TTC for ten months, and the rest. Ten plussers welcome.

[MrsGingerbread]

A friendly and welcoming thread full of lovely women.

Rrr Ronnie, you sound exactly like me when I had my long cycle. It was the only time it ever happened for me too, and was so confusing.

A positive opk means that you have had a LH surge, and your body is gearing up for ovulation. The only way to 100% know for sure if to chart your temperature. When ovulation happens (aprox 24/36 hours after LH surge usually) you will see a sustained rise in temperature that will last until af.... It's a good way to know exactly when to expect the witch!

It's not impossible that you're pg (and I really hope you are), but unlikely id say given the negative hpt. You can go to gp for a blood test, although mine said I had to be 3 weeks late before they would test. Xx

Hi sammy

Thanks for all the info re ovulation, I was a bit clueless about the tests as I'd not used them before. You're advice is helping me keep a level head, I reallu don't think I'm pregnant but you cant help but let that tiny glimmer of hope pop through every now and again. I will definitely start temping going forward.

I'm not going to test again till Friday when I'll be a week late. We have an appointment with a consultant gynaecologist on Monday (private has nhs wouldn't take me seriously yet) to talk about fertitily testing. If I'm still bfn on Friday and AF hasn't showed before the appointment then I'm hoping he will give us some advice. From what you've said though, I'm thinking it's just as simple as I didn't ovulate.

So how long have you been ttc? ?Xx

That's great that you're seeing someone

Yes apparently it is perfectly normal to have 1 or 2 anovulatory cycles a year... Who knew!
Drs tend not to like opks and temping just FYI... I don't know why really but they seem to think they're not accurate.

We've been trying for 17 cycles now, seeing the specialist (nhs) again in April. Am hoping for HyCoSy to check my tubes and then straight on to iui/IVF although realistically I think they'll make me wait 2 years for that and we may end up going privately. Xx

Crikey Ronnie, sounds like an emotional roller coaster. Have u been testing your first wee of the morning? I can't say I've experienced not ovulating but I hope it's good news.

We've been trying for 18 cycles now (for no.2) and I'm convinced my previous c-section has scarpered my chances for more kids. We too are seeing specialist (nhs) on Monday for the 1st time.

It's reassuring to know there are other ppl in the same boat and are all so lovely.

That's interesting, I didn't know that about anovulatory cycles. So what else do Drs suggest if not temping or using OPKs?!

I bet you're wishing April round quickly! I never knew it would be so hard and I'm 6 cycles behind you. It's so frustrating. I had a bad experience with my GP which is why I've just bypassed and gone private. She made me feel I was just wasting her time because it hadn't been a year and people try for a lot longer and conceive naturally but I just feel like if there is a problem I want to know sooner rather than later. It seems so unfair to have to make you wait that long xx

Hi Teagan

Yep the last week has been a bit of a roller coaster. I just want to know what's going on. No the 3 tests have all been done in the afternoon or evening. When I test on Friday I'll make sure its my first wee.

Sorry to hear you've been trying for such a long time too. It's such hard work but at least we're all going to hopefully get some help and answers soon! X

They suggest nothing, just have regular sex! It annoys me as since I've been charting it is soooo clear that my temperature goes up when I ovulate (a day after positive opk) and down the day before af is going to arrive... Why can't they see that?

Yeah, April can't come round fast enough, I kind of want them to find something (fixable) in the tests as at least that way they won't make us wait 2 years, I dread 'unexplained infertility'

Will you update us after your appointment? X

Teagan you're only 1 cycle ahead of me, how old is dc1? Xx

As if we're not already having as much regular sex as possible?! I can't wait to give temping a go. Could I just start now?

I know what you mean, at least if they find a problem there will be an obvious course of action to take to put it right. I will keep everything crossed for you.

Of course I'll let you know how we get on x

Yeah of course you can. You need a thermometer with 2 decimal places though as sometimes the changes are quite subtle. You need to take it as soon as you wake up after 3 hours solid sleep preferably at the same time every day (sucks at weekends!).
I'd use fertility friend to track as it will tell you when you've ovulated and give you a nice pretty graph!

This is mine from last month to give you an idea:

Oh fab, thanks Sammylou! I'm going to pop to boots at lunchtime to pick one up.

Still no sign of AF. When you had your anovulatory cycle did AF ever turn up or did you just miss it altogether until the next cycle came around? I feel like it's going to put me all out of sync as the app I use (Ovia) to track isn't giving me any predictions at the moment because I haven't tracked AF as she obviously hasn't arrived xx

Hi all, I'm back! I had a month off because the whole baby thing was consuming my every thought. Not healthy!

Anyway, I'm all moved and settled in. Work on the new place starts on Monday. Although I was not meant to think about pregnancy this month, AF has failed to materialise. I am 7 days late but I haven't tested. I know this is ridiculous, but it's too scary. If I haven't come on by tomorrow, I will test. That will be 40 days and I've never gone that long before. I have zero symptoms though. I don't feel pregnant at all and I did with DS. Trying not to think about it.

Sammylou, my dd turned 3 in November.

Hi TravellingLemon, you just moved into a new home?? RE: feeling pregnant, I didn't "feel" pregnant with dd1. I know boys and girls show diff symptoms. Fingers crossed for you!

Oh lemon, fingers firmly crossed for you! Please come back and update us!

Could it be that stress of moving delayed ov? Or do you know when you ovd? Xx

It's got busy on here all of a sudden.

Ronnie, welcome, sorry you are in limbo. I suspect I had an anovulatory last cycle and AF was bang on time. My GP said most women will have one or two anovulatory cycles a year, sucks because we need all the chances we can get! I also recommend temping for confirming ov.

Hi Lemon, glad you're all settled in your new home. Crossing everything for good news for you in the morning.

Soo, I've still not had an appointment through for my referral.....seeing as our tests are all ok and they will likely just say keep trying for 2 years before IVF on the NHS I have gone ahead and made an appointment for an IVF consultation with the clinic where we had our tests done but now I am getting cold feet!

DH and I set ourselves a cut off for May to go down the IVF route but as it gets closer it all feels overwhelming. Part of me thinks maybe we should keep trying for longer (this is cycle 16 which is nothing compared to how long some people try for) it is bound to happen naturally at some point right? But we both turn 34 soon and just feel so ready we don't want to wait any longer.

Sorry, I realise I am waffling. DH really wants to go ahead in May as the clinic said that Spring is the best time for IVF (I think the success rates are only very slightly higher) and it is a quiet month for us. I know if I cancel the consultation and then AF arrives (again) I will regret it and there still 2 cycles to get a natural BFP!

Trixie - I know what you mean. There's something kind of final about deciding to have IVF. On the one hand I feel like it is never going to happen naturally so I might as well start the process but on the other hand I think 'surely it's got to happen soon if nothing's wrong?'

There's a good time of year for IVF?? Who knew! Xx

Still no AF here so I'll be testing tomorrow. I fully expect a BFN though. I have been really stressed out with the move, plus DH and I have had sex a grand total of 3 times this month . If it's positive I'll change my name to Mary!

Trixie I understand how you feel. I have had several friends who have gone through IVF. I suppose the only advice I can offer based on their experiences is that you should do it when you feel ready. Not hugely helpful I know. And 34 isn't old. You could put it off for a bit if that felt right.

Oh lemon, I'm so keeping my fingers crossed for you
I've heard a rumour that it only takes once , so you never know! Xx

I guess I should be changing my name!

Travelling lemon incredible news! Well done you!

Feeling rather glum today as today 3 years ago I found out I was pregnant. Wish I could have that day again

Hello, can I join? Feeling tearful this morning. We've been trying to concieve since jan 14. Although I will admit that in 2014 we took for granted ttc and assumed it would just happen so we didn't always do it enough/at the right times. We're both taking vitamins etc. I need to lose weight and so I am in a healthy way. What else can we do? I work in child protection and really struggling emotionally :-(

lugo it's so hard, I know. There's loads of things you can try like charting or preseed, but most importantly, try not to get too overwhelmed. Easier said than done, I know, but the added stress doesn't help.

It probably will still just happen, but maybe pop to your GP. They can arrange for some blood tests and a sperm test for your OH.

Pikz I'm sorry it's a hard day for you. Keep positive that you will have that day again

Congratulations Mary, I mean Lemon
That's amazing news, so so pleased for you. How long have you been trying?
Just proves you don't have to be at it like rabbits! Xx

Sorry lugo and pikz, sending hugs your way. Xx