Cycle help

[MMKMN]

Hi all, after a bit of knowledge please!

We've only just started our TTC journey so I'm still learning! Google has been great (no friends have children so not many rl people to chat to! )

My question is, re: pregnancy tests. I don't really know when I ovulate (presuming I do) and not sure on cycle length (irregular before starting the pill, but not a concern, yet) so how do I know when I can poas? It's been 5 weeks since my last period but not knowing when AF is expected I don't know if I'm late.

I have started logging my periods with an app but only recently so there isn't enough data to offer me enough information.

Am I making any sense? If my cycle lengths are say 50 days (have been in the past), I'm only ovulating today, but if my cycles are 28 days I'm late so... Obviously I'd be very lucky if I conceived so quickly but I'm sure stranger things have happened

Any ladies had anything similar or anybody able to offer me any advice?

Hi @mmk, that's a tricky one. The best way to know you've ovulated and when is by tracking your temperatures, and the ovulation predictor kit (opk) tests can supplement that. Not helpful if you're at the end of your cycle! If you're not regular, maybe buy some cheap tests online (test strips) rather than spending a fortune on pharmacy ones if you don't know where you are in your cycle.

Did you notice (and write down in your app) things like changes in cervical mucus around predicted ovulation dates? That can help to pinpoint ovulation.

Are you on cd 35? If so I'd better tempted to test now and if its negative then wait a few days to test again. Period might arrive in the meantime. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply @CatRen27.

Glad I'm not just being stupid 😂

Day 36...! Which in itself might not be an issue, but obviously I don't know my cycle patterns - annoying.

I was logging cm every day on the app then got a little bit lax (doh!) I will start charting everything every day. I have treated myself to some strips from Amazon they arrive Monday so will start to use them.

Do you think it's worth me getting a thermometer?

I do chart my af so if I don't conceive quickly I will have more of an idea if my cycles settle into a more natural rhythm (don't mind if they're long, just need them to be consistent!)

Don't want to give myself false hope! Just don't want to jeopardise anything either ☺️

I really feel for women on long ttc journeys ❤️

MMKMN - by a quirk of fate your message came up saying i'd been mentioned as i think my username was similar.
It brought to mind my long and difficult journey TTC when you said you really feel for others on long TTC journeys!
My very long journey ended a few years ago (now have a gifted gymnast and a violinist!) via IVF in Ukraine! (Best clinic in the world, but i digress). Amidst my thousands of hours of research i remember reading about spontaneous ovulation- do look that one up too.
I wish with all my heart that you and others get a nice surprise quickly!
And as my mum said in the beginning ''just because it's hard, doesn't mean it isn't going to happen''. That thought kept me going many,many times.
Kindest regards and heartfelt respect
Mari

@mkmn hello, I am in a fairly similar boat to you.

I never tracked my periods, I've been off the pill for over 2 years and all I know is my cycles are irregular.

I fell pregnant earlier this year (we weren't trying, it was a whoops moment) and unfortunately miscarried.

We are now officially trying and I'm so confused by my cycle. I've been using the app to track but have a feeling this month is totally random.

Can't really offer advice but just letting you know someone else is in a similar boat xx

Hey op sorry for not replying earlier, yes I'd suggest a thermometer, as long as taking your temps at the same time each morning is something you can do. It does become automatic, and doesn't have to be forever but is amazing in telling you clearly when you ovulate. I'd recommend fertility friend as the app to use for tracking as it gives you lots of information and analysis. Best of luck, let us know how you get on!

Seconding Fertility Friend, finding the app super useful, and it has good explanations on what to do and why. If this were me now I'd probably do a cheapo test before getting a thermometer! If you do get one, make sure it's a basal one (two decimal places) because the normal fever ones aren't accurate enough. Fingers crossed for you!!

Hi @dreaminofholidays - comforting knowing I'm not alone. Really sorry for your miscarriage how sad for you. You know you're ovulating, keep tracking your cycles and fingers crossed for you bfp. I'll keep my eye out for you xx

@CatRen27 no worries, thanks for your replies. I've just treated myself to a thermometer and some ovulation strips. I looked into the trend of resting heart rate rising the days after ovulation and mine definitely does when my app states I'm meant to be ovulating so that's something! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

Thanks for the advice @catlady3 - have downloaded the app and got myself a 2 decimal point thermometer arriving tomorrow. Will log everything on the app and get my head round it all and hopefully things will go in the right direction!

@AuntieMeemz Glad you managed to complete your TTC journey with two

Thanks for the advice/help/knowing I'm not alone!

Here's to lots of BFPs