15dpo BFN withdrawal method

[ToeBeans24]

Hello

just looking for advice or stories from others really. My OH and I are planning on TTC this year.

last month was let’s say a “warm up” month where we used the withdrawal method. Yes I know this isn’t conception. A baby would be very welcomed.

i also know chances of conception from withdrawal method are slim.

however my period is now 2 days late (15dpo). No sign of her coming except cramps. I always spot the day before and nothing. 2 BFN (yesterday when period due and today). Came off the pill last July and been like clockwork with 28 day cycles on the nose.

what’s going on?! Would I have a BFP by now if I really was pregnant?

Woops 'warm up' even (your username has clearly put toes on my brain 😆)

@blgld hahaha I like your version - dipping your toe 😂

i hope so from next month. It’s something I’ve wanted for a really long time. OH less so but he’s finally come around to the idea. He is a very rational man and loves figures and stats so after giving him a few about time getting more pressing (I’m 33 next month, we are both the same age) and I few others he seems to be on board now!

im hoping things will go well. We did actually have an incident almost 2 years ago. We’d not long met and I actually got pregnant with the copper coil in. It was a really stressful time but due to a number of reasons, despite knowing I desperately did want a baby, it really wasn’t the right time so had to make a very difficult decision. I try not to beat myself up about it though as I do truly believe it was the right decision for a very large number of reasons.

@ToeBeans24 I could've written your whole first paragraph!! Only difference is I've just turned 33 already. The wobble I mentioned is very much my partner, we had a plan but he suddenly changed his mind and wants to wait a bit longer. At first I was gutted as I've felt so ready for a while and have lots of reasons for wanting to sooner rather than later. But last thing I want to do is pressure him or for him not to be as excited as me so holding off it is. Withdrawal is us getting used to the idea together. And now here I am hoping for AF because I've got a little bit too used to this new plan of waiting until later in the year, typical 😆

That sounds really tough but absolutely sounds like you made the right decision for you at that time. I saw someone elsewhere saying the baby that's meant for you will come at the right time. Hopefully your time is this year. Good luck, please keep me updated!

Do you use OPKs? I'm tempted to get a more accurate idea of my O days while the pressure is off anyway, may give them a try next cycle

@blgld it really does seem like we are in very similar situations !!! Is your partner the same age?

i do think men (most not all) take longer to come around to the idea. Women (again not all!) tend to be the most maternal don’t we!

a lot of our friends are having / have had babies recently which has helped lol.

i feel awful but whenever there’s another pregnancy announced I’m floored. It’s like I am genuinely so SO happy for our friends. But I have a little cry each time as I want it so badly.

it’s the unknown isn’t it. Wanting to get started as unsure how long it will take etc!

@blgld have you tested btw?!

no I don’t do OPKs. Prior to this I was very certain when I ovulated. God knows what’s going on this cycle !

@ToeBeans24 no I've not tested and don't plan to unless I become really late. I'm currently going with the theory I must've ovulated very late (or maybe twice?!) given all the late on ewcm so perhaps period will also be late. I'll test this weekend if still nothing but think it's so unlikely to be positive.

What about you? AF with you yet?!

@blgld sounds like a plan!

had a bad headache today and feel very grouchy so I feel (hope) she will be here later today if not tomorrow 🤞🏻!

Yes, I had cramps on and off. Then they stopped for a while, then my period came out of nowhere!!

Hope you get your period soon!

@ToeBeans24 arghh same the worst headaches!

Got a tiny bit of spotting this eve so I’m hoping full AF tomorrow. 5 days later than expected !

Good luck with your next cycle!

AF finally here! CD33!!! 5 days later than expected

@ToeBeans24 I got married at 22 and used withdrawal method exclusively from 2015 to early 2023. Did not use a single condom in all that time even on fertile days and of course no artificial contraception. This was with daily sex in my early 20s. Never got pregnant. Then started ttc last year, dont actually remember which month but has been quite a while now.

AF is due today but still hasn't come but i notice v slight spotting in CM when i went to the loo. will tell you later if i haven't conceived for sure. i tested negative on the early pregnancy tests.

I don't know if i am really good at withdrawal method or am actually infertile

@literaryloveaffair keep me posted ! Got everything crossed for a BFP for you!

A little tip - for some odd reason, ovulation test strips detect pregnancy earlier than even first response pregnancy tests do. As long as you're def not ovulating at that time (& therefore that is what's causing the positive, obvs) then they'll detect pregnancy up to a week before any HCG test.
I discovered it myself. I mistook an ovulation test for a preg test and was initially over the moon before realising it was an ov test. I'd already ovulated that month so I knew it wasn't that. I was baffled. It was a thick, solid line. 4 further ov tests positive. So I took a pregnancy test and nothing but 3 days later I'd the faintest of lines on a first response. Then with every passing day it got stronger! Googled it and yep, they do.

Phew! Now you can start properly, that's great.

I'm still waiting... CD33 too! Twinning again

@blgld any sign of AF ?? Any symptoms? When you thinking of testing?

Hey 👋
we are also currently using the withdrawal method in preparation for TTC (hopefully by summer) I keep going through periods of being petrified that I might get pregnant now, then the next secretly hoping it happens 😂

we have dd who is 18 months, and we ideally wanted to wait until she was 2 to start trying, but I’m sooooo broody it’s ridiculous 😂 it took us almost a year to fall on with her so I’ve come off the pill to try get my body back in sync, and to regular cycles before trying for number 2 :)

@JMPB hey lovely ! How exciting !!

im new to TTC and I’m excited but scared as I get so anxious I just KNOW I’m going to be peeing on a stick and symptom spotting like crazy every 5 minutes!

i long for a child so badly!

hopefully your cycles get back in sync quickly. Did it take long last time? What pill were you on? X

Hey!

it took us just under a year last time, but I don’t know if I was ovulating every month as my cycles were all over the place, and I was getting high OPK’s but never a definite positive so I wasn’t even sure I was ovulating. The one month I got a positive OPK is the month we concieved. Though I didn’t start tracking until we were 6 months in.

This month I got a blazing positive OPK about when my period should be due, better late than never I suppose!! We just decided to track and check I was actually ovulating after last time.

I was on microgynon before my first pregnancy and have been on gederel this time around xx

CD35 and still no sign of AF...

I'm actually annoyed at the thought of now needing to waste money on a test I know will be negative anyway, I'm just so sure!

What a weird month

I used withdrawal method ever since DC was born. Never got pregnant once, until we stopped withdrawing.

So long as you don't double dip, it can be quite effective.

@blgld how frustrating ! Any symptoms of AF showing at all?! Get the £1 freedom strips. Can get them in most supermarkets and you get 2 !

@Outliers do you avoid your fertile period or not? X

Nope. DP Jumps out more enthusiastically during fertile period maybe, but that's it. We did use condoms initially but after no scares with withdrawals it kind of fell away.

Often people get pregnant with withdrawal method from round 2. If the male hasn't cleaned and urinated to clear the urethrea, then residual sperm can be present.