Anyone on their first cycle 2ww want a cycle buddy to chat with ?

Thanks for that Kitkat30... that was really interesting.
MrsMcJnr - that is so freaky that you said that about the boy and girl sperm, cos I was going to put that on the November thread (saturday Bd for a girl, and Monday for a boy) but thought it might be a little overfamiliar!! I read that the girls sperms live longer than the boys, but the boy sperms swim quicker.

I didnt know that! Sounds about right though - girls are much tougher than boys!

Keeping everything crossed for both of you.

x

Good luck mrspf, I shall be logging on tomorrow morning to see how you got on! Babydust and fingers crossed!

KitKat - thanks for sending that link, it was a really interesting article. I didn't know about the sperm needing to capacitate but did know that it is better to have the sperm there to meet the egg rather than VV because the egg does not live for very long.

Did you know that the longer before OV that the sperm is there the more likely you are to have a girl? Apparently, male swimmers are faster but don't last as long and so more female ones survive in the cervix when waiting for the egg!!

My chart is now saying that I did OV on Monday like I was meant to (though temps have been in a much shorter range this cycle) so I am now 3dpo and well into my 2 ww - well 10 day wait for me. If AF does not show up on 3/11, I'll be testing on 4/11. Babydust to me! I hopefully had a good backdated supply of swimmers when OV took place so here's hoping!

Morning girls - found some interesting info that I thought I'd share - you probably know all of this anyway!!

Apparently sperm, once ejaculated, needs between 8-10 hours to "capacitate" and be ready to fertilize an egg. This process only takes place in the woman's body. So technically it's better if the sperm is already there and waiting by the time the egg is released...

And I found this from a BBC Radio 4 programme when I was searching for fertility tips! Zita West seems to be saying that the day you actually ovulate might be too late to conceive, and that you are more likely to have successful conception in the 5 or 6 days leading up to ovulation...which seems to fit in with the above info...

"ZITA WEST: And that's the commonest thing I find - that women will focus on having sex bang on ovulation. The research shows six days prior to ovulation you stand a good chance of conceiving. And it's just going over some of the basic biology - that an egg can last up to 24 hours, sperm can last for five to seven days, so you need as much sperm up there waiting to pounce on that egg when it comes out.

PORTER
So if you wait for your day of ovulation you might be leaving it a bit too late?

ZITA WEST
You might be leaving it too late, absolutely."

Anyway, dont know if it's true or not - but I thought I'd share!!

full zita west interview

Hi all,

Well i am still in my 2ww which is nearly a 3ww now. Keep feeling like AF is on her way, but also hoping she isn't.

I have resisted searching for the test my DH hid to avoid disappointment whilst he's away working. Will defo test Fri morning when he's here.

Keep thinking positive thoughts MrsMcJ - it's the only way!

Will let you know how I get on with the monitor (I sort of figured that in a few months I would have spent the equivalent on OP sticks, so I thought what the hell!! - a BFP would be worth it! The annoying thing is you have to buy the sticks separately though - but as it gets to know you, you should use fewer sticks every month...in theory

Sunshinedays - I know what you mean about the two line ones, I prefer the ones that only have one line unless you are OV and then you get the second line. I bought hundreds of those off the Access Diagnostics site and they were dirt cheap. It is a bit of a pain using the strip type instead of the mid-flow type but it does satisfy your need to pee on things and last cycle, I got accurate results using them! Hope that helps!

KitKat - Fertility Monitors - If I don't get my BFP before my birthday I might treat myself to one. I'll watch out for your views on it in the meantime. I have just checked, AF is actually due on my birthday at the end of December - it will be a day of tears either way! That's if I don't get my BFP in the meantime of course!

Hi sunshinedays - have you tried the electronic fertility monitor? From what I've read it stores all the information and then calculates hormone readings based on your own body's levels... so you get low, high and peak fertility messages depending on where you are in the cycle. This will be my 1st month using it so dont know if it's worth the £99 price tag!

fertility monitor

Pink Butterfly
Do you get a clearly darker line on your OPK?

I've never had a confident positive and so, given the cost, - it just feels like a waste of money. (I get several days of just a bit paler than the test line)

This will be my first month using the ov kit, so here's hoping!!

Oh god - it's so confusing. I'm assuming ov day is the day I feel some sort of cramps...is that right? In which case it varies between 12 - 14 days... I think I'm going to drive myself bonkers!

Hi KitKat - 12-13 days sounds mighty fine to me.
This ttc thing drives me kinda bonkers too. I thought it'd happen as soon as the gloves were off!

Oh - I dont know why I thought you had a monitor - I was convinced we had a conversation about it... obviously dreaming!

In that case, I reckon my LP is about 12-13 days (13 for the last 3 months), assuming of course I'm predicting ov correctly!

Honestly, we spend half our lives doing everything we can to not get pregnant - who knew it would actually be so blooming complicated!!! Our mums never told us that...more like if a boy sneezed near you, you'd get pg!!

Over time the littel nut to crack has become a coconut... bring on the sledge hammer

Hello Sunshinedays - thanks for your words of encouragement for me Sorry to hear about AF . I have read different things about short LPs. A few books I have read have said that it needs to be 10 days plus to concieve but there are lots of ladies on here who have got their BFPs on short ones. Mine are normally about 10 days and I have been taking B6 because it is meant to help regulate your hormones (and ease PMT) and can lengthen your LP. Some people are put on drugs to assist with the LP but some regard that as using a sledge hammer to crack a nut.

Hi KitKat - Glad to hear you feeling positive! I am afraid I can't help with the fertility monitor as I don't have one but there are lots of ladies who do and I'm sure they'd love to help you out . Your LP starts the day after OV. So if you OV on CD14 CD15 is the first day of your LP. Your LP will normally be the same length each month as it is not affected by external influences so it is a good indicator of when you can expect AF (or your BFP!) Hope that helps.

Hi guys - sorry I haven't posted for a few days, just trying to get back in the swing of things.

Evil AF is nearly over and I'm ready to start BDing again - yay! Using the clearblue fertility monitor this month too - so if you have any tips MrsMcJ, let me know.

How you feeling PinkB?

Sunshinedays - how do you work out your luteal phase? I am really not clued up at all about this stuff at all...

Hope everyone's OK and keeping their chins (and legs !) up!

xx

Wanted to say hi to MrsMcJnr (not very good at this - pressed Post when meant to preview!)

Your positve outlook impresses me too! Will look into the charting thread - thanks.

Thinking of you.

Hi All - & extra positive vibes for you MrsPF.

I had to take a break from charting this summer as it was doing my head in and my consultant told me just to keep trying naturally ... however, like you, I feel the need to feel I'm doing something constructive, plus I like the reassurance I am still ovulating.

I think my af is on the way as temps dropped this morning and I'm trying to ignore cramps - this means my LP is just 8-9 days. My Consultant didn't seem to react when I raised concerns on this 5 months ago - seeing him again soon - any advice?

Hi PinkButterfly - are you feeling any less queasy?

-OPK yesterday and an ambigious one just now, might try another later on just for piece of mind. I have been having cramps and breast tenderness. My temp stayed the same as yesterday so there is no obvious thermal shift since the dip in my temp on Monday. My CP has changed though so if OV hasn't happened, I don't think it will now. I'm CD20. We'll see what tomorrow brings! Still doing lots of BDing but if this is an annovulatory cycle, it'll all be in vain - we'll, it'll all have been for the fun of it

How are the rest of you? x

I'm right there with you!

MrsMcJnr - Just wanted to say, I know what the docs mean about charting not being good cos it adds to stress etc... but I am looking at it from a different view point - I am starting to temp so I am familiar with the way my body and cycle works and if it was necessary to see a doc in the future about fertility, all the charts would be a massive aid to seeing what might be wrong.
And being a bit of a control freak myself, this will make me feel that I am having some degree of control over things (I know I am just fooling myself, but it helps )