Advice re OPK please-very early smiley face

[StrawberryMojito]

This is my second month using an OPK (clearblue digital that tells you when you are both high and peak fertility). Last month I didn't get a high fertility sign at all (flashing smiley face), it just went straight to peak fertility (fixed smiley face). This was on day 12 which was a couple of days earlier than expected but still seemed normal.

I only finished my period a couple of days ago but started using the opk straight away as my cycles vary a bit (26-30 days). Today (day 8) I got a high fertlity sign. Surely this is too early?

So, we had sex last night just for fun rather than baby making but now I'm thinking should we do it again tonight as I got the high (but not peak) fertility sign or shall we just start doing it every other day until I get the peak fertility smiley face. I don't want to exhaust DH and his swimmers but don't want to miss the window either.

Hi Charley - How are you? Im on CD10 today and had my scan..little follicle on the left ovary and my lining is normal, so I can still hang on to hope for this cycle which I'm very happy for...I also (as much as it annoys me) bought OPKs this morning...I also bought (for the first time in my life) a digital Basal thermometer, and will temp every morning for the next couple weeks. Meanwhile, we've started DTD and I plan to every other day hopefully. Now, I just hope I ovulate!!

How's everyone else? Thread's a bit dead.

Kab, that's great news! Did they take it away or did it go away by itself?
So you haven't temped before? I have been doing it for a few months now and I think it's really handy. Any questions, let me know.

I just had my LH surge on cd 28. Finally! Now it's waiting for the temp rise, then the progesterone blood test and then I can start hoping it's my lucky month (well I say month, I mean 6 weeks!).

I just thought, kab, what made you decide to use opks? I thought you hated them? I don't mind them, but I use them more for reassurance than anything. I can read the signs without them, the changes in the cervix and the ov pains are pretty clear.

Hi Blamber - congrats on your surge!! and I truly hope with all fingers and toes crossed for you that this is your special time...hang in there. CD28 - I'm guessing you're irregular right now? That happens to me too sometimes...hang in there. This is great for you though, it's a light at the end of a 6 week lull tunnel.

I'm on CD11 and this mornings OPK was negative & I took my first BBT, and charted that. You are very right, I don't like OPKs mainly because each day that I see a negative, I lose hope and feel myself becoming moodier as the days progress, because of it. But, I told myself to try & approach it in a more "clinical / scientific" way and to try and not get frustrated with the process (easier said than done..) Anyway, so I bought a middle ground drugstore version of the OPKs (not the Clearblue, but not super cheapies as those I can't read the lines and I find are a total waste for me). So, I have 6 more tests left in this pack and I hope I get my surge.

Re: the cyst - I had it surgically aspirated a few weeks ago, and it is gone. thank the universe! I requested no meds for this cycle as fertility as I just want my body to naturally do what she'll do internally without aids for right now...I fear another cyst, which can sometimes occur when you're on all these hormones, etc. If I don't see a positive OPK by CD21, then I too will be having my Progesterone tested.

Ovulation has always been super late for me since stopping the pill, up to two weeks after it should be (so up to around cd28). You are right, I'm happy to see that surge after waiting for aaaages. I really hope I do ovulate, even though I keep hearing/reading that with long, irregular cycles, this is probably not the case. But the signs are good, I do get a clear LH surge (my LH is low until the surge), then ovulation pains, then a temperature rise. However, I do get my period too soon after that, last time I started spotting at 9dop.

I hope OPKs work better for you. It's difficult not to get sad or obsessed by waiting for that positive, but it's best to accept it and let your body do what it needs to do.

So you think the medication might have caused the cyst? I'm so glad for you you're back 'in the game', really hope that this will be your month - for you and me both!

Hi ladies, sounds like things are progressing well this cycle with follicles gearing up for ov and lh surges, fingers crossed we see some more bfp's. shame you had to miss your trip blamber , think I would have done the same under the circumstances though.

Did you have your booking appointment this week charley?

How are you feeling BNmum? Everything exciting and well?

Blamber, it sounds then like you ovulate (your temp, the pains, etc) so that's great! I hear you about the late aspect though, it's frustrating that we cannot control our internal systems..especially when it's something you value so much and want so badly, right? I bet you will ovulate, and Im very excited for you. Just keep DTD...:) that's what I'm doing (regardless of what these OPKs tell me, I just keep at it every couple days or every 3 days maximum). Re: Basal temps...how many points should I be looking for in a rise? 1 point? 2 points? This is my first cycle ever temping so I'm brand new to this concept...I hesitated adding it to the chaos of TTC lifestyle, but figured the extra little data cannot harm me.

Im not sure if my fertility meds caused the cyst pursay, but I do know that when you take them sometimes the "extra stimulation" to the ovaries can create those big follies, which is good, but where you run into issues is when you don't ovulate (which was my case) and they hand around and don't dissolve in the next cycle...mine must have "LOVED' me, because the darn thing hung around for a few cycles, and finally I said "enough of this already.." and they aspirated it. I'm just a little gun shy now with taking anything, especially the first cycle being "cyst free". xx

The rise should be at least 0.1 degree Celsius higher than the baseline, three days in a row. The baseline is the highest of the 6 temperatures taken before ovulation. So for instance, in my case my 6 temperatures last month before ovulation were between 36.3 and 36.5, and fertility friend put the baseline on 36.55. Then after ovulation, the temperature went up to 36.8 and stayed around there for more than three days, which is when fertility friend recognised ovulation and put crosshairs down.

Good to hear from you bnmum, hope all is well.

great blamber, thanks. Maybe I should join fertility friend (or is it an App?)

Hi guys, Sounds like things are looking up for you, kabgab. Hopefully the cyst will stay away. Keep us posted re temps. I used a site called ovufriend, which I guess is fairly similar to fertility friend.

I hope you get your temp rise soon, Blamber. Let us know how you get on with the blood tests too. Do you get the results on the day or do they need to send them off?

Nice to hear from you, BNmum. How many weeks are you now? I've got my booking appointment with the mw next friday. I'm currently 7 weeks and feeling very sick.

How is Business? Any news?

Oh charley, hope the sickness will go away soon!

Kab, it's a website and an app. Both work the same way. I haven't used ovufriend so can't compare, but fertility friend works well for me. I guess they both do the same thing, where you enter your temps and other symptoms, and the it predicts ovulation for you.

Thanks girls, I'm going to give them a look / try...well, one of them anyway. Negative OPK today (CD12). I have to go in for a follow-up scan tomorrow morning, as they want to ensure things are still going fine internally. They'd better be. Charley - sorry you're feeling sick...hopefully it passes soon and you can enjoy the beauty that trimester 2 holds for you....Blamber, do you feel like you've O'd yet?

Thanks ladies, all good here. I'm 23 weeks now and bump seems to have had a huge growth spurt.

I'm full of sympathy for you charley, the nausea really knocked me about even though I was never actually sick (few close calls). I hope it's short-lived for you. It'll be really exciting to get the ball rolling re: your booking appt and then it shouldn't be too long until you have your scan.

I hope the scan goes well kab and you get your +ve OPK soon.

Any news blamber? Have you seen a temp rise?

Has business been on lately, I hope she didn't take offence at me asking about the ivf.

Well ladies, today's the day the music stopped for me. I had the follow-up scan this morning and zip, zilch...gone. No follicle...nothing. I was told "you just pooped out" (as in my body just stopped working or whatever)..and that I won't seem to produce eggs without medicine. This cycle is (AGAIN) garbage for me, and she said I won't ovulate this cycle (obviously as there are no eggs). So, I left the office with a heavy heart and script in hand for meds next cycle.... They also increased the dose of my medicine. I really can say, I don't like this journey at all. Sometimes hope is what gets us through tricky situations, and I feel my hope balloon starting to deflate some. So, that's all from this desk for now.

I'm so sorry to hear that kab but please don't give up and lose heart (easier said than done i know).
Please use the rest of the cycle to recharge, pamper yourself and prepare mentally for the next cycle. Order some preseed, devise a plan of action, organise a weekend away together or a nice meal out, whatever works for you.
Go into the next cycle knowing that you have what you need re: medication, you are in the right frame of mind and see what happens from there.
I can totally understand how deflated and fed up you must feel about it all. We're all thinking of you and wishing you the best.

Thanks BNmum, that means a lot..I appreciate your kind words...feeling quite low today about it all. Such a weird / empty feeling when you're told that your body just wont produce eggs any longer without medicine...but to your point, have to look ahead and try to remain positive. That bit is just starting to become harder now. I've never tried preseed, maybe I can give that a shot too.

Aw, kabgab, I'm sorry. That was so not what you wanted to hear. BNmum is right though - use the rest of your cycle to be good to yourself and prepare for the next. TTC is such a hard journey and can seem long and never-ending at times, but there is always hope and light at the end of the tunnel.

I also second the pre-seed. We used it for the first time the month that I got my bfp - not that it was responsible, but it is one of the only sperm friendly lubricants and every little helps. Hope you feel better soon - we're all here if you need a moan.

thanks so much Charley..I sincerely appreciate the support. I'm allowing myself today to feel blue and then tomorrow I'm going to soldier through. Im ordering the preseed, it can't hurt, right? Now I'm on CD13 and just hoping AF turns up in a couple weeks and I'm not waiting and waiting...I start my meds on CD3 after AF. I also did alot of internet reading today after the bad news and of course they attribute anovulation (me) to all these possible factors, but one of them is stress and anxiety and how women who are TTC can experience more of that, and sometimes without even knowing you're feeling this way...and how it can suppress ovulation. I'm not sure anymore what's true, but I guess negative internal chatter and feeling tension can't help a woman's system...so I'm going to do my best to think positive thoughts and deep breathing techniques (starting tomorrow...today as I said, I'm allowing the misery...lol) xx hope you're feeling well today.

It's a new week and I'm hoping you're feeling a bit better kab. I also hope that af turns up on time so you can start your next round of meds. I've no doubt that stress and anxiety has a lot to answer for but it's so difficult sometimes to even realise that you are stressed or how to combat it - All the more reason to use this cycle to your advantage and spoil yourself rotten!

Thanks BN - I appreciate the encouragement. I hope you're doing well, and enjoying this time. Well, as for me I'm just trying to keep looking ahead and hoping AF arrives timely...what else can you do right? Looking ahead is the only choice. xx

Hi BNmum , I did try to reply to you with this msg, but it this site wouldnt let me post it. Ive also been busy. I stop takin the Microgynon Pills on 15th Nov I went for my first scan on 20th Nov .
I started taken menopur , took last one 24 nov, I go back today 25 nov, probs start on next meds , then go bk wednesday and friday for scans, then they collect some of my eggs, dont know when that will be yet (hopefully freeze some).
And try to fertilize them, then transfer the embryo back into me.

Harvest my eggs lol

Hi business great to hear from you. Wow! You have been busy, it all sounds like it's progressing at a rapid pace. I'm so pleased and can't wait to hear about the next stage.
How have you found the medication? I hope it went well today and good luck for wed and fri. Eek! I'm so excited for you!

Posted too soon, how's everyone else doing?

hi kab, only just read your posts, I'm really sorry. I hope the meds will work well. You've had a tough time, and I really hope things will get better soon. But you just have to take these things day by day.

Business, things are moving very fast! Good luck with your scans!

I just got my AF too early again, on 8dpo. I also did my progesterone test today. Couldn't make it at 7 dpo as it was a Sunday. I guess I know it will be low! At least it should get me referred to a specialist. Had a little cry with AF showing up but not feeling as bad as the last times. I guess that's because I am doing something about it (well the GP is, hopefully) and because I have been busy with work and job interviews. It's not fair though, having to wait a month for ovulation and then getting my period only a week later. Ugh.

Sounds like it's all happening, Business. Quite exciting!

Sorry you got your AF early, Blamber. At least you should be referred at a specialist now though and hopefully they can find out what's going on quickly so that you can get to the bottom of it. When do you get the reults? Good luck with your interviews also!!

Hope all is well with you, BNmum. Did you find out what you're having in the end?

How's it all going, kabgab?

I'm 8+3 now. Had booking appt with mw on Fri. Terrible all day sickness at the moment so feeling v. rough. Hoping it passes soon.