No AF on BCP...when to start charting?

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2006
No AF on BCP...when to start charting?
2
Mon, 03-30-2009 - 2:31pm

Hi all--


Newbie here...I've been lurking for a bit and these boards seem a lot friendlier than some others out there, so I'm hoping you might be able to help me out!


We are getting ready to start TTC in just a couple weeks, when I finish my current pack of pills.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2009
Mon, 03-30-2009 - 2:50pm

I don't know if there's ever a 'bad' time to start charting, just more 'ideal' in looking at the overall picture of your cycles. If you plan on using an online chart I would suggest waiting until you get AF. Or, you could input data (excluding temps of course) for the days preceding AF (like the days of your previous AF.) I was on BCP for about 5 years (2 years, followed by a break then 3+ years) and when I got AF during the last pack, that's when I started with the temping and charting. (AF was light for me too on bcp, even lasted only 3-4 days...now I just came off of a 6-day AF + spotting which is the longest I've had to deal with her for a looong time.)


So even though you are on bcp, there are months where you don't get AF? How often does that happen? How long until you're expecting her?


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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2006
Mon, 03-30-2009 - 5:31pm
Thanks for your response, kmjack. So basically, when I get to the 4th week of pills (placebo), one of 3 things happens: 1) I get AF, usually on Tuesday (but this has been less frequent in recent years) 2) I get some light spotting around Tues/Wed or 3) I get nothing (2 or 3 happen