Any buddies trying SMEP for the first time this cycle?

[HopeWish]

Hello all!

I am 26, and trying for my first baby. I'm currently on CD4 of Cycle 3. After two cycles of only DTD a few times in fertile window and no result, DH and I are going to give the Sperm Meets Egg Plan a go this cycle.

For those who don't know, the plan goes like this:

-> From CD 8 DTD every other day until a positive OPK.

-> Start testing with OPKs daily from CD 10 (but I will be using earlier as O'd on CD11 last month!)

-> From positive OPK DTD on the day of the + OPK and two days after, then miss a day and DTD again the next day.

We will also be using pre-seed for the first time this month.

Is there anybody else who is doing SMEP this month? Or anybody who has tried it before successfully or unsuccessfully?

After the disappointment of AF arriving early, I'm excited to start a new cycle.

@GiraffeInScarf when does the cover line get added into the chart? X

Right, @GiraffeInScarf, your post has convinced me! (I have a maths degree so love some stats) I've ordered a digital thermometer haha!

Ladies, what app is best for tracking it?

@Slug123 glad you and OH are enjoying lockdown and more time together 🥰 I did a maths degree aswell and honestly the more data I have in this ttc journey the better I feel, for some reason it actually relaxes me. I track my BBT on the femometer app and FF app x

@cherrychatter I'm going to stick to the beep for this cycle aswell so it doesn't mess up my chart 😂 and yes I used preseed, only up to the 1ml I think it was... DP did comment if was like bonjela which I'm pretty sure is a numbing gel so not sure if that is good but hey ho.

@GiraffeInScarf only 3 sleeps to go 🙏 my chart looks very similar to yours, I think the jump always looks bigger on the FF app even though it's the same data

@VP91x cover line is added when ovulation is confirmed which is when you have 3 temps higher than the previous 6 (so basically it's added 3dpo)

@Seafrontsky I tend to drop back off to sleep when I take my temp so not sure I wouldn't wake up 2 hrs later if I didn't take it out when it beeps, but I'll definitely do some research for next month 😂

@smileyt that sounds like it could be dangerous! I put the thermometer in when I hear kids stirring so only have 1 min before they jump on me anyway!

My chart this month looked like this which was enough for me to be happy ovulation had occurred. Previous months too looked similar. I've been riding Ovia which is pretty good but not as clever as Femometer.

Almost there @HopeWish for testing day! Tomorrow is my youngest DD birthday so that will keep me busy!

Ahh amazing thank you @SmileyT looking forward to getting my cover line at some point!

I really enjoy using the femometer app. Really useful seeing your charts! Xx

@VP91x just what Smiley said for the cover line... tho don’t panic if it takes til 4 or even 5DPO. If you have a random higher one in the 6 before it can skew it, or if you ovulate in the evening/night it might not be up much then next morning. And it’s totally normal to take a few days to reach steady luteal temp.

@Slug123 I use femometer mainly because I got their thermometer and it bluetooths the readings to the app and I’m lazy 😂 (you can manually record temps too tho) but I really like the colours and phases, it reads my OPK’s too and automatically draws the cover line. It does a lot of the interpretation for you which helps stop me looking for problems! I’ve not used any other apps so can’t be very balanced I’m afraid.

@SmileyT looks like FF uses a smaller scale, you’re right, the same chart looks a much bigger jump! Tho I guess it makes any anomalies look quite erratic too... you’ve almost got me wanting to try both to balance out the benefits! Looks like a little dip around 7DPO on yours? 🙂🤞🏻 Yep, 3 sleeps to go and not even tempted to test early. I’ve always cracked by now in previous months so the countdown is working for me 😊 how are you holding up?

@SmileyT I think that's why in struggling with TTC, because I have no control and Jo idea what's going on! Maybe this will actually relax me a bit because I'll be able to see a bit more what's going on.

@GiraffeInScarf and @SmileyT you've convinced me, femometer it it

Good that it tracks opks too!

Yeah @slug123 I enjoy using femometer too!

@GiraffeInScarf I also got the bluetooth themometer it is so handy isnt it? I have been using their OPKs too alongside the CB x

@Seafrontsky I woke up this morning at 5.30 for temp and I'm still in bed, although I didn't go back to sleep this morning. Really miss my nephews coming over at the weekend and snuggling up in bed with me in the morning 😩 (omg it actually made me tear up writing that 🙈) what have you got planned for DD, it's my 6yo nephews bday on Friday and he can't understand why there is no party

@VP91x what did CB say this morning?

@GiraffeInScarf I was feeling good but femometer screwed me over this morning with talk of implantation dips and suggested I took a HPT ( I've attached the screenshot of the two pages I didn't find helpful)

@Slug123 I totally feel you, I'm so logical but this whole ttc is crazy... there doesn't seem to be an accurate formula that results in success. Should we take all the supplements or just eat a healthy diet, stop exercising or keep really active, have sex in your TWW or sit on the sofa with your legs up and socks on, who knows 🤯 but yeah get femometer (I've actually got 6 apps but that is unnecessary 😂)

@SmileyT ahh, I didn't know that it prompts you if it thinks you've had an implantation dip! That's clever and also crap if it just gets your hopes up.

My CB was still flashing this morning, I'm CD14 now so another SMEP day 😂. I'm feeling a bit crampy and 'heavy womb' feeling today so hoping I get peak soon. Will test again later. I keep using my other OPKs everytime I go wee. They all look the exact same haha. Xx

Sorry I can't comment on all the temping. I've never done it. Seems more trustworthy than an OPK?

I'm feeling really intrigued whether AF is going to show on Friday or not. I'm trying to disregard any symptoms but I don't have any stand out ones anyway. Isn't it strange not knowing what is going on with your body.

I'm tired at the thought of all the BDING again next cycle😂

@Slug123 I’ve found it totally calms me, doesn’t take away the obsession but it’s channelled it into real data and I’m better at ignoring all the more speculative stuff. And when I start getting the anxious ‘will it ever happen’ thoughts, I’ve got proof I can’t argue with that nothing appears to suggest it can’t.

@SmileyT did it identify it as a dip? I’ve no idea what the criteria are but in any case it’s just it’s own formula and only a test can confirm it later. I ignored it telling me to start testing (I got the same today), unless you’re really lucky it’s a squinter at best but I totally get why so many do it. This is the first month I haven’t and I do feel better for it 😊

@SmileyT Completely agree! I've been trying to keep a balance but it's hard to know. I did a HIIT workout yesterday which is normal for me but the whole time I felt guilty thinking what if this is too much and why it's not working!

@serialplanner got everything crossed for you!

@GiraffeInScarf that's what I need. Something to reassure me it should happen at some point.

Femometer has updated my ovulation day to CD14 according to temp even though I got a peak lh test on CD15

What do you all think

@hopefulmummie since this is the first cycle I am doing OPKs I have been reading about the LH surge and online it says it can happen before, during and after ovulation 🤷🏼‍♀️🧐 so I guess you’re never really certain but temping is pretty water tight I think

Maybe that’s why the SMEP is good? You are basically always “safe” with all the DTD ✨🙈

@Hopefulmummie I’m not sure, looks like you’re missing a couple of temps and I don’t know how that impacts it looking for the 6 lower/3 higher. Give it a couple more days and it might become clearer, Femometer does seem to adjust as it gets more data. If you tap on the rectangle symbol (just below where the time is in the pink header box) you get the graph the other way up which I find a better view if you’ve not tried that?

@Slug123 I do HIIT and weight training too, I’ve wondered just the same! Everything I’ve read says if you already do it then it’s fine to continue but I’m actually kind of glad that lockdown is restricting my weights in that sense, It’s always been on my mind.

@gingerglitter4ever I agree! OPK’s and BBT have their variations but SMEP covers all bases and no matter how much doubt when we actually ovulated there is, we’re all in with a chance 😊 I’ve read that BBT rise isn’t always immediately after ovulation but I think doing LH and BBT together is the most accurate way to pinpoint at home. I just love analysing things tho 🤣

@VP91x yeh, second and third time I used less than a quarter syringe, first time, about 3/4's so you can imagine what that was like!! Fingers crossed for your static smiley soon!

Thanks for the charts ladies, I'll post mine when it progresses a bit further. I've been using FF which looks completely different to Femometer but just got that app so will use both to compare!

@SmileyT I'm not sure if it being like bonjela is a good thing either! 😂 First night my OH said it was like a slip & slide 🤦🏼‍♀️ hence minimal amounts afterwards!! Sticking with using it during fertile days anyway.

Re thermometer I'll stick with my one for now and see how I go and just remove on the beeps!

Happy birthday to your DD @Seafrontsky hope you're doing something nice!

I'm amazed at the will power of you all to not test 💪🏼👏🏼

@cherrychatter 😂😂😂 slip and slide! Yeah a little goes a long way with that stuff. At least it is doing the job!

I just had a fair bit of EWCM with the tiniest streak of blood when I wiped just now, I'm thinking it might be an ovulation bleed!?

Have any of you ladies experienced this? Dipped an IC in my wee to see what it comes out as xx

Ahh hope you get your peak soon @VP91x never want it too early but also don't want to be waiting for ages. I actually did the free upgrade of femometer and that's when it have me this info but also I've read that 'implantation dips' happen on 10% of non-pregnant charts because of 2nd oestrogen surge so not getting my hopes up. What did the IC come out as?

@serialplanner I'm not looking forward to the scheduled sex next cycle, I almost want to take a break in my TWW so I'm really up for it come CD8 😂

@GiraffeInScarf yeah no idea what it's criteria for testing early or implantation dip is but I'll just stick to my plan.

@cherrychatter bonjela is definitely not a good thing 😂

@Slug123 yes I was a hiit and weights kinda girl and it's so frustrating when I read if you do what your currently doing without increasing it's fine and then you read a whole list of things you can't do.

I'm getting excited for some BFPs 😬

Yes bring on the BFPs!!!!!! I need this week to hurry up. Tomorrow is humpday at least✊🏽

@SmileyT it was still negative on the IC, still flashing on the CB. Going to do another IC in a couple of hours.

CD14 now so another SMEP day so I am covered either way!

Yes also looking forward to seeing some BFPs here 🤞🤞 xx

@GiraffeInScarf haha yes! I find the tracking and “science” behind things so interesting! One of my favorite things about Fertility Friend is they have these “tidbit” facts and you can search in there for different topics. It’s so interesting to read about different things, I know it’s not everyone’s thing because some find it causes anxiety but I love to know what’s going on 🤗

Today marks my 7th day of sore bbs and I feel a wee nauseous atm.. currently 10DPO
How is everyone getting on? Any symptoms?

@gingerglitter4ever they sound like positive signs... you still waiting until 21st? Will that be a few days late for AF? I have no symptoms at all apart from a dull throbbing in my right pelvis are but honestly no clue if I'm completely making this up in my head also 10dpo 🤗

Ovulation bleed would be ideal @VP91x keep an eye on the OPK but maybe you just missed it!

What day are you testing @gingerglitter4ever fingers crossed those sore boobs are a good sign!

@SmileyT is there certain exercises you're meant to avoid whilst TTC? Even if you already did them previously?