anyone who charts BBT...

[ernie13]

i charted my temps for 1 full cycle and am starting to chart my second month. last month i spotted the day after ovulation until AF, then had AF for about 4 days. this month, i spotted 6 days after ovulation(5 total days) until AF came 11/24. I only bled for 3 days, but had extreme cramping and back pain Sat and Sun. My question is...do I count 11/24 as my cycle start date or when I started spotting. I spotted for 5 days, so thats a huge difference to predict ovulation. I did not have the cramping and back pain until Sat, but the spotting was enough to use a tampon for 2 days. Last month I ovulated on CD16 and I didn't count any of the spotting days, but I just don't want to be 5 days off this month. Anyone who charts know what I should do? I know the obvious thing is to get an OPK, but I don't want to waste the money. I guess another option is to have sex every day until my temp goes up, but with busy schedules, it doesn't usually happen that way:)

[Heather5]

Oh, I see. Yeah, in that case, it was probably just your body trying to regulate itself after being on b/c. I've heard that can take a little while. I wouldn't worry about a possible Luteal Defect, then.

Good luck to you!

[ernie13]

i  just went off BC in Oct after 12 years, so i think thats the reason for it. i am going to the doc 12/3 anyways, so i will ask. i never spotted before going on BC, but I am sure its still in my system. We did everything perfectly the last 2 months and didnt get pregnant, so this will be month #3.

[Heather5]

Oooh, that's a tough one! If you spotted to the point where you had to use a tampon, I would think that's considered bleeding and not spotting. But normally, i think you'd count the day you get a normal flow as your first cycle day (not the days you were spotting).

The spotting could mean you have a Luteal Defect, though, and if so, it might be a good idea to bring this up with your doctor. Do you always have spotting before AF?