Anyone else trying to get pregnant 2

[bayleaf]

It may just be my computer ( no broad band in the sticks!)but the other thread was taking a long while to load and accept new messages so maybe we can start again here...

Sorry to hear this Bayleaf, it's just not fair is it? Got everything crossed for you for tomorrow.

I'm new to mumsnet but hoped some of you could give me some advice. First I wanted to say, bayleaf, I hope it goes better tomorrow.

Sorry to raise a new issue but hope people don't mind.

I am in a situation roughly like dot1's--already have a dd, but my partner got pregnant. She is 20 months and we are now trying for number 2, but this time I am ttc. This is only the second cycle but my period just started today, after only 18 days. I've always had short cycles (usually around 22-23 days) but this is ridiculous.

We have been using ovulation predictor sticks with apparent success, though I don't think the rise in LH actually guarantees that you ovulate. (I haven't been taking temperature very consistently so I haven't had the confirmation from that.)

On a few places around the web I've seen it suggested that short cycles may mean fertility problems, but I haven't seen it explained why. Does anyone have information about what short cycles mean for fertility?

Also, has anyone used the 'ovusoft' fertility software from the tcyf website that bayleaf recommended? With any success?

Am feeling a litle more optimistic this am as I do fell better - tho' not 'cured' ( stupid word better as it means both)so we'll just have to see. I'm to go in at 11 am so no rush today.

Ruth - sorry I can't be of much help on short cycles in general but short luteal( ov to period) phases ( less than 11 days) are seen to be a problem becasue the embryo doesn't have time to implant before the lining starts to shed. There aer various things you can do about it vitamin supplement wise - the info is on the various sites I've posted. It does seem to work - mine was about 11 days ( so actually not a problem in theory but a desperate woman clutches at anything) and the vits did extend it by 2 days within 2 cycles.

Bayleaf - best of luck for today, will be keeping fingers crossed for you. Could you post the link to the stuff about vitamins again plz as I can't seem to find it, and the way things are going it could come in useful - worth trying in any case. Pre DS had a fairly regular 27 day cycle, which dropped to 25 days afterwards, but has been creeping downwards and last 2 have been 17 and 15 days with (if I'm getting it right) ov about day 6 which although I'm no expert seems way too early.

Thanks for that bayleaf. Will look back at old messages regarding vitamins. My ovulation to period time this month was (I think!) 11 days, so it looks like I'm within the range, but only just.

Hope it goes well at 11 am.

Thanks for that bayleaf. Will look back at old messages regarding vitamins. My ovulation to period time this month was (I think!) 11 days, so it looks like I'm within the range, but only just.

Hope it goes well at 11 am.

Hope that 11 am appointment is a good one, bayleaf. Fingers crossed for you.

Will have fingers crossed for you at 11am, Bayleaf.

bayleaf, good luck. Let us know how you get on.

for info - my infertility specialist isn't very impressed by theories about short luteal phases. When I asked her about it, she told me that implantation happens quite early (about 5 or 6 days after fertilisation), and that if it happens, the developing embryo will provide enough hormones to support the lining of the womb.

If ovulation is happening early then the most fertile period will also be correspondingly early - and might even be before the previous period has finished. Remember it is best to have sex a day or two before ovulation, because sperm survive a lot longer than eggs and ideally you want some hanging around in the appropriate place at the time the egg is released! Just a thought.

Yes, last month my pee-on-sticks kit predicted ovulation on day 7, which caught me (and the donor-father) by surprise. Those kits obviously don't allow you to inseminate (in my case) a couple of days in advance of ovulation though. It looks like I am going to have to get thoroughly into the temperature-taking, mucus-checking regime.

Ruth21, forgot your particular circumstances when writing that! The ovulation predictor kits (as you know) predict the LH surge which happens a bit before ovulation (12-36 hours or so) - but I've always thought that there is a slight risk of always just missing the boat if you wait until after the LH surge has been detected.
Obviously for you timing is particularly critical, and even more difficult if you are not ovulating at roughly the same time each month - if you could manage several inseminations (say 48 hrs apart)during the critical days leading up to ovulation it might help.

Yes, I think that would probably be ideal--so far we've managed three 'gos' each month, 24 hours apart, and no luck, but maybe we were starting a bit late.

Problem is, the donor-father lives here but works three hours away. Usually he's away from Monday to Thursday, so he has to take time off work or arrange to 'work at home' to inseminate. The longer we spread things out the more difficult it is. I just keep hoping to ovulate at the weekend--though even that doesn't necessarily give you long enough. I'm sure that's not just a problem for me, though.

you're right there! I worked away for a few months when we were ttc and immediately started ovulating on Wednesdays!!

HAPPY BUNNY!!
They checked me over and said it was fine to go ahead - and having had a day extra to develop it was better in some respects for choosing the best embryos- (For elliott and Cookie - of the 9 by today there were 4 grade one 8 cell embryos)so it's all gone very well and now I've got two weeks of relaxing (!) and hoping hard.
Gill - I'll look later and post if I can find it.

Gill - here is one bit about luteal and vit B etc YOu need to click on 9.4 - ( altho I have come across it on several sites. This one seems to be a very extensive and interesting site www.fertilityplus.org is the main site address.

Ace news, now take it easy like the doctor says!

bayleaf, I'm really pleased - that's great news! Just got to keep sane for the next two weeks now...
I start sniffing on Saturday, BTW. Still have a feeling of unreality about it but I'm sure it will become all too real very soon!

Bayleaf, that's fantastic news Four grade 1 embryos is brilliant - I never had a grade 1 on any of my cycles. How many have you had implanted - 2 or 3? Hope you're sat with your feet up right now!

Elliot, hope all goes as well for you when you start sniffing at the weekend.

Best wishes to both ... CM

Glad to hear it went well bayleaf--good luck, and to you for this weekend, elliott.

Thanks for the link on vitamins and short luteal phases.

GOOD LUCK BAYLEAF!!!

Ruth 21 - isn't it a palava! Sounds like we're in nearly exactly the same boat - our donor father lives about 4 hours drive away, and although I've had a break from TTC for the past few months, now I'm on new medication I'm going to start next month - but hoping that if I ovulate (I've never had a line on a stick...) that it's at the weekend. Because both dp and I work, I can only inseminate in the evening and then the following morning - although this worked for us when ds was conceived. When dp and I tried for our ds it was really bizarre, she always ovulated at the weekend..!

Good luck anyway and keep us posted.

Elliott are you long or short protocol? How long did down reg take for you last time? At least if you're sniffing it's not the hassle/pain of injections over a long period.

I never did get to the bottom of what was wrong with me - as you say 'sore ovaries' is not very helpful - but at the time the dr ws there
a) I thought he was talking about OHSS and
b) I was sooooooo wound up about the possibility of it not going ahead at all I wasn't in any state to ask coherent questions.
Annoyingly dh has come down with a sickness bug today so is at home in bed - I'm staying well away from him!

yes, I always come away from drs appts thinking 'oh, I forgot to ask about....'
I suppose I am doing 'long' protocol - but my clinic basically programmes you in for 3 weeks of down reg starting on any day of cycle. Last time I needed an extra week but I think that was because I wasn't very obsessive about timing my sniffs - this time I'll be better!

Hope your pain has settled now, and that you don't catch dh's bug!

Sounds like mine - I was 21 days ( but whilst waitnig for scans talking to people who seemed to be down regging and stimulating pretty much simultaneously so maybe it depends on your 'problem' Are you supposed to time the sniffs? I just did it when I got up and when I went to bed and so it must have varied a bit as sometimes I went to bed at 8.30!!- and half the time it felt like a really wet 'sniff' and the other half as tho' nothing had gone up my nose at all - so first time round I was convinced that it wouldn't have worked. Mind you if I really thought it hadn't worked I sometimes took another sniff for luck which was probably stupid - but it doesn't seem to have done any harm.
One of those itinerent (sp??) fish sellers came round today from up north somewhere selling loads of fresh fish and I normally say no but in a fit of healthy zeal I bought a load - probably far too much - so it's FISH twice a week from now on!