TTC advice needed!

[Abifk93]

Hi guys,

I have just arrived on this forum... but have technically been ttc for a year. But it's been a rocky year! As my partner was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease in January and has been in and out of hospital since with 11 admissions of over 5 days.

As you can imagine, this means we can't always try when the time is right for conceiving as he's not here/not feeling well so I'd say we have only really had a shot a handful of times in 12 months.

Bit about me - I came of the pill a year ago after 10 years on it and my cycle is now normal after 6 months of irregularity!

I find myself a bit overwhelmed coming here to be honest. There is so much abbreviation I don't know what half of you are talking about haha. I have so many questions and am in desperate need of some advice and I guess reassurance as I was definitely brought up to believe I'd get pregnant in a blink like my mum, auntie and grandma...

My questions include...
How many times during ovulation should we be DTD (I know this one! haha)? What's normal?
Has anyone changed their diet while ttc as I read this can boost the happy baby making hormones?
I have also been told before i have high testosterone levels but can't gather what this means for ttc, anyone have any ideas?

Any advice welcome

Hello! Ask away 😁 I know how lonely it can be.

Regarding the testosterone - it's usually linked to having PCOS, is that something you think you might have? If so then it can make it trickier to get pregnant as ovulation might not always be happening.

As for DTD - people try to do it every other day during the fertile week (FW) and then when they get a positive opk (ovulation predictor kit) they do it again probably two days in a row. Your most fertile days are in the run up to ovulation so it's important to try and DTD regularly.

Every other day is because sperm needs two days to replenish so there's no added bonus to doing it daily really. And on the off chance the man has a low sperm count then he's better off not doing it daily.

As for diet... Ladies on here try lots of stuff but it's probably mainly placebo! Things like drinking lots of pomegranate juice for a thicker lining, drinking grapefruit juice to increase EWCM (egg white cervical mucus), Brazil nuts for the men, pineapple core during the LP (luteal phase) to help with implantation etc.

If you find you don't have much ewcm btw then evening primrose oil (EPO) really helps and is easier/cheaper to consume than grapefruit juice. Just make sure you stop taking it after ovulation as it can interfere with implantation otherwise.

Thank you so much @Juno231 - This is such a huge help.

I have been for an ultrasound to see if I have PCOS but they couldn't see any cysts just an inflamed bowel so they said I must have high testosterone and tot take Buscopan and that was it!

I am nervous about starting conversations at the doctors about conceiving as it's a scary road to go down. Perhaps we will keep trying with this advice and see how we get on up to the New Year.

Thanks again :)

I am sorry you had to deal with all of this over the past year. I hope things will be better for you two soon enough.

Seems like you need to make every time "count", so, I would say to follow the general advice:

-quit smoking, drinking alcohol, soda drinks, energy drinks

• less caffeine
• start prenatal supplements and some light exercise
• many start "fertility meditation" it's mostly to help you stay relaxed yet focused. I've collected some recipes for smoothies, salads etc, that have all the vitamins and minerals you need, so dm if you want me to sent them through (or any other advice really)

Good luck, sending you positive vibes! x

Have a google of vitex, agnus castus and also conceive plus or preseed. Worked for me.