A survey: The "Every Other Day" theory

[KickingUpQuestions]

Hey guys,

Congrats on your pregnancies. I've popped over from the "conception" threads with a purpose!

If you would care to answer some questions for me:

1. Did you go for OV or EOD theory? (by this I mean did you ONLY DTD during OV time or did you concentrate on DTD EOD while being aware of OV?)
2. Which do you think worked?
3. How long did you try for before you conceived?

Just trying to find a pattern :)

Thanks!

Hi

Got a recent BFP after 6 months of trying (after a MC). Had previously been using ovulation sticks and confess to DTD becoming rather, er 'focused' around critical time.

Here's what happened though the month it 'worked':

1. GP was in process of doing infertility referral
2. We disappeared abroad to a desert island
3. Ovulation tests went out of the window (I tried but was drinking too much rum it was too impractical
4. Did manage to get some Conceive Plus just before hols although it blinkin' well leaked in my suitcase

Really didn't think we were in with a chance but somehow it worked. Would love to say it was a stress-free holiday, but we actually spent a lot of time too hot and sweaty to even kiss and covered in insect bites!

First month, I didn't really know what I was doing - I'd been off the pill for two months but we'd been using condoms because DH had just started up self-employment and he was a bit freaked out about an impending baby as well.

So yes anyway first month we kind of tried - I read Taking Charge of Your Fertility, we DTD as normal but I was more about just trying to take note of periods over the last couple of months, and the first month we kind of tried was the first time I tried to pinpoint ovulation.

Then I read in the TCOYF book that you could have your period and not ovulate. So for the second month I got a pack of seven cheapie medical grade OV tests, and we pretty much DTD every single day when I thought we I was roughly approaching OV. Got a positive OV test on day 15, made sure we DTD and that night - in the middle of the night - I dreamt I had morning sickness and woke up to have to rush to be sick! I still wonder if it was a surge of something from conception!

Anyway, I was pregnant on that attempt. But DH also had a fight scheduled for the following week and had been on this crazy diet to cut weight, and had also been taking these vitamin supplements that increased something or other for him that also increased testosterone so maybe that had something to do with it!

I also bought a lot of cheap ov sticks and monitored CM changes after my period. As soon as I thought I was starting to see the first changes we DTD every day (missing one day and more than once on several days). This was until the day after OV which was about a week. Also did the pillow thing and orgasm after DP.

Pregnant first cycle we tried. Not sure I could have kept it up for many months though!

I came off the pill in feb and periods didnt sort themselves out til march/april we knew roughly the eod didnt make a point of dtd round that time but got preggas that april so the first month we knew itd work. lucky really.

We DTD at least EOD, except when I was having my period, and I got pregnant on the first full cycle after we started trying.
I didn't really know when I would be ovulating and didn't want be worrying about missing our chance if I'd got my days mixed up.

Not sure how long we could have kept that up though.

With DD, didn't 'try' but didn't prevent on.cd10 & cd14.

This time, tried the 'shagging whenever & wherever' over Christmas for the first cycle. Got cystitis and missed roughly 3 days mid-cycle.

2nd cycle; tried DTD EOD but failed (too tired with work & a nearly 2yo) so DTD cd13 & cd14. BFP but wasn't sticky enough...

3rd cycle; tried DTD EOD but again failed. Used OPKs (freebies from a kind soul on here, just cheap internet ones) just to check my ov wasn't delayed due to the loss. DTD cd14 & cd15 (plus a few other days but not really close enough to be useful) and got BFP. So far, so good, 15wks today.

I figure cd14 is an important one for us!!! I guess ours is a timed-to-OV method by default...

1st Pregnancy - Just did it when we felt like it, got pregnant 1st or 2nd cycle. Unfortunately had a miscarriage.

2nd Pregnancy - tried for 10 months, did charts etc after a while, mainly focusing on OV time. After that gave up as I was putting my life on hold, thought 'F*ck it' and got pregnant the next cycle, again just having normal sex when we felt like it. I think I was so desperate to concieve after the MC that it was stressing me out.

3rd Pregnancy (now) - Um, had sex just after my period (maybe day 7 or 8) just the once without protection thinking I was safe, but had a bit of a surprise a couple of weeks later. It was Christmas time and we'd spent a lot of time together and we were pretty horny/ loved up. All good though, as we really did want a second child.

I think for us, we've concieved when we've relaxed and not thought about it too much and when we've naturally wanted to have sex.

I was another who did charting, pillows under bum, dieting, bloody Manuka honey for months. Never found ovulation and cycles went mental (28, 45, 64) so referred for blood tests, still nothing. V worrying esp aged 35.

Month we were successful (Feb) I had been offered a new job, lots of stressy stuff had passed and we decided just to dtd every other day. So hadn't quite gone 'fuck it' but no more temping, pillows etc. On the off-chance I tried an opk mid-month and it had a faint line so we did some overtime for the next few days.

Had a bleed so thought I was unsuccessful but a week later realised it had been lighter than usual so did a test and got a vvvv faint BFP. Did about 18 more tests over next few weeks!

So the cliche of relaxing, having less external stress and dtd eod + extra at ov time did the trick for us. We also used pre-seed all along. It was a long hard road though and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Good luck to all the women in Conception.

Hi kicking
We used pre-seed too, no other lubricant as it knocks off ph and no saliva either IYSWIM so a change of foreplay habits!
We DTD EOD but only did no saliva for the last few months - we tried for 18 months.
Fingers but not legs crossed for you xxx

Used some kind of online calculator to work out ovulation dates (my cycle is of variable lengths) and DTD EOD during OV, and maybe a few times a week at other times.

Took 2 cycles with DS, 3 cycles with DC2 (current pregnancy).

Always DTD last thing at night (we get up very early) so pillow under bum trick after, then didn't get up for some hours after.

Good luck to you and all ladies TTC. xx

1. Did you go for OV or EOD theory? (by this I mean did you ONLY DTD during OV time or did you concentrate on DTD EOD while being aware of OV?)

Both times I've conceived (have conceived one other time but it was straight after coming off pill, and a fluke I think!) it has been after ditching the focus on OV, and just dtd every 2-3 days. For this pregnancy I had EWCM on day 9 and day 23- none in between. So I had no idea when I ov'd. Good thing we were just doing it regularly really.

1. Which do you think worked?

Definitely EOD- well, 2-3 days.

1. How long did you try for before you conceived?

First pg- straight after coming off pill (miscarried) Second pg- nine months Third pg- seven months

Good luck!

SO pillow under bum and EOD or every day worked more than the sticks and stuff...

Interesting...