A little insight,

[tarajanes]

For some of you confused about ovulation process.

The first part of the ovulation cycle is called the follicular phase. This phase starts the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) and continues until ovulation. This first half of the cycle can differ greatly for each woman lasting anywhere from 7 days until 40 days. The second half of the cycle is called the luteal phase and is from the day of ovulation until the next period begins. The luteal phase has a more precise timeline and usually is only 12-16 days from the day of ovulation. This ultimately means that the day of ovulation will determine how long your cycle is. This also means that outside factors like stress, illness, and disruption of normal routine can throw off your ovulation which then results in changing the time your period will come. So the old thought that stress can affect your period is only partly true. Stress can affect your ovulation which ultimately determines when your period will come, but stress around the time of an expected period will not make it late—it was already determined when it would come 12-16 days earlier!


A luteinizing hormone (LH) is then released, referred to as your LH surge. The LH surge causes the egg to burst through the ovary wall within 24-36 hours and begin its journey down the fallopian tube for fertilization. The follicle from which the egg was released is called the corpus luteum, and it will release progesterone that helps thicken and prepare the uterine lining for implantation. The corpus luteum will produce progesterone for about 12-16 days (the luteal phase of your cycle.) If an egg is fertilized, the corpus luteum will continue to produce progesterone for a developing pregnancy until the placenta takes over. You can begin looking for pregnancy symptoms as early as a week after fertilization. If fertilization does not occur the egg dissolves after 24 hours.
At this time your hormone levels will decrease and your uterine lining will begin to shed about 12-16 days from ovulation. This is menstruation (menstrual period) and brings us back to day 1 of your cycle. The journey then begins all over again.

[Michele, Katy, TX]

Thank you.  You always give us very good info.  I just started my period this morning so I am just now going to have a starting point for beginning to monitor my temps.  I am not currently ttc but will be at some point.  I just had #5 6 mos ago.  I am really excited about learning more about my body!!

[tarajanes]

Ah girl,that damn af...to be honest i just search alot of medical sites for info.since i began ttc,fed up with docs saying have sex day of ov your get pregnant,Really.

hey defo start temps at least then when you decide ttc you will have rough idea of when you ovulate.
i love learning about my body,you should pick up a book on takin charge of your fertility,brilliant book...

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I think I will do that.  I am really excited about the temps.  Last week they were high but I had never charted before so I had nothing to compare it to.  I was pretty sure they were high though because when I'm not running a fever or sick, I'm usually in the low 97s.  So this morning it was like 96.8; huge drop as last week it was steadily rising.  Sure enough, I got to work, went to the bathroom, and BOOM!!  So I thought that was cool.  I'd also like to learn more about CM and what it means.  My sister in law and brother use NFP and she says the different CM means all kinds of things.  I really want to learn about it!!!  I will look for that book!!!

[tarajanes]

So you more or less got the temp idea,good for you..cm aye,well in my little box of tricks i have this link my help,with the difference..
http://www.fertilityuk.org/nfps401.html
the book is great..written by toni welcsh..