Trying to understand BBT charting

[shellio]

Hi,
I just joined tonight, looking for some advice.
Just a little background... I've never had a regular cycle except for when I was on birth control for 6 years. My hubby and I decided to TTC in May. Since then I've only had 3 cycles. I had two 60 day cycles, one 20 day cycle, and now I'm on day 25 of this one.
I finally made an appointment with my primary care physician (this friday) to get a referral to see a fertility doctor. I'm expecting to find out I have PCOS or something.
I've been charting my temperatures since the end of August and am having trouble seeing any real pattern. This cycle, no ovulation has been detected although I missed quite a few days due to traveling. I was confident I had ovulated. Still, no AF and no elevated temperatures. My temps were around 97.4, spiked to 98.3 around day 20 and then shot down to 96.8 for the next two days. Any suggestions?!  

[shellio]

Thanks soo much for your feedback! I really appreciate it! It's amazing how something I never even knew took place in my body now has my world revolving around it.

I do take my temp at 715 every morning. The day it spiked to 98.3, I think I was an hour off and had drank the night before. I know alcohol can effect temps as well.

I've been off birth control since feb. My first cycle after that wasn't until may. I def think b.c. has made me annovulatory.

I'll put my temps on here (soon as I figure out how) so you can see exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks again for the support!

[tina1111]

The way you are describing it does sound annovulatory. Some birth control can really mess with ovulation for a long time after stopping it. I know many ladies have had that problem with Depo in particular.

We have a nice bbt tracker here. If you start keeping your temps on it, we'll be able to see your chart (or not if you don't want us to) and help with interpretation. I've been charting for more than 20yrs now and have a really good feel for it. I hope the dr gives you good news :)

[Latrice414]

Well, in order to get an accurate pattern, the key word is CONSISTENCY, you have to do it the same time every day, put the thermometer under the same side and you need to have at least 4-5 hours of UNINTERRUPTED sleep. BBT is suppose to be a temp while the body is at a resting state. Also, you need to really do it for a few months b4 you can start pin pointing things.  

For example, there was months i took my temp at different times and you can tell by my chart bcuz the graph/temps are all over the place, but this last cycle where you see the green line(which is the cover line) you see the pattern, that cycle i took it the same time everyday. Even though i no my temps average from 97.3-97.6 anything over that i no i ovulated.

When your temp spiked to 98.3 did you take it the same time you been taking your temp, and if you had ovulated your temps should of stayed around that number until AF was due, once AF is approaching you start to notice the temps dropping.

You can take a look at my tracker on here, this cycle and the last cycle are good graphs, the cycles b4 that i was not consistent with the time i took the temps

Also, how long you been off b/c, i no sometimes it take a while for your body to get back on track from long term b/c thearpy. My best friend was on b/c for 5 years and cycles are very irregular and she's been off b/c for a year and is ttc, she just had her first appt with a RE last week to see if anything is wrong bcuz she dont think she is ovulating every month.

Good your going to see a RE, i hope everything works out and will keep you in my prayers