To cut my losses!?

[Dahliasings91]

TTC, first month. Snap decision to do so based on career options and age. Not expecting anything immediate but somehow more invested now than before I ever have been in the past. Probably because I have never actually actively ttc in the past (I am aware I am privileged to say this).

Background

• one almost 2 year old, unplanned surprise pregnancy.
• 2 previous pregnancies one termination as a teen, and one ectopic later on in life which was very traumatic, both unplanned
• ttc in august 2024 ovulation window roughly 19th-24th. DTD twice during that time 21st and 23rd which was apparently my ovulation day but I know this is not confirmed.

I feel pregnant, having had the experience 3 times in the past. Flo app and premom telling me to test in 5 days but surely it would come up by now if I’m pregnant??

all tests have been negative. I feel really invested in this process maybe because it’s new and this time I really want this.

is it that I may be testing too early or maybe genuinely am not pregnant? It’s been 2 weeks since I TTC. I don’t know what the timescales are usually before seeing a positive?

for reference my cycles are wildly irregular anuthing from 24 days to 37. This month I used the premom ov tests.

does this sound like I should cut my losses, I am not pregnant and should just try next cycle?

Exactly what I was going to say! Surely just wait for your period, or test again in a few days. Unless you're wanting to do something like get drunk, but that's not great if TTC. You'd expect to get a positive result by 14 days after ovulation, if pregnant. If you have irregular cycles it might be worth trying ovulation tests, the apps were always inaccurate for me, so tests helped a lot.

Hi thanks both for responding - what I meant is should I cut my losses with expecting anything from this cycle as it’s looking like it’s negative so far

im quite new to all these processes and getting somewhat anxious

What cycle day are you on? I didn't get a positive until I was late, and that was 15dp. It was only a faint line even that late on.

Well my last cycle was 24 day one so started testing from 24 days from my last cycle which was 29th august which in hindsight was probably too early

my periods are wildly irregular so I never know when to expect them !

Currently on cycle day 30

You said this month you used the Premom ovulation tests. Which day did you get the peak?

my peak never went past 0.8 despite testing twice a day, that was the only thing logged as a peak. That was on 23rd

Hi OP, how exciting that you've made the decision to TTC, wishing you lots of luck!

Of course it's possible to fall pregnant very quickly but remember that it is very normal for it to take up to a year. Each month at 'peak' age a healthy , fertile woman has about 20% chance of falling pregnant. That figure declines with age and by 40+ it's only about 5% chance each month.

I only say this to help manage expectations a bit that, if it doesn't happen straight away, it's nothing to worry about.

With regards to the tests, I know there are many that profess to be early detection etc and there are numerous posts daily from people asking if others can see the faintest of lines or shadows. My personal advice is to wait until you've definitely missed a period..... honestly you'll not only spend a fortune but you'll also drive yourself crazy early testing.

FWIW, when TTC I had several months where I was convinced I was pregnant only to get a BFN and come on my period a little late......the two times I've actually fallen pregnant, I felt no different whatsoever. Go figure!

That is a potential. Obviously can’t confirm you ovulated but that might have been high enough.

Last cycle mine reached 0.86 and then ovulation was confirmed using bbt. This cycle it was 0.92 and again confirmed ovulation with bbt.

If you ovulated on the 24th you would be 11dpo I think.

Thanks so much for your message !
reassuring to hear. The idea of TTC in general just petrifies me. After the ectopic I had the second time I was pregnant, I then spent my last pregnancy being a bag of nerves, I think I went to the hospital with reduced fetal movements at least 5 times as I was convinced something would go wrong again

fast forward to now, the idea of trying to get pregnant is unusual as I haven’t had to think about it before and maybe I’m overthinking it. There is always next month to try, and onwards.

I have had similar symptoms to that of pregnancy but also Aware that it can be very similar to PMS etc.

How often do you track ovulation?

also wondering whether to move from premom to Clearblue ovulation sticks? Do you have any experience of the latter ?

I used the easy at home tests with the premom app. Also I used bbt too to confirm ovulation. I start testing around day 10 and take it twice a day until I ovulate (~day 18).

I tried the clear blue a few years ago. I think it was user error though for me. It didn’t agree with the easy at home tests or bbt when I ovulated but I trusted bbt to be correct. Hopefully other people can offer advice on it though.

Could this be a faint line?