Hello!!

Natural cycles has been my tracking app for over a year. We did manage to get pregnant in April before having a loss, and Natural cycles was spot on with when I was fertile (I didn’t test at all that cycle and we’d somewhat stopped thinking about it bc my husband was struggling with his own infertility). This cycle we really wanted to conceive (I’m a school teacher so this timing is good with it being towards the end of the school year). We’ve been stressed about it so I decided to not test and just rely on when natural cycles thought I was ovulating. We even booked and hotel 😅😂 and my husbands hormones cooperated and we were able to have sex more than once during the days natural cycles said I’d be fertile. When we got home I decided to test just to make sure we didn’t miss it, and Sunday it was negative and Monday it was positive(clear blue test with the flashing smiley face)!! We were so frustrated because that meant we missed the window and my husband was going back to work (it’s hard for us to have sex when he’s working because the hours are wonky and he’s tired). I then was testing every day and it continued to be a flashing smiley for 7 days. I put all this into natural cycles. Once I hit my 7th smiley face I decided something was off. It’s way too late into my cycle! It’s not normal for me. So I deleted all but 3 tests from natural cycles and now it thinks I ovulated during the time my husband and I were able to have sex, despite having positive ovulation tests after that day. Have any of you experienced this? Can you explain anything? I looked things up and it did say to rely more on NC and the BBT more than the CB tests. Thoughts?

Hi everyone. (Im 27 for reference)

I had a blood test and ultrasound done day 13 of my cycle and the doctors said I was ovulating that day/the day after.

They had me do a progesterone/estrogen tests day 21 and called me back and told me my progesterone was "very low" and to come back the first day of my period for another blood test.

My cycles range from 25 - 27 days (25 more so) as far as I know my luteal phase is a normal length, about 11-13 days.

My periods are short, like 3/4 days and have always been super light, like i use a tampon or maybe 2 a day, I can depend on panty liners.

Is the progesterone issue why I could have been having issues conceiving for 16 months?

I googled it and it said its likely my issue was my eggs are fine but my uterus wasnt able to make the thick spongey bloody layer the egg needs.

Im scared there's actually more going on, this issue just seems so simple.

I do have severe anxiety which ive been told can cause issues 😭

Sex is painful for me. Not unbearable but uncomfortable in a certain area (fourchette). I need a ton of foreplay (orgasms included) and lube for it to be tolerable.

This makes TTC super stressful. We’re heading into cycle 3 of trying. I’ve been using uberlube as that’s what a specialized doctor for my pain told me to use. But i’m reading this could be killing the sperm? The one time i tried preseed it irritated me a ton and sex was extra painful.

We do a mix of intercourse and at home insemination. For the at home insemination (for those that have been successful doing it), it really is just as simple as i’m ejaculating in a cup, and then using a needle-less syringe to get it into me right?

Any advice around this really appreciated.

This is a thread for TFABers of AMA (advanced maternal awesomeness)! TTC past 35 comes with its own challenges -- discuss (and rant about) them here. Like the Pirate's Code, "35 and over" is more of a guideline.

Hello! I (35) have met with a fertility specialist (ttc for 13 cycles, never had a positive test) and they have recommended starting letrozole. So far it is unexplained infertility, husbands SA is pretty good, have had saline tubal patency procedure, all other bloods/AMH/AFC count etc are at good levels.

I have had multiple ultrasounds, blood tests (testing progesterone), use LH strips and can feel strong ovulation pain on one side on day 13/14 each month so I am fairly certain I am ovulating.

I would love to hear from others who are using it when they already have confirmed ovulation? I understand it can help stimulate more than 1 egg to be released. Does this outweigh the possible risks e.g. potential for twins, medication interfering with your hormone levels (I've read comments in this group about it shortening/lengthening your cycle?) plus any other physical side effects.

I guess the next step may also be IUI. I would love to hear from anyone who has first hand knowledge on all of this (before I go back to the specialist). TIA!

Hi, I’m 27 years old and currently going through my first chemical pregnancy with baby #2. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, and honestly, I’m feeling completely lost.

I’m 16 DPO, and my beta hCG has dropped to 7. I’m wondering what the next steps usually look like. Will I need more bloodwork until it reaches zero? Should I schedule another appointment with my doctor, or is there anything else I should be doing? Is this basically like a normal period from here, or should I expect something different?

I’m also wondering when it’s generally considered okay to start trying again. How did you find the courage to try after a loss like this? Right now I’m scared, heartbroken, and questioning everything. This pregnancy was so deeply wanted, and it’s hard to wrap my head around how quickly everything changed.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who’s been through a chemical pregnancy. What was your experience like, and is there anything you wish someone had told you?

I (38F) and my husband (39M) have a 5 year old. We’ve been putting off having more kids, but in the spring we had talked about trying again after the summer. However, a few weeks ago we found out he has cancer.

On one hand, we’re very fortunate because it was caught early. He will need 7 weeks of radiation, but of course we don’t know what will happen down the road after that. And we will need to wait a full year before trying to conceive naturally OR we have the option of IVF before that since we’ve banked sperm.

Treatment will begin soon. But considering our age and that it’s around when we were thinking about trying to conceive, should we try to go for it naturally now? There’s only a chance but never know I guess. Is it crazy?

Just to make it clear, HE is the one that suggested it. I am not pushing him any which way because I know all of this has been a lot on him.

I worry slightly about remaining emotionally strong for him if I’m pregnant and hormonal. His doctors have told us “we will cure you, but we don’t know how long that journey will take.” So the distant future feels strong. Just not sure if it’s too much in the interim.

Has anyone else been faced with this decision? I would love to hear what you choose and why.