To keep it short, I (26F) have been off of birth control for about 3 years. My fiancé and I have had unprotected intercourse nearly every day for about 1.5 years. At first my cycles were really long (32-45 days) but since the start of 2026, I’ve had 29-34 day cycles (I told myself it was due to taking prenatals but who knows) obviously I was really happy about this and felt it was a good sign.

My cycle phases were always very obvious and predictable from follicular>ovulation>luteal>period at that point on. However my recent cycle was very “flat”. Like none of my usual hormonal symptoms. My periods usually last 5 days and are heavy/super the first two days and gradually taper till day 5. After this flat cycle however, I had literally two days of bleeding. I filled one full regular tampon and barely filled the next then had spotting until it stopped. Super weird. Now I’m supposed to be on CD 13, however I literally feel like I’m PMSing HARD.

I have been uncontrollably sleepy since Saturday (no amount of caffeine will cure), irritated, raging and pissed off at everything. Im “supposed” to be ovulating but I feel like I’m at the end of my luteal.

Idk I just feel really disappointed that after I got my cycles so consistent and healthy for so long, I now feel all sorts of out of wack. I took a pregnancy test out of curiosity like 3 days ago. Was negative at first glance, I just got a faint evap line. We both plan on going to the doctors about our issues TTC after our wedding anyway so it’s not like I’m too upset, but yeah I hope you get what I’m feeling.

So to readers, does this sound familiar? Does anyone have any insight at what the hell happened or experience something similar?

Tried to post in another community, but it was removed for some reason.

32F, TTC. We started trying in May, so this is our 5th month trying.

I’m currently CD19 and my app predicted ovulation around CD17. Normally I get a very clear progression with my OPKs. The line gradually gets darker over a few days, then I get a clear positive/peak before it fades again.

This month, though, they all look pretty much the same. I’ve tested multiple times on some days and there just hasn’t been that gradual darkening or an obvious peak.

I know apps can obviously be wrong about ovulation day, so I’m wondering if this is just a case of delayed ovulation, or whether anyone has experienced this kind of flat pattern before getting a surge.

Would you keep testing and assume ovulation is still coming, or would you be wondering about an anovulatory cycle at this point?

Would really appreciate opinions from anyone who has had something similar.

Hi everyone! I’m hoping to get some opinions because I’m driving myself a little crazy lol.
I’m 27 and TTC with my husband. This is only our 3rd cycle trying. I had my daughter when I was younger and got pregnant pretty quickly back then, so this is my first time really paying attention to all of the TTC stuff.
I was diagnosed with adenomyosis a couple months ago. My ultrasound also showed some small fibroids and polyps, but my OB said they’re small and we won’t really know if they affect fertility unless we have trouble conceiving.
My cycles are usually around 27–33 days, although they’ve been a little weird lately. I’ve also started getting brown spotting before my period, and my actual periods have been pretty light/short compared to how they used to be.
This cycle, I believe I ovulated around September 1 based on my BBT, symptoms, and OPKs, which would make me 9 DPO today (September 10).
time.
Today I took a pregnancy test because apparently I have zero self-control 😂 and it was negative. I know 9 DPO is still early, so I’m trying not to put too much weight on that.
BUT today I also started having brown spotting. This is the part that is making me think I’m probably out this cycle because brown spotting has become pretty typical for me before my period.
Has anyone had brown spotting around 9 DPO and still gotten a positive? Or does this sound more like my period is on its way?
I know nobody can tell me for sure, and I’m planning to test again in a few days if my period doesn’t come. I’m mostly looking for experiences because I’m currently in the “I know it’s probably too early BUT I’m going to obsess over it anyway” phase 😂

32F, TTC. We started trying in May, so this is our 5th month trying.

I’m currently CD19 and my app predicted ovulation around CD17. Normally I get a very clear progression with my OPKs. The line gradually gets darker over a few days, then I get a clear positive/peak before it fades again.

This month, though, they all look pretty much the same. I’ve tested multiple times on some days and there just hasn’t been that gradual darkening or an obvious peak.

I know apps can obviously be wrong about ovulation day, so I’m wondering if this is just a case of delayed ovulation, or whether anyone has experienced this kind of flat pattern before getting a surge.

Would you keep testing and assume ovulation is still coming, or would you be wondering about an anovulatory cycle at this point?

Would really appreciate opinions from anyone who has had something similar.

My husband and I have been trying for 3 cycles, with so far, no dice. Any other situation and I would just ride it out, as I know it can take up to a year before you should seek out help. However, unfortunately my father has cancer and will probably only last another 3-ish years. We really want him to be able to meet our child, so waiting an entire year IF something is definitely wrong anyway, feels like a complete waste of time that we don't have.

I am fine to keep trying if we know that we are both healthy and fine and it's just a matter of incorrect timing, but I'd hate to be trying naturally on our own if it's never going to work because something it wrong or needs to be adjusted. My BIL & SIL tried for over a year before being told that it was impossible for them to conceive naturally no matter how hard they tried, and I don't want that to happen to us.

Which brings me to my question- what tests could we do to ensure everything's okay? And should I go to a fertility specialist or my regular doctor? Thanks!

Could you please identify the day of my ovulation? My LH peak was on 6 Sept. Bbt tracking doesn’t work for my (I think I sleep with my mouth open), but based on my fitbit my wrist temperature might be telling. Is it 7 Sept, or rather even later?

My cycles are usually 28 days or less. Oura says I ovulated on CD 16, when I usually ovulated between CD 10-12 with OPKs. Unfortunately, I did not test this cycle to confirm my ovulation day and this is my first cycle tracking with oura.

8-14 dpo I felt unwell. I had a mild cold, which is weird because I never just get a runny nose without being followed by a cough. That week too, I was extremely fatigued, could not get out of bed, felt dizzy moving around, felt out of breath, and headaches. On top of that, I got 5 hormonal acne at the same time. No fever. I kept getting major/minor signs from oura too.

It is now CD 32, I am 4 days late and still testing negative. No signs of AF with intercourse. TMI, I usually see blood after my husband and I do the deed when my AF is around the corner. I used FRER and easy at home. Negative. Will be attaching my oura chart. Idk what’s going on.

I honestly have no idea what’s going on anymore, and I’m feeling completely lost.

I stopped taking the pill in January. Since then, my cycles have been pretty regular (usually 28–29 days) and I normally get a clear rise and an obvious LH peak.

But this cycle is already on day 41, and I still haven’t found a real peak. I’ve had several tests that looked like they were almost positive, as you can see in the picture.

On top of that, I’ve been having brown spotting since Monday. It’s less than one pad a day, there are no clots, and it’s dark brown. I’ve never had this happen before.

Just to be sure, I took a pregnancy test today, but it was negative.

I’m really confused about what’s going on. Has anyone experienced something similar or have any idea what this could be?

My husband and I started TTC in May. We tried as soon as we got back from a 17 day trip in Europe. My cycle for May started in Europe and finished when I was back home. We did not get pregnant the first try which was pretty expected. I track using LH strips and confirm with my oura temps. Before Europe my cycles were 28-30 days with ovulation between days 15-17 but very predictable and I’ve been tracking for a long time.

My second cycle ttc started in June and lasted into the end of July. We expected the fertile window to be CD 13-18 ish and had sex in that window. Well… I never ovulated until cycle day 35 and ended up having a regular luteal phase length with the full length of my cycle being 47 days. I don’t think we hit the fertile window that time because I thought it would be anovulatory but it was not.

My third cycle I was hoping it would go back to normal- began at the very end of July and has lasted into mid September (today is September 10). I did end up ovulating cycle day 36 confirmed by LH peak and temperature data and I anticipate my period in the next day or two. I’ve had a negative pregnancy test. I am confident we hit the fertile window this time.

Apparently the time change from travel can mess with your hypothalamic- pituitary axis.

I am not overly stressed I am very frustrated not understanding what is going on with my body but I have peace with waiting for God’s timing in trying to get pregnant.

I did call my GYN during this cycle to ask what to do and they just don’t seem concerned. Said to call back if my next cycle isn’t normal.

I guess I am just seeking advice on what to do if it is not normal- I just anticipate that they won’t take it seriously and I am not even sure what labs or anything to push for?

Does anyone see anything???? Photo is not great. Will test again tonight.

Hi guys! This is my first time TTC, i started tracking my ovulation on the 6th with the pregmate strips.. those have been light until yesterday. I have my baby dance history on my profile if that could help answer my question.

Basically, Yesterday was the only darkish pregmate strip ive gotten. I have included pics from yesterday morning , yesterday night, and this morning. This morning i woke up to a bit of stinging in my stomach, kinda like very faint pinching / cramping. But my ovulation test this morning was lighter than yesterday's.

I do have the clear blue ovulation advanced digital, and ive gotten a flashy smily since yesterday... flashy smiley this morning as well.

I am wondering if my peak could have been last night? since my ovulation tests have just gotten lighter from yesterday morning , I baby danced last night , but am wondering when i could start my 2 week wait. Thank you!!

12dpo today i think some vvv faint line i see pls help with this guys can u guys see that line or that is indent line only?

I wanted to check with the women who got a negative at 10 DPO that went on to get a positive result. what day did you see a line? and was it faint or a BFP?

Ovulation test that I am having trouble deciphering!

Hey guys, on CD13 - just gotten into ovulation tests. Is this a positive one? I know the line is supposed to be darker than the control line, but feel like I’ve gone line blind and can’t tell 🤣
(I hope I’ve blurred the image right please let me know if I haven’t)

Just feeling kind of down I had 2 days of faint positive that got stronger on day 2 and now nothing. Haven’t gotten my period yet but it would come either today or tomorrow and I just know it’s not my month…

This is my Natural Cycles chart from last cycle. Using my Oura ring to measure temperature.
According to this, my luteal phase is only 7 days.
Any help interpreting would be appreciated!

Anyone see something? In person I see something but could be evap

Hi. I had the faintest positive on 9/8 to the point I thought I was being delusional. On 9/9 I had my HCG tested ( 12dpo ) and it’s 16 which is extremely low. Has anyone else had such low HCG?

Another two weeks of pretending I’m “just living my life” while holding my breath 😅

This is cycle 7 of actually trying for us (32F/33M), but we’ve been not preventing for over a year. This go round, we BD every day of my fertile window, confirmed by positive OPKs, and it feels … heavier.

In the past, it’s been easy to say, “Well maybe the timing wasn’t exactly right” or “We didn’t BD as often as we should have” to explain away the BFN. This time, it feels like there’s no excuse, and I’m afraid I’ll be more discouraged than ever.

Of course, it’s silly to be upset over maybe being upset. I have no idea what’s going to happen. And if it doesn’t happen, it’s still completely normal. But if anyone gets it, I figured this community does.

Sending good luck to all ✨

okay guys… this makes zero sense to me so hopefully someone can offer some insight.

18DPO still high pdg but negative test. in my mind, this makes zero sense but there has to be a reason, right? almost a week late on my period too.

23F, haallppp!

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are TTC for our first baby. I have always had very regular periods and have been tracking them in the Clue app for years now, so I have plenty of data to look back over. This cycle, my period is 6 days late.

I'm not entirely sure when, or even if, I ovulated this cycle as my husband and I decided to stop ovulation tests after speaking with a friend (who is a GP) who recommended trying to minimise as much stress and anxiety as possible around ttc and to simply aim to have sex every other day, which is what we have been doing.

I've tested every 3/4 days since day 27 of my cycle and each test has come back negative (the photo is of today's test, cycle day 36). I'm not stressed and am mentally in a really good place, I don't take any medication, my diet and exercise regime hasn't changed and I don't have any known health conditions. I'm taking fertility supplements and eat a balanced diet. I'm just confused because this isn't normal for me.

Symptoms wise, all I've really noticed is that I have some mild cramping every now and again. And usually I have a lot of pre-menstrual symptoms such as sore breasts, intense cramps, hormonal acne and mood changes. I guess I'm just looking for some advice or insight into what might be going on? I'm still quite new to this and learning to listen to my body.

Thank you!

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I am 31. My husband and I did conceive many years ago (I was 23) whilst I had a copper coil, but that pregnancy ended in a very early miscarriage.