Tips for TTC?

[RileyF12]

My partner and I have been trying to conceive since last September.

I have irregular periods so I struggle to know when I'm ovulating.

Doc said everything is fine...

Anyone got any tips on what helped them apart from the obvious lol 😝 we have been using conceive plus but clearly it isn't doing anything for me.

Thanks in advance xxx

[Marahute]

Depends how seriously you want to get into it... Do you chart your cycle at all? I have mildly irregular cycles and found tracking my BBT, along with other fertility signs (looking for fertile CM was the main one for me as it was a really obvious sign) to be really helpful in understanding my body. I have a luteal phase at the longer end of normal, but it was pretty consistent, although ovulation moved around, which impacted my total cycle length (this is generally the case) and it was helpful to know this as I knew when to expect my period, and so didn't get my hopes up until it was actually late. When you have an irregular cycle the apps usually can't account for this so will try and tell you your period is late before it is!
Recognising fertile symptoms like cervical mucus also helped me to narrow down when I was ovulating.
I also used the Clearblue Advanced Fertility monitor, which I rate really highly (although it isn't cheap). If money isn't an issue and I was TTC again right now I would definitely get an Ava tracker as it makes recording BBT really easy (and I love a gadget). But if you decide to do this the traditional way I would recommend the Fertility Friend app 100%.

There's also the sperm meets egg plan. But if you go that route you may want to tweak it slightly as if your cycles are irregular and you have a longer one, you may end up running out of steam with the shagging before you actually ovulate!

Obviously these things will only help increase your chances so much. Unfortunately it can take a perfect healthy fertile couple a year to conceive, which can be frustrating!

Good luck!

[RileyF12]

Thankyou so much for replying, this is great info will look into it xxxx

[Juno231]

Figuring out when you ovulate is key. Start with bbt or OPKs, use an app to track it with and make sure you DTD accordingly. Otherwise you're risking missing it every time!

[peachypetite]

I got pregnant after using clear blue ovulation sticks. Very easy to use and interpret. Worth the money

[mrsmummy111]

I was recommended the natural cycles app which tracks your ovulation based on your BBT - I conceived my first the first month using this and am currently in month 2 TTC #2. BBT (as long as you measure religiously) is very accurate especially if you have irregular periods. I've never trusted OPKs as all I ever hear is how unreliable they are

[RileyF12]

Sorry what is BBT and OPK?

[CMM20]

Really interested in this myself! Husband and I are hoping to start from next month so really appreciating the tips 😁🤞

[mrsmummy111]

😊😊😊 BBT is basal body temperature, it rises and falls depending on when you're ovulating / due to ovulate etc and helps determine your most fertile days based on your temp. If you get an oral basal thermometer there's lots of different apps you can use to track it and they'll help you determine the best time to have sex to conceive.

OPKs are ovulation prediction kits, they essentially do the same thing by testing your luteinising hormone levels which can help you determine your most fertile days. You can get cheap ones on the internet as you need to commit to using them regularly (twice a day in reality) around the time you think you should be ovulating based on your cycle length. So for example, if your cycle is 30 days (around), then you'd start testing around day 13 for example, and you'd test twice a day every day, and when you see a spike in your hormone level it helps you to know that you will be ovulating soon / or are already ovulating and you can then have sex around that time.

Sorry if any of the above info is worded incorrectly, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong on anything - I've never used OPKs myself.

[RileyF12]

Hey @mrsmummy111 so I got the thermometer from amazon and using the app called Ferometer but not sure how the tracking works.

Sore my temperature the last couple of days have been stead then today it has dropped. Is this when I'm ovulating? Is this when we should try?

[mrsmummy111]

Hi @RileyF12

Your BBT usually drops right before ovulation, then increases higher than usual right after ovulation. So if you have noticed a temp drop today I would try to have sex for the next 3 days to cover yourself but keep an eye on your temp. Do you know when you expect ovulation to be? (Bear in mind it can change month to month)

Also do you use ovulation sticks yet? Good luck!!

[RileyF12]

Girls is that a very faint line? Or a bad batch of tests lol every time I take a test I get nothing so that's why I'm questioning this and I want it so badly 😭 just need 2nd opinions xx