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.

Hi ladies,

Hope you’re all getting some sun today.

Good to have you onboard @Hopefulmummie & @BabyDust7. @BabyDust7 not too long to wait. Have you been using OPK’s previously?

@GiraffeInScarf yeh I reckon this is just how my periods are, have enough to stress about without worrying about that too! I think I’ll do preseed a couple of days before I O but mine can vary by about a week so may order another packet. Got my thermometer this morning so I’m all kitted up 😂

How many days are your cycles normally @1izzie

We’re on the same cycle day @Donnat89 I’m taking it easy this weekend and the next few days too

Where is everyone from?

@Maise24 how are you getting on? Hope you had a good birthday

I used opks for the 1st time last cycle

@Hopefulmummie I was using an app that had me ovulating at a completely different time to when I actually do. Hopefully now you're using OPK's you'll get your BFP! 🤞🏼

@cherrychatter the app I'm using was similar to the opks so hoping use the SMEP method this cycle will help x

@cherrychatter hi , yes AF seems to have completely stopped only lasted 2 days don't know if I should be concerned or not but on to next cycle ! I'm from Reading , Berkshire . X

Hi ladies

How did you find pre seed @HopeWish? I’m CD 7 now, will be trying it out tomorrow so advice appreciated!

@Donnat89 that’s a few of us in the 2 day AF club... how much I would have wished for that years ago before TTC. It seems like it’s still ‘normal’ tho so I’m trying to think of it as being lucky not to be suffering long. It worries me a bit at times but keep telling myself if it was a problem then maybe it’s why we didn’t conceive last month, but this is a new month so might be better

@cherrychatter I was sceptical about temping to begin with but now I’m practically doing it in my sleep! It’s a good time to start if you can get a week or so in before ovulation, I’m still amazed that it works and I’m still on a high from finding out I’m ‘normal’! I’m in Scotland btw, so the sunshine is very much a novelty. I’ve not wasted a second of it this last week, I know it can’t last!

Hi to @Hopefulmummie and @BabyDust7

Having a relaxing evening with a (small!) glass of wine now. DP is away for a night shift so I’ll make the most of an easy night what’s everyone else up to for the weekend?

@GiraffeInScarf that's what I'm thinking too , just looking forward to the next cycle now so ready to go ! X

@cherrychatter they're usually 25-28 days but last month was 33 (which was very annoying!) I think they're just a bit longer because I'm at home all the time now, usually I'm at work surrounded by woman! OPK's are starting to get a bit darker so fingers crossed it'll be soon!
How are you doing with everything?

Never even heard of SMEP until I saw this thread! I'm currently CD30 - normal for me is 29-31 days so expecting AF any minute now tbh - and going into cycle 2 with ttc #1 at 29. Maybe we'll try SMEP for this cycle, sounds exhausting haha.

Hi @GiraffeInScarf

I haven't used the pre-seed yet - waiting until I am closer to fertile days! Never used lube before so a bit worried DH will laugh at me for going 'OTT'!

@HopeWish well if he laughs just laugh along... tbh the tube and syringe is hardly a romantic start! 😂
We have used lube before, needed for a while due to medication (my lovely doctor just added it to the prescription, couldn’t believe the NHS hand it out but then suffered an awkwardly busy pharmacy whilst they discussed what stock they had in 😳) it was a dispenser bottle tho, easy to use as needed without spoiling the mood. Got a feeling pre seed is more functional than fun, but willing to try if it might help, we’ll laugh if nothing else!

@cherrychatter I've been using OPK about a year ago for a few months while going through the fertility clinics check ups.

Also had cycle monitoring by gynecologist while they put me on chlomid, but I produced too many eggs after the first course so she told me to STOP trying for that month which was disappointing.
Next month we reduced the chlomid intake and everything was ok , but still no luck.

We kind of let it go after that as the gynecologist said we are both young and healthy and shouldn't stress about it as it will happen when it has to or worst case try IVF but it wasn't funded in our borough (we moved since so if no luck until next year then we will start the process)..... I wasn't happy with this as I'm 30 and DH is 35 and we stopped using contraception about 3,5 years ago....🤷🏼‍♀️

@GiraffeInScarf I'm also in the 2-3 days AF team but I'm hoping that's normal ☺️

Currently on CD21 - Boobs are hurting and had small cramps, but this is normal for me so I'm not getting my hopes up 🤞🏼

From Coulsdon, Surrey

I was reading on the preseed that you should 'insert' it 15 minutes before DTD, I can just picture it now 'hold on darling, be with you in a second!' 😂

Loving that your pharmacist felt the need to have that conversation in front of other people @GiraffeInScarf 😐 I think I'll start temping tomorrow and see how I get on, need to do some reading up on it too.

That's good your lines are getting darker @1izzie hopefully it'll be any day now!

Hoping you get your BFP rather than AF @localbunny and if not then you can be exhausted with us over the next month!!

That sounds like quite a journey @BabyDust7 cant imagine how frustrating that must be for you.

Wild Saturday night for me, pj's & a face mask whilst the OH is at work. I'm Scottish but live in London.

Can someone tell me why doing smep you start dtd on CD8 according to any apps I've used I am not fertile until CD11 and ovulating around CD16?

@Hopefulmummie

I think this is how you can make sure that you don't miss your ovulation day and there are plenty of "swimmers" waiting ☺️

@Hopefulmummie I think it is to ensure the sperm are always there when egg is released which makes sense to me . We are gonna see how we find it this month then just take each day as it comes . AF is finished now so just want to get on with the next cycle ! X

Hi ladies, do you mind if I join in the fun too? This seems like a supportive thread you have here.
This is my 2nd cycle SMEP, 20th cycle TTC (on and off). I'm CD4 right at the end of AF (also a 3 day-er). I think I might be a bit older that others (38) and ttc no 3. Have been feeling a bit down about how long it's taking this time, but have decided to take the bull by the horns!
Only used pressed one month, it's a bit of a passion killer tbh. How does everyone else find it?

Hi can I join you ladies?

I'm 31 living in North London TTC #1 after an accidental pregnancy that sadly ended in a MMC in March. I'm now CD8 on my 1st full cycle since.

We have decided to try SMEP this month and see how we get on... my periods are normally 2/3 days with a bit of spotting afterwards so hopefully that is normal. Normal cycles are 28days so assuming ovulation on CD14.

I'm using the femometer opks, CB connected, temping and have preseed and conceive plus lube to use this month. Also trying to sort my lockdown diet out and do a bit more exercise alongside taking Coq10, folic acid, vit D, iron, calcium. I thought I was being relaxed this month but writing that down I'm not 🙈

Me and OH are both key workers but I work 10-4 and he alternated between 12hr days and 12hr nights so just hoping we see eachother during fertile week 😊

@Seafrontsky I agree with the pre seed being a passion killer we've got some but don't use it often as it just ruins the mood ! Xxx

Welcome to everyone new!

On CD10 today and this time haven't O'd early - more time for DTD then haha!

So far have DTD CD 7 and CD 9 (started a day early due to early O last month) so on track with SMEP! Haven't tried Pre-Seed yet, tbh not sure if I will try it now. It is there if I need it - I'll leave it at that.

Feeling positive this cycle and really hoping that I do fall this month because my cousins "pregnancy talk" is driving me mad!

Ah good luck everyone. I am not doing it now but after a year of trying fell pregnant after trying this once and am now 16 weeks. Just wanted to share a success story. Xx

@SmileyT welcome! So sorry to hear of your loss. Hope you're ok. Ships crossing in the night does make SMEP difficult (so much BD to do!) But you key workers are doing such an amazing job-thank you!
@bulliedintonamechange congratulations! Thank you for the positive encouragement!
@Donnat89 isn't it just? Do you know if it helps that much?

@bulliedintonamechange congrats, always good hearing positive stories.

@Seafrontsky thanks, well I work in a bank and he works for a trainline so we're not saving lives but giving people access to their money and making sure they can travel helps a bit I guess ☺️ every other day for the next week is fine with his schedule it's just the 3 days together that may be a struggle depending when i get my peak.

Last month I noticed I didn't have that much CM so thought the lube could only help and DP seemed to enjoy it but I only used a tiny bit x

@HopeWish how long are your cycles normally? Hopefully you'll be joining in on the pregnancy chat soon x

Welcome @Seafrontsky & @SmileyT

Congratulations @bulliedintonamechange great to hear a success story!!

@SmileyT so sorry to hear about your loss. I know what you mean, I think I'm relaxed then my OH reminds me of the temping, OPK's, diet changes, exercise, sex scheduled & supplements and I'm like hmmmmm, sooo relaxed 🤣

How quickly did you fall pregnant with your 2 @Seafrontsky ?

Feeling a better about my short periods, seems like there's quite a few of us that are 2-3 days!