Ovulation and CM

[babaloulou]

I have posted this in conception but seeing though you ladies have been sucessful, congratulations, thought you might be able to help.

I have been monitoring my ovulation for the past 7 months using OPK sticks.

The first 5 months I had 28 day cycles with ovulation on about CD19. Then cycle 5 I went to a 35 day cycle. Then went back to 28 days however this cycle I ovulated on cd9 according to my OPK sticks.

Now on CD19 and had what seems like EWCM for the day but no positive OPK stick.

So my question, did I ovulate CD9 or 19? Or is the EWCM not fertile EWCM?

Why does the days drag when on the 2ww and you go crazy with all your body changes through the month.

bump

Hiya. Never used the sticks, but did closely monitor cm while trying to TTC both time (currently 8 wks pg with dc 2).
Kind of timed dtd with when cm was white and thick and stretchy. Aimed for every couple of days, although have to admit this time was a lot fewer times - too knackered as dd still not sleeping thru!
Prob doesn't help too much, hope It goes well for you. Can totally sympathise with the waiting, it sucks aye?

I have been charting, measuring temperature, CM, and using OPK sticks. DH thought I was a bit obsessive but I'm now 4 weeks pregnant after 1 month of full charting. I just used OPK sticks for the previous 2 months TTC.

I used Fertility friend which has a very good charting website and app.
www.fertilityfriend.com/

There are also some 'lessons' in charting. Sounds a bit silly but I learnt a lot and would recommend it (it's free to do). It says to treat fertile CM as such and DTD to maximise your chances. However it sounds contradictory for you with the OPK result. It's not impossible to get EWCM after ovulation. In fact I did for one day on 9 DPO (CD20). That was also my implantation day I think, as my temperature dipped. So I was already pregnant then!

This is an extract from FF:

"After ovulation, fertile fluid dries up very quickly and the vagina remains more or less dry until the next cycle. Some women may notice small amounts of fertile-looking fluid after ovulation as the corpus luteum produces small amounts of estrogen, but you are not at all fertile after ovulation has been confirmed."

It's worth charting your temperature, as when it rises and stays higher for 3 days in a row you can be confident you've ovulated. Because temp rises after ovulation, you'll still need the OPK plus CM observation but it's great for understanding your typical cycles. Plus your temp stays high if you're pregnant rather than returning to normal when you get your period. So gives you more clues you're pregnant!!
I just used a normal digital thermometer in my mouth when I wake up. Key thing is temperature changes rather than absolute amounts.

Hope that helped and wishing you lots of luck xx

hi,

I tried to monitor CM but it stressed me out as I either didn't seem to get any or got it right at the end of my cycle. Anyway, I'm 22 weeks now, so I guess I never got any fertile Cm but still got pg! Good luck!

(p.s- I got pg the month I stopped obsessing over CM etc, but I was using the clearblue fertility monitor- first month of using it, OPK sticks never produced a positive for me)

Hi,

If it helps, I tried to use OPK and monitor CM too, but the OPK never showed a positive and my cervical mucus seemed to come and go throughout the month. In the end I decided to TTC the old fashioned way and just dtd every 2 to three days throughtout month regardless of CM. It worked on the 2 nd month and I am now 15 weeks pregnant.

Good luck, hope you get your BFP soon.

Thanks for your replies.

I did an OPK stick today and it was positive. I also checked (tmi) the stringy/ stretchy'ness of my EWCM and it seems pretty text book.

turnwest we have been DTD every 2 days since CD9 so heres hoping.

Only concern is my LT phase will only be 8 days.

I promise to update this thread with my BFP or BFN

Haha I did go a bit mad with the charting!! I think I tried to have some control over it, but our bodies are amazing things and it all works out in the end!

I know how horrible the waiting is, can sympathise.

Fingers crossed. Let us know what happens!