Temperature

I was told that you can only use a special therm. For that. Im not forsure though..

I was told yo ucan do it this way if you are usually regular because it will show a slight spike in your temp.

I have gone to all the sites that tell me when I should be ovulating and still not pregnant with using that so I thought I would do it this way. We will see how it works. We are still going ot have sex every other day just ot make sure. No harm in having fun right!

Your temp does spike during ovulation. I used a basal thermometer when I was taking my temp for ovulation. And you have to take it first thing in the morning before you even get out of bed.

Your temp would rise .4 - .6 during ovulation. When that happens, you have 24 hours.

The temp charting hasn't worked for me b/c I am very irregular. I have done it several times though.

My temp was 97.2 this morning and yesterday morning but my period started last monday and only finished last friday and I am very regular so that would mean that I would probably ovulate on monday right? Should my temp be this high all the time.

I think the normal body temp is like 95.5 or something close to that.

I think it is around 96.7

The average body temp is 98.6. Some people have a normal temp that is lower or higher. You need to determine what your normal temp is before you can tell if it is higher than normal. My normal body temp is 99.1 and during ovulation it was 99.5. If you want to use the ovulation method or natural family planning you should do all of it, not just the temp to really know if you're ovulating or not. I used the ovulation method for a year. It took a couple months to figure out exactly what I was doing. I had a forty day cycle!! I just thought that was crazy, lol. Anyway, i'm going to copy and paste a post by another woman that explains this in detail.

Hope this helps more.

Lana

jriegel
experienced user


joined: 02 nov 2004
posts: 54

natural family planning-an alternative to the pill
posted: 11/02/04 0539pm

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this can be a "how to" thread as well as a place share stories, ask questions etc.


My husband and I have been using the nfp method of birth control for almost a year now and have not gotten pregnant.


It is very easy to do, it is free, it only takes two minutes a day, and it is an excellent way to strengthen your relationship (divorce rate among average married couples is more than 50%, divorce rate among couples who use nfp less than 4%). It is also as effective as birth control pills and more effective than condoms.


The way it works: your body gives three tell-tale signs every month that you are about to ovulate, are ovulating and/or have ovulated. This is true even if your cycle is irregular; it is still possible to know when you have ovulated.


Nfp is for couples who both want to get pregnant or do not want to get pregnant, by teaching them what the symptoms are and how to check them, so you can know if you are ovulating/fertile or not.


Before we get into the details of the symptoms, let me say that there are books on this method that will be able to help you with a lot more information that I will give you. The one I read was called the art of natural family planning. It is the only method that suggests you use all three symptoms to tell if you are fertile or not. Other methods recommend just two or one. But with using three, you have two cross-checks to make sure you know when you are fertile.


Basically: our bodies are designed to go through a monthly cycle. When one thing occurs it causes a reaction which leads to another. For example, a certain hormone will end your period. In about a week (it's different for everyone and unwise to try to count the days) you will ovulate. (we'll look at how to tell those in the next post). When you ovulate, an ovum, or egg, is relased from your ovaries. The follicle in your ovary that released the ovum then turns into a hormone which signals to your brain to build up the lining of your uterus (why you begin to feel bloated, crampy, etc.) if the ovum or egg is not fertalized it does not attach to the lining of your uterus which causes another hormone reaction that sheds the lining--your period. Birth control pills force this reaction so that, even if the egg is fertilzed, your lining will shed anyway.


Cycles range any where from 21-45 days. Even with such a broad range it is possible to tell when you are ovulating, and be confident that you are fertile or not fertile.

Once you ovulate, it is impossible to get pregnant because there is nothing to fertilze. You typically will have about two weeks (possibly shorter or longer, depending on the length of your cycle) when you can have sex without fear of getting pregnant.

If you do want to get pregnant, you simply have sex during the days you are fertile.


You cycle begins on the first day of your period. The first day you have your period is considered "day 1" of your cycle. Your cycle lasts until you have your period again. The last day before you next period is considered the last day of your cycle and the first day of your next period is the first day of your next cycle.


You can also have sex during the first 2-3 days of your cycle (2 if your cycle is short, 3 if 28 days or longer) and not get pregnant, if you are comfortable having intercourse during your period. In over 40 years of studies and hundreds of thousands of women charting their cycles for months and months and months, only one pregnancy has resulted from intercourse on the fourth day of a period. It is extremely unlikely, but it has happened, so it is recommended that you do not have sex any later than the third day of your cycle.


After your period ends you will have a few days before you ovulate. The longer your cycle is, the more days you will have between the end of your period and the day you ovulate. You can still get pregnant if you have sex between the end of your period and the day you ovulate, i'll explain that in the next post about symptoms of ovulation. You can't count the days because it varies month to month depending on diet, exercise, stress, sickness, etc., and it is different for every person.


We'll get into the signs of ovulation in the next post.


After you ovulate, and you are *sure* that you have ovulated, you can have sex as many times as you want until your next cycle begins (the first day of your next period) and you will not get pregnant. Some women have been known to ovulate twice in one cycle, but this is very uncommon. However, it is good to check your symptoms every day (it only takes about two minutes of your entire day) to be sure, as you would be able to tell through the symptoms if you have ovulated a second time. But like I said , *this is very uncommon*

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jriegel
experienced user


joined: 02 nov 2004
posts: 54

the first symptom - temperature
posted: 11/02/04 0559pm

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every month your body shows three symptoms when you are ovulating, and by understanding these and checking for them, you can tell when you are ovulating (fertile) and know whether or not to have sex (depending on if you want to have a baby or not).

1. The first symptom is your temperature. Your temp varies through out the day, and even day to day, by tenths of degrees (for example, you may wake up with a temp of 97.6 and in about two hours it could be 97.9 or 98.0). If you want to use natural family planning as a form of birth control you will need to check your temperature every morning when you wake up, which only takes about 30 seconds. You can record it later since thermometers (traditional and electronic) "remember" the temp.

The temperature that your body is at when you wake up is called your "basal body temperature". Some stores sell "basal" thermometers, and some people feel these are more "sensitive" but is perfectly ok to use regular thermometers to check your temp. You will need to check your temp at the same time every day because it will rise by a 10th of a degree every half hour or hour, making your symptoms appear inaccurate if you are not consistent. What I have done is set my alarm for a certain time in the morning so that even if I don't have to get up that early on a particular day, I will still take my temperature. It takes less than 30 seconds and when i'm done I can go back to sleep if I want to. Your temperature will vary from day to day by one or two 10ths of a degree (on monday, it could be 97.4, tues 97.3 wed 97.4, thurs 97.4, fri 97.5, etc.)

on the day you ovulate, your temperature will "jump" 3 or 4 tenths of a degree (one day it will be (for example) 97.4 and the next it will be 97.7 or 97.8). If you have ovulated, you will know because your temperature will remain elevated (3 or 4 tenths of a degree higher than what it was normally right after your period) for at least three days, usually four or five.

If you check your temperature every day, and keep track of it by writing it down or making a graph that shows day 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. Across the bottom and temperatures (starting at 96.0, then 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, etc. All the way to 100.00) on the side, you will be able to keep track of your temperature, and you will be able to see when it "shifts" (jumps up a few 10ths of a degree) and stays that way.

This is the easiest way to tell if you are ovulating. It is possible to use only this symptom to see if you have ovulated, but to be sure you should cross check with the other two symptoms, which are explained in the following posts

(to be posted at a later time)

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jriegel
experienced user


joined: 02 nov 2004
posts: 54

the second symptom- cervical changes
posted: 11/05/04 0309pm

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throughout your cycle your cervix will normally be low, firm and closed. When you are about to ovulate it will raise, soften and open up. These changes can be hard to observe the first time you try natural family planning because you have nothing previous to compare them to. But once you begin observing symptoms in the second month it will become much more clear.



It is not too difficult to check your cervix each day, and only takes a matter of seconds. The biggest hang up people have with it is the process which requires you to insert two fingers into your vagina to feel where the cervix is at. For me, this hang up was easily overcome as I learned more about my body and that it goes through a cycle that I was born with, that it does without me telling it to, that I no longer have to pop a pill once a day and hope-to-god it worked because I didn't really know what it was doing or if it was doing enough of it.



Checking your cervix is similar to inserting a tampon. You can do so if you've never had intercourse before. You can check sitting down on the toilet, or standing with one foot on the toilet or tub. It seems to be most convenient to check your cervix while you're taking a shower and once before bed. You simply insert two fingers into your vagina a "feel for the top". If you've never done this before, or if you're like me and had and wondered what in the world that thing was in there, that's you're cervix! It feels like a channel or "tube" that comes down from the top. Really, it's like the "gate" or "door" in to your uterus. The bottom of it feels a little bit like a donut :)

at the end of a cycle, when you are about to start your period, your cervix will raise up, or get higher, maybe harder to reach. You can tell this by feeling the length of it (it's normally about two finger-widths long but when it's raised up it is harder to grasp in between your two fingers). It will also feel wider, or more "squatty" against the top of your vagina. This is happening so that you can begin your period.



After the first few days of your cycle (when you're period is beginning to end) you will notice your cervix getting lower and firmer again. It will stay this way until a few days before you ovulate. The bottom of the cervix that you can easily touch with the tip of your finger will feel like a tight little donut. It may even feel like there's a little bump or "flat" bubble right in the center. This is a plug of cervical mucus which is the third symptom we'll talk about later.



A few days before you ovulate your cervix will raise up and get very soft. The opening on the bottom will feel a little "floppy", almost like you could stick your finger in it (but don't do that, just be aware of the change that's happening). The day before and the day you ovulate your cervix will be very high, "squatty", soft and open.

The day after you ovulate, sometimes two days after, you will notice it change very quickly back to firm and low, and closed again.

All of this occurs anywhere from 5 days to two or two and a half weeks after your period, depending on your cycle. And even if your cycle is irregular, you can still observe this symptom, even though it may not happen consistenly the same amount of days following your period each cycle.


This symptom of raising, softening and opening, followed by lowering firming and closing will coincide with your temperature (the first symptom). The day after you ovulate your temperature will jump 3 or 4 tenths of a degree (ie. From 97.4 to 97.7 or 97.8 ) and stay there consistently for at least three days, while your cervix will noticably change from high, soft and open to low, firm and closed.


Once you are confident you have ovulated, by observing your cervix and temperature and comparing the two, you can have sex as often as you want until your next cycle without concern of getting pregnant, usually about two or two and a half weeks.


If you want to get pregnant, you should have sex when you know you are about to ovulate. This time can last anywhere from 3 days to a week and a half.

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darkv
active user


joined: 26 oct 2004
posts: 42

this is good
posted: 11/05/04 0410pm

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i have used this method sucessfully too. I read a book:

taking charge of your fertility: the definitive guide to natural birth control, pregnancy achievement, and reproductive health (revised edition) by toni weschler

this has charts for you to use and pictures. Its really great!

Darkv

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jriegel
experienced user


joined: 02 nov 2004
posts: 54

the third symptom--cervical mucous
posted: 11/17/04 0256pm

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this symptom accomagnies the changes in your cervix.


When your cervix is low, firm and closed, if you feel the bottom of your cervix with your index finger (the part that feels sort of like a little donut) you might even feel a smooth little bump/bubble in the middle. This is the cervical mucous.


Cervical mucous forms a plug in your cervix preventing sperm or anything else from entering your uterus. A few days before you ovulate (it differs for every person and every cycle) as your cervix begins to soften, open and lift up, the mucous is released.


Normally your vagina is very acidic and a harmful environment for sperm. They live anywhere from a matter of hours to 72 hours in "post ovulation" conditions (the environment of your vagina after you've ovulated). However, before ovulation the mucous of your cervix, which is typically white/opaque and sort of tacky like putty, changes to clear and very stretchy. This changed mucous makes your vagina a very fertile environment for sperm and they have been known to survive up to a week under these conditions.

You can observe your cervical mucous at the same time you observe the changes in your cervix. After inserting two fingers in to your vagina and feeling your cervix to see where it is at in your cycle, place one finger on either side of your cervix. With gentle pressure, move your fingers downward on your cervix until they are at the end (it only takes a matter of seconds). Keep your fingers together as you remove them from your vagina. This is sometimes called "milking" the cervix.


When you remove your fingers, you will notice discharge, or mucous. It varies in appearance and texture from woman to woman, especially if you have an std. But for the most part, it is usually tacky (some what like putty, maybe a little more stretchy) and opaque.

In the days before you ovulate, the mucous will become more and more stretchy and more clear. You will know when you are about to ovulate because the mucous will be nearly clear and you can stretch it between your thumb and forefinger almost as wide as, sometimes further than, your fingers will go.


Another symptom that accompanies the change in your cervial mucous is a feeling of wetness. Almost every woman feels this almost every cycle when they are about to ovulate. There is increased moisture that comes along with the change in cervical mucous. This wetness occurs on the outside of your vagina, usually between the labia (the inside of your vagina is always moist).


Observing this symptom, along with the changes of your cervix and temperature, you can be certain of when you have ovulated.


It may take about two months to get accustomed to the symptoms, if you've never tried to observe them before. But you will soon get the hang of it.


You will know you have ovulated when your mucous has been clear and stretchy, followed by your cervix softening, raising up and the opening widening, and your temperature jumping 3 or 4 tenths of a degree (ie from 97.4 to 97.7 or 97.8 ) and staying there for at least three days (you *must* wait to see if it stays raised at least three days. If it goes down after that it is ok, but if it goes down before, you may have just had a slight fever or changed your morning routine slightly, and there is a possibility you have not yet ovulated. Be sure to wait until your temperature has been raised for three days before you have sex).


After you have observed all three of these symptoms, you can have sex without becoming pregnant until your next cycle begins (the beginning of your next period). You can typically have sex through the second day of your period without risking becoming pregnant, sometimes the third day if you have a longer cycle.


Of course, if you *want* to become pregnant, you simply observe these symptoms and when you see that you are about to ovulate, you have sex.

Holy reading. I just copied and pasted it into a word doc and will read it later when I have a moment. I am at work right now. Thanks for the info though