How to improve chances?

[Pinklilly]

Hi all, I came on my period and this time felt very upset as my husband and I really DTD on what I thought were the correct days. I'm now trying to be objective and think of how to improve and wondered if anyone had any recommendations

My cycles are 28/29 days and ovulate day 18-19 based on opks. My luteal phase is 11days.
Should I work on extended the luteal phase or bring ovulation forward? Ive started proceive supplements and wondering if I should do nothing else and wait? We've been trying for 3 months and I know it's not a lot but the anxiety feels a little overwhelming.
I don't track temping so should I do that?
So just wondering if I should try any of the options and if so which? Thanks for any help!

Your cycle sounds good, don't worry too much about it. If you want to feel like you're doing something I'd perhaps suggest Vit B complex to try and extend the LP a little? How is your EWCM btw - I take 2000mg of evening primrose oil up until ovulation and that has helped it tremendously.

Otherwise bear in mind the average time to conceive is definitely more than 3 cycles for most age groups! I'm on cycle 10 now having thrown everything at it and it's still perfectly normal :)

Have you tried SMEP?

@Juno231 thanks I think I'll look into vitamin b complex, there are vitamin b in proceive but do you think additional is needed?
Ewcm I don't really know how to judge it. I definitely notice I have some and my husband says it's feels wet in there (apologies for oversharing) but unsure how to assess it.

You're absolutely right regarding perspective and noting that 3 months isn't long thanks for giving me a bit more of an insight into that.

@Juno231 yeah it's usually recommended to take more than just what's in the prenatal multivits as they provide the minimum essentially. For EWCM you should be able to stretch it like an inch in between your thumb and index finger.

Check out fertility friend's chart for average time TTC vs age (this includes IVF hence why it doesn't completely drop off at the latter ages). Made me feel a bit better at least!
www.fertilityfriend.com/cg/stats.php/mttc_vs_age.png

3 cycles isn't very long at all OP, try not stress yourself out too much.

Make sure you're taking folic acid, DTD whenever you want as well as when ovulating. You could try something like Pre-seed lubricant but it's really important to relax, it'll happen when it happens.

I recommend CB digital ovulation tests. I'd been trying for 10 months after a MC and the CB ovulation test put me at ovulating 3 days earlier than I'd thought using the cheap strip tests and I got PG first month I used them.

I've still got half a box and the digital holder if you want me to post you some to try out x

@Juno231 thanks alot for the advice and the tips re ewcm, I'll check when it's my "fertile period"
That chart was really helpful and reassuring so thank you for that.

@Waiting4another I wasn't sure how to adapt SMEP to my ovulation as it's much later in the cycle and my husband and I found DTD from day 8 to day 21 tiresome! Do you have any suggestions

@ShalomToYouJackie thanks for your message. I think you're right and perhaps I need to focus more on relaxung rather than "fixing" this. Congratulations to you so nice to hear a positive story. Very kind of you re the clear blue as well, if you don't mind that would be lovely to try.
How do you use them ie. Is smiley face your peak and you dtd.for the three days?

If you ovulate on day 18, you would need to DTD 9 times in a month using SMEP on days 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 22. If you think that is too much, and you are confident of your ovulation timing, you could fairly safely axe the first two and last of those and DTD on days 12, 14, 16, 18, 19 and 20. That is only 6 times in a month and should give you the best bang for your buck so to speak...

Correction, that should say if you get positive OPKs on day 18, not if you ovulate on day 18

If your cycle is 28/29 days are you really sure you're ovulating on days 18/19? It sounds quite late. I had the same length cycle in my ttc days and ovulated right in the middle, days 14/15 according to ewcm. This was back when opks weren't yet available so I could only go on physical symptoms. If you have sex every two to three days during your cycle, maybe more often in the middle, it'll give you the best chance. Relax and good luck