Feminine Concerns

[kronman]

I just completed my fist cycle off the pill! I started everything at different times, but by the end of the month, I was doing several things to track fertility: basal body temperature (taking your temp before you get out of bed using a sensitive thermometer), cervical mucus, and cervical position.

My cycle was a little wonky, so I hope it evens out. It was 29 days long:

• Here's my chart if you'd like to follow along or begin tracking your own cycles. It's a pretty nifty website.
• My menses was normal, 4 days long, not too heavy or light.
• My follicular phase was 16 days long, with my ovulation day on Calendar Day 20. I started charting my basal body temperature on day 14. I had two fertile patches instead of one. When the first patch didn't show ovulation through a basal body temperature rise, I used some old ovulation predictor kits that I had accidently bought a few years ago. (I figured if they didn't work, then they were expired anyway.) They did indeed work, and then my temp went up over days 21 and 22.
• During the days around ovulation, if you'll remember my previous post, my pelvic area was quite sore. Nothing I couldn't handle thankfully.
• My luteal phase, the time between ovulation and menses, was only 9 days. The average is 10-16. If your luteal phase is consistently less than 10 days, you have a luteal phase defect, and it can cause you to lose pregnancies. (An embryo might not have adequate time to implant, as implantation takes place 6-12 days after ovulation.)

Anyway, I'm sure I just need a few months for everything to settle. I wasn't really trying to conceive this month, but we did end up having some well-timed intercourse once. (I have firsthand experience with that, as some of you know.) Reporductive health is pretty interesting once you get to reading about it. Alright, I'm done sounding like a gynecological nerd for a bit.

Comments

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Speaking of lady bits, I got a 'thank you' gift from our OB for referring you. It's a cute little pink bag with the name of the practice on the front. Yah, won't be taking that out in public! lol

[amayagoddess.livejournal.com]

lol! That's cute, but I hear you. New toiletry bag?

[morganskye.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I'm sure I'll find some use for it. It's a really well made bag. I might try and take off the name.