TTC baby no1. Looking for fellow crazy TTC friends!

I'm having an absolute mare today!! Photo now hopefully finally attached. Haha sorry everyone for the barrage of messages.

Would help if I attach the photo 🙈🙈

I've screenshot last month as I said this month is the first not to follow this exact pattern. So from AF right until the day before ovulation my temp plods along around the same. Then day before I ovulate I pretty much always get a temp dip. Then day after ovulation it spikes right up and stays up until start of AF. I literally know in the morning AF is going to arrive that day as my temp drops back down.

It only took me 2 months of tracking to see and know my pattern and now it's like clockwork (typically until this 1 month)

Hope this helps

@Pippy20 I track my temperature and at first it does take a bit of getting used to but after the first week it literally just becomes habit and I do it without thinking. It def helps me to know when I have ovulated as I always follow the same pattern with my temp. I will attache a photo so you can see what I mean. Coz you are completely right the OPKs tell you that your body is gearing up to ovulate but your BBT confirms if you actually ovulated. This month is actually the first month since we started TTC 14 months ago that my temperature hasnt followed a very specific pattern. Think I may have either ovulated late this month or not at all (which I know can happen from time to time so is inevitable at some point)

I might try the SMEP this month. We are usually there or there abouts with what they suggest but I have never actually followed it to a tee so worth giving that a shot.

I took a FRER this morning as going a minute break with family tomorrow and I gave in to my impatience this morning. It was a BFN. But depending on when I ovulated I am only about 8 or 9DPO so still very early but I also have the feeling it's just not out month. AF due sunday according to my app so will do another FRER Friday morning just incase as we have a celebration planned for friday night.

@Pippy20 my OH takes them too :) his approach is much more laid back, but after a drink he has confessed he’s just trying to not put too much pressure on us so we don’t get disappointed, which is really sweet. I’m happy to do it his way for now but will definitely need to change it if it’s not working. I guess only time will tell.
It will happen for you 💕

@LMA27 haha yeah it’s hard trying to strike a balance between the gentle art of seduction and quick! get upstairs I think I’m ovulating! 😂 I haven’t really explained the smep to him I just ensure I make the first move! He really wants children though so he’s pretty happy to try anything - he’s been taking the wellman male fertility vitamins, and has been since we first started ttc. Not sure how much they affect things but I’m sure it can’t hurt - just keep thinking what a fluke it was that I got pregnant so quickly when we first started trying! No point dwelling on it though as I guess it’s just ‘one of those things’. Really really feel for people who have been at this ttc business for years - I really don’t know how they have the strength to do it

@Pippy20 I just had a little google (supposed to be working but shush) but I don’t know if OH will go along with that yet, he said he doesn’t want to feel pressured so I think I’m going to have to wait a little longer before I suggest that to him. He usually knows the right time and makes sure we DTD enough so I can’t complain in regard to his effort (yet haha)
It sounds like there have been some good success stories though so it’s definitely with a go isn’t it!

@LMA27 it’s the sperm meets egg method! The idea is you start doing the deed on day 8 of your cycle and every other day until you get a positive opk - then you do it 3 days in a row, miss a day then one final shot! After that you will be positively KNACKERED and hopefully pregnant!

@Jadeb1995 I’ve not read up on SMEP, I’ll have a look as I know a few people have mentioned, I don’t even know what it stands for!
I might try it with you... I’m in TWW at the min but I just have a gut feeling it’s not my turn this month.
The fact that @Pippy20 said it’s exhausting has made me even more curious haha
I hate ‘that feeling’ just before AF but silver lining like you said, you can enjoy a couple (of bottles... 😂)

Hi @Jadeb1995 I think that may have been me? Trying it this month - it was quite exhausting especially as I ovulated several days later than normal 😂. Really hoping it works - I’ve read good things and I think everything is worth a try!

One annoying thing I’ve only really thought about lately is that opks detect the surge but even then you don’t actually know when/if you’ve ovulated. I was thinking of trying temping if this cycle is unsuccessful. Has anyone tried that? Seems like a bit of a ball ache and I’m pretty sure my husband would not put up with a thermometer beeping away at 6am when I wake up every morning lol.

I’m pretty sure my AF is on its way - got a pounding headache today and ‘that feeling’ :-(. Only good thing I guess is that I can enjoy a hot bath and a drink or two this weekend in the sun! 😊 🌈

Morning everyone, hope you're all good.
@LT103 sorry about your BFN :(

I was up until 2am reading about SMEP and people's success story, I'm hoping to try that this month. I saw some people mention it in this thread a few days ago. Has anyone had any success in the past with it?

@Mia1985x thanks for writing about the femometer app I didn't know it recognises all strips I've got some about to arrive and I'm entering into my fertility window for this month so hopefully that will be handy xx thanks 😊

@CAG14 Ohh ok. Fingers crossed it just pops up on you like “heeeey I’m here!!” soon 🤞🏼

@CAG14 I'm the same as you, I do a cheapie strip one alongside my CB. There are some months where it aligns exactly as youd expect, faint line appearing on opks just after getting a flashing smile and gradually gets darker with the darkest being same day as static. But some months it really hasnt aligned like that and my strip ones get lighter before I've even had static. I'm not sure if it's something to do with the CB detecting the 2nd hormone but strips only looking for the LH surge.

Incase you arent aware do you know you can upload the photos of strip tests to the femometer app and it intelligently recognises the reading. I find it really helpful coz some days I'm like is that darker or lighter Haha. I've uploaded a photo so you can see what I mean. I just found that feature really helpful and you can obviously upload any brand of strips.

@CAG14 I’m not familiar with those tests I’ve only ever done the clear blue digital opk, so is the line supposed to be really dark when you’re at peak ovulation? There looks to be a strong line there to me

@Pippy20 that's how I feel too! I started testing yesterday and I get excited doing it lol

No bleeding today. It was bright red last night. Honestly not a clue what's happening. Just hoping i still ovulate this month at least 🤞

@Nellyk84 that’s good news - and a good thing to feel positive about! I don’t know why but doing opks make me happy, possibly because of the excitement of seeing that stupid smiley face on the clearblue ones I use - and the feeling you get knowing your body is doing something. Even though it’s like the very first step in what feels like such a long process, getting a positive opk always makes me think woo maybe this will be my month?! And stupidly with every cycle that passes it makes me think there’s more of a chance for the next cycle to work - which statistically makes no sense but it keeps me going lol. I just wish there was a fool-hardly distraction for the tww - I’m literally driving myself mad.

@Nellyk84 that's really good news. Onwards and upwards!

Well ladies, that b!tch AF has reared her ugly head!!

In one instance it's upsetting as would've been awesome to fall preggers straightaway (slight delusion on my part there lol). However, on the other hand, at least I know my periods have fallen into cycle pretty much straight away after having the Mirena removed on 11th June. It gives me somewhere to start doing my OPKs from now and work out my cycles going forward

@LT103 sorry for the BFN. There's still a chance though! 🤞

@LMA27 I honestly have no idea, AF finished on the 30th and when I had regular cycles I never spotted or bled randomly in between so I'm worried everything is messed up again which puts me back a few years in my progress 😔 the TWW is horrible and I'm pretty sure all the stress and anxiety we put on ourselves does not help the situation at all. If you can find something to distract yourself then do it! Even a good old binge of crap TV. Anything! Keeping everything crossed for you though that AF does not appear 💕

@LMA27 I’m 11 dpo. Af due Saturday so will test again at end of week