EWM?

[Shones11]

Hello, I'm 42 and trying for a first baby. I've been charting and think I'm ovulating as I get the temp rise but definitely don't get any of the EWM which seems to be one of the other crucial signs of ovulation. So am I ovulating or not? Any advice, been trying for over 6 months.

It's one of the things that often lessens with age, in my experience. If you are getting the temp rise there is a very good chance that you are ovulating.

Have you had any investigations yet? As you are over 35 your dr should start tests once you have been trying for 6 months. If you might want to go down the assisted conception route, it would be advisible to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later.

yes, you'll get less ewcm when you get older. Instead you could try sperm friendly lubricant, such as preseed, conceive plus or I have read that you can even use egg white, but I wouldn't really fancy that myself!

You get the temp rise, which means that you are most likely ovulating, so that's good!

I agree though, if it's been more than 6 months, it's best to see the gp.

Thanks, no haven't had any investigations yet and know it's the next step. Just wondered if it was still possible to conceive without EWM?

Have bought preseed and given it a go - not sure about the actual egg white but never say never. Thanks for the advice though will give my gp a call.

I'm younger (28), but I never get fertile mucus of any description either. It's a big worry as it's so important but not medically fixable - huge bummer. I'm doing everything to try to fix the problem - this includes a high dose of Evening Primrose Oil from period to ovulation (then stop), likewise flax seed oil, likewise calcium supplements, and I've been taking the cough syrup with the hard-to-spell ingredient (guanefesin or somesuch) twice a day in the days leading to ovulation. So far, none of it has made the slightest bit of difference, but I'm plodding on with it all. Maybe some of it coud work for you?

I would suggest vitamin b6 I get a very noticeable amount of cm for two days (I'm 31) and have been taking it for four months now.

Muriel How about Preseed and vitamin b6?

some say grapefruit juice works too! Not sure how scientific this is though.

I think it depends whether it could be a problem. If you have ewcm at the cervix, where it's needed most, then it should be ok. I'm not sure though how much a lack of ewcm would affect your chances.

Thanks for that, I've been trying the cough mixture thing but will give the evening primrose oil, flax seed oil and B6 a shot too. i do get CM it's just not of the egg white variety!

There might still be some around the cervix even if there is not as much as there was before. Mine seemed to stop around 8 months in to ttc (helpful). However a year or so later I had a colposcopy around the time of ovulation and my cervix was magnified many times on the screen and I could see it was pumping out EWCM (it was very embarrassing actually - it was like my body was shouting "take me, take me now, I'm ready" at the gynae while I was stuck in the stirrups....

Thanks guys - I take Pregnacare Conception, just checked and it contains 700% of the RDA for B6 so that's definitely covered! I use Preseed every time too. To be fair, while Preseed is great and all, I don't think any amount of it could compensate for a lack of ewcm in and behind the cervix, which after all is where it's needed the most.

Eurochick, that is both hilarious and encouraging, thanks. I have a gyno appointment this week for something unrelated, so I might mention it to her/him. I just hope I don't get smacked down for bringing up something fertility-related in a non-fertility-related appointment, because I've only been at it six months. Still though, she who dares...

How are you checking your CM? I'm only 24, but I don't 'expel' very much... If you insert two fingers and gently press either side of your cervix and then move your fingers into the middle below it to collect whatever's there, you'll see what you've really got. I'd never see EWCM if I didn't do that, but in reality I've got plenty and it's pretty good quality .