TTC September/October 26

Congratulations and fingers crossed for you 😊

I’m 5dpo and doing okay with the 2WW so far… trying to hold out till 10dpo (Saturday) to test. I’ve had a painful ear infection and had to take lots of paracetamol, ibuprofen and antibiotics which did stress me out a bit in case it could impact on anything. But hopefully unlikely

I’m 11 DPO today; BFN yesterday and didn’t test today. Will test tomorrow at 12 DPO. I’m using the easy@home strips which are sensitive at 10miu - if it’s BFN tomorrow am I likely out this cycle?

edit: I don’t know length of luteal phase for sure but I think 13 days.

Long cycles are the worst. Any sign of a change in cervical mucus? I always get that around 7 days before attempted ovulation. Have you had metformin before? Just asking as I’ve got a GP appointment tomorrow to discuss next steps and thinking of asking for it to see if it helps with long cycles/ PCOS symptoms.

10 cycles is a long time to try for. It is hard not to give up hope. And so sorry to hear about your mum, that must be so hard.

Dont know if positive stories help but a friend TTC for 14 months before it worked! No interventions needed in the end. I’m trying to keep positive as on 10 months too (but only 7 cycles due to PCOS)

Hope your GP appointment went well. Did they say anything useful?

Congratulations! Fingers crossed for a sticky baby for you ❤️

I think a test at 12 dpo is pretty definite either way, especially with a 10miu test. Late implantation (after 10 dpo) massively increases the risk of miscarriage too so if it doesn’t show tomorrow you are likely out. 🤞 for you.

No change in mucus yet but starting to get ovulation pain so hoping soon! Let me know how your app goes. Mines not for two weeks!

Thank you! This is what I thought too 😊 I’ll update tomorrow 🤞

Thank you for sharing this it does give me hope!

GP was quite dismissive just kept saying my bloods were normal (they were except for ferritin at 16.5 which is iron deficient based on 2025 guidelines) she agreed to prescribe supplements (though I've bought anyways) but it felt very much a "here you go now shut up" vibe to it. I mentioned I was still grieving and it felt like that became the source of my general "out of sortsness".

Feeling really emotional last few days. Going to have a nice hot shower and early night and hope I feel in a better mood tomorrow.

Sorry youre in a similar boat. Long cycles must be so frustrating xx

Ooooh, that sounds hopeful! Really hope it happens soon for you!
Will do! Not expecting much to be honest but will report back

That GP sound rubbish! 10 cycles is a long time, they should be preparing to do a fertility referral! Did they did 2/21 days blood tests to check hormone levels? I’ve seen lots of people on here get that done at the GP before a year is up. Also semen analysis and sometimes a HyCosy. Then referral to the fertility clinic at a year.

Take care of yourself. Sounds like you have a good plans, a hot shower and a hot chocolate are always my go-toos when feeling down ❤️

No they didn't even ask how long I'd been trying. Tbh I'd gone a few weeks ago feeling a bit rubbishy rather than fertility based. I'm not having a good day emotionally in general and felt like I couldn't push it more today 😔.

I've just gone back over my cycle data across the 10 months and in reality it's like 4/5 where we really tried properly so I'm trying to remain calm in that sense and rationalise.

Just wanted to say hi as our journeys sound quite similar. TTC 12/13 months now and nothing. Also had a really stressful year with family terminal illness, really particularly bad rare illness that's really difficult to manage and causing a few of us lots of stress. I also have really low ferritin levels, last time mine was measured it was only 13. I do have one known fibroid which may be causing the heavy bleeding that's keeping my iron levels so low and also may be affecting my chances each month.

I'm sorry to hear you've had a similarly difficult year and sorry about your mum 💐
TTC struggles are always so hard but when you have other stresses going on it can make it feel so much more draining and it can really start to feel like there's just no hope but there always is some hope .

Also just want to say that although 10-12 months feels like an eternity it is still a normal time frame. Even if you do need help conceiving which isn't necessary going to be so, you will be surprised what strength you will find for it. There's loads of us here with similar struggles and worries and the vast majority do get there in the end. 💛

There's a few of us here been going a long time now. We started TTC in September last year and I never thought we would still be here without a whiff of a BFP.
Even though many people conceive between q and 2 years, I agree with you that do many months is a long time emotionally. Since most people will conceive in 6 months or less, it's so demoralising watching more and more months go by with nothing.
Just wanted to remind everyone who's in it for the long haul that you're absolutely not alone.

Last night I decided to unfollow this monthly ttc thread because I felt delfated but seeing comments from @HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy made me feel slightly better. To be honest, I am in a similar boat and I don't know why I clicked on this thread again tonight. However I did NOT realise that there were actually a few of us here who started to try on a similar timeline and had been trying for a similar amount of time like me. Your message resonates with me and thank you for saying the last sentence.

Hi, thank you for replying. Im so sorry you're in a similar boat. I met with friends on Saturday who are both now pregnant following a lot of struggles so I do have hope also just felt a bit of a pity party needed!

I tested this morning at 12 DPO and BFN so I think I’m out. In fact, I think I’ve just noticed some spotting. Looks like I’ll be on to the next month!

Thank you for this lovely message. It is really appreciated. Hearing other people being in the same situation really helps. I really thought I’d have a baby by now! As you say, with the majority conceiving within 6 months it feels very hopeless not to have done so. I’m hoping that the GP will agree to start investigations today and that might make me feel better. As at least I’m doing something!

Sorry about the BFN. Sending baby dust for your next month ❤️

So sorry you are having such a hard time and glad I could help in some way. There are definitely quite a few of us here who have been trying a long time. But do whatever it takes to protect your mental health and if the thread isn’t helping then definitely unfollow for a bit ❤️ I don’t follow it between getting a BFN and the end of my period, it’s too painful.

Despite being off work with suspected COVID we’ve managed 3 days, 2 days, 1 day before ovulation and day of ovulation (will cover tonight too as 1DPO). Not feeling very hopeful but think we’ve done what we can.

Completely get why you’d feel like this! I’ve only been trying since April but I feel quite similar. It’s painful when people join and have a positive 2 days later. I know someone else getting their BFP doesn’t reduce my chances but I’m constantly asking myself why not me? I’m taking a handful of supplements a day, we’re using sperm friendly lube, we’re having sex every other day throughout the month and then usually the 3 days leading up to O. Neither of us drink or do anything that should reduce our chances but it just feels like something isn’t right

Honestly I think it's totally fine to have a pity party sometimes. It's not wrong to feel down about it taking so long, that just shows it's something that's important to us.
Because I haven't conceived before I also feel an extra anxiety about whether it will ever happen or not. Honestly I was losing my mind until I started getting the initial testing done through my GP. Having something booked in helps let go of sine of the control a bit. Month after month if trying with nothing can really make you go a bit crazy 😭😂

Totally with you. Sometimes there's no reason it's just luck and sometimes there is something reducing your chances or ruling them out altogether. It's rare to have something totally stopping you though.
It can drive you crazy analysing everything and comparing yourself to others. We started September last year and I know for a fact through tracking and the dates we DTD we have hit the window with a good chance pretty much every single month. We also have no known underlying issues and both taking the vitamins. It's getting both draining and expensive now 😭😂