First month TTC#1....anybody else new to this game?

AF due thurs, though that's based on averages as cycles haven't been regular. Currently having suspected IB so trying to hold off on testing until at least thurs. it's driving me mad!

Laylaloo20 well apparently it's a little microscope lens (looks like a large lipstick case) and first thing in the morning you put some saliva on the lens - let it dry and then examine it through the lens. If you see any crystal structures (called ferning) you are in optimal ovulation - if you see a bit you are in transistional and if no ferning crystals you are obviously not ovulating. Apparently hormone changes causes your salvia to become more salinated so you're basically checking your morning breath salvia for salt crystals! Sounds a bit weird but it sounds a bit easier than weeing in pots and is reusable, so I shall test it out and give a full (and frank) review!

Very helpful last month

Hi everyone including newbies!
Catching up on the chat.

Thank you custard for the thoughts and good luck wishes! I hope you are well - you must be so excited!
Lily girl fingers crossed for you and everyone else too.
I got AF day after my spotting. Means my luteal phase is "normal" which I'm happy about as I thought it was abnormally long and wasnt sure what this meant. So the clear blue ovulation test was very helpful this month and to continue to use each month to help get to know my cycle better.
Anyone due to test soon?
My fertile window is a couple weeks away I think... Will start using ovulation test at cd12 as cycles are quite long.
Dr Gee I have never heard of the microscope to test for ovulation? How does that work?
Good luck to everyone x

Hi new people

Fx for implantation Lilygirl! I'm fully stocked up too - I know what I'm like and will probs test every day from about 8dpo....I might as well admit and accept it now ????????

DrGee - what is an ovulation microscope and where does it go??!!

Hi everyone, I'm 32 and we have been ttc for 5 cycles.

pickle I'm in the same boat- my OH was away for ovulation this month. So frustrating! X

reeses I am exactly the same, hate the tww. I have my tests all in the bathroom cupboard, I have about 15, so could theoretically test every day up to af, even though I know there is no possible way I would even have had implantation yet. At the weekend I had my stomach felt a bit crampy, but that was at the most 4dpo so much more likely to have been gas!

Hopefully it'll start working with you v soon Shary! I thought it might take a while to get used to me so gave myself a couple of months using it before we started ttc...

Am already getting concerned about how early I'll want to test in tww- not the best at waiting for things

Hello all! I'm 33 and ttc#1 - only just begun so waiting for a coil removal induced AF to bugger off before I start having an investigation of my cycle - I've bought some cheap opks from SME fertility - anyone else used these? Have also bought an ovulation microscope - never even heard of this as a reliable indicator before so also wondered if this device is actually useful or is it a bit of witch doctory? Huge wishes of luck to everyone here! x

hi reesepieces, thanks for your reply! I hope your CBFM helps you to get your BFP soon!
I think I'm just frustrated with it because I assumed, given the price of it mainly (!), that it would allow me to enter dates from cycles prior to buying it so it would already know my cycle length (43 days) before using it. As it doesn't I guess I need to be a bit more patient and use it for a few more cycles whilst it's getting to know me! on the first cycle it asked me to test from day 6 onwards which is very early given my cycle length but I understood why because I'm guessing when first set up it presumes a 28 day cycle. but even though it now has the data which says my cycle is long it's telling me to test on day 6 again!
Fingers crossed me and the machine start getting on soon!

Hi Shary - thanks, me too!

Course not - started using it at the end of May. I like it, has helped me to understand my cycle better so far so am starting to work out / recognise what types of twinges I get at various points in my cycle for e.g. So far has also shown that my cycle (and when I ovulate) changes a bit month to month. As I mentioned, I hv had eight high days then two peaks before, but hv also had three high days then two peaks - so don't think I could guess fertile period from cycle days and CM alone....Also don't think I trust myself to read ov sticks properly (!) so takes stress out of that...

Am also hoping it means will get bfp quicker!!

Hi reesepieces, do you mind me asking about your experiences of the CBFM? How long have you been using it for?
I've got the advanced monitor but not impressed with it so far, possibly because I don't fall in the 21-42 cycle so its not really working for me!

Hope your right about being in your fertile window, good luck!

Hello all, hope everyone's having good wknds!

Mermaid - I think I'm in my fertile window now, have had six days of high readings on cbfm so hoping to get a peak soon (hv had eight high days before two peaks previously) and then for all this dtd to pay off ????????!

Getting my head round them, this should help : www.mumsnet.com/info/acronyms

BFP = Big Fat Positive :)

Sorry you can tell I'm a newby! What does BFP mean? I need to get to grips with all these abbreviations!

Mermaid- I've ordered a loads of ovulation tests (OPK's?!) so thanks again!

Hi all,
I'm new and this is my first eve posting. Been reading lots of posts this eve as I'm TTC and think I may have had IB. Cycles are not regular which has been frustrating. Averaging 36 days. Had spotting CD22 very briefly. Had it again today CD32, started brownish discharge, have now had some blood but only when wiping. Have never had this. Felt a bit nauseous last week and very tired, but been very stressed at work so don't want to get hopes up. AF due around thurs next week based on average cycle length last few months. Trying to avoid testing until after thurs as so want a positive. Fingers crossed for August BFPs!

Ladies - when are we all due ovulation/fertile windows?

Mine is 2nd week in August allegedly.... have pre-warned DH! I've got OPKs this month to see if I'm actually ovulating...

Went to see my bestie today, and she is saving all her baby stuff for us - cribs, play mats, jumparoo and tons of neutral newborn stuff. If we have a boy, we'll never need to buy clothes!

Hi all.

You've been in my thoughts as we start this new month. So I thought I'd stick my head in and wish you all the best.

Best wishes for some August BFPs!!

xx

Yeah, they are lines like a preg test...I'll see if I can find the link for the website

Thanks Mermaid! Are they quite easy to read? (I'm assuming they show lines rather than faces like the CB ones!). Can't believe the price difference!

Shary you can buy cheaper OPKs etc online, rather than the expensive ones...I've just bought a load of OPKs for about £3 - they are just the strips to pee on, like you might get at the Drs.

Hi there, I'm new here too! It's been really helpful to read all these posts. We've been ttc for 4 cycles now (about 7 calendar months as my cycle is 43 days long). Used the clearblue ovulation tests which display low, high and peak fertility. Found these really helpful but still didn't conceive. Panic bought the clearblue digital monitor (the bit of kit which costs over £100) but regretting it already. It says it's suitable for cycles 21-42 days long (didn't know this at the time) and for the second month in a row it's telling me to start testing on cycle day 6 when I know nothing gets moving 'downstairs' until at least day 20+!! I'm toying with the idea of using both the ovulation tests and digital monitor this cycle but it means spending £40+ a month on sticks! ttc really is a minefield...

Sorry to have been away, welcome newbies.

My leg got really bad on Wednesday evening and I've not been able to move much since. I tried telling DH that I wasn't too bad, but he saw through it so didn't get to dtd again. Don't think we have done enough to catch it this month, but it is just cycle 1.

I'd ordered some opk, delivered to my office as I tend to deal with the mail. Fingers crossed my boss hasn't opened it by mistake!

Hello everyone, another newbie here. Husband and I are both around 30, together for over six years. Life started getting a little bit less stable this year, with family and job changes, but weirdly that was what made us feel ready - you kind of realise there's never going to be an ideal time! We've always known we wanted kids and would also like our own parents to be youngish grandparents, so we thought we'd give it a go

I haven't been on the pill for three years, and have a very regular cycle. I'm going to try and wait a couple of months before I try any temperature taking, etc, though it's hard to resist as I love that kind of thing!

Downloaded Ovia after reading this thread and it says I have 8 days before I can test, though this is the first month we've TTC so I'm trying not to get my hopes up too much! Can't stop reading books/apps/websites about pregnancy and babies though...