Confused over cycle- when is best time to try?

[BeanbagSafari]

When I conceived DD 7 years ago, we used cheap ovulation strips to try and predict the optimum time to try. I'm not even sure we were using them correctly tbh. Thinking back, I don't think I knew about the test line needing to be as dark as or darker than the control line for example. DD took a fair while to conceive and when it did eventually happen, it was on the one month we had a rest and didn't use the strips at all so that all makes sense.

We are now considering TTC no 2 after a fairly big gap. It is not certain we will, but I have come off hormone contraception several months ago as I didn't feel it was suiting me and wanted a chance to get to know and understand my cycle better.

So far, this is what I have noticed:

My period usually lasts around 5 days max. I then get a few days of very little CM, don't feel particularly hormonal and feel more like 'myself' than I do at any other stage. Not bloated etc.

I then have what is usually two days of feeling quite different- I get more CM, sometimes it seems to be ewcm but not always. Niggly pain in my side starts. I feel much more like DTD than at any other point in the cycle. It is also when I feel more positive about a second pregnancy iyswim and I have noticed I tend to feel more loving and close to DP in a physical way. BUT, at the same time, OPK strips are negative on these days.

The test strips don't tend to turn positive until a couple of days later in the cycle- but by this point, I have usually lost the extra CM and feel less like sex.

So I am confused- obviously it is hypothetical at the moment, but when do I determine as the best time to DTD to conceive and why does my body seem to be a few days behind the test strips?

I'm fairly new to all this too and at the moment I'm not considering using strips or charting my temperature, which can give a more accurate reading of ovulation. I have downloaded the free 'lite' version of the Fertility Friend phone app. It predicts your ovulation days, usually 14 days after the first day of your period. It seems that many women have sex a lot more around these days, usually once every other day in their fertile time. So at the moment perhaps you could keep track of your cycle and try to have sex 3 times a week, but more often during your fertile 'window' ? I'm sorry if I haven't helped much but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable will be along to answer you soon :-) Good Luck!

OP your symptoms sound like mine. AF, then some dry days, then some wet / EWCM. Then the niggles. Then bloating big time. I bbt chart, and have found that the niggles stop about 24 hours before I ovulate. During those 24 hours I get the bloat and some constipation. As soon as I ovulate all the discomfort goes, and I get the runs. Then I'm "normal" for 11-12 days, have 2 days of being foul, the last 24 hours of which I get a headache, then cramps. Then AF arrives.

I would recommend dtd eod, and bbt charting from day 8 until ovulation is confirmed. There is an app/ website called fertility friend which gives useful tutorials. Once you've charted and really made an in depth note of your symptoms, you will be able to predict your ovulation without the OPKs, which I find very hard to use anyway.

I also use the Fertilty Friend app & I think it's good. I also use CB OPK's I didn't find the cheap supermarket strip one's worked for me.