First time TTC age 36

[Luca2511]

My partner (24) and I (36) are TTC - AF arrived yesterday (month 6 of trying). Had one CD21 test which confirmed ov had taken place and he has swimmers in for testing (awaiting results)
Think I may be getting the BD dates out by a couple of days. Going to start OPK this month - not sure when to start testing - if 30 Aug is CD1 and cycle over last four months average is 28 days and advice when I should start testing for ovulation ?

I think the advice is just Shag Lots, frankly.

Go for it when you notice some eggwhite cervical fluid or when you feel really wet 'down there'. Those are your most fertile days. For more info go to www.tcoyf.com

it tells you on the leaflet with the ovulation sticks

you have to know how long your longest cycle and shortest cycle have been then you use the extremes .. it is all explained on the leaflet

you may need more than one pack of OPKs for first cycle ... then you'll get the hang of them

keep a note of first day period, when you BD and when you ovulate btw .. it can be helpful

hi, if you have a 28 day cycle you should probably start using the pee sticks from cycle day 11. also check your cervical fluid. there's a good guide to follow for bd-ing if you do a google on "sperm meets egg plan." good luck.

thanks for your replies - this is still all so daunting.....

An update - DP has a lowish count although the motility is normal. GP has told us to come back just before Christmas and keep trying....going to carry on with charting my cycles and trying to pinpoint ov - got another CD21 test in a couple of weeks.

A couple of futher questions - hope you don't mind :
Can vits/supplements or anything help increase his count ?
A friend has suggested reflexology for me - anyone had experience of this whilst TTC ? Does anyone know a reflexologist in Central Scotland ?

The general consensus seems to be that if you are 35 and have been ttc without success for six months you should be referred.

TBH the doc should have referred you at this point particularly as there could be a male factor problem i.e low count. BTW one result like this does not aotumatically mean there is a problem but such a test should be repeated (and more than once too).

Many drugs have been tried to increase sperm count without success so would not bother at all using any expensive potions and the like designed to "treat" such things. Him taking a zinc supplement won't do any harm but it is actually debateable whether such measures will do any long term good. Cutting back on alcohol consumption and cutting out cigarettes if he is a smoker (sperm are badly damaged by such substances) is helpful. Sperms are complicated things and there is much about their chemical composition we still do not understand.

My counsel as well is to stop using the opk's as well as these can be misleading - it is quite possible to have more than one LH surge a month and it is not the case that a LH surge is immediately followed by ovulation. Make love when you both feel like it and banish any thoughts of timing intercourse from your mind. I note in your original response that you were thinking you were getting the BD dates out by a couple of days - it does not work like that. BD two or three times a week throughout your cycle is fine.

I agree with Atilla - go back to your GP and ask to be referred. My dh's first sperm test came back as "slightly low". Subsequent tests proved that his count was fairly disastrously low.

Also agree with the giving up alcohol and smoking. Caffeine (sp?) is also thought to have an effect on sperm production, so my dh gave this up as well.

Good luck