Ttc - a question about 1) basal temping, and 2) private fertility tests.

[MeanMrsMustard]

Thanks in advanced for reading.
We are ttc. Early days still. Like many women I'm sure, this is the first time I've really taken any interest in my menstrual cycle. I have no idea if/when i ovulate. I tried using those ovulation sticks last month, but they didn't detect anything. I've since read that they are hard to get a positive from, but even so it has led me to worry, hence coming on here to ask (yet more!) questions.

So, #1 basal temping - I get that I need to take my temp at the same time every day (not looking forward to setting a weekend alarm to 5:30 once I'm back at school, but hey), and that I need to have had at least 3 hours undisrupted sleep prior to temping. What counts as interrupting my sleep though? Something obvious like getting up to go to the loo? Or merely opening one eye to look at the time? Or even being aware of briefly rousing from deep sleep even though I drift off again in moments and never open my eyes? I know this sounds pernickety but if the answers are out there I want to get this right!

#2 I am half considering going to a private fertility clinic to get some tests to see if I have pcos. Not a completely random idea as i have some symptoms. I was thinking private as I understand you need to have been trying for a year before my gp will refer me for tests and I'd like know what I'm up against now! However, as I could probably only afford the initial tests, is there any point in going private at all? If I get the all clear then obviously my minds at rest and I just get on with ttc. Has anyone had experience of having a fertility issue highlighted privately but getting help through the nhs?

Sorry, I know I'm probably coming across crazy. I'm off work at the moment and have way too much time to over think everything.

Thanks for getting through my mammoth post!

Hello :) I can sort of help. We've been TTC for 4 proper months and came off the pill 5 months ago. I had a withdrawal bleed and no period since then. I went to the doctor last week, exaggerated a little by saying I hadn't had a period for 6 months. I'm 30yrs old. She did an internal examination (much like a smear), I'm booked to have my bloods taken on Friday (to check hormone levels) and then have an internal scan on 11th to check my ovaries. How long have you gone with getting a period?

So, because I'm desperate I've used clear blue OpK tests and the clear blue fertility monitor. I've had two cycles of smiley faces and I also got a peak on my monitor (a week later). I also started temping last month every day at 6am. The temping showed that I didn't ovulate even though the sticks detected a LH surge :( I've stopped temping now, it was very hard waking up at the same time every day. If you don't the results go hay wire and it gets very confusing.

Lastly, we looked into private costs. They are not too bad. If we didn't have any luck with the doctors we were going to go private.

Re: temping, I find as long as I don't get up, disturbed sleep doesn't seem to affect my temps, so don't worry about that too much. Also, once I had got to know my cycle, I didn't bother setting my alarm to wake up at my usual time at the weekend, unless it was a weekend when I was expecting to ovulate.

Re: testing, personally I would save my money. The reason you don't get tests on the NHS for a year is because most people will get pregnant naturally in that time. After that, the NHS will do basic tests, including for PCOS. However, there are a lot of tests and treatment relating to fertility the NHS won't fund so in your situation I would save my money in case it is needed down the line.

If you're having normal cycles then it is unlikely that you have PCOS. What OPKs did you use?

Thanks for the responses.

I used clear blue sticks. I then bought a clear blue fertility monitor but haven't got it out of the packet yet. . Perhaps I should try this first before forking out on tests! I'll continue with the charting and not worry about disturbed sleep - thanks eurochick.

I have a regular cycle of 29 days. My periods are short - about 48hrs. I get regular pains around my abdomen which may or may not be related to menstuation. I have a tendency to pile on weight (although usually find it easy to lose) and I sometimes have to pluck dark hairs from my upper lip and chin I am 31.

Ok, I will try and calm down and hold off calling private doctors and see what ovulation I can detect myself. I'll make an appointment to see my gp if I have no luck.

Oh you're really lucky to get AF! I wish mine would turn up!! Try your Cbfm as they pick up two hormones rather then the one hormone so I think it's a better result.

Oh, Newbie I'm sure it will happen soon. It's so frustrating waiting though isn't it! We spend so much time trying not to get pregnant without realising how hard it is to get a bfp! Everywhere I go/ everything I watch etc seems to be abundant with babies right now which doesn't help at all.

Can I ask where you bought your fertility monitor test sticks from please?

I hate the waiting. Got it all from Amazon

I have had private appointments, a private scan and an operation on the NHS, I used the NHS to have the Laparoscopy procedure and the HSG as having these done privately would of cost over 4k, I used private basically to speed things along a bit, so had consultations, tests done private and bloods with my GP

I got one of them monitors but I got mine from eBay

Hi Mean I'm currently seeing my Dr about PCOS so the info is still relatively fresh in my mind. If you having regular cycles then, and you only find it easy to lose weight as well as gain it and you only the pluck the occasional dark hair from your chin then the chance is you dont have PCOS. You only really have a problem if your cycles are wildly irregular or really long.

I would second the call to use a CBFM, mine detects my LH surge every month, and seems to be mildly more reliable that the the OPKs. I got my monitor off amazon, same with most of the sticks (occasionally some generous soul gives them away for free on here too)

If you are really concerned speak to the doctor, but be prepared for them to send you away until you have been trying for over a year (and even then some practises don't like to intervene until you hit the 2 year mark.

Try not to worry about it too much, how long have you actually been trying? Were you on the pill? if so how long since you have been off it?

Ruthie, that's worth knowing. I thought that when you saw private doctors the nhs put you to the back of the list so to speak.

Thanks secret, thats really interesting.
We've only been trying 2 months . I am just deeply impatient it seems. Until I started researching conception very recently I just assumed that most women ovulated, and that ovulation was easy to detect. I expected the opk to show my ovulation straight away, and that I'd then know when to try each month. I now realise its a bit more complicated!

Why is a month such a long time?! I swear I will be more relaxed when I'm term starts in September.
I've just ordered some test sticks for my cbfm so will start monitoring next cycle.