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.

@Seafrontsky how are you getting on?
I had a call yesterday with my GP about my thyroid tests and she said my level came back as 13.1 and if I was under 12 I would be classed as having an underactive thyroid. I'm trying to find some things about it online.

But said for my hair loss if I was TTC to just stick with a multi vit and some folic acid. Have you seen anything about this? Xx

Wondering if anyone can help with my BBT chart. I usually take my temp at 7.30 / 7.45 but woke up today at 6am so decided to take it then. As you can see from the chart it dipped down today. Could that be because I took my temp earlier than normal?

@Jilly1988 it might be, I think that's why they advise to take at the sane time each day. Although, I've attached mine and it dipped on the same day as yours!

@Jilly1988 I never find an hour makes that much difference when you look back. Maybe need a day or two to see what happens?

@VP91x that's good news about results I think? Not sure I fully understand the scoring, but they seem to say all in order? did they give you your AMH results too? I think vit e is good for hair but I'm not sure really. A bit of a google in order maybe?!

I'm doing ok, slipped a bit with the thyroid diet yesterday as kids, work, lockdown, TTC got too much for me and needed a glass of wine!

I'm 7DPO and trying to let everything flow over me as I'm coming into the hardest bit of TWW. We will see how long that lasts! Still another 10 days till AF as I ovulated early so doing lots of affirmations and a fertility meditation app, bit of yoga. And trying not to symptom spot!

Funnily enough, I was just reading about this yesterday. I can't remember where the exact article was but this explains it too - basically you can adjust your temp yourself if you have to by just adding it taking away 0.2 for every hour away from your normal time that you are.

. In addition, you should try to take your temperature at approximately the same time each day and always after at least 5 hours of sleep (3 hours uninterrupted sleep minimum). Your temperature rises approximately .2 degrees per hour throughout the morning (or will be approximately .2 less for each hour earlier). This change in temperature (due to inconsistent timing) will skew your charting results.

@Jilly1988 there is BBT adjustment calculator you can use if you google it, it is really helpful. Especially if you normally temp at the same time. It would have given you a lower temp, but not drastically. Maybe by 0.2/0.3 like Hoping41 said xx

@Seafrontsky yeah, she just said if was a point lower I would be looked into for an underactive thyroid so really not too sure what to make of it. In a bit of limbo really because whilst TTC not too much I can take! Let's see what happens xx

@Seafrontsky that all sounds like fab stuff to be doing!! Ah 7dpo already. You'll be at 14dpo in no time I hope xx

Hi ladies,

Hope you're all doing okay? Just checking in to see how everyone's getting on.

@VP91x glad your results came back okay! A weight off your shoulders I'm sure.

Femometer decided to move my O from 7th to 8th this morning for some reason despite getting my peak in the afternoon of the 5th, not entirely sure what that's about but hey ho, onwards we go!
Xx

That sounds pretty positive @VP91x though. Maybe do some dr google and see what comes back but also like you say see how it goes.

Hi @cherrychatter that's weird, seems odd ovulation would be 3 days after peak? Did BBT show that maybe? Hope all went ok with BD scheduled sessions? I'm 8DPO now and have definitely slacked off the BD after my 6 days in a row! Finding this TWW so far so good, stopping myself symptom spotting too much. Still 10 days till AF though so sure I'll change my tune at some point!

@Seafrontsky sounding real positive🙌🏽 keep nice and busy for the 10 days xxx

@Seafrontsky I thought the same. Must be BBT. I even thought I would've ovulated on 6th but settled for 7th then it moved to 8th so it's clearly got a mind of its own! Who knows. My temps were higher before O this month so don't seem to have risen as much in LP so we'll see.

I think you deserve a break after a marathon 6days!! The next 9 days will hopefully go quickly for you, hope you've got plenty to keep you busy?

Xx

So I have the CB fertility monitor which should show the two peak days in your cycle as well as high days (you always get a high the day after two peaks).

I had a peak yesterday and again today, so when would I start counting DPO from?! Thank you

@cherrychatter that's really interesting that it moves it. I've only just started doing bbt and I don't think I'm the most reliable person. Do you normally have quite a typical chart?
Well done @seafrontsky you deserve a test. Tbh, I feel like we do less bding in a month than we normally would out with ttc , it's just squeezed into a very small part of the month!

Hi @Hoping41 this is only my second cycle temping so I'm just getting used to it and really have very little idea what I'm looking at!!

Hi @Fran2020 do you just use the monitor or do you back up with a cheapie OPK? I would probably say 1DPO tomorrow (but based on my cycle this month who knows!!)

Xx

Ha ha, very true. I spend time looking at the chart and worrying but actually have no idea away all what it means!

@cherrychatter I juts use the monitor but the line is less visible today (see photo). Xx

Hahaha @Hoping41 I'm exactly the same, I literally study my chart then go 'nope, no idea what I'm looking at' 😂

@Fran2020 I don't pay much attention to the actual lines on the test and just accept what the monitor tells me. I back up with a cheapie OPK from around CD14 (a few days before I'd hope for peak not that it always works that way) and check if the line on that matches with what the monitor is telling me.

Xx

@cherrychatter ahh fair enough, thank you! My CM is creamy now so I'm guessing I've ovulated?! Xx

@cherrychatter ha ha, I keep googling it too but I'm still non the wiser. I've only been doing it about a week and I still wake up about an hour early panicking so maybe next cycle will be more accurate!

How is everyone doing today? @Hoping41 did AF show or are you still holding out? Anyone else due to test?

Hey @Seafrontsky doing okay! CD14 still getting flashy smilies but perserving alongside OPKs. How are you feeling?

@Fran2020 I'm not sure how the monitor works but, with the advanced ones once you get your peak it says not to test anymore because it won't be able to read it for 48hrs it will just stay on the same reading which may be the same for the monitor? Xx

Good thank you, I'm in my TWW now! Starting doing OPKs on the FM on CD6. Got all lows until a high on CD10 and Peak on CD11 and 12. We DTD on CD 7, 9, 11, 12 and hopefully once more today (CD13) for luck! Now to stay chilled but positive. I've been doing fertility yoga for the last few days too. How is everyone else?

@VP91x It makes you test in batches of 10 tests. So this cycle I have to test CD6-15. I think if you get a peak, it's always followed by another peak and then a high day.

@Fran2020 oh that's interesting, good that it does it in certain blocks. Looks like you're all covered! How have you been getting on with the fertility yoga? Xx