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.

Morning xx

Unfortunately BFN today at 10DPO. Tested with a FRER and CB early detection for good measure 😣. Temps are still up though so going to see what happens over the next couple of days.

@TTCgee could it just be this cycle that you maybe didn't ovulate? Really sorry you're not having luck with it this month❤️

@VP91x ahh sorry to hear that but 10DPO is still early so hopefully If you want a few more days there's still a chance!🤞🏼🤞🏼

Argh I don't know to be honest. Came off the pill in Nov and ever since have had these weird periods that last literally a day and have never seen fertile CM. A bit of googling said that it could be low progesterone or something meaning my lining doesn't build up. Went to the GP but she was pretty useless to be fair and said it all sounded normal and kind of fobbed me off really (to be fair it was just as COVID was getting serious so she probs had other things on her mind!)

I started the OPKs back In March after going to docs to see for myself if I was ovulating and I do get a peak LH surge around the same time every month so I thought that meant I was and just thought maybe I don't get the obvious CM but now being on my first month of BBT and seeing no temp rise it's just adding to my worries I've had since being off the pill.

Sorry about the rant :-( just feeling a bit down! Hopefully a couple of drinks and some sunshine today will help me shake it. When AF arrives this time I'm gonna phone up and beg them to do my 21 day bloods just to check if I am! Xx

@TTCgee thats so so frustrating that the GP fobbed you off. Have you tried speaking to a different GP in the surgery and see what they think?

You should definitely contact them again. Plus, it will be affecting your mental health stressing about what is going on with your cycles so you should say to them that you'd really like to be investigated at least with bloods so you know where you stand. I'm sorry you're not getting any answers at the moment. Don't apologise it's what we are here for!! Xxx

@TTCgee I’m currently waiting on the results of my Day 21 test. However I ordered the test from let’s get checked, as my GP wouldn’t do anything until I’ve been trying for a year even though I’m almost 37.

The test is £69 and can be done at home, might be worth a look.

Oh that sucks @VP91x. Might still be a little early though? Do what you need to do to feel better today and treat yourself.

@TTCgee sorry you are feeling worried and down. I think another GP appointment might be a good idea, they are pretty quiet right now by all accounts! I think you can get an LH surge without ovulating, BBT is the way to confirm or bloods as you say. It may be something hasn't quite kicked in since coming off the pill? What were your periods like before/during the pill?

Morning all! Negative FRER for me and AF due in 2 days so SMEP hasn’t worked for me this cycle sadly. 🙁 I will move on to cycle 3 and hope it happens soon, convinced myself there is something wrong!

@Seafrontsky @Slippingcareer @VP91x

Aww thanks so much for your messages. It honestly helps so much having people who understand it to off load to!

I think that's a good idea - I'll ask to see a different GP and see what happens!

Thanks for the info about the tests you can buy to do yourself! I had no idea you could do that! How frustrating that the GP won't look into it for you :-( ... it's so hard as I know we're supposed to wait the magical full year but it completely consumes your thinking does it!

Before the pill they were very heavy (I went on when I was 15 and didn't come off until I was 27 so was on for a very long time) on the pill they were light but normal I'd say? Lasted around 4-5 days and regular flow for a couple of days in the middle... but now hardly anything! Makes it even worse as they look just how an implantation bleed is described so each month I still ridiculously think it could be that only to get my BFN again! Argh...

I do feel better for ranting though so thank you all! Xxxx

Sorry to hear that @Littlebee1990 hope you're doing ok.

That sounds very different to before and during the pill @TTCgee. I'd be getting a different GPs opinion. How frustrating and heartbreaking for you to think its implantation bleeding every month!

@GiraffeInScarf so glad you are doing well, bet you are slightly comforted by the queasy feeling... I'm all good thanks just trying to stay positive xx

@Littlebee1990 sorry for the BFN but you're not out yet x

CD14 for me thinking ovulation will be tonight/ tomorrow and then into the TWW. Didn't manage DTD last night so will just do it tonight and tomorrow and hope for the best ❤️

Hi ladies. Can I join you? I'm 41, partner 37 ttc #1. We've been trying since last may - when I turned 40 - but there's been a few months we've missed due to illness etc. We're using smep for the first time this month and I worry now that we finished the bd too early in previous months. I had thought we were to bd for the 3 days before the tests showed a surge. It's all very stressful as time is well and truly running out. Poor OH is getting stressed by my stress!
I am on cd12, due to ovulate tomorrow.

Baby dust to you all 💫

Welcome @Hoping41 😊

Hopefully SMEP works for you this month, fingers crossed. Do you track your temp or just use OV tests? Xx

Evening all! Tomorrow is CD8, I’ve warned DH that the SMEP is knackering so It should be interesting

Welcome @Hoping41 🙏 good luck with the 3 in a row and then into the TWW I'm due AF on the 13th so we'll be around the same point. Will you just wait to see if AF is late?

@SweetShop2020 good luck xx

Thanks for the hellos 😊
Yes, I think we're in the 3 on a row stage but oh is exhausted. He's working every day at the moment while I spend my days sunbathing in the garden! Looks like we'll manage every second day but I'm definitely widening my fw so I'm still hoping.
@smileyT I've been obsessed with testing for ovulation this month, so I would like to tell you that I'm not going to test early but . . . I think I'll wait and see if I have any symptoms. Will you be testing?

@SweetShop2020 good luck!

Good luck @SweetShop2020 and hello @Hoping41

Thanks @TTCgee @Hoping41 @SmileyT

Let’s hope it’s our month!

@Hoping41 AF is due on the 13th/14th so think I'll test on the 11th and 12th as that would make me 11/12dpo and I'll just take those results 👌🏾 I think if I tested any earlier it would just make me anxious if I couldn't decipher a line 😩 also I definitely understand how your OH feels, me and my DP are still working (and he works 12hr shifts either all day or all night) so if those 3 days full badly it's such an effort. We are on the 3rd day of 3 in a row, didn't manage the 1st night but can only do what we can do 🤷🏾‍♀️

@SmileyT we're sure af on the same day then, fingers crossed for us! Yes, we can only do what we can do. It's just so easy, when af comes, to think that the one missed opportunity is the reason why. It's just something to blame, I guess.

Are there people on this thread who take Angus castus? I've seen it mentioned a few times so bought a pack - to add to my very large supplements corner - but it says not to take it if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. Does anyone have any advice?

Sorry - due not sure

Welcome @Hoping41 ah the stress! So much to worry about and so many comments on how bad stress is for TTC that you end up stressing about stress! Try not to worry, it's more about how you manage that stress and whether you can find outlets for it. On Angus cactus it's about the only one I dont take. Think some ladies on the other thread have taken it to regulate luteal phase but think it can send things all a bit wonky. Good luck with the BD sessions to you and @SmileyT.

Hi @Hoping41 hope the cycle is the one. I start on Thursday for this cycle. Though a bit concerned that my last two AF’s have been quite light and only lasted 2.5 days. Just with your comment on Agnus Castus, I am the exact same as you, I have just bought some as heard god things about them but also nervous if it messes things up. I have heard you only take them up to ovulation and then stop.

@Hoping41 yeah every month I'm adding some other nonsense to my amazon trolley and convincing myself that will be the difference, I've started calc flour this month after a few girls on another thread were taking it. I haven't gone for Angus Castus as even though I had a MC in March my cycles seem pretty regular so don't want to mess with them and I thought they were just for lengthening cycles, you take them up to ovulation - I get impatient on a 28 day cycle couldn't do any more than that 😂

Thanks for that @seafrontsky and @jilly1988. I might just leave that one in the cupboard then. I thought it would be good if it got rid of my new period pain or increased the time after ov but it's probably not worth the risk.
@seafrontsky the Amazon delivery driver is never away these days! I took the calc supplement last month after watching a fertility homeopath on YouTube. She's called ingefleur and she's so lovely. There's a ton of videos though so it's easy to get sucked in - and end up with a very full Amazon basket 🛒

Sorry, I meant to tag @smileyT re the calc flour

@Hoping41 oh yeah I've watched a load of her videos aswell... YouTube is definitely a black hole of what to do/ what not to do the only thing I can't get behind is cutting out sugar, have to stay realistic 😂