BBT!

When we were TTC, I skipped charting all together and went straight to the OPKs. But many women swear by charting so I thought I'd give it a quick overview here. The idea behind charting is that a woman's temperature fluctuates in a predictable way before and after ovulation. By charting, you can see where you are in your cycle based on your temperature. There are a lot of sources of information out there for women who want to chart. There are your old fashion thermometers, digital thermometers, paper charts and online charts that put the magic of algorithym analysis behind your charts. But the key thing is the method. You have to take your temperature at as close to the same time every morning as possible, and you need to do it before you do anything else.

This website I think has pretty easy instructions on how to chart. Please take particular note of number 4.

4. You can take your temperature orally, vaginally, or rectally -- just stay with the same method for the entire cycle.

Yes. Please stay with the same method for the entire cycle. In fact, I'd go so far as to recommend that if you are going to change methods, please make sure to go out and buy a new thermometer first. Maybe it is just me, but I don't want to stick the same thing that has been in any of those orifices in any of those other orifices. I know there are some ladies out there who are snickering to themselves thinking about one exception to that rule, but please ladies, let's keep that to ourselves shall we?

So, I took a completely scientific poll of the ladies on the TTCAL board on thebump, and it turns out that women that are TTC get really passionate, even on Saturday morning, about charting. So, here are some of the pro's and con's of charting according to the poll I conducted yesterday:

Pro: you know what's going on Con: it's like Hotel California. You can check in anytime you like but you can never leave. -Mrs0815

Well, BBT charting with CM and cervical position charting worked for me. I will be doing it again after this pregnancy. I like knowing what is going on in my body. I like seeing what is normal for me and when something abnormal happens. I will say having to get up on the weekend was not fun but I would still do it again. - WearingRed (Congrats on her BFP!)

i like the constant obsessing and getting up at the ass crack of dawn every day of the week to take my temp. the best part is when i'm laying in bed and i have to pee early in the morning but i can't get up cuz i know it will mess up my temp and i can't temp yet cuz it will be too early and won't be accurate.

i also love the constant worrying about if my therm is correct, are the batteries getting old, is it time to buy a new one...etc.

and i wouldn't stop temping/charting for anything, i love it! - Texas77

Pros: know when your most fertile times are and how your cycle works, easy to flip to TTA instead of TTC, gives you predictability.

Cons: you know everything about your cycle so it is even more frustrating when AF shows, you know everything about your cycle so you over-analyze all your charts comparing them to you BFP one, you can predict usually to the day when AF will show and so you stress out more when she approaches and are more inclined to test early. - eschall

Well, and there you have it. Just about everyone agrees, charting will help you figure out what is going on, but it can lead to increased stress and obsessing and sometimes, extreme bladder discomfort. At the end of the day, or should i say beginning of the morning, it is a personal decision to chart or not to chart, but whatever you decide, please, don't forget rule #4.