Ovulation Corner

[EvelineUK]

Ask away, whether it's OPK's, LH, Temping (BBT), Surges, lines, DPO's, ask away, I have worked for the big boys of fertility and some of the smaller ones....

@EvelineUK I have just got what looks like another positive? Have you heard of ladies ovulating for this long?

No, but that looks more like an actual positive/ peak

Thank you @EvelineUK i think I know when we should be DTD now! According to my app my "window" starts Saturday and my DH is away until Monday late eve so might be out this month anyway.
When TTC its such a short window of opportunity it amazes me how people are unlucky (or lucky I guess for some) enough to get pregnant from a one night stand

Exactly, there's this myth that it's 'easy' for some people, bit they're either lucky/unlucky or they are in tune with their ovulation to expert level. I always preach science, get to know when you can conceive and make sure you DTD at the right times.

Hi @EvelineUK
I’ve been using the Clearblue Advanced OPK’s and in previous months always managed to get my peak by Re-testing in the afternoon after a high result with FMU.

This month is my first cycle after a miscarriage and the readings are quite different to usual. I had low fertility readings for 5 days, even with EWCM, and high readings for 3 days now. In the 2 previous cycles I’ve used these, I got my peak on CD14 and CD12, I’m now CD15 this cycle.

I usually notice a big increase in EWCM on the day of getting the peak and the day after, and I noticed this happened yesterday (CD14). I was at work so didn’t Re-test until around 6pm, and usually I re-test around 2pm to get that peak. I’ve tested twice today since the FMU test and it’s still reading as high, so I’m confused (based on the amount of EWCM).

So my question is, if I’ve previously gotten my peak in the afternoon could I have missed it by not re-testing until 6pm? I did grab a cheap OPK on my lunch break and tested with that at work around 2pm, but it defiantly wasn’t positive. I’ve never used the cheapies before, but the second was so faint.

Just after advice as I’m confused! Thanks in advance.

Hi @EvelineUK I'm about to start cycle 2 ttc and I'm on CD5, I have got the clear blue digital opk ready, i used them last month and found them good (got my peak static smiley on day 6 of flashys).
Would you recommend tempting aswell or is just doing the opk enough?
We are going to try properly this month (last month was a kind of casual see what happens, but husband now realises it's going to take a bit more than that)

@TerribleImagination

Your hormones will be a bit all over this month and maybe next, if you get a peak treat it as such but don't expect it to be as regular as it was and the MC will have moved your cycle around anyway, test a little more often this month and next till it settles down as is regular again .

@biscuit13
It's up to you and whether your lifestyle suits temping as well, it can't hurt as you should get an LH peak and then the temp rise a day or two after to confirm the ovulation. Get your cycle understood and research SMEP to up the conception chances. Good luck x

@EvelineUK I've tracked my cycles in an app for about a year, not been on the pill for year,s, just using condoms.
My cycles are so different, last 6 have been 40, 33, 28, 36, 41, 31 days. Is it normal for them to be so different?
So if we try and BD every other day once I get a flashing smiley will that increase chances?

Thanks @EvelineUK! I was convinced I’d somehow missed it, but I got that elusive static smiley this morning, Yeay!

@biscuit13
Erratic cycles like yours are not uncommon but they do point to a more difficult road to conception. Yes do the dance as soon as you get a smiley as sperm lasts around 24 to 36 hours in the tubes waiting for the egg to pass, and of course you definitely need to make sure to do the do on the day you get the static smiley. Also don't forget about sperm health, male fertility is on the decline so make sure he is doing his bit to increase your chances.

@TerribleImagination

Awesome news, I hope you made the most of it :)

I’ve got a question if it’s ok to ask as I'm a bit confused with this cycle.

My fertility monitor is still showing high and hasn’t reached peak but my bbt has had a dip, my OPKs are darker and I had lots of EWCM - is there a chance I’ve missed my peak with the monitor or I just haven’t had it yet? I always use fmu as it says in the instructions of the monitor but I do 3/4 POKs throughout the day from 10am-8pm and take my bbt as soon as I get up before I get out of bed.

@PottersonDayz

Sometimes too much information can confuse the situation. You may well peak tomorrow, bbt dip shows nothing it's the rise you're looking for. Check on the fmu as most don't use that, but always follow manufacturers instructions. You should only really need to test once a day and if it needs fmu the others are a waste of money.

Hope this helps...

@EvelineUK ok thankyou, when you say make sure hes doing his bit, what kind of things can he do? Hes taking wellman conception at the moment.

Stay off the alcohol around ovulation, loose fitting pants, no hot baths or saunas the week before ovulation...

@EvelineUK thanks for your help with my chart above! I did ovulate on CD10 (earlier than expected) and got my BFP at 12 DPO thanks to noticing an implantation dip then a triphasic pattern on my chart!

Awesome news, fingers crossed it all goes well for you x

@EvelineUK thank you for this thread, so informative. I’ve decided to give temping a go so I’ve been having a practice run this last week to see what it’s like. I’ve only been using the app on my phone not a fancy fertility one. What do you think of my chart/temps so far, I’m aware that it only gives a very small picture, it’s quite normal for me to have low temps, I usually sit around 36.4 anytime of the day. Would you say ovulation happened on the 28th (cd14) & could the second dip on the 4th be implantation (7dpo) or could it be because I took it a bit earlier than the others. I DTD cd12, 15 & 17 (26th, 29th & 31st). My app predicted ovulation on cd17 (31st). I just want to know if there’s any chance of me conceiving this month or if I missed the window. TIA

@sh84

Hmm if I'm honest I'm not seeing a definite temp increase, this is just as likely to be a technique issue (Not easy to get it right) as a sign you have not ovulated. As you may well have read through this page, I'm a fan of LH testing with BBT as a confirmation for this very reason. There are loads of blogs and info pages about getting your BBT right, it's just a question of consistency. If I was to hazard a guess I would say you may have just ovulated... how long is your cycle usually?

@EvelineUK Thankyou for your reply. My cycles are usually 31-32days. But my last cycle was only 25days so has put everything out a bit. I used OPKs in nov & got my peak on the day my app said for ovulation therefore thought app was pretty accurate to time intercourse. My predicted ovulation this cycle was cd17 (31st) but on cd14 (28th) I had ovulation pains & watery CM, I don’t really get EWCM it just goes very watery.

@EvelineUK I’ll just add how I’ve been taking my temp, alarm goes off, I don’t move, just poke a hand out of bed to reach thermometer & stick it under my tongue until it beeps, I actually got a new thermometer on Monday but have stuck with my old one for this cycle but it only reads to one decimal place. I’ve checked how accurate it is with new thermometer last couple of mornings & it’s the same reading ie today’s temp was 36.1 & on new thermometer was 36.11 so I think my temps are accurate as they can be. Was thinking of taking temp vaginally next cycle, would you recommend that over orally, I just worry I’d have to move too much before taking it by pulling pj bottoms down

I'll be honest temping technique and best ways is not my forte, you should se a decent rise a day or two after ovulation of around 0.5 to 1 degrees that stays high for 48 hours. Again no two people ar the same and it may only be the dip that makes it look like an ovulation rise..