QuestionI charted five months prior to my wedding to understand my cycle. I got married last October and have successfully charted for the past six months to prevent pregnancy. We are now ready to get pregnant. As I look through my chart, one thing that looks different than the example charts I've seen in my NFP book are my basal temperatures - though there is a shift and they stay above coverline, they are over-all much lower than the example charts. Before ovulation, they are almost always below 97. Once ovulation occurs, although there is a shift, they rarely reach 98 and are never higher than 98 (usually 97.8). I usually draw my coverline at 97.5 and they stay right above that. Each month, I do see a consistent temperature shift and I have good cervical fluid to indicate I am ovulating.
My questions:
1. My biggest concern is that my temperatures are quite low before and after ovulation - is that a problem? I've heard it can indicate low progesterone or a thyroid problem? If so, what do I need to do?
2. Also, my cycles are between 25-30 days in length (that is normal, right?). My peak day is usually between day 11 or 16. My temperature shift after ovulation is slow in jumping after my peak day (which I heard is also normal - my body may react slowly?). It sometimes takes 2-3 days - is that ok?
3. And finally, what do you determine as the count for the luteral phase? I know it needs to be at least 10 days long. But when does it start and end? Does it start day after my peak day of cervical fluid? Or the first day my temperature is above coverline (mine takes a few days, remember)? Do you count the first day of your period as the last day?
Thanks so much!
AnswerI am so sorry to take so long to get back to you! I don't get many questions and I forgot to go on "vacation" when I went away last week. Last night when I returned home, I had 116 emails and your question slipped through the cracks until the system sent me a reminder.
Low temperatures are an indication of hypothyroidism. Mine were always low, not usually below 97 but low in that range. I wasn't "diagnosed" with hypothyroidism until after my youngest child was born. I've been reading a bit about this problem just this weekend and some people suggest that you get started on an iodine supplement especially if you want to get pregnant, for your own good as well as the baby's well being.
Normal cycles (whatever that is) are supposedly 28 days. Mine were 27. I charted for many many years and they never varied. I believe that if you post-luteal phase is less that 10 days, you have low progesterone and could have trouble with implantation after conceiving.
The first day of the luteal phase is the day you count as ovulation and the phase ends on the day you period starts.
If I had to guess, I think you might have some issues with thyroid and progesterone. I had the same ones and I had 3 children. I didn't do anything about the thyroid because I wasn't aware of that problem back then. But now I would suggest researching about iodine supplementation, especially now, before you get pregnant.
The progesterone concern is also something you could research. I had a lot of trouble with an emotional PMS and found out that taking B6 helped that and additionally helped with infertility. so I started taking 1000 mg of B6 right before my wedding and my PMS went away! And when I wanted to get pregnant it only took a couple of months. And I spaced my children using ecological breastfeeding.
I am not a doctor, I just have a great interest in this topic and from personal experience and discussion with others, I've learned a lot. http://www.nfpandmore.org/ is a good website and www.ccli.org is also helpful. Wikipedia may be helpful for some of your research, too. Mary Shammon has a blog: http://thyroid.about.com/b/2007/07/26/pregnant-experts-say-to-take-supplemental-... where she discussed thyroid and other issues related to thyroid problems.
Again, I'm sorry to take so long. I hope this is helpful. Let me know if you need any further assistance. Congratulations on your wedding and I hope you can get pregnant soon!
