How to determine when I ovulate?

[bensgirl1222]

I haven't been on BC for about a month. It's a decison that Ben & I have made (for many reasons but NOT including concieving) and I'm TTA. We are pretty careful anyway but what time of the month should I be REALLY careful? Is it about 14 days after your period? I don't have time for charting and such so I'm trying to find an "easy" way to avoid getting pregnant.

My LMP was Sept. 5th. I'm usually pretty regular without BCP (about 28-30 days).

TIA!!

[jennylou]

I know you said you don't want to chart, but really, that's the only way to confirm ovulation (other than, say, bloodwork) and even if you charted for six months you could better pin point your possible range of ovulation days (one cycle might be CD15, the next might be CD 14 and the following might be CD 17).

OPKs can tell you when you're about to ovulate, but can't confirm it.

So, if you're not going to chart and you're TTA, I'd say use a condom. Good luck. :)

[KaliLily]

Is it about 14 days after your period? I don't have time for charting and such so I'm trying to find an "easy" way to avoid getting pregnant.

Ovulation generally occurs 14 days before the start of your next period. Of course, that's assume you don't have luteal phase defect which would result in your period starting less than 14 days after you ovulate. And remember that sperm can survive for up to appx. 5 days. I agree with the PP, if you really don't want to get PG, use a condom.

[Scooter]

What you're talking about is basically the "rhythm method." Unfortunately, it doesn't work. And if there were a really easy way of knowing when you ovulate, there wouldn't be so many women around here charting!

ITA with the other posters, and you may want to read Taking Charge of Your Fertility just to understand the whole thing better. :)

[tlew12778]

There is no way I would TTA without charting. Way too risky. Charting doesn't really involve time per se. You just have to read the book. Charting takes me all of 30 seconds in the AM when I take my temp.

[Happy1]

Just have to echo what has been said here. Definitely read Taking Charge of Your Fertility (it's my bible). I was always under the impression I knew exactly when I O'd. Boy howdy was I wrong. I found that out after DH and I were having issues TTC. I got the book and started doing the OPK's and charted for a little while (until the doc put me on meds and had me doing a procedure where I didn't have to chart-just do the OPKs). That really opened my eyes.

Charting truly doesn't take that long (about 30 seconds like a pp said). Even that's not foolproof but at least it'll give you a good indication of when to really be careful.

Nikki :D

[KeliAnn]

Bottom line: you really need to chart.

If you don't have time for charting, then there are no guarantees that you won't end up pregnant. So unless you use a condom every time you DTD, don't put all your hopes in the 14-day rule. When you're not on BCP, ovulation can occur at different times of the month based on stress, exercise, lack of sleep, etc.

BTW, charting for me took about one minute a day. Taking my temp and entering it into the program. That's it. I strongly suggest reading and joining the TTA thread in the Family Planning section and also reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Good luck.

[sheartm7]

Bottom line: you really need to chart.

If you don't have time for charting, then there are no guarantees that you won't end up pregnant. So unless you use a condom every time you DTD, don't put all your hopes in the 14-day rule. When you're not on BCP, ovulation can occur at different times of the month based on stress, exercise, lack of sleep, etc.

BTW, charting for me took about one minute a day. Taking my temp and entering it into the program. That's it. I strongly suggest reading and joining the TTA thread in the Family Planning section and also reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

Good luck.

Ditto this 100%

[jimmysgirl424]

Also, don't forget that to complicate matters, you may not necessarily be 'regular' right away since you just came off of the pill. Your cycle could take a number of months to regulate itself without having the daily pill to help things out. You could ovulate early, late, or not at all. You could go several months with no AF at all and then end up getting it every 3 weeks. There is just no telling. Oh, and also be careful right now as it has been mentioned that for some women, the first few months off of the pill are VERY fertile months (ie.; you can get PG very easily).

Just some more food for thought. :) Good luck!

[KeliAnn]

Also, don't forget that to complicate matters, you may not necessarily be 'regular' right away since you just came off of the pill. Your cycle could take a number of months to regulate itself without having the daily pill to help things out. You could ovulate early, late, or not at all. You could go several months with no AF at all and then end up getting it every 3 weeks. There is just no telling. Oh, and also be careful right now as it has been mentioned that for some women, the first few months off of the pill are VERY fertile months (ie.; you can get PG very easily).

Just some more food for thought. :) Good luck!
Good point!! I got pg the 2nd cycle off of BCP (we were TTC), so be very very careful.

And when I say "careful" I don't mean the pull-and-pray method. :rolleyes:

Oh, and I O'd on CD17 the cycle I got pregnant, so if I was TTA, and I thought I O'd on CD14, I'd be in trouble. :)

[kemaji]

If you don't want to get pg and you don't want to chart, use a condom. That is the only "easy" way to avoid getting pregnant.

Charting however, doesn't take more than a minute out of a day and without charting you won't know for sure if/when you ovulate. There could be any number of things happening with your body and just coming of BC complicates that. It really is straighforward once you get used to it, but it does require a personal commitment to do it correctly. Feel free to check out the charting to avoid thread, we have a bunch of information in the first couple pages. Also, I would suggest reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

[lawyerlee]

It's really not possible to not have time to chart, as it takes very little time. The Fertility Awareness Method detailed in Taking Charge of Your Fertility is very straightforward and effective. If you just don't want to bother with charting, you should probably always use condoms and contraceptive gel when you have sex.

[bensgirl1222]

I guess all that info about charting just seems so overwhelming...maybe thats why I think I don't have time.

I will def check into it. Where can I get the book?

[Sami]

You could try Amazon...or any major bookstore would carry it as well.

Remember though: the book alone won't keep you from getting pregnant! You have to actually apply the material and be consistent. If you're not, you're heading for a pregnancy. When sperm meets egg, conception occurs! Good luck though: I chart and use condoms as back-up. It's not that much effort to learn -- and if you're too busy to learn it thoroughly, you should be prepared for becoming a mommy!

[ejs]

I highly recommend the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor. I know many people, myself included, who have used it with great success.

I realize that you're TTA, but it really seems to be accurate in letting you know when you are ovulating and which are your fertile days.

It is expensive, so you need to decide if the money is worth spending to avoid getting pregnant.

[bensgirl1222]

Thank you everyone! I really appreciate everyone's advice :)