Sperm Meets Egg (hopefully)

@AllHopeAndNoResults your DP doesn't realise how good he's got it with you wanting to DTD all the time 😄 well done for getting it done though!

I have a bit of an icky tummy again this morning. Ugh.

@AllHopeAndNoResults I've seen a few people say that but I guess it was just chance - it's hard not to feel disheartened when new things don't work

@tinyole thanks it is a great book isn't it so informative @AllHopeAndNoResults if you can download it would recommend for sure ! And good luck for this month everyone and I hope you get on well with Angus castus too - funny that the first month I have took it again this month I have had a 28 day cycle again it seems to get me straight back to textbook cycle hopefully a good thing but we shall see ... good luck to you all

As you can't for definite say when you ovulate other than basing on temps or okps it is hard to work out for sure so it's just a guide I wouldn't worry about it too much I am more aware of it having experienced miscarriages so don't want to worry any of you at all I just wanted to say I know that AC has only helped my cycle to regulate and sort out hormones that need to be perfectly balanced throughout your cycle x

@AllHopeAndNoResults was about to say what @RachRainbow said. There are no stupid questions here!

@RachRainbow that's so great sounds like you've done loads of reading. I actually have 'taking charge of your fertility' it's a great book. I'll give AC another go this month.

@AllHopeAndNoResults the follicular phase is the first half of your cycle from the first day of your period to the day of ovulation it's length will vary - luetal phase is second half cycle from ovulation to the next period so if you count days from ov to af that is your luetal phase hope that helps x

@AllHopeAndNoResults @Skyla01 @tinyole sorry when I said 'our' problem I meant mine and dh ! X

@AllHopeAndNoResults @tinyole @Skyla01 I have a done a fair bit of research on luetal phase and have gone by Zita West's book (she is the main private fertility clinic in London) and she says 10-16 days is a normal luetal phase and that it needs to be at least 10 days for implantation to be completed but that clinicians are divided about the significance of luetal phase so again who knows!! I'm convinced this is our issue though and so mine is at 9 currently (was 7 last month!!) so it's working for me too and I really think AC helps with this and helped me last time - I totally recommend this book by the way it covers everything or the other one I like is 'taking charge of your fertility' I can't remember who it is by but will come up on amazon that one is brilliant also talks all about how to get to know your body and natural signs etc opks and temps are great but your natural signs are the best to go by if you see ewcm the dtd! Xxx I have tried to attach the page about luetal phase in my book but it won't let me boo! X

Ok guys thanks I'll try not to worry about it too much!

@Skyla01 average length luteal phase is 14 because ideally it starts when you ovulate which in an ideal world would be on CD14 so bang in the middle. Any length between 10-16 is considered normal though.

@Skyla01 I have a short luteal phase, shortest was 9 days, longest so far has been 12 days. That's why I started taking agnus cactus and it seems to have lengthened mine. I've read loads though of others who have conceived fine with a short luteal phase

@AllHopeAndNoResults I can see the image? Either way seems like you've got everything covered!' Have you still been taking AC? I wasn't sure about it but I think maybe that's why I was late maybe it extended my luteal phase which would be a good thing for me to be honest.

@tinyole last month I didn't ovulate until cd26! So don't wait for me! Hoping this cycle could be a little shorter. Will definitely try and stop you testing early!

Anyone know if an 11 day luteal phase is ok? I thought my last two were around 14 days but this cycle af showed early. I hadn't really worried about luteal phase before.

Thanks @Skyla01 I am cycle day 2 as well !! Feeling exactly the same !! So I feel your pain! It's hard not to wish the days away and try and live in the moment when TTC isn't it! X

@tinyole @AllHopeAndNoResults thank you both so much for being kind yes I do temp but only last two cycles i naively thought we wouldn't have a problem getting pregnant as I didn't last time really - with Angus last time I took it for 3 months straight no TTC while we had a break and I have to say it worked wonders for my cycle i was then a perfect 28 days lighter periods and I think it helped regular my hormones and made me ovulate earlier as I was convinced my early miscarriages were due to late ovulation and low progesterone / my luetal phase being too short so not enough time to implant properly - it then a few months to catch with my daughter but it worked so I really do believe it's good for your cycles if you think things are a bit off balance - I didn't get much help from nhs though this was all from my own research on sites like this - I am now taking it just first two weeks up to ovulation as again I have read lots of people doing that but some people have taken it all the way through and when pregnant but I'm just not sure about that .... my temps are showing I have a short luetal phase again so it's worth a try I guess - I am using clear blue opks which have matched up with my temps and ovulation on fertility friend last two months so I'm pretty confident what the problem is and having take Angus castus the last cycle I seem to have improved my luetal phase by two days so I'm feeling pretty pleased and hoping we will get there in the next few months especially if we give SMEP a try as well and cover all bases! So yes going to give it our best shot this month! As I am over 35 I've been to gp and had bloods done and all fine which I thought they would be as I'm taking so many supplements! It's lovely to speak to others going through the same thing and trying to find your way as there is so much information and some conflicting ! It's a minefield! Thanks again xxx

@Skyla01 when do you ovulate? I'll share my positivity if you help me avoid testing too early this cycle 😭😭