First cycle trying SMEP - Anyone else?

[Each2TheirOwn]

I'm currently on CD8 so am going to attempt the SMEP plan this month.

I've been referred to the fertility clinic but would love to conceive naturally before my appointment comes through so this seems like our best chance!

Is anyone else currently doing this or planning to? Would be good to have a SMEP buddy.

Hi @Each2TheirOwn there's a thread on the conception board with a few people doing smep.

I did it and am now 5+6 with my second pregnancy. My first ended in April and was a missed miscarriage. I've been ttc 18+ months all in. I also measured my temperature which helped to pinpoint my ovulation day (was the day of my positive opk!)

Good luck 🍀

Hi @VenusStarr sorry, I tried to reply to you earlier but just realised it didn't post. I also searched for SMEP threads but there wasn't any results so don't think my app is working properly. Thanks for the heads up about the other thread, I'll try and find it.

Sorry to hear about your loss but congratulations on your recent BFP! I'm glad the SMEP plan worked for you.

Wishing you have a happy and healthy 9 months x

Hi OP, how long have you been TTC?
This will be out 3rd month TTC #3. Haven't really tried OPKs this time around, just trying to take relaxed approach this time. But wondering if we should attempt SMEP.

Hi @pottypotamus we have been trying for 14 months (although we have had a couple of months break during that period). I'm almost 35 and TTC our first.

I have PCOS so not convinced OPKs are reliable for me (although I did get a positive OPK on CD17 & 18 last month but couldn't TTC as I'd just had my MMR 😡).

My sleeping pattern isn't fixed so temping isn't suitable for me either. I was thinking that SMEP may be the best way forward as it will ensure that we are catching my fertile period without having to rely on tracking.

I've read a lot of success stories from people who have tried SMEP so am feeling quite positive for this month 🤞🏼 DH and I have also started taking pregnacare conception - his and hers this month so hoping that the combination will do the trick!

What stage of your cycle are you at just now? X

We tried SMEP this cycle - currently 5dpo so don’t know if I’ve been lucky though. Word of warning: it’s exhausting!

Hi @Each2TheirOwn @pottypotamus
I am also contemplating using the SMEP. I am 2DPO in my second cycle so I’m right at the start of my TWW, however I researched SMEP late in my last cycle so figured it was too late to really give it a go for that one. However if this cycle ends in AF (which I’m praying it doesn’t) then I think we will try SMEP.
@Each2TheirOwn like you I am nearly 35 and trying for my first child.

I'm currently CD21, so it's too late for me to try this month, but will definitely try in my next cycle.
TTC#2 for almost a year, MMC last year and I haven't had a BFP ever since.
First appointment with fertility clinic in two weeks time.

@Lauralozzle I think that's why we haven't tried SMEP sooner, it sounds exhausting 🙈😂

@Positivity2019 I really hope you get your BFP this month so don't need to try SMEP but if you do, I'm hoping I'll have a success story to share to spur you on 🤞🏼

Best of luck to you both 😊 Please let me know how you get on, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you x

@Zigzag11 Sorry to hear about your loss.

That's great that your appointment is imminent, it'll be good to get the ball rolling. I'm not expecting to get my first appointment through until mid-October 😩

@Each2TheirOwn We're losely doing it - currently on CD 11 and have DTD slightly more than SMEP just because we felt like it. Much like you, I'm not tempting or doing OPKs though. Are you just using projectected ovulation days to work out the days when you'd DTD every day, or are you generally just sticking to every other day for the whole month?

I recommend! We used it and had success - this was our first month 'properly' trying rather than just seeing what happened and we got our BFP earlier in the week! Really hope it works for you!

@Raizelrea we are going to DTD every other day from today and then for 3 days straight over the projected ovulation period. My cycle has been 30, 32, 30 over the past 3 months so I'm hoping the app predictions are roughly accurate. Even if they aren't, every second day alone should ensure we have a good shot 🤞🏼

Credit to you for going above and beyond the necessary 🙌🏼😂

Is this your first month SMEPing?

@Lucyben14 CONGRATULATIONS!!! That's great news 😊 Love hearing stories like yours, keeps my positivity going 👍🏼

All the best for the next 9 months, hope they are kind to you x

@Each2TheirOwn and @Positivity2019
Really hope SMEP works for you guys!
@Lauralozzle it sounds bloody exhausting! Not sure we have the energy

We tried this after 12 cycles trying after a mc at 8 weeks.... I am now 32 weeks pregnant, maybe be chance but I would say worth a try!

@Each2TheirOwn Yeah I reckon it's definitely a good way of maximising your chances regardless of when you ovulate. Keep us posted on how it goes for you!

Yes it's my first month of SMEP, and really the first month of trying in a more intentful way, the last two months we were sort of trying but not really during the fertile window so it would have been quite the miracle if it had happened.

@Raizelrea thank you and best of luck for you too this month! I'll be testing around 11th/12th September and will definitely update you on how it goes. Fingers crossed we both get our BFPs this cycle 🤞🏼 let me know how you get on to x

I definitely advocate SMEP! We got out BFP on 10DPO after the first cycle using it. We also didn't find it exhausting but that might be different if you have longer cycles!

@Makingawish Thanks for sharing your experience and BFP picture (I love seeing them) 😊 Congratulations!

This SMEP method is sounding better and better all the time! I'll be sorely disappointed if it doesn't work for me first time 😂 As you can probably tell, I'm impatient now and probably putting far too much hope into this 🙈 x

@Each2TheirOwn Thank you! 💜 My one piece of advice is to follow it to the letter. A lot of people do their own version and are disappointed when it doesn't work but I think there's a reason why they suggest using the CB digital ovulation tests because it's all about DTD at the perfect time! Good luck and feel free to message me if you need any further advice/support 😊

@Makingawish Thank you very much 😊 I've been using the cheap One Step ovulation strips as I'm not convinced OPKs are accurate for me due to having PCOS but I might bite the bullet and buy the Clear Blue digital one and give it a go as I haven't tried that before 🤞🏼 Thanks again 💛 x

pottypotamus we are finding ttc 3 more challenging due to the existence of the others 😉. Gone are the days where you could manage twice a day etc!

What will your age gaps be?

@Each2TheirOwn you're welcome! I didn't get on as well with the cheap ones but I know a lot of people breeze through with them so do what's best for you c

@Each2TheirOwn @pottypotamus we ended up DTD 4 days on the trot which we haven’t done for years 😂😂😂

Still, peoples experiences seem very positive. I have my fingers crossed for this cycle