Page 2 | TTC for 9 months+? Please come and join!

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 2026-10-25T16:20:20+00:00

Hi! Thought I’d start a thread for those of us in the unfortunate situation of struggling with TTC and perhaps starting investigations. I’ve been TTC DC3 for 11 months now. I have PCOS, so my typical cycle is 39 days with the odd 80 day one thrown in. Just started investigations at the GP who have sent off a fertility referral. Supposed to be getting my Day21 blood done this month but seem to be having a long cycle/ an anovulatory cycle as currently day 35 and no sign of a peak on my LH tests. Anyone else also struggling TTC and want to support each other?

Springcloud26 · 01/11/2026 09:43

@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy I have spa day with friends this month, and also holiday next year!

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 31/10/2026 12:53

Firsttimerugbymum · 31/10/2026 11:51

We did on Thursday, and then this morning. Tbh we are trying to be more targeted as to avoid burnout - some months we basically done every day and no success so trying to tone it down a bit

Wishing you a speedy two week wait with a BFP at the end!

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@Firsttimerugbymum That sounds like you have it covered! Fair enough about being more targeted. The “every other day” thing does get a bit exhausting when you have been doing it for so long!

@Springcloud26 Hope this method works for both of us 😂 the holiday would be very very hard to cancel (other family members involved) so I’m hoping I’ve cursed myself with positive test this month! What nice things do you have planned?

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Springcloud26 · 31/10/2026 12:11

@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy I’ve been doing the same, booking a few things that would be inconvenient if I fell, in the hope that fate will get me! (And then I still have nice things to look forward to if I don’t 😂)

Firsttimerugbymum · 31/10/2026 11:51

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 31/10/2026 11:35

@Firsttimerugbymum Argh, that is frustrating! Have you being dtd in the build up? Even if you only do today you have a good chance!

My Lh is down to 0.35 today so fairly sure I’ve ovulated and am now 2 dpo. Feeling fairly relaxed about this month as I’ve got a holiday booked for early August next year which would be incredibly inconvenient with a newborn! Was 50/50 on whether we should even be trying but after trying for so long thought that maybe a bit of karma would make it happen this time 😂

We did on Thursday, and then this morning. Tbh we are trying to be more targeted as to avoid burnout - some months we basically done every day and no success so trying to tone it down a bit

Wishing you a speedy two week wait with a BFP at the end!

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 31/10/2026 11:35

@Firsttimerugbymum Argh, that is frustrating! Have you being dtd in the build up? Even if you only do today you have a good chance!

My Lh is down to 0.35 today so fairly sure I’ve ovulated and am now 2 dpo. Feeling fairly relaxed about this month as I’ve got a holiday booked for early August next year which would be incredibly inconvenient with a newborn! Was 50/50 on whether we should even be trying but after trying for so long thought that maybe a bit of karma would make it happen this time 😂

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Firsttimerugbymum · 31/10/2026 06:33

Started to peak last night - standard that it's the night I went out and got back too late to do anything!

Springcloud26 · 30/10/2026 13:55

@GreenApple121 Sorry to hear AF arrived, I know what you mean about the disappointment. I felt really down from CD1 to end of period this cycle, and only started to feel hopeful again when oestrogen started to rise… do you think it’s psychological knowing you can dtd again to influence your chances or just hormones?

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 30/10/2026 12:44

GreenApple121 · 30/10/2026 12:16

@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy Yes AF arrived today as expected.
thats promising about your peak! Do you track temp as well or only the strips? I’ve never done temp and even struggle with the LH strips. I used the OPK with the smiley face last cycle - so easy to understand but so expensive!

Sorry about AF. Hope you have lots of nice distractions over the weekend!

I only do easy@home strips and the Premom app. I’d like to do BBT but currently up too much with my 2 year old at night for it to be accurate, so think it would just cause more stress.

The strips do seem fairly accurate for me, I always ovulate 14 days after a peak. But sometimes I have failed to ovulate so then peak again a month later with no period in between! Which I think the BBT would help with as I would see no temp rise so know that ovulation didn’t happen.

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GreenApple121 · 30/10/2026 12:16

@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy Yes AF arrived today as expected.
thats promising about your peak! Do you track temp as well or only the strips? I’ve never done temp and even struggle with the LH strips. I used the OPK with the smiley face last cycle - so easy to understand but so expensive!

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 30/10/2026 11:54

GreenApple121 · 29/10/2026 18:43

Hi ladies!
@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy good luck with your peak!
I’m feeling down as think my period is starting 😞
I’ve had some spotting at the start of my period in the last few months - do you all know if I’m meant to count the day of normal bleed as CD1 (ie not the spotting day if it’s the day before for example?)

Thanks for the good luck! The LH tests was still high yesterday, 1 again, but down to 0.5 this morning so think I’ve ovulated.

I did have some weird pain too, not ovulation pain, more general stomach pain? Hoping this won’t have affected anything!

Sorry to hear you are spotting! Has AF started today? I always find the bit between 12 dpo (when I have no hope anymore) and my period ending to be the hardest bit too ❤️

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GreenApple121 · 29/10/2026 19:00

@Springcloud26 Thank you!
yes it is due tomorrow/Saturday so if don’t get normal flow today will probably be CD1 tomorrow.
hate this bit! It always feels better once I get couple of days into the new cycle but the first day is always so disheartening… not sure how long we will keep going, as I’m 41 now… Just feels like it’s never gonna happen at the moment.
Hope everyone else is doing ok!

Springcloud26 · 29/10/2026 18:46

GreenApple121 · 29/10/2026 18:43

Hi ladies!
@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy good luck with your peak!
I’m feeling down as think my period is starting 😞
I’ve had some spotting at the start of my period in the last few months - do you all know if I’m meant to count the day of normal bleed as CD1 (ie not the spotting day if it’s the day before for example?)

Hey, I’m sorry you’re feeling like period is coming, is it around the time it is normally due? Yes I understand it’s the first day of normal flow, not spotting, that is CD1.

GreenApple121 · 29/10/2026 18:43

Hi ladies!
@HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy good luck with your peak!
I’m feeling down as think my period is starting 😞
I’ve had some spotting at the start of my period in the last few months - do you all know if I’m meant to count the day of normal bleed as CD1 (ie not the spotting day if it’s the day before for example?)

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 29/10/2026 08:21

dancingbroccoli · 29/10/2026 07:26

Hi, I’d like to join if that’s ok. Sorry to hear it’s not happened for you yet too. We have been trying for 10/11 months now with no success. We have a 5 year old who we conceived after 1 month of trying so it’s really thrown us both that this time is taking so much longer.

DP is booked in for a semen analysis and blood test at the end of next month so we will see what they say

I feel like we are doing everything “right” so I just can’t understand why it’s not happened yet. My luteal phase tends to be only 7 ish days but when I mentioned this to the GP they didn’t seem too concerned by that 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hello! Sounds like we started at a similar time? I was hoping for a September ‘26 baby 😂 look how that turned out! I was saying to DH last night that if this cycle doesn’t work I’ll be back round to a September baby again 🤦‍♀️

Hope your tests go well. I’m still struggling to get DH to book a SA… Are the blood tests for you or him? I might have more luck convincing him to go if it was starting with bloods and then the SA!

I’m surprised the GP wasn’t more interesting in a 7 day luteal phase? I thought anything until 10 was a problem as the embryo didn’t have enough time to implant before the uterine lining started to shed? A friend had this and it was a thyroid problem I think? Once it was medicated she was fine. Can you get a second opinion? Though I’m not a doctor so it might be totally fine!

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 29/10/2026 07:51

BristolHelp · 29/10/2026 06:28

Yes, we were surprised it was so quick. I'm hoping they'll prescribe Metformin or Letrozole... but we'll see!

My cycles are about 60 days now! I've given up on ovulation strips, was getting lots of peaks throughout so wasn't a good indicator of ovulation. I've also had a few anovulatory cycles and 2 day periods, so that's been frustrating too. I'm on WeGovy now for 3 months to try and get my weight down to see if it helps... My BMI just overweight and I think it's why my cycles are awful. Before I had my DD, I was a lot lighter and had 30 day cycles!

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I’m hoping for letrozole too! Not looking forward to the side effects but it would be worth it if it worked.

60 days is hard! Fair enough having given up with the test. It all gets so expensive too when you have such long cycles. Are you tracking at all now, using CM/ BBT, or just going with the flow?

I was on 60 days cycles last year, but had a few 38 days this year with only one super long one at 87 days. It’s so frustrating having so little chances in a year. Partly why I delayed going to the GP, felt that I needed to have tried for 6 cycles, even if it took me 10 months!

The weight thing is so hard! The PCOS makes it more difficult to lose weight but extra weight has a bigger impact on fertility than is typical! How have you found the WeGovy?

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dancingbroccoli · 29/10/2026 07:26

Hi, I’d like to join if that’s ok. Sorry to hear it’s not happened for you yet too. We have been trying for 10/11 months now with no success. We have a 5 year old who we conceived after 1 month of trying so it’s really thrown us both that this time is taking so much longer.

DP is booked in for a semen analysis and blood test at the end of next month so we will see what they say

I feel like we are doing everything “right” so I just can’t understand why it’s not happened yet. My luteal phase tends to be only 7 ish days but when I mentioned this to the GP they didn’t seem too concerned by that 🤷🏻‍♀️

BristolHelp · 29/10/2026 06:28

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 22:51

Hello! Sorry that you are in this boat too.

Your referral time doesn’t sound too bad, around 4 months? Did the GP give any details on what they would be able to do? I know they don’t offer IVF for a second baby but trying to find out any information about what they actually do offer seems tricky!

How are you finding managing PCOS? Do you have long cycles? I’m finding the long unpredictable cycles so hard to deal with right now. So many ovulation strips!

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Yes, we were surprised it was so quick. I'm hoping they'll prescribe Metformin or Letrozole... but we'll see!

My cycles are about 60 days now! I've given up on ovulation strips, was getting lots of peaks throughout so wasn't a good indicator of ovulation. I've also had a few anovulatory cycles and 2 day periods, so that's been frustrating too. I'm on WeGovy now for 3 months to try and get my weight down to see if it helps... My BMI just overweight and I think it's why my cycles are awful. Before I had my DD, I was a lot lighter and had 30 day cycles!

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 22:51

BristolHelp · 28/10/2026 19:27

Hi all! I'm also in a similar boat... TTC #2 and thought it's be quick like my DD (2nd cycle!!!)... 8 months on and nothing yet... we were referred in September and have an appointment for the end of January. I have PCOS too and had a csection... looks like a theme here 👀

Hello! Sorry that you are in this boat too.

Your referral time doesn’t sound too bad, around 4 months? Did the GP give any details on what they would be able to do? I know they don’t offer IVF for a second baby but trying to find out any information about what they actually do offer seems tricky!

How are you finding managing PCOS? Do you have long cycles? I’m finding the long unpredictable cycles so hard to deal with right now. So many ovulation strips!

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BristolHelp · 28/10/2026 19:27

Hi all! I'm also in a similar boat... TTC #2 and thought it's be quick like my DD (2nd cycle!!!)... 8 months on and nothing yet... we were referred in September and have an appointment for the end of January. I have PCOS too and had a csection... looks like a theme here 👀

Original poster

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 19:07

Springcloud26 · 28/10/2026 18:34

I managed to get booked in for my blood test on Friday! I couldn’t sleep last night so tried about midnight and there was one slot, so lucky. I’ll be 6 DPO and I know 7 DPO would be better but they don’t do weekends.

Sounds like you may be getting your peak? Fingers crossed! 🤞

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That’s great about the blood test! Fantastic! Hopefully it is still helpful, even if it is a day early. Given ovulation is a bit of guesswork anyway I’d imagine they can still interpret the results if you know you’re a day or so early?

Yes, high of 1 this evening! Going to test again later, hoping for higher still. Annoying I’m on holiday next Thursday/ Friday so won’t be able to have my Day21 blood tests if I do ovulate tomorrow 🤦‍♀️ so so typical

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 19:03

thehumgoesonforever · 28/10/2026 18:24

Long irregular cycles, sometimes ovulating sometimes seems like I’m not at all, had high AMH in my blood test and other markers that they said pointed to potential PCOS, weight gain/issues losing weight, increased body hair I’d say but not massively. I’ve been taking myo-inositol daily since January but haven’t seen much, if any, impact from that either. I tried a low-carb diet for a couple of months and did start to see good results from this but it’s just not sustainable in the long run for me.

I think I kind of feel that way too, as if going makes it more real, I’m 3 months into a 10 month postgrad at uni now alongside working full time and it’ll be so hard fitting appointments in round about this as I have basically no free time during the week so I think that’s putting me off as well! I know I just need to get my finger out and get things moving but ahhhhh

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That definitely sounds like PCOS! I’d mention that to the GP too. I think if you have PCOS they try ovulation induction earlier in the fertility clinic process and so GPs will agree to prescribe Metformin before you are seen by the fertility clinic.

Good luck with the post-grad! It sounds super busy! Real life does have a bad habit of getting in the way.

Sorry that the myo-inositol isn’t doing much for you either. I’ve seen so many reviews raving about it online, it’s a bit depressing to be in the “it does nothing” group.

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HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 18:57

Firsttimerugbymum · 28/10/2026 17:50

I think it's when you are more fertile. Trying to dtd less often and more timed well as doing it for 10 months as started to take its toll!

Those are the ones I use too. I think as long as you get a positive I wouldn't worry. I've had anything from just positive to like 1.8. A lot depends like how much you've had to drink and whether you time it just right with testing

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I was looking back at my tracking and all the little heart for dtd and it is ridiculous. I just don’t get how I can have so much unprotected sex and still no baby!! It does start to become a bit of a “oh do we really have to tonight?”

Glad you’ve ovulated with only just a positive, gives me some hope. I have been drinking a lot of tea today!

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Springcloud26 · 28/10/2026 18:34

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 27/10/2026 21:31

At least your GP surgery sounds like they are trying to fit you in and vaguely concentrating! Hope there is a cancellation for you.

My LH doesn’t normally go up and down really fast so will test again tomorrow around 10am to see. Anything over 0.7 would be good, to then hit over 1 by the evening. The hope/ crash cycle has started again, back in the hopeful phase! Bet AF arrives on Thursday and I’ll be despairing again.

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I managed to get booked in for my blood test on Friday! I couldn’t sleep last night so tried about midnight and there was one slot, so lucky. I’ll be 6 DPO and I know 7 DPO would be better but they don’t do weekends.

Sounds like you may be getting your peak? Fingers crossed! 🤞

thehumgoesonforever · 28/10/2026 18:24

HelloDarknessmyoldfrenemy · 28/10/2026 07:57

Hello! Sorry to hear it’s been such a long time for you ❤️ What symptoms of PCOS do you have? For me it mostly affects my cycle length and hair growth/ loss pattern! I started taking myo-inositol which is suppose to help but not sure it is for me.

I’ve just contacted my GP and got a referral but the GP seemed to think the waiting list was long! So my advice would be to contact the GP, these things don’t move fast. Some areas seem to have wait times of 2 months, others 2 years! Know its hard to make that initial appointment though, I procrastinate for 4 months! I didn’t want to be struggling to conceive and going to the GP made it feel so real!

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Long irregular cycles, sometimes ovulating sometimes seems like I’m not at all, had high AMH in my blood test and other markers that they said pointed to potential PCOS, weight gain/issues losing weight, increased body hair I’d say but not massively. I’ve been taking myo-inositol daily since January but haven’t seen much, if any, impact from that either. I tried a low-carb diet for a couple of months and did start to see good results from this but it’s just not sustainable in the long run for me.

I think I kind of feel that way too, as if going makes it more real, I’m 3 months into a 10 month postgrad at uni now alongside working full time and it’ll be so hard fitting appointments in round about this as I have basically no free time during the week so I think that’s putting me off as well! I know I just need to get my finger out and get things moving but ahhhhh

Firsttimerugbymum · 28/10/2026 17:51

I wanted to start BBT, but I think it's something I'd get stressed about so think I will avoid