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.

Great to see some BFP on here, congratulations. It’s great to have these positive outcomes as a reassurance and to hear others great news.

I’m definitely keen to give it a go next cycle. This last cycle we literally DTD for 14 days straight which was not ideal because when my fertile window opened up we were so tired but had to keep going or miss the chance. We just got pretty excited right after my AF since we didn’t really do it over then and then after a week or so I was like oh hang on, we now need to definitely do it because it’s my fertile window (sorry if that’s an overshare 😂). I think if it’s a no go this month with regards to BFP then it’ll be good to have a plan to go forward with.

@Lauralozzle @Positivity2019 just reading about your marathon sessions is making me tired 😂 you guys are dedicated!

In all my excitement to start SMEP yesterday I knackered myself out and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow 🙈 DEFINITELY starting tonight! I don't usual ovulate until around CD18 so don't think we've missed anything by starting a day late 🤞🏼

@Each2TheirOwn 😂 I wouldn’t necessarily recommend 14 days in a row that’s for sure. However we are trying to not be too restricting either. After all we are TTC but also enjoy each other’s company and get swept up in the moment as I’m sure we all do at times. SMEP seems like a good middle ground. Good luck starting the plan tonight.

Ooh ooohh me 🙋🏼‍♀️😆 cycle 4 for me and OH and it's our first one trying SMEP as well! I'm on CD13 now so being DTD every other day since CD6 and started doing my OPK testing yesterday

Where's everyone else at today?

I'm also on the other SMEP thread for August but thought I'd drop in and say hi!

CD14 for me. Cycle #1 TTC baby #2. I'm also using clearblue fertility monitor to measure my high and peak fertile days (basically a simple to read OPK). My cycles vary from 27-39 days so the monitor helps me figure out what kind of cycle I'm in for!

We missed a few days/dtd on the wrong days early on. So we've dtd CD7, CD11, CD13 so far. Figure it shouldn't matter too much as that's still quite regular! Due to O sometime between Thursday-Sunday this week (will see what the monitor says later in the week!) so am coming up to our 'busy' time for dtd!

@Positivity2019 Thank you! I'm definitely in the zone now 😊

@flossy12 @catsandkid Welcome! I'm currently on CD10, missed the first day of DTD but caught up last night, DTD again tonight and then every second day until Tuesday when the back-to-back DTDing begins.

I expect O on either Wednesday or Thursday next week so will try and pin it down as best I can with regular OPKs. Started OPKs CD6 (day after AF) but they've been all over the place so waiting for that nice dark line 🤞🏼

Is everyone feeling positive and confident this month? X

@Each2TheirOwn definitely feeling the positive vibes this month! 😁 we missed last night but will make sure we DTD tonight before work! Still only on every other day, due OV around 27th so will make sure we're strict this week and next

started my OPKs yesterday and obviously a negative but I'm determined to test everyday

@flossy12 oooh, we're due to OV roughly the same time! Will be good to have a TWW partner 🤞🏼 x

@flossy12 loving the positive vibes!! I’m using the ethos that keeping positive can only be a help in TTC. That’s easier said than done some days though.

@Each2TheirOwn oh yay! That will be a first I seem to always be on my own in the TWW aha! Think there's a couple ladies on the Sept bus that are due to test same time as me too on the 9th Sept 👏🏼

@Positivity2019 Trying my best to manifest all my good thoughts towards a BFP 🤞🏻 💕

Hi All,

How are things going for you guys so far? I'm a bit confused 🤔

I'm now on CD11, DTD CD9 & 10 so was going to have a night off tonight, however, I've just had quite a bit of EWCM. Last month I had EWCM CD16 & 17 and got my peak OPK CD18 so I'm assuming I OV'd CD19 (average cycle 32 days).

I did an OPK strip today and although there is a line, it definitely isn't positive. Don't know whether we should DTD again tonight or pace ourselves as we could potentially have a while to go still. What do you think?

Can I join? I didn’t start the month doing SMEP as I had never heard of it but am switching to it. DH and I have been DTD every other day all month so far. I’m on CD19 and got a positive OPK today. We DTD last night so it’s going to be four days on the trot for DH. He’s rising to the challenge though.

Also meant to add that we’ve been TTC DC2 since December with an EMC in cycle 1.

@Each2TheirOwn do you normally find the OPK strips reliable? If so then the negative result is likely true so have your night off. Maybe see how you guys feel later tonight and slip in a wee DTD as a precaution. Gosh I feel like I’ve not even really given you any advice at all 🙈. I don’t use OPK so I’m not sure how accurate they usually are. You are right though, you don’t want to be all tired out when it’s actual O day.

@Each2TheirOwn when I was using the strip OPK's I would get my peak at CD13/14 but when it did it using the CB digital OPK I got my peak on CD11 and that is the month I got my BFP so my trust in the strips is getting less and less tbh especially if you're wanting to follow SMEP as it is very precise x

@BeingATwatItsABingThing Welcome aboard! Sounds like you are in for a good shot this month 🤞🏼 wish I was as far on in my cycle as you are! Sorry for your earlier loss.

@Positivity2019 This is only my second month using the OPK strips. I always have some sort of line (prob because of my PCOS) but only ever had a positive on 2 days last month so not sure whether to trust them or not 🙈 I appreciate your advice about slipping a quickly in later 😂 better safe than sorry!

@Makingawish that's really interesting about the strips v digital! I don't want to spend fortunes on the digitals as I know they aren't reliable for me so will just stick to DTD every second day (and everyday I notice EWCM) in the hope that that's enough 🤞🏼 it's going to be a loooooong month x

I always have a line too on my OPKs. A positive for me is just incredibly dark whereas normally it’s noticeably lighter than the control line. I’ve never had a positive this late in my cycle though. Part of me thinks that maybe we’ve been doing it wrong and stopping too early. I’d lose momentum throughout the month but I’m a teacher so am on holiday at the minute. Got a bit more energy.

@Each2TheirOwn I’ll always recommend slipping in a wee quickie, it is fun as well as productive after all 😂 Glad to hear you’ve decided on a solid plan though and I wish you luck for this month!

I also wish everyone else in the thread luck for the month. I’ll be testing on fri 30th Aug if AF hasn’t arrived. It’s really dragging already but no symptoms as of yet though it’s early days for sure. As always trying to stay positive.

@Positivity2019 Thank you and good luck for next week 🤞🏼 only a week to go ❤️

Well I'm now CD13 and it's the first day of my fertile window 😀 DTD CD9, 10 & 12 and had EWCM over the past 2 days (well it's either that or some swimmers escaping 🙈) so I'm feeling positive!

How is everyone else doing? x

CD21. AF is due on the 1st. My apps have been pretty accurate so far in terms of dates. Don’t know when to start testing as I had my LH surge on CD19.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing if you had your surge CD19 then you most likely ovulated CD20/21. If AF is due 1st Sept that's a pretty short LP. AF might appear a couple of days later than you expect.

I'm now CD14 and gearing up for the 3 day straight BDing. Still getting low OPKs though 😒 expecting my high/peak beginning of the week 🤞🏼

@Each2TheirOwn swimmers escaping 😂😭👏🏼 aha that got me 😂

I'm CD17 today and this was OPK result at half 1 today!! Still classed as negative but I'd say only a few hours off a positive! 😆😆

DTD On the 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th , 20th and twice today already 😆👏🏼 OH seems to be on the ball today! He must be feeling determined 😂😅👏🏼

Each2TheirOwn

My body is confusing me. AF was two days early last month but I think you’re right that it might be late.

Today is our rest day from SMEP and then one more try tomorrow. 🤞 I’m not sure whether to just keep trying every other day though. I’m starting to get desperate.

I’m going to do my best not to test until the 1st though but I have no self control. That’ll be CD30 if no AF.

flossy12

Twice in one day?!? My DH tried to persuade me that our second day in a row would actually be our 4th because, when we were DTD every other day, we did it the day before my OPK+. I’ve never needed to persuade him before. Poor man is tired.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing haha I know! First time in a long time that it's happened twice in 1 day 😅 well yesterday we had a small tiff as OH said I was pressuring him by doing SMEP, but today he's totally changed his mind clearly 😂😂😂