Advice/support on ovulation timing

[hailes87]

Hi ladies,

It's my first time posting here and looking for some advice/support...

My DH and I have been TTC #2 for nearly 11 months, having come off the pill 14 months ago. We conceived #1 within 3 months of coming off the pill so expected #2 to be reasonably quick...

My cycles are a bit all over the place - anywhere from 29-38 ish days. I've been doing regular ovulation testing so I usually know when its about to happen. I've recently started reflexology which I thought was helping regulate my cycles (I had two cycles in a row where I ovulated on nearly the same day!)

I thought this was going to be the month as we were on holiday when I was due to ovulate which meant we were both nice and relaxed and had lots of free time to dtd... however my ovulation tests have all been negative until yesterday when I finally got a smiley face much later than expected. We dtd last night and a few days before that. BUT DH has had to go away for work today, back tomorrow night. I've now got myself in a tizz that we've basically missed the windows this month. I've had EWCM today too.

If I had a positive ovulation test last night, and EWCM today, does that mean I've ovulated? If not, if we had sex last night and then tomorrow night are we likely to have missed the window?

I know 11 months perhaps doesn't seem too long to some people, but I'm right at the edge of giving up hope and accepting that we're maybe only meant to have 1 DC...

Would be really grateful for any advice!

X

It's impossible to say. All you can do is Dtd every 2-3 days which will ensure you don't miss the window.

Some evidence suggests skipping a day is actually better as it allows the sperm to replenish.

It's impossible to tell if you have ovulated, but if you had sex last night then I'd say that's good timing ! You want the sperm to be waiting on the egg so doing it right before the positive is good timing , if you can't do it right after the positive.

I know it's a faff but temping is the best way to monitor what's going on in your cycle. I find it very reassuring to see on a graph why my cycles are differing lengths - usually my ovulation has been delayed by something or I've had a disrupted luteal phase by illness or stress.

I don't know where you've gone on holiday, but my ovulation can get delayed by things like long haul flying or eating loads of greasy food!

Thanks so much for your replies ladies. I really had got myself into a right state stressing over it so it's reassuring to hear some positive comments (and I think it generally just helps talking about it, right?!)

@79andnotout I did do my temperature for a while - about 5/6 months - but I stopped as i was getting a bit obsessive over it, and doing daily temperature readings was a daily reminder that I hadn't fallen pregnant yet which I was finding a struggle... maybe I'll start it up again though.

Holiday was in the UK but I hadn't thought about holiday and other factors like stress potentially delaying ovulation so that's good to know!

I'm finding this whole thing very stressful which I know isn't helping the situation. I'm been trying reflexology and regular yoga to help manage and reduce stress - does anyone have any good tips on other ways to stay sane whilst TTC?!

Okay fair enough. No tips for avoiding stress really. I'm just trying to carry on with my life and have a plan B for if it doesn't work out. I'm 39 though so know the chances of it not happening are pretty high, but that actually makes it less stressful for me as I'm resigned to it.

Good luck in your journey!

@79andnotout good luck to you too, keeping my fingers crossed for you x