TTC 8 months in, still early days but starting to feel more and more every time AF arrives

@CausingChaos2 thank you lovely. Yeah I did them for a few months but I'm terrible at remembering and then when my doctor said I'm not ovulating I wondered what the point was.

It definitely felt nicer when I'd had my first consultation, having a point of contact and the nurses at the hospital I'm being seen at are sooo lovely and helpful. They remember who I am every time I call (not sure if that's good or bad haha!)

I want to test in the morning but I feel a bit heavy tonight but it's so hard as still have a lot going on inside with my cysts so not sure if it's them or AF coming. If I'm not brave enough, I might just collect some FMU and see how the day goes. Somehow coming on feels less heart wrenching than another BFN.

Crazy You have great self control not to track your ovulation. I use OPKs and BBT, wish I could be brave enough to just stop using them, but just always want that confirmation. Do you think you’ll test tomorrow or try to hold out a bit longer?

Glad your referral went through quickly, I think the waiting would be really tough. I can cope with stressful situations as long as I feel like I’m doing something to help, sitting on my hands waiting is the hardest part.

I really hope your AF stays away and you have a BFP in the next few days love

Thank you @CausingChaos2. I don't track my ovulation so I can't say how many DPO I am however the last time we DTD it was super painful (and when they think I ruptured the cysts) and the time before that was uncomfortable so I must have had them then which was 19/01. As the cysts are secondary to ovulation I must have ovulated on or before 19th so would make me the earliest 14DPO today.

So pleased you pushed for you results. For us once we pushed for a referral from our GP (okay we had the Covid shutdown so that wasn't quick) but when it re opened it was quite quick. Not an expert but I'd say your results are good! All within the range albeit your PG a teeny bit higher but I don't think that'd be a worry. I tested low on PG on a 21day on fertility drugs so if you're on nothing then that's a good result

Oh crazy I really hope this is your lucky month and you don’t need the ultrasound appointment at all. What the fertility nurse said sounds really positive! Maybe the consultant just doesn’t have the best bedside manner. 5 eggs is a lot! Yes I’d definitely wait until AF is due before testing. It’s tempting to test early but then if it’s negative we only end up wondering if it’s too soon to show don’t we? On the day AF is due you should get a definite answer. Bloating is so rubbish, hope you feel better soon

Thank you for nudging me to get my results. I wasn’t interested earlier but I’ve got them now.

Day 21:
Progesterone 52.1 nmol/L (reference 3.8 - 50.6)

Day 3:
FSH 5.4 iu/L (Follicular reference 3.0 - 8.1)

LH 2.1 iu/L (Follicular reference 1.8 - 11.8)

Prolactin 314 mIU/L (40 - 530)

Oestradiol 332 pmol/L (Follicular reference 98 - 571)

Testosterone *0.9 nmol/L (0.3 - 1.7)

I may post a new thread with them. I’ve been researching and my head is just 🤯 now.

@CausingChaos2

Crazydoglady123 Hope you’re feeling less sore now Have you any idea when you’ll hear from your consultant?

I’m a bit weary at the moment. SIL due her 2nd any day, obviously it is lovely news but also feels difficult when we were TTC from before she was PG and still no result. Mad to think she has grown a baby while we have been trying!

OH’s SA came back ‘normal’ except for an increased number of round cells. I’ve had my day 21 bloods and just waiting for day 3 blood results. Can’t find the enthusiasm to call the GP and check my results. Next step is an ultrasound then fertility referral.

At the moment just feel like forgetting the whole thing and accepting it’s not to be. Am now coming into FW - great timing eh?

Hope everyone else is keeping ok?

I totally understand how you must be feeling with your SIL. I've had similar with friends and it's heart wrenching. Do chase your doctor up for you bloods though... Be worth it once you get the ball rolling xx

Crazydoglady123 Hope you’re feeling less sore now Have you any idea when you’ll hear from your consultant?

I’m a bit weary at the moment. SIL due her 2nd any day, obviously it is lovely news but also feels difficult when we were TTC from before she was PG and still no result. Mad to think she has grown a baby while we have been trying!

OH’s SA came back ‘normal’ except for an increased number of round cells. I’ve had my day 21 bloods and just waiting for day 3 blood results. Can’t find the enthusiasm to call the GP and check my results. Next step is an ultrasound then fertility referral.

At the moment just feel like forgetting the whole thing and accepting it’s not to be. Am now coming into FW - great timing eh?

Hope everyone else is keeping ok?

@30somethingyorkie Ahhhh amazing congratulations!!! ❤️❤️ You must be in shock & over the moon! What a great start to the year, hopefully the first of more positives to come!! Wishing you a safe & healthy pregnancy.

Hope to see more good news coming in this thread lovely ladies ✨✨ xxxx

Thank you @CausingChaos2. I've had a good cry and a bit better now in myself, just feeling quite sore I think where the scans probed near the cysts.
Back to you, have you done any more tests yet or have any more signs?

Really sorry to hear your news Crazydoglady123

I hope your consultant gets in touch soon, in the meantime don’t feel any guilt about crawling into bed. I had a ‘chocolate cyst’ a few years ago and the pain was indescribable, sending you big hugs.

Hey ladies,

Hope you're all okay. I had my scan today and feel soooo fed up now. Turns out I have a large cyst on my right ovary and 4 cysts on my left ovary and my left ovary is enlarged. They are all hemorrhagic and this is why I've been in so much pain (and bloating). The big one is about 4.6cm and has a lot of fluid still inside it. I'm waiting to hear back from a consultant at the hospital to see what's going to happen. They seem to be a bit concerned that potentially if I released an egg out of every one of the cysts there's a chance of a pregnancy of 5 babies!!!!! I know I want to get pregnant but I don't fancy a litter . I've just had to drive an hour each way for the scan and now my right ovary is feeling tender from driving so crawling back into bed now to wallow in self pity. Why can't things just be easy?!

OMG congrats @30somethingyorkie that is so exciting!!

I had some very exciting news that was also a kick in the teeth this weekend.. my SIL is pregnant on her 2/3rd try. I'm now on cycle 14. I'm so so excited to be an auntie, but also, whyyyyyyyyyyy....

@Pip1903 I use a CBFM and I always stop testing as soon as I get a peak reading. I assume that the peak is either ovulation day or the day before, so I make sure to DTD that day and the day after, but no point wasting sticks!

I read something last week that said every other day for DTD is good, but every day during the high or peak days so that the sperm are nice and fresh!

Luckily, my DH is pretty up for it too 😂 he does know, I tell him its high, its peak... but not exactly at that time, try and keep it a bit more spontaneous in the moment! The joys of wfh, you can just grab him during a tea break

And just wondering do you ladies then totally stop testing? I've read u can have 2nd surges but the instructions say not to once got a static x

@CausingChaos2 ok lovely thanks alot 😊

Pip Glad you’ve found peak on CB! Yes it’s common to only have a day or two flashing before peak for some people. I actually often go from low fertility (o) straight to peak (static smiley).

@Crazydoglady123 hope you get some help from your fertility nurse that doesn't sound right to be so uncomfortable. Hopefully it's the meds helping you to ovulate. Good luck 😊x
@causingChaos2 yes I agree it can become a chore and take the enjoyment from it...love the sample story ...hope all results come back ok 🤞x
@SparkyLauz my cycles have been hit and miss since stoppiing first was 54days! And I've had an 18day one too ..they seem to be steading off now to 22-25 .
I seemed to have every pregnancy symptom when I stopped my boobs were agony I convinced myself I was preggers 😂🙈.

Well after my one day flashing smiley I got a static smiley today ...was so happy as I've never had a positive opk before!
Thanks ladies for advice on clearblue 🥰
Is it normal to only have one day flashing? I think I have a rapid Lh surge as when I've used opk they go high but never peak then quickly bk down but I'm not to sure.
We DTd Thursday...yesterday and today so hopefully covered the before and will try tomorrow and day after if have enough energy 😂.
Plus I dont mention opks to hubby as dont want to add pressure luckily hes normally up for it 😂😂

Lovebug06 Glad your dr appt went well - it makes all the difference to have a supportive GP doesn’t it?

Izzie94 I’m glad you managed to DTD at the right times! Always very satisfying when you feel like you’ve done everything you can 🤞 I hope your AF stays away. The hungover feeling could be a good sign...

Pip It’s hard to say how much you should DTD once you hit peak. We’ve tried every day, every other day, every couple of days, once on the day of peak, you name it. No luck. Probably best to DTD as often as you can, but not give yourself a hard time for being too tired.

SparkyLauz I hope your TWW flys by and ends with a BFP! So good that you spotted EWCM, apparently DTD then is the best time. We dropped my other half’s sample off at the hospital last week - they were explicit that it couldn’t be done on hospital grounds So it was produced errr, elsewhere, and unceremoniously wedged between my boobs for the drive there Worst of all, I thought the pathology lab would have a reception area like any other ward but no, it was just a hole in the wall in the middle of a corridor. So with people walking all around me I huddled against a wall as best I could to whip the sample out of my bra felt like a complete idiot! My other half really didn’t want to do it either, but is now excited to see what his results come back as

I definitely feel the same about DTD becoming a chore. Now we’re in the early stages of investigations I’m tempted just to try every 2-3 days. That’s what’s recommended anyway and the every day marathons haven’t worked for us anyway 🤷‍♀️

@30somethingyorkie Congratulations!

Hope you're all well. I'm on my first round of 100mg Clomid this cycle and currently on CD17. I just feel so uncomfortable the last couple of days across my knicker line, like a burning sensation on and off and my abdomen just feels full and heavy like due on. I had this last month too (which was my third cycle of Letrozole) and thought maybe a sign I was BFP but obviously wasn't. Also my bloods last cycle showed I didn't ovulate hence now going on to Clomid. Not sure if it's my ovaries trying to work or something else! I had a 6cm ovarian cyst when I had the coil about 5 years ago. Cysts are a side effect of the Mirena but also Clomid so a bit worried it's that again as also DTD has been uncomfortable too. Thursday night I had to push through it as was a day we had to do it. I'm going to call the fertility nurse Monday if no better and see what she says and maybe go for a private scan to check my ovaries if they won't do one. Meant to be DTD tonight just in case I ovulated late but dreading it :(

@pip1903 I was on the pill for 12 years and then came off in April last year, started ttc as of the 1st of May lol. My cycles went straight back to normal, the only thing i noticed was I was majorly over emotional for the first few months, I guess it was all these hormones flooding back it overwhelmed me a bit😂 Although this is month 9 TTC this is my 11th cycle, as my cycles are a bit shorter.

We start DTD when AF gone and do it every 2-3 days. During FW every other day then when I get my positive OPK we usually do it on that day and then the day after too.

I'm starting to enjoy DTD less as the months go on. We were happy before TTC just doing it once a week (if that!) but its becoming more of a chore now 😭 which is not good I didnt want it to end up being like this. Is anyone else feeling like this yet?
Thinking if this isn't our month then going to relax next month and just do it if we actually feel like it. I havent got anymore OPKs left either now, but looking back over the months it seems to be between days 12 and 15 without fail so don't think I really need to do them anymore tbh.

@izzie94 I think if you're using pre-seed you're pretty much covered if you didn't see EWCM! I worry that im too 'acidic' down there and that any sperm isn't even getting a chance. So probably should get some pre-seed too !

@laura2093 sorry I dont temp either so can't be much help !

@lovebug06 glad you're drs appt went well! He sounds lovely and very empathetic.

My DH has being given his SA sample pot by the GP and needs to book it in now at the hospital, he said he doesn't really feel like sitting in a hospital room to do it in a cup lol and tbh makes me feel uncomfortable too, but it says on the letter that in 'exceptional circumstances' you can do it at home but it needs to be at the lab within 45 mins... well we only live 15 mins from the hospital. I think covid times classes as exceptional circumstances?! I dont know. Anyway he hasn't rang up yet to book it in, he's stalling a bit with it.

@Izzie94 ...that's fab that your feeling more positive and cycle seems more normal..yh I agree the after effects of the pill definitely seem to vary in different people....🤞 all that DTD your in with a good chance!!....it wears me out just thinking about it 😂😂.
Good luck x

@laura2093 sorry hun I don’t chart so I’m really rubbish with these!!!

@SparkyLauz YAY for EWCM!!!! Sounds really promising 🤩 fingers crossed for you. I didn’t actually notice any this cycle, which is bothering me slightly. But I started taking seven seas and I’m not sure if that’s maybe that. It was defo watery though and I used pre seed so I’m feeling positive and hopeful too🥰

@Pip1903 yes lovely I was on the pill 10 years also when we decided to come off and TTC!! I had some real funny months. Never noticed any changes in my cm, used to think what are people going on about!? 😂 and I also had really bad adult acne!!!! And I’ve never ever suffered before. I really think the pill effects us coming off our bodies go into overdrive trying to work properly again!! It definitely effects some of us more than others. I’ve now been off it a year and I really do feel like recently my body is doing what it should ☺️ So I think that’s why I’m positive for this year ahead!! Also with DTD, we followed smep this month. So from flashing we DTD every other day then when we got static we DTD day of static, day after and the day after that!! You’re then meant to skip a day and do the next, but we didn’t as we were tired 😂 defo DTD when you notice EWCM, best environment for the spermies🤣 xx

@30somethingyorkie wow congratulations!!! How exciting 😊
@Lovebug06 glad you had the doctors support and are feeling more positive.
@laura2093 sorry I have no clue with the charts, hope someone can help

I'm CD 9 and first flashing smiley today ...I was so excited 😂 and noticed more EWCM(sorry tmi) the last couple of days ...fingers crossed moving in the right direction
DTD this morning..how often do u DTD going by the tests ? First month using clearblue as never really got results from IC.
Just wondering did any of you ladies come off contraception when first started ttc.?
I was on the pill for last 10years and think that with my age has has a big impact on my hormones and cycles.
Hoping this is everyone's month and hopefully see some more BPFs!!

@30somethingyorkie OMG!!! Congratulations this actually made me well up when I saw it! ❤❤ so happy for you xx

@causingchaos2 hii im all good here thanks, now in the TWW (4dpo) and feeling really confident as I know I definitely ovulated this month I've never seen EWCM before until this month so I'm hoping this is a positive sign eeek.
Ooooh this sounds promising, get some more tests bought and test again tomorrow. I've got a good feeling about this, this could be your month!!

What do you think?

@Lovebug06 I’m so glad you docs apt went well. I also had a male doctor and he was SO reassuring. Maybe better so than a female?! Least they’re getting things moving along. You’ll have to keep us updated. I am so so sure it’ll happen for us 🤍 our bodies are just preparing for that right moment. It bloody sucks though when friends get pregnant so easily 😟 can’t help but feel a bit down about why we were dealt this card!

Oh really?! My doctor said becuase DH had a son he doesn’t need to be tested “at this point” 🙄 I’m very tempted after this month to call back and see what else they’ll do for us. We were told we’d get no extra help as DH has a son. So we don’t qualify for any treatment 😟 but obviously hoping it doesn’t come to that! Yes just because they have one doesn’t mean that one wasn’t a “miracle!!” But I can’t help but blame myself which probably doesn’t help. Seems like we’re in similar situations lovely. If you ever need a little private chat you’re welcome to private messages me xx

@Izzie94 I'm cd11 so right in the fw. I've not really got any hope though lol. I will when AF time approaches though I won't be able to help it. My doctor said my dh still has to be tested, did yours? I guess things could change with them after a few years even if they already have kids. Although I know it's more likely me that would have a problem. X