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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

How many times did it take you to get pregnant?

171 replies

jaykay987 · 27/08/2013 14:00

Just wondered - those with +ve tests, how many times did you dtd the month you conceived?

I know dtd every other day is the best way to get results, but that is just not practical for us.

I am temping and using opks so hopefully we will time it right and catch the fertile window a couple of times.

I see many people who are dtd every day or every other day or "only 5 times over the weekend"! Even with the best intentions, we will not manage this even in my fertile window.

Anyone got any good news stories to share? I'm worried keeping my fingers crossed isn't going to be enough! I'm really hoping this isn't going to put back our HPT date many many months!

This time last week I was feeling so positive. I need to get my positive vibes back!

OP posts:
Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 22:26

Maybe there is something in the myth that regular DTD reduces the quality of the sperm?? Stop jumping him every other day and just focus on your fertile time Grin

SignoraStronza · 27/08/2013 22:28

Don't think have ever ttcd as such - more stopped t not tc! I think it was just the once over my fertile period though. Find it really easy to pinpoint when I'm ovulating as get horrendous pain for an evening and feel extra rampant in the few days beforehand and the raging pmt begins almost immediately afterwardsSad

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 22:31

Writer - yep, it's possible. And also possible that not having sex often enough leads to idle, 'old' sperm! Who knows?!

littleoaktree · 27/08/2013 22:37

First time prob 2-3 times a week, got pg first month. Had no idea when I was ovulating as just come off pill and hadn't had periods for years.

Second time - once - I understood more about ovulation, didn't do tests or anything but as soon as I stopped the pill I kept an eye on discharge (sorry tmi) and dtd as soon as I noticed a change to ovulation type. Pg straight away.

Aware we're v lucky (though dh was rather disappointed as he'd agreed we could ttc dc2 on the basis he'd get more sex while we were ttc - oops Grin)

Hope all goes well for you

Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 22:37

Well, me and my husband don't have a very active sex life, we never have done really.....but his sperm definitely aren't idle, haha.

In fact he hasn't stopped talking about his super sperm since the BFP.
Men, it's always about them Grin

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 22:40

See, it just blows my mind how someone doesn't get pg if they're dtd at the right time! I know it's a dumb thing to say but we dtd at the right time,it didn't work and I couldn't make sense of it, ha ha!

Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 22:45

I completely agree VJ - I don't understand these things either. I don't understand why if sex is done around ovulation the woman doesn't get pregnant??

There must be a number of factors that influence if conception takes place.

Common sense says if you were DTD that often, and every day over your ovulation time, then of course conception would occur?!

Why doesn't it work like that though?
It honestly baffles me how it happens so easily for some women but not for others?! Hmm

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 22:51

Exactly. What are the spermies doing if they're not swimming into the egg?

Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 22:53

Enjoying the view?

I read as well that it can take the sperm up to 7 hours to reach the Fallopian tubes and the egg - and that a very high percentage of the sperm die on the journey.

There are some really interesting educational videos on YouTube about conception Grin

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 23:00

And this is when my natural worrying kicks in and I start wondering if I'm actually ovulating, etc. Must.stay.calm.

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 23:05

Or perhaps DH's sperm doesn't live very long at all..?

See what I mean?

Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 23:05

I'd be exactly the same VJ - I know the statistics say it can take up to a year to conceive but my common sense would be screaming "Why though??!"

However, the factor you have on your side is that you have been on the Pill so there is a very valid reason why it hasn't happened straight away. The Pill can delay conception for quite some time and so you can put it own to that. It may just be a waiting game unfortunately Hmm

VJONES1985 · 27/08/2013 23:07

I won't be able to cope with waiting for months/years. But at least I can convince myself it's all down to the pill.

Writerwannabe83 · 27/08/2013 23:09

Your hormones just need to regulate themselves and your ovaries need to learn how ovulate again I guess? Or something along those lines?!

It will happen, it just might not be as quickly as you'd like x

furbaby · 27/08/2013 23:12

Came off pill one month and pregnant the next .....
that was 25 years ago , been very carefull since Grin

Isean · 27/08/2013 23:34

Notta I suppose that sounds like a lot of DTD for me! Since I came off the pill I have used an app to track my periods & I also started logging every time we DTD. So for information: Cycle 1 - 20 times, Cycle 2 - 12 times, Cycle 3 - 12 times, Cycle 4 - 11 times, Cycle 5 - 14 times & a BFP.
We had regular sex and never particularly concentrated on ovulation time as I was never very sure when that was. I decided in my head to try & keep it relaxed until I got to around cycle 6/7 & then start looking at OPKs, temping, etc.
I feel very fortunate that it didn't get to that stage.
Good luck all! Smile

PeriodMath · 27/08/2013 23:40

VJones, some sperm swim in the wrong direction (too proud to ask for directions). Some stop off way before the egg to have a rest, have a look around (lazy, unfocused). Some do meet the egg but don't fancy her and move on (harsh). Some see the egg, decide to have a go but by the time they've sidled up to her she's...um...died.

Sad

See? It's a tough world

FrankelInFoal · 28/08/2013 07:26

What periodmath said, add into that the fact that the egg may not be of good quality, or that conception occurs but the cells do not divide properly, or that there is a genetic problem with the embryo, or that implantation fails to take place correctly, etc, etc. There are so many things that can go wrong it is actually a miracle we get pregnant in the first place! I think the stats are something like a 25% chance each month.

VJONES, with all due respect you really need to chill out! You are so early in your TTC journey that there is no point in winding yourself up so much. Yes it does take some couples a long time to conceive and yes it is hell but those are the odds some people are dealt and you just have to get on with it. Chances are you will be in the majority and conceive within a year but you will do yourself no favours if you allow yourself to get so stressed about it all.

nooka · 28/08/2013 07:42

I've only really had regular periods when I was on the pill, so no idea about when I ovulate really. With ds we decided one month that maybe having a baby would be nice had quite a bit of sex (3/4 times) over two weekends and were very surprised when I was late and ds was on his way.

dd was a total accident, conceived on Christmas morning when ds was 8mths and had just stopped breastfeeding. I think it was the only time that month!

We were then very very careful until dh had the snip.

Madasabox · 28/08/2013 08:05

We DTD 2x on the same day, so I count that as once iyswim. About 3 days pre ovulation too as we weren't trying. It is only when I felt my ovulation I thought, hmmm that was a bit risky wasn't it and then thought, oh no I am too old to catch that quickly, especially as when I was trying on purpose last time it took me a year!

Tea1Sugar · 28/08/2013 08:27

Dc1 got pregnant on the pill, never missed a single one either!

Newly pregnant with dc2, second cycle. Dtd 4 times.

doobeedee · 28/08/2013 09:08

For those who don't understand how you're not getting pregnant when doing everything right, watch The Great Sperm Race on YouTube. It explains all the obstacles there are to conception.

Writerwannabe83 · 28/08/2013 09:09

That sounds interesting, thanks Doobedoo

phlebas · 28/08/2013 09:19

I've had ten pregnancies over 10 years.

Four times when we only had sex/unprotected sex once that month (including when I was still breastfeeding & my periods hadn't started again) resulting in dc1 & dc4.

Twice were assisted conception (one IVF, one ovulation induction) after 2.5 years of recurrent miscarriage/infertility) resulting in dc2.

Four times the standard OPKs aiming for sex every other day from CD6 to CD16 & an extra on ovulation day (undoubtedly my most stressful method) which resulted in dc3.

No rhyme or reason at all - my first two & last two pregnancies were easily achieved the ones in the middle largely problematic :/

Writerwannabe83 · 28/08/2013 09:36

I couldn't find the great sperm race but I did watch a rely good video called "Fertilization (conception)" but Nucleus Medic Media and it was really interesting. It said that of the hundreds of millions of sperm that are ejaculated, only a few dozen actually make it to the egg!!

It also said that when ejaculation occurs a very large number of sperm actually fall out of the vagina - which interested me as it is a common thought on here that all the sperm get where they need to go, I.e through the cervix...but obviously not!

I'm definitely glad I had my legs up in the air for 20 minutes post sex now Smile

You should try and find it VJONES it was really interesting.

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