might want to check in with your doctor just to make sure there aren't any fertility problems involved and your doctor may be able to provide you with advice on how to maximise your chances of falling pregnant.

Keep yourself occupied when waiting for your period to be over, when waiting for your ovulation time to come and when waiting for pregnancy symptoms to arrive. It can be hard when you are particularly eager and anxious to know what's going on with your body and you might cause yourself unnecessary stress.

Just a Few Ovulation Symptoms.

Some ovulation symptoms I've heard of are:

Spotting - small amount of light/ dark blood from implantation.
Nausea - feeling sick.
Basal Body Temperature (BBT) - your temperature will increase a few tenths of a degree whilst you're ovulating after afterwards.
Mittelschmerz - lower abdominal pain (similar to period cramps).
Increased Sexual Desire - broodiness or wanting to have sex more often.
Aches - bodily aches anywhere (usually back or hip pain).
Tender Breasts - they may be sore and uncomfortable.
Cervical Mucus - there should be an abundance of clear, sticky and slippery mucus.
Cervical Position - your cervix while be higher, softer and more open around ovulation.

Hopefully this information will help those who are trying to conceive (TTC) understand what to look for when ovulating.