Kitkat - regarding your question about when you might expect to ovulate after you've had a positive OPK (or Clearblue smiley face).
I found this pdf a while ago and think it's quite interesting: - Clearblue - Ovulation in relation to LH surge - . There's a table on page 4 which summarises the results of various studies: 'Time of ovulation (% of women ovulating within given time of LH surge)'. Anything from about 9 hours to 36 hours afterwards seems to be the most common range.
I guess you've also got to factor in that you won't necessarily catch the very start of your LH surge when you test. Plus there's that thing that sperm aren't able to fertilise the egg straight away after ejaculation - takes up to 10 hours for them to undergo the process of 'capacitation'. Only solution seems to be to get them in early!
ababs - you're not convincing me that AF is definitely on her nasty way! FX for you.
wotsits - EWCM for a few days in advance of ovulation is quite normal (and good) is it not? You'll be fine starting on CD7, surely?
We had some disappointing news today 
.
DP had self referred, privately, to our local hospital (a good teaching hospital and all that) for a sperm analysis last July. We showed the results at our initial IVF consultation - doctor said count, motility, normal forms were all fine, well maybe could be a bit better, but generally OK. Plus doctor was encouraged (vis-a-vis DP's sperm) that we conceived naturally aged 43.3 on our first cycle TTC (which is our DD), then conceived again aged 45 after three or four months of trying - sadly had MMC (of our little angel boy) but that almost definitely wasn't a sperm issue.
Fast forward to today. The IVF clinic did another assessment of DP's sperm, which came back positive on the MAR test (MAR - Mixed Agglutination Reaction). I'd never even heard of it before - its something to do with antibodies on the surface forming an antispermal cover around the sperm, I think which cause the sperm to clump together, resulting in "immunologic infertility". Apparently it means we would be unlikely to conceive without IVF + ICSI, that's even before you've thrown my cronky old eggs into the mix.
I wasn't surprised - DP's clearly developed some kind of allergy/immune issue. Last September he suddenly developed angioedema (swollen face/lips) and bad hives (urticaria) on his arms/torso/legs. The swelling went away but the hives have persisted in random patches most days. GP gave short course of steroids then daily antihistamine, plus he's been waiting for ever to see an allergy specialist at the hospital (due March). Its so bizarre - he's otherwise fit and slim (and tall and gorgeous methinks 
) so no idea where this has come from. Maybe it'll f*ck back off as suddenly as it appeared, but who knows ...
But at the moment, we need ICSI. Marvellous. Guardian angel, wherever you are - a lucky break please?
Bloody wish I was off skiing too! Jass - hope you have a good trip!
Waves to everyone else x