Fertility Friend - Help

[Harmony83]

Hey guys I am after a bit of help!
My DF and I aren't going to TTC until the end of the year beginning of next, but I wanted to get started charting, so I can become familiar with my cycle...
The only problem is I am soooo confused about it all, and the more 'research' I do the more confused I get! I have joined up with Fertility Friend, and am going to start recording soon, but I dont understand all the 'lingo' and what it means??
So I have some question if anyone can help???
1. What is a Luteal Phase?
2. Menstrual Cycle - It starts on the first day of your period and ends the day before you next right?? (sorry like I said the more I looked into it the more confused I got!!)
3. Ovulation - Is that just one day when your egg is released?
4. How long after Ovulation, does your period usually start?
5. Should I start charting the day of my next period
Im sorry these are such silly question, but my brain is just so bamboozled!

[Harmony83]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:MenstrualCycle.png

Okay so I found the above chart which actually explains alot! For some reason I thought ovulation occured a couple of days before your period, but apparently it happens 14 days after? So the best time to BD would be a couple days after your period... Am I getting closer to understanding or am I getting way off base!

[annb]

No the best time to BD is a few days before ovulation or on the day of as fertilisation can only happen within a particular 24hr period..if you were to BD 2 days after your period chances are the sperm would have died out by the time the egg is released. When you start to see the more egg whitey type of cervical mucus (CM) that is when the sperm will be 'suspended' in it ready to wait for the egg
The Luteal phase is the length of time after ovulattion until your next period...the phase is almost always the same length give or take a day or so, this is how I knew I was pregnant as my average luteal phase was 13 days and after 15 days no period showed up so I tested (that and plus my temperatures remained high)
You can start to chart the day your period starts when you first start charting just to get Fertility Friends software to sort of pick up your cycle, after a few cycles you may not want to start temping until day 10ish as believe me temping can get quite stressful
Hmmm have I helped????

[nuddle]

fertility friend has a pretty good support system, when you first join, they give you a full membership, and you can ask questions galore, so I say use that while you can. Also, they have a pretty good tutorial. As for when to bd, once you start charting, you will notice your temp goes up towards ovulation, and then just make sure you bd every second day, that way you have a good chance. Good luck...

[Little_Toad]

you will notice your temp goes up towards ovulation,

Nuddle.. I thought your temperature goes down before ovulation?
Then rises after?

[Livy]

. What is a Luteal Phase? The length of time between ovulation and AF
2. Menstrual Cycle - It starts on the first day of your period and ends the day before you next right??Menstrual cycle is your period.
3. Ovulation - Is that just one day when your egg is released? Yes
4. How long after Ovulation, does your period usually start? 14 days
5. Should I start charting the day of my next period - yes
Hi:wave:
Your temp will go up after ovulation and down when AF arrives or stay up if you get a BFP - some people get a temp dip before "o". Ovulation is generally 14 days before your AF starts ... for me it's 13 and everyone is different. You are generally only fertile for 12-24 hours per month - so I guess it's kinda crucial to get the timing right. Swimmers can live for around 3 days in the right environment - though from what I have heard 16 hours is average. I never realised how much of a miracle babies were before we started ttc.
Good luck everyone :fingerscrossed:

[nuddle]

I dont get a dip before ovulation, I get a sharp rise, after charting for 3 years, I can be pretty certain when I O from a single temp, but it needs at least three high temps to be confirmed.