First timers: ttc in June

How's everyone been this week?

Glad to hear you got your AF bananafish!

I've had a bug as well as AF this week so been feeling really rough, but both are over now, so back to TTC (I'm CD7 so early days but I think I usually ov around CD10, so time to get cracking!)

Thanks for good thoughts ladies, keeping my fingers crossed. The good news is that after 3 days of just spotting, AF seems to have arrived, which means
a) I definitely ovulated!
b) I can get my Day 3 bloods on the right day

It's weird cos obv when TTC no AF is a good thing, as might mean a BFP. But when you've got PCOS and don't normally ovulate, a proper period feels like a massive triumph, as means my body is at least capable of laying an egg!

Thanks for kind words. I'm on CD8 and feeling much brighter.

Irispurple-I saw all about that explosion. How awful for the people involved. Makes me realise how lucky I am.

Hi ladies,

I hope everyone had a good weekend with lots of sex and not too much symptom spotting!

Banana I looked up that short story on Wikipedia - sounds intriguing! I hope everything is OK after your scan - I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Alpha - it's OK to feel a bit emotional, it catches you unawares, doens't it? I hope you're feeling better. I felt a bit like that myself yesterday, when out with my male friends who all have kids, and they said their wives (one older and drinks coke by the gallon) got pg within the first 2 months. We must think positively - if other girls are getting pg then it means that it can happen!

Been a funny weekend... Did anyone see on the news about the explosion in a factory in Cheshire? My husband is a contractor and he was due to be at that factory tomorrow. He could easily have gone on Friday instead. That was a bit scary!

Symprom-wise, CD21, had stomach cramps yesterday and sore boobs for a few days. Exactly the same pattern as last cycle, so hoping for another 28d-ish cycle. Not expecting BFP this time.

Cat I'm keeping my fingers doubly crossed for you this month for a honeymoon BFP!

Thank you bananafish that's really helpful. Yeah the thing is I have felt it's probably not necessary, because I consistently get what I'm pretty sure is OV pain - currently occuring around CD10, which is early but my recent cycles have been short. It always lines up with EWCM. Plus I always used to get the same sensation before I went on the pill, and never got it while on the pill, so I do feel fairly confident that I'm identifying OV naturally. But then maybe it's worth temping/opking to confirm this... hmm food for thought...

Pallascat I've found temping and OPKs exceptionally helpful personally, although I am PCOS and just off the pill so have no semblance of a predictable cycle anyway. Without the OPK I wouldn't have had any idea I was about to O - esp as I had no fertile CM to clue me in that my body was gearing up. My temperature rise then confirmed I did indeed O, and could pinpoint it to the right day. I also then knew not to bother POAS before AF was due because I could see my temps falling so I knew AF was on its way. Obv if you're 'normal' and have regular cycles and know you ovulate, then temping etc is prob more hassle than it's worth - just DTD all the time and you shouldn't miss O date.

But if you're trying to target DTD then it's a more reliable way than just using a period tracker to predict - as you might well be ovulating at a different time to where the app is suggesting you do.

Don't know if that's any help at all? Xx

I'm considering starting temperature checks too yup me too.

AF got me yesterday - early and v painful. Thinking I might either temp or OPK (either way it'd be my first cycle doing this) this month.
Does anyone have any advice/thoughts/input on OPK v temping? I'd be really interested.

I've had 2 consecutive cycles of 25 days, and if my next one is the same, AF/BFP would be due on the first day of our delayed honeymoon. So feeling like I might step things up a gear this month in terms of working out what's going on, optimum fertility point etc.

Thanks for your kind words PallasCat IrisPurple bananafish81.
I feel a bit better in myself today, and I'm having a thorough check tomorrow. I'm fasting today so expect to get hungry (and therefore grumpy!) later on. I'm sparing you all the TMI so sorry about being vague! I'm sure everything will be fine.

bananafish81 I really hope it turns out to be a misleading scan and everything is OK.

IrisPurple that is a lovely story behind your user name. I think mine just reflected my desire to be anonymous - so much so I didn't want to use my more usual online user names!

On the TTC front: Husband and I are still trying - my app predicts I'm ovulating today. For the 1st time ever, checked cervix as an indicator, as I'm still finding mucus less reliable with all the sex. I'm considering starting temperature checks too.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Thanks Alpha. My consultant said let's get the day 3 bloods done, then he'll see me 10 days later for a scan and we'll see how things look then. That'll be approx 7 weeks after stopping the pill rather than the < 2 weeks when I went for the fertility MOT, so hopefully a more accurate picture of what's going on.

So as AF arrived today, bloods on Monday and will see consultant approx 2 weeks after that.

My friend is a GP (not my GP) and she said it sounded like an oral contraceptive pill issue giving misleading results. There's no obvious reason my ovarian reserve should have plummeted between the age of 28 to 33, so I'm hoping the more likely explanation is what's going on. If not then, well, Clomid will get shelved and I guess it's on to IVF as quickly as possible really. Keeping all my fingers and toes crossed!!

Aww bananafish that must have been worrying to hear but your gp seems more optimistic. When can he do his further investigations? Fingers crossed it doesn't take too long

Re: injections, I'm somewhat nervous as I had a bit of a scary scan last month - came off the pill and decided to go for a 'Fertility MOT" scan, as it was by getting one done 5 years ago that I was diagnosed with PCOS. Showed my ovaries were polycystic but that my ovarian reserve was v good. Scan 4 weeks ago showed my antral follicle count had absolutely plummeted! Went to see my consultant in pieces terrified I'd dried up practically overnight. He said it's far more likely that the scan was misleading given I'd only come off the pill less than 2 weeks prior (wasn't done by him, I went to a different clinic), but needed further investigation to see where we are. If it looks like my AMH and antral follicle count have tanked, we might need to go straight to IVF

If we do, I'm gonna have to bite the bullet about doing my injections myself!

Although even if we don't, if I don't respond to the Clomid he said the next stage after that is FSH injections, so I might end up needing to do my own injections anyway!! I look away when having blood taken, but don't think you can do that if having to jab yourself

Although I'm far more worried about my ovaries having dried up than the prospect of having to inject myself TBH!!

Anon big hugs to you - hope you're feeling a little better

Thanks Iris - I love the flower names - what a gorgeous story behind yours

Mine is from a JD Salinger short story, called "A Perfect Day for Bananafish". And I was born in 1981

Hiya,

Welcome to the thread Banana! I'm glad you mentioned what your consultant said - we DTD this morning before work and I certainly did not have time to lie down for 20 minutes!

An0n I hope you're ok...

I noticed 3 of us have flowers in our name, what is the story behind your name? I chose IrisPurple as it was the main colour for my spring wedding theme. I just had to have irises, and purple the colour of irises.

And Bananafish... I bet that's got an interesting story!

Haha that would be fast! Typo on my part - should have been 30mph. Still faster than the speed limit near schools though!!

Aww An0n that sounds really rough. Thinking of you. FX all is okay. xxx

60mph apparently! how that was ever measured I don’t want to imagine…!
Amazing fact, thank you bananafish! Tee hee!

Hello and welcome bananafish81. I'm inclined to agree with your consultant re. helping the swimmers. Can't convince my husband though!

Thank you to all about your kind words and support re. needles and smears.
In answer to the questions -
I'm a healthy weight (BMI 22)
Never been tested for PCOS
This is an example of a mooncup www.juju.com.au/products/JuJu-Menstrual-Cup.html?gclid=CJSf5tbN3sYCFZeWvQod9p8GQw

This week I've mostly been having a health scare, which has led to more needles and some pretty invasive examinations, which has put some things into perspective - mainly I should be grateful to be able to have access to good medical care like needles and smears, not complaining about them.

On the TTC front, I'm on day 12 of my cycle, into the start of my fertile period. Part of me feels that we should wait until I've been checked out further (waiting for a referral for more tests) and besides I don't feel that great - defiantly not 'in the mood'. Husband seems confused and a little rejected by this :(

Wishing you all success! xx

Thanks ladies! Thanks for having me

I’m 11 dpo and don’t feel any symptoms at all, apart from feeling a bit emotional - which I’m guessing is the beginning of PMT. I was on the pill for so long, and when not on the pill could go months and months without a period, so I’d forgotten how rubbish hormones were!! Obv would have loved the miracle of a first-month BFP, but as I wasn’t in a million years expecting to ever ovulate, I’ll be bloody delighted if AF turns up, as means that I did lay an egg!

Delphi Re: the after sex spunk question (haha) My DH unceremoniously (but very sweetly) picked up my ankles and swivelled me round with a pillow under my bum & my legs up the wall. I asked my consultant about legs up / soft cups etc, and he said it doesn't make a jot of difference, as the swimmers that are going to get up there do so immediately (60mph apparently! how that was ever measured I don’t want to imagine…!) - and the, er, blow-back is just seminal fluid. But obv said it won’t do any harm - however I now can’t do that pose in yoga class without giggling haha

Xx

Aww Delphi, that must be a relief, even though it's not the best possible news, it still counts as good news I think!

Alpha how frustrating! Think you're definitely entitled a few tears. Glad you're picking up.

An0n- my cycle did exactly the same to me. Was regular as clockwork 29 day cycle but as soon as we binned the condoms it went haywire- I've been 5 days late, 8 days late and 2 days early with regular periods in between! X

Hi everyone and welcome banana!

My AF arrived as expected. I was determined to remain optimistic but looking at my chart it seems I'm next due to ovulate the same time my OH is off camping with his friends. This (alongside two new baby announcents with scan photos on facebook) seemed to tip me over the edge and I did shed a few tears but I've now pulled myself together and feeling cheerful again.

I hope everything is going better for all you guys. Is anyone due to test soon? X

CD21 and nothing to report - just checking in. How is everyone?

Hey banana! Good to have you aboard!

An0n well done for biting the blood tests bullet. I've had so many in the past I don't mind them, but once had a nurse do one and she told me how she couldn't handle them herself - her husband apparently had to sit on her to restrain her for them! I'm sure whoever took yours is not surprised by a few tears!

Iris thank you and hope you enjoyed your camping .

Delphi and Alpha any news? How are you getting on?

Hi ladies, room for a little 'un?

I'm 33, cycle 1, TTC #1. I have PCOS and never really had proper periods - when I last came off the pill, in order to get myself checked out, I had a 9 month long anovulatory cycle. Gynae said fine to come straight off the pill and start Clomid, but decided I'd come off the pill to give my body a break from one lot of hormones before chucking another lot at it, and start Clomid after the summer. Also by charting am hoping to try to tune into my body and be able to better understand if/how Clomid's making any difference.

So this is my first cycle off the pill - wasn't expecting anything at all to happen. Yet by some miracle it appears I have somehow managed to lay an egg! We did our best to try and catch it and currently 6dpo in the 2ww. If AF turns up I'll know I did O and will be able to get day 3 bloods done, if I've had my first genuine period in over 10 years! If it doesn't, then I guess I'll know not to rely on a +ve OPK & temperature shift as signs of ovulation. Unless by some mad stroke of luck I get a BFP....well a girl can hope!