TTC APRIL

[RMS0209]

Hi!
Making a thread looking for some company/support
I'm currently going into cycle 4, trying to conceive baby 1.
Looking for others in similar situation.
Beginning to feel a bit deflated now, as I am sure many many others are too.
Trying some things different this cycle to hopefully get a BFP
•ordered an Ovusense core
•carrying on with my reflexology weekly
•Trying the SMEP method
•Hot water bottle after ovulation as I read someone else done on here
•carrying on with my supplements

Any other advice/recommendations/suggestions welcome

May April be the months of lots of BFP's 🌟.x

@RMS0209

Hi *@Tiredteacher2507* So sorry to hear your sad news I like the ovulation tests. What symptoms of PCOS do you have? I'm just curious, with a very over active mind! x

I have irregular cycles, anything from 26-43 days. This time it was 32 days which I'm happy about because it means I can move onto the next cycle quicker to try again. I went to the gp about my cycles prior to TTC and they didn't seem to take my concerns seriously and wouldn't test my hormones. If I go again I'm going to be more pushy because I am also quite hairy and have acne. Ovulation can also be painful so can usually tell if I've ovulated or not. But wasn't sure last month so I think I'll try the test sticks even though I said I would be relaxed when TTC and never do them!

@Tiredteacher2507 I'm so sorry for your loss. It's the hardest thing to go through. I'm the same: caught first time we tried but had a miscarriage at 11 weeks, now heading into cycle 6 since the loss and really struggling to work out why I got pregnant then but not now.

What cycle are you on this time around? Sending love ❤️

[quote Presently83]@Tiredteacher2507 I'm so sorry for your loss. It's the hardest thing to go through. I'm the same: caught first time we tried but had a miscarriage at 11 weeks, now heading into cycle 6 since the loss and really struggling to work out why I got pregnant then but not now.

What cycle are you on this time around? Sending love ❤️ [/quote]
Sorry for your loss too. I wasn't even expecting to get pregnant for a while so was surprised I got a positive the first time we tried. And now nothing since. I'm only on cycle 4 and I know that's no time at all compared to some but I'm just very impatient!

@Tiredteacher2507 same! Couldn't believe it happened so fast. Now can't believe it's taking so long. Gah!

@MrsGrealish I have the Mira and Ava.

With Mira you have sticks which measure estrogen and lh or progesterone. You need two different types of stick which are £60 a box and the monitor itself, so it’s not cheap!

I had the DR, went for the spotting as was a bit concerned and something else.. she took some swabs, but all OK i think.. getting an AF tummy now so hopefully coming today!

She told me to stay away from the OPK's.... I don't know if I can

@Longbin wow Mira sounds expensive!

@Longbin @RMS0209 I also found the Mira progesterone sticks NEVER worked, and customer service was useless

@Presently83 I will be optimistic that my ovusense helps

@Tiredteacher2507 if you think you have PCOS then don't let them fob you off! I got diagnosed in Australia when I lived there, and when I came back home I had to get it "rediagnosed" by the NHS and it was a bloody hassle. You just must push for it, and they absolutely a minimum should be testing all of your hormones etc, can't believe they would say no with irregular cycles and your other symptoms.

If you can afford it, maybe do a private blood test with GP results, they have specific one for PCOS the place I use.

PCOS isn't a fertility death sentence but you just need to manage it, and they should at the very least diagnose you! Lots of supplements you can take as well to make your cycle more regular.

I have spent too much time on all the health stuff, but it makes me feel a bit more in control in an uncontrollable situation

@Greedy7 thank you so much for sharing, it's nice to hear success stories!

@RMS0209 why did she tell you to stay away from OPKs?

@Longbin see I was totally tempted there till I found out the progesterone ones didn't work..may order the blood test😕

[quote MO22]@RMS0209 why did she tell you to stay away from OPKs?[/quote]
No idea! I didn't ask, she said to just try "enjoy" it and dance every few days... (easier said than done!) I think she could maybe tell I looked stressed?

@MO22 @RMS0209 two big london fertility docs I've spoken with also said to throw out the tests and instead have sex every other day from the end of your period until the next one. They said tests can cause unbelievable stress and be inaccurate, and that sex every other day is the best way to ensure healthy sperm is always where it needs to be etc etc... saying that, we tried that this month for the first time and it didn't work - but it was much less stressful.

Interesting that both docs said sex every day was too much for the little guys.

A friend of mine got pregnant the one month she didn't use OPKs - turns out she ovulated way later than they implied.

@Presently83 I agree with the added stress! I'll have my Ovusense but that's for a BBT tracking for my Reflexology but I don't think I want to do OPK's this month, give myself a month off of stress... I say this now! X

@RMS0209 @Presently83 argh, I'm so dependent on the sticks!

Sex every day is just a bit much for us, we're old and lazy! I suppose it's better than every day!

*every other day!

AF HAS ARRIVED! Bring on April x

@RMS0209 wooo! 🥳

@RMS0209 I can see why they say to stay away from them as it does add pressure, I've done CB when I got back from my appointment and got a flashing smiley.

With regards to DTD around ovulation, does anyone continue to DTD a few days after, I've seen a few people on here say that they do and didn't know if it'd be worth a try.

It's a little annoying as DH has his check on Monday and he's got to sustain from any activity 2-5 days before, right when I'm ovulating.

@MO22 what vitamins do you take to improve your cycle?

I have cycles anything from 30-46days, I mentioned it to them at the clinic today and they wasn't concerned, she said it happens all the time for the most silliest of reasons, e.g. stress, new diets etc.

@RMS0209 wooooo, very pleased for you! Onwards!

@Rhianne18 it's funny, it really does just take one. When I got pregnant last year we had sex once, two days before I got a positive OPK, and that was it. It was my first time using OPKs so I was pretty chill.

In terms of supplements, I take Myo inositol to make my cycles more regular, and CO10 enzyme - both are meant to help with PCOS and shorten them. I take lots of other stuff as well like NAC, evening primrose, etc as recommended for PCOS sufferers but I'm not a doctor and everyone is different so don't take any unsolicited advice from me ha

@RMS0209 yay! Glad it's finally started for you, onto the next cycle :) happy thoughts!

@Rhianne18 ooh, the tests are done (for you at least!) That really sucks about the timing for your DH though

@MO22 I know what you mean about DTD every day/EOD, ours can be so sporadic completely based on how exhausted we are from work, renovating a house and just general life!! We're also terrible for not 'being in the mood' when needing to at specific times, with irregular cycles I do need to do the OPK's though so just don't tell him I'm doing them haha!

In fairness though I can completely see why OPK's can stress people out, and if you have a fairly regular cycle they can probably do more harm than good sometimes!

@Rhianne18 we had that too; OH has his sperm check bang on ovulation day so I got him to call the doc and they found a cancellation for him a week later. Might be worth a shot?

@MO22 it really is unpredictable isn't it, sometimes I think the more we think about it, we make it worse for ourselves but can't help but other think it all to try get the best possible chances of conceiving. I do like your idea of not testing and DTD every few days, I might try that next month. If we manage to keep to it or not is a different story, life is so busy and tiering.

That's interesting, I take COQ10 already as I read that it was good for your cycle, I'm going to take a look into the other things you mentioned, everyone is different, but anything is worth a shot. Thank you for sharing!

@alwaysseeingstars it is indeed, however I'm thinking if I already think I'm out this month then anything will be a bonus.

CD1 now and surprisingly feel very calm, like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders! 

I take some supplements too I take the usuals with folic acid I also take extra iron & vitamin D being vegetarian.

Know what you ladies mean about the DTD who has the time/energy... but spoke to OH we are going to try this month, think he saw how sad I was this month even though I knew it wasn't "success"
@Rhianne18 I am definitely going to try a few days extra too after OV, going to try aim for every 2:3 days after AF goes. I seem to appear to ovulate at different CD's each month so I want to give myself the best chance.