Advice on CBFM, please!

[Redstar2015]

Hi All,

I'm about to begin ttc cycle #3 and am really wanting to take a more relaxed approach as I'm prone to worrying. I have used the CBFM my first two months of ttc and been tracking my period for much longer so I'm pretty sure I always ovulate around CD14-CD18. Am I safe to just dtd every other day beginning around CD9 and then stop around CD20? I don't really enjoy the pressure of trying to cram in sex every day on the two peaks and the last high and from what I've read you should be covered with every other day in the fertile week. At the same time, dh and I are both getting older (35+) so don't want to miss any opportunities either with chances of getting pg only be 15-20% even if everything is done right and no fertility issues.

Thanks for any advice!

Yes, that is a very good approach. It's basically what is recommended if you don't track anything. How long are your cycles?

They are normally 29 days, but it can vary by a few days (28-31 days). I think my "luteal phase" is around 14 days as I noticed when I was unwell the first month of tracking I didn't get my first peak on the CBFM until cd17 and then I had a 31 day cycle. Last month it was the normal 29 days and got a peak on cd14.

Yes, then it makes sense to "stop" at CD20. You might also start later if you don't feel like having such a long time window, but that's up to you :)

I think that's what I'm going to do. I am glad I used the CBFM just to pinpoint my ovulation window and could check it against the dates I had when using it before for my previous pregnancy, but since it's all really consistent it does seem so much less stress just to stop using it now. I just wish I were five years younger! lol