Full ferning 3DPO. So confused??? Any advice please

[globalruthie]

Hi all!

I am 36, and fell pregnant (when I was 35) end of last year. I had my 12 week scan end of Feb and found out my baby hadn't survived past 9 weeks (missed miscarriage) and then miscarried at 13 to 14 weeks (early March). I turned 36 at the end of March.

We have now been trying for a couple of months with no success, but I have started to track my cycles to increase our chances. I have attached a link to my chart below. This month I have been tracking ferning, cervical mucus, BBT and OPKs. Last month I think I missed any surge in LH, but I did have a temp shift. This month I am on CD23, had a LH surge on CD19, along with a couple of days of EWCM. But I have just had full ferning using MaybeBaby microscope this morning (before any food, drinks or brushing teeth). I am so confused as all my body signs seemed to be pointing towards ovulation already passed (CM drying up, possibly the temp rising today, lower sex drive etc.) and I was just looking out for a clearer temp shift.

Any explanation for ferning after ovulation? Should we keep trying despite the LH surge and CM drying up? We have pre-seed lubricant just in case I didn't produce EWCM at the time of ovulation!!

I am also waiting on tests back for my bloods and thyroid issues as I pushed for these at the doctors (with my age and thyroid function issues runs in the family) but I am wondering if delayed ferning is something that highlights another health concern that I should be considering...?

Any help would be great as I find this all quite stressful analysing myself which I have never done before

www.fertilityfriend.com/home/760e66

I hadn't actually heard of ferning and had to google it, no wonder you're finding it stressful. I found taking my temperature and inputting it into an app stressful. You're looking down a microscope!

From what I can see ferning indicates that oestrogen has risen which happens a few days before the LH surge. I have a clear blue fertility monitor, I think it cost £70 and then it's about £25 for 20 tests. Once the system gets to know you, you need around 10 tests per cycle. It detects the oestrogen rise and tell you you're at high fertility and then gives you 2 days of peak fertility with the LH surge. This is the least stressful method of tracking I've found. I don't need to interpret anything.

I would probably try the CB fertility monitor in addiction to temperature tracking. Your April curve shows a clear temperature rise, but May is not that clear. I have found BBT quite inaccurate and found I got smoother curves with an ovusense, but that's another investment. I've been found to have other issues and predicting peak fertility isn't difficult in my case so I just use to CB monitor these days.

I used a microscope quite a few years ago (to aid with contraception) and found a clear pattern of oestrogen rise before ovulation then drop off.

I guess you could maybe not have ovulated and your body will have another go, may have a hormone imbalance or be pregnant.

Like the PP I have also bought the Clearblue system, but I’ve only just got it. I went for the phone based one as I think the monitor only stores 6 months data and I’m hoping the phone based system stores more. It’s a bit cheaper. But I think they do the same thing, monitor oestrogen and LH.

Sorry I forgot to say I wouldn’t stop trying this cycle. Some people eg Zita West I think say the best thing to do is DTD every other day throughout.

Thank you both. My temp went up more today and the ferning has stopped, so I am going to tell myself I have ovulated to reduce anxiety. However we will still keep trying just in case, but in a different mindset!! It is so strange as it was the clearest I have ever seen the ferns. I did spit directly on to the microscope though, rather than gathering it with my finger like I had all the other days, so maybe the concentrations were higher. Another thought is that I may have handled food before wiping away bubbles. I usually have it by my bed and do it before I get up but I left it downstairs so did it at some point when I was sorting breakfast. Just can't remember if it was before or after handling stuff!!!

I will look in to the clear blue options. Just using the wilko opks to keep costs down. I read about ovusense and ava bracelet too, but they are quite an investment!!

Can't believe how much female biology I have learnt since my miscarriage. Should become a fertility nurse!!!

Fingers crossed the ferning was that I am pregnant but I think it would have been too soon and it has now disappeared. Time to stay positive, calm and ride out the two week wait.

Thanks again 😊