Strangest chart ever - What's wrong with me?

[mimieliza]

So I've just started charting this cycle, and look what has happened:My Chart (http://www2.fertilityfriend.com/home/b84ec).

Today is CD 28. Spotting on CD 21-28. Tentative O on CD 22. Temps have not really stayed above the coverline.

What is going on? Should I be concerned about all the spotting?

Background - I normally have long, irregular cycles. I've never had this type of spotting midcycle. I'm not TTC yet, so we are using condoms. Hoping to start TTC in the next few months, which is why I'm charting now.

Thank you for any ideas about what might be going on!

[cat_loverpq]

I'm not an expert like I'm sure some of the ladies on here are, but the first thing that comes to mind is: have you taken your temp at the same time every morning (within 30 minutes or so)? That can make your temps skewed a bit. Also, the nights before your higher temps, did you have any alcohol? As for the spotting, I read in TCOYF that for longer cycles, spotting mid-cycle is normal and can indicate ovulation, but it is strange that it has occurred for so many days in a row. I've had a similar situation for the past 3 months (spotting for 6-12 days but no real period, at least not like I used to have), so I'm interested to see what some other ladies think about that. I chalked it up to my body re-adjusting after going off the pill, and maybe I will just have *much* lighter periods now. Not sure if that is the correct assessment or not... :confused:

Sorry I couldn't be of more help!

[mimieliza]

Yeah, I'm not sure about the higher temps. They were all taken at the same time (except one I think might have been a half hour late). I did have alcohol on some of those days, so that could be it.

Would the room temp make a difference? We went through a hot spell, and I would wake up just sweating, with the sun beating into our bedroom (it faces east).

Maybe I didn't O. If the temps go back down in the next couple of days, I'll probably assume I didn't.

[cat_loverpq]

Yes, the room temperature would have a lot to do with it too. Anything that causes your body temp to change can be a factor ~ an extra blanket on colder nights, turning on the ac for the first time in the summer, sleeping in pants and long sleeves (when you usually wear shorts and a tank) etc. I try to keep track of those things on my charts as well.

[tlew12778]

Room and outdoor temp has a lot to do with it. The last 4-5 days here have been over 100F during the day (like 110-120F!) and my temps went to what would normally be above avg CL for me. FF even called a tentative O for me. But I know it's wrong bc I just had a transvaginal US done and I can literally see that I haven't owed yet. We installed an AC unit last night and my temps went back down to normal pre-O range.

It's also very common to spot after the BCP. I spotted for almost 14 days right after stopping the BCP. Spotting started on CD9 and just continued. I even went to the dr about it after a while since I had never spotted in my life.

What's your CM been like? That would give you a better idea if you've owed in conjunction with your temps.

[mimieliza]

I haven't been on BCP since April '04.

I need to chart for real and keep track of CM. This was my first cycle charting, and I was a bit lazy about it. I was going to start checking, but then the crazy spotting started.

Well, the real test of whether I O'd or not will be if AF shows up in a week or so.

The spotting really is weird to me, though.

Thank you so much for your help, everyone!

[Scooter]

I agree on the room temperature--a lot of people find it doesn't affect them but some people (like me) do notice a difference on their charts.

It looks like you've got a pattern of spotting, though, because I see the last 3 days of last cycle you spotted, too. There could be a lot of reasons for this. Even if you're not TTC, you may want to check into this further by making a Dr appt.

It could be something as simple as a progesterone issue, could have to do with long cycles (because you may not be ovulating, in which case you're not technically having real periods), or it could be a polyp or fibroid. All of those are treatable, and may not be a concern unless you want to TTC.

You never know, and when I had a polyp removed (because of spotting) the Dr said that many non TTC women get them removed because the spotting can be so annoying.