A question about fertility signs when using Fertility Awareness/Natural Family Planning?

Ouch, it's difficult enough to learn NFP on its own, coming off the pill make it a little more difficult, and then influenza on top of it?? That would be the NFP trifecta of difficulty. ;)

Which method of NFP are you using? Different methods have different ways of dealing with post-pill cycles. The Couple to Couple League used to ignore mucus for the first few cycles post-pill because the mucus is so affected by the exiting hormones. I understand that the new method is a little different in dealing with post-pill mucus, so I can't speak to that 100%. But having a lot of confusing mucus is standard post-pill. Depending on how long you used the pill you may have confusing mucus for 3+ months. But you might be lucky and your body will get rid of those residual hormones and then be a little easier to manage. Keep recording all your signs on your chart so that you can maybe see a trend. For your official chart, use the most fertile sign, but I say keep an informal chart where you write it all down so you can remember what was happening during the day.

Where are you in your cycle? The reason I ask is because I'm trying to figure out how you already have a coverline. From reading I was assuming you were in the first part of your cycle. If so, then you don't have a coverline yet. A coverline is only established after ovulation. If you are still having the egg-white mucus, then I would guess you have not ovulated yet.

When you are sick, especially if you think you have the flu and a temperature, you really cannot rely on temperatures. Still record them, but mark that they may be disturbed. Keep plugging along through your chart. It may be that you can't read this chart until your period starts and at that point you can count backwards and interpret then. The first chart post-pill is never easy. But you will get through it and things WILL get easier!!

Are you taking an NFP/FAM class at all or learning on your own? I really encourage you to take a class if you are not. Post-pill has challenges that would be very helpful to discuss in person with a teacher. Taking a class also makes sure that you get all your questions answered and charts reviewed to make sure you are using the method to its highest effectiveness level.

Good luck! Again, I'm sorry that this cycle is so tough to chart but it will get easier. Take really good care of yourself the next few months, really focus on good nutrition to help your body through this transition!

EDIT:

I have not read TCOYF for a number of years and I am really not understanding this thing with the coverline. While using NFP, you want to look for 3 temperatures that are above the previous six. Because your body is still getting rid of the pill hormones, you cannot rely heavily on your mucus sign and you have to trust your temperatures. And then when you have a fever, you have to mark all those temperatures as disturbed and sort of ignore them.

CCL used to teach a 5 day only temperature rule for post-pill that would state that after having 5 temperatures above the previous six (and at the high temperature level) then you can consider yourself in phase 3/post-ovulation infertility. Depending on when in your cycle these flu-influenced temperatures occurred, you may not have a stable pre-ovulation temperature line or coverline as I think this book calls it. I would use Weschler's "Rule of Thumb": can you cover up those flu temperatures and from that point on see a clear difference between pre-ovulation and post-ovulation temperatures? If not, if your temperatures today are still around the level they were at day 6, then you may not have ovulated. This is not unusual when coming off the pill. This is one of the frustrations that can happen with NFP, just as you are trying to figure something out you get a fever or you have a bad night's sleep or something throws off your temp. But it will get better, especially when you can start using your cervical mucus sign with certainty. Having that cross-check will help answer a lot of your questions as time goes on.

I really like the TCOYF book but in your case since you are coming off the pill, you might still think about finding an NFP class in your area. Having a teacher walk you through these first difficult months of learning the method is really worth it. Good luck again!!