TTC April/May 2021 - Sperm meets Egg Plan "SMEP"

[spttc]

Hi ladies Has anyone tried the sperm meets egg plan? I downloaded the free ebook earlier on amazon & Im going to give it a go this coming month! Anyone want to join? 💁🏻‍♀️ I'm month 4 ttc.

@HJen22 yeh we are just home. We won't have results for a while 1-2 weeks. But we've had the testing done so I'm happy that's sorted! Fingers crossed all is well 🤞🤞🤞🤞 I sort of just wanted it done so we know we aren't wasting our time 😅

Sorry about AF @charja100 🙈 on to the next! 🤞

@spttc yeah it's good to get checked over. Do you know what they were checking? I had start of cycle bloods and all came back ok according to the GP but will see what the fertility clinic say x

@HJen22 it was AMH for me and SA for him. Iv heard AMH isn't the be all and end all. I guess it's a starting point. I'm looking forward to meeting the consultant and discussing it all. What are start of cycle bloods?

@charja100 sorry to hear that!! But sometimes it’s better to get it then to wonder!!
And now focus on cycle 2!

Deffo agree with having some wine and chocolate and pamper time!! Xxxx

@spttc to be honest the doctor didn't say but going by google Day3 tests are to check for FSH, LH and Estradiol. I didn't get any info other than they'd come back fine and the GP had made a referral. I've previously had bloods for hormones to check for PCOS as my sister was diagnosed with this. All back fine and nothing even borderline. I'm yet to have day21 bloods though which I think determine if you've ovulated or not!

@HJen22 I'm pretty clueless tbh. I am super worried about it now tho lol. Didn't think I would be as it's early days ttc. But I am

@spttc don't worry I'm clueless too, my Dr explained very little just said get early cycle bloods! Try not to worry, I know easier said than done! But it's a step in the right direction! I only found out exactly what I was tested for previously when I had another call with the Dr and asked, and now I can't even remember 🙈

@HJen22 Oh man yeah it must be emotionally draining after 15 cycles but your time will come Probably this month with the ramped up baby making 😂😂

I'm on cycle day 10 now but the days seem to go on forever when you're counting 😫Are you on 12 now?

@charja100 Oh no sorry about your AF! You can start SMEP with us now though 😂
Are you ok though your period pains sound pretty bad

@spttc You'll be fine Hope you're feeling better!!
Gosh I didn't know there were so many tests for us to do though! Seems like the guys only have to do one test 🙈

Not much news from me! My second hand Ava bracelet arrived today so I guess I'll start using it tonight!
It was a bit grimey but I throughly cleaned it with an antibacterial wipe so it looks brand new now 😂

I'm so scared of breaking it though since I probably won't be able to get any support from Ava (I heard their support is pretty bad anyway)

@Elsbeth1 fingers crossed! I'm cycle day 10 too! I'm estimated to ovulate cycle day 12, upped SMEP a bit and DTD 5, 7,8,9 and aiming for 10,11,12 and 13 if it doesn't kill us 😂 wanted to try as much as possible as my ovulation date has moved about on my app in previous months! If my bf needs a break then I'll be ok with it but we're going to try! I'm tried even typing that 😂😂😂

@charja100 hope you're feeling better and had a day of self care! And not too much period pain!

I know, i said that to my bf when he was mortified having to do his sample, I did say at least that's it, other than bloods I'll probably have internal exams 🙈 I'm trying to not get too focused on the clinic appointment as I think it will just be tests and more waiting. And if all comes back ok just told to keep trying. But good to get checked none the less!

@Elsbeth1

Not much news from me! My second hand Ava bracelet arrived today so I guess I'll start using it tonight! It was a bit grimey but I throughly cleaned it with an antibacterial wipe so it looks brand new now 😂

I'm so scared of breaking it though since I probably won't be able to get any support from Ava (I heard their support is pretty bad anyway)

Ooh that's exciting! Good luck with it! Does it take your BBT whilst sleeping? That would be much easier, I worry if I've woken up before the time and not had the 6 straight hours like it needs or when I take it a little earlier / later x

@HJen22 yay cycle buddies 😂
I'm exhausted reading it 😂😂😂 but yeah go you the more the better!!
What app are you using? I installed 3 different ones and they're all giving me different ovulation days

Why is our plumbing so complicated 😂
Yeah its all a waiting game just keep carrying on and you never know! Might get your BFP before you next appointment

@HJen22 I don't think it takes your BBT but it records your skin temperature which I think is the same thing? Well I was under the impression that its the same thing and shows you you've ovulated/your period is about to start that sort of thing

It also records your pulse rate, breathing rate, sleep and HRV ratio whatever that means

I'll give you guys some updates when I have a clearer idea 😂😂😂

@Elsbeth1 that's great we're cycle buddies! How long does your cycle normally last? I'm around 25 days normally! Yeah it will be the same thing the Ava takes, does it have an app that updates for you at a certain time?

I've had a few as well and have went back to just having the one! I have Femometer, I've had the free version and the paid for Prime, I've got the prime just now as it gives lots of graphs and stuff. That's me got my Peak OPK with CB this morning, and we've managed to BD 4 days in a row, going to do tonight and hopefully tomorrow AM which is ovulation day. I'm out tomorrow so going to have to squeeze it in 😂 will try Sunday evening and then every 2 days after that if we can 😴 how are you getting on?

Thank you @HJen22 @Poppet2021 @Elsbeth1

Took some time out for self care. No c chocolate or wine as in wedding diet to get back into my dress after COVID and it's only like 7 weeks away now. Everyone cross your fingers that Boris gives me the news I need on the international travel announcement.

Instead I had some cocodamol and a day off the TTC chat on here and feel refreshed and excited for SMEP!

How is SMEP going ladies?

@charja100 I'm so glad you feel better. The first day of AF is always the worst, but onwards and upwards and onto a new cycle and another try!

SMEP is going well, although actually not really doing it, just been DTD every day since I got a high OPK and it turned to peak today! I intended on SMEP but I wasn't sure about high and peak and when to do the 3 days in a row so just attempting the whole of fertile week and some more! So far so good 😂

Fingers crossed for some good news regarding travel! Really hope there's a positive update and your wedding goes ahead! How exciting! Have you been engaged long? X

Fingers crossed for travel @charja100 🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞 And good luck with a fresh new cycle! Very exciting about the wedding!!! 💃🏻

How is everyone getting on?

I'm taking the same approach as @HJen22 ...I like to call it SMEP+ 😂 I did day 8, day 10, day 12, I'm on day 13 today, I'm using OPK & Clearblue digital again together as I had sticks left over from last cycle! I'm still low fertility on CB & negative on OPKS (but getting darker daily), so they are matching up again so far. I think from tonight I might start DTD every day. See how we go! And I won't stop until at least 3 days after positive opk, then il do the take a break and 1 more day as per plan.

For my husbands SA yesterday our clinic says no abstinence required. Which is quite forward thinking as lots still say 3+ days even though there's loads of studies showing less abstinence may be better etc. I'm really intrigued for the results of that as we chose to do 24 hours abstinence exactly! As we figured that's a realistic time period for DTD during fertile window. So then we will know what we are working with if we are DTD every night 👌👌

Also @Elsbeth1 update us on the Ava bracelet! Do you get an app or how does it work?

@spttc haha SMEP+ let's hope all of this is just what we need for a BFP 🤞🏻 that's a good idea to compare with the sticks, I used them at the start but I found I was taking a million photos and they'd all come back different! And then picking the highest 😂 so I can't do that with CB, although more expensive I tend to be able to use a box over 2 cycles. That's like us, got my peak today after 1 day low 4 days high, going to DTD today, tomorrow AM and Sunday PM; have a day off then the next and try a few every second days afterwards. I'm feeling positive about this month 😊

Oh that's good no abstinence! My bf had to be no longer than 7 days but no less than 3 or something like that! I hope all your results both come back ok! Which fertility clinic are you with? It was back to front up here, I had bloods with GP then by bf had to go to the clinic to do the sample; but then the GP have results and now we're back to the clinic for the first appointment! And all that took weeks; 3 weeks for results then 2 weeks for a Dr appointment to go through the results, which was basically above average and all good. Bitter sweet, so glad all ok as I know he'd have taken that terribly (plus he had a child from a previous relationship so I always knew he'd be fine) but now I'm even more worried it's something wrong with me! Hopefully all this BD will be a success this month 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Happy Friday everyone :) What's everyone up to this weekend?

@HJen22 Oh yay congrats on your peak! Looks like you've been getting it in the right times so that's promising!!
My cycles last 31 days which is forever! Haven't had my peak yet but have been high since day 6! I don't think my test worked this morning either as no lines showed up on the stick but you can only test once a day with the clearblue monitor which is super annoying
I'm thinking of getting the digital sticks too just in case!

@charja100 I'm just doing SMEP not SMEP+ 😂😂
So far I've done day 6,8,10!
Rest day today and then 12 tomorrow morning since I'm hosting a family pizza party the rest of the day
Ahh wedding is fast approaching! When is Boris updating the travel restrictions? Can't even keep up now

@spttc so yeah wore my bracelet yesterday to sleep (you only wear it when you go to bed) it was pretty comfy and didn't move around at all
Then in the morning you sync it to the app so all the data is transferred from the bracelet to your phone
Will upload a pic of my results!

As I've only worn it for one day I guess there's not much to say about it for now will see how tomorrow compares to today :)

The website gives details on what it measures and what to look out for e.g. resting pulse rate begins to rise within the five days leading up to ovulation
It looks like it does measure your BBT which is your lowest temperature when you're in a deep sleep? (didn't know that!)

www.avawomen.com/avaworld/ava-data-means/#:~:text=Ava%20measures%20the%20physiological%20changes,to%20get%20an%20accurate%20reading.

This is my results from yesterday! This is pretty much as detailed as it goes and it'll plot along as a line chart when it gets more information!

I feel like it should really give you more information like I dunno your temp every minute or something but I guess it does the job 😬

But yeah it's super comfy and can't wait to get more data!

@Elsbeth1 yeh I love a bit of data, charts etc etc 👌👌👌👌

I'm already ready for the fertile window to end and it's just beginning, I'm just feeling exhausted at the moment 🙈😂 got my first flashing smiley today right on schedule - day 14. Should get first peak day 17 as usual. My cycle is super regular I'll give it that!

@HJen22 @Elsbeth1 @charja100 @Brightspark12
Hey ladies
Sorry for the radio silence. Household not been well... or more so hubby.
How’s it all going with you all?
@charja100 have you started next cycle SMEP?
I’m on CD16 today. Got a VERY strong positive opk. So deffo ovulation happening shortly.
Dtd on CD9,11 and 15 (not in between as hubby not well). Planning on doing the next 4 or 5 days straight if possible.
Hopefully I’m not out this month! As did not really keep to the SMEP plan! Fingers crossed 🤞
Hope all is well with all of you! X

@spttc
How are you? Are you in the 2ww now? Hope you are well.
When you get a strong positive on an opk is that to mean ovulation is imminent?
I’m so out of knowledge of it all!