Hi all. I’m TTC and based on my BBT today, this cycle (#6) was also a failure. I have tried so many things. In TCOYF she mentions Vitex but no details on how to take it. Does anyone have a recommendation for how to take Vitex for fertility? (Brand, dosage, follicular phase only?, etc)

I will also take any other advice to try. We will be moving on to IUI shortly.

I’ve been doing acupuncture, 100g protein/day + good quality carbs and fats, liver supplements, 600mg CoQ10, using a cervical cap to help sperm motility, and preseed lube. Tried sex every other day during fertile window instead of daily. Husband is eating the same diet and taking similar supplements. His sperm analysis from August showed low motility, ok sperm count, and borderline morphology. Doc says the motility should improve because low motility is common after a vasectomy reversal which he got in June. We’ll do another analysis in a month or so.

Thanks in advice for any advice!

Hopefully I'm not jinxing myself with this because it's only been 6 actual months, haha. My husband and I abstained before marriage, and I was learning Creighton for several months. OH my goodness it sucked so bad. My body made no sense, my mucus had no pattern, and I would have been too terrified to even consider having intercourse because pregnancy would have meant I'd have to postpone (very important) excision surgery.

I just want to share in case anyone else with endo and awful irregular cycles and mucus is out there despairing in a mucus based method, that Marquette has been A Breeze. It's so much easier, I could continue testing through several surgeries which were way too grueling and bloody to have been able to observe mucus accurately. And so far the monitor has accurately captured peaks ranging from CD 15 to 21 - I thought CD 21 was going to be a missed peak but nope!

I am going to be adding in TempDrop with my instructor's blessing because I know there will likely be situations where I need extra peace of mind that it's not an anovulatory LH surge. Just ordered but I foresee that being an easy addition to perfect the method for irregular cycles. (We also don't use phase 1, before ovulation, because I am paranoid like that.)

Overall, I am so happy with the flexibility and accuracy of this method. It is EASY at a time when I really don't need any extra stress, and it doesn't make me feel like I'm locked in a hateful death struggle with my reproductive system - we have enough of that going on for other reasons. I hope more studies are done for irregular cycles and a cheaper monitor is perfected, but I'm just so grateful a usable method exists for me at all as a high anxiety person with severe endometriosis.

Hi all.

Question: how reliable are PROOV strips at confirming ovulation, if you missed peak on the monitor?

I made a very foolish mistake and had my monitor set for the wrong time window over my break (I am a teacher) and I slept in a bunch and totally fell down on the job with the monitor. As a result I did not test in the window. I’d been peaking on days 17/18 consistently for 7 months, and I finally started testing for peak this cycle on day 16. I usually start testing on day 11. But—Nothing. Used Easy@Home and my LH is SO low. Not even close to a peak, or a high! But I felt crazy fertility symptoms days 14-15 and I have peaked that early before (a year ago). Is it possible to use PROOV to confirm ovulation in a way that would be method approved for my husband and I to resume intimacy? Or do I just need to wait for a period?

how do y'all track when will you ovulate? Do you experienced any symptoms? If you're tracking yourself by BBT and cervical mucus, what you're cervical mucus always be during ovulation? What week in cycle you ovulate, does it change every cycle?

I would appreciate sharing your experiences!! Thank you so much. Decided to go with this method, I WANT TO LEARN MORE!! Any advice would help❤️

Hi, I've tried the FAM method before but I ended up getting pregnant after 6 months of using the method 😅 Now my baby is 2 months old, I was on the combined pill but I'm giving up on it because of how much it affects my mental health.

I would like to use the FAM method, as I believe it's the healthier option, however I don't think that I'm very good at it.

Would I be able to wear a femdrop while I sleep to track BBT? (Baby still wakes me up once during the night). Also, what is the best app for me to follow my cycle? (The most complete one, where I can log all the details including BBT, cervical mucus etc).

Please help this newbie out 🙏🏻 Thanks in advance ☺️

I’ll be getting married in a few months and we’ll be using STM to avoid pregnancy for a while at first. We’ll be leaving for Italy the day after our wedding (we live in central time zone), so there will be about a 7 hour time difference. We will be there for about 12 days.

How would I approach taking my bbt in a situation like this? Just trying to be as prepared as I can.

I stopped using hbc this August and ovulated only once since than. That happened actually in the first cycle on day 26 (that was a long 40 day cycle) since then I had a long almost 40 day anovulatory cycle, but got my period. After this I got my period again on day 25 but still no ovulation. I am now on day 26 and looks like I may get my period again but no ovulation. My discharge is a constant creamy, jelly consistency with not much change to it. I am using TCOYF and charting temps so I can confidently say no ovulation since the end of August. Is this normal? Should I go to the doctor? How much more do I wait?

I assume I am past ovulation because of high temps and a return to sticky CM, but I’m confused by the note that your peak day is the last day of “lubricative vaginal sensation.” I guess I don’t really know what that means? When I run a finger over my vaginal opening it still feels smooth and wet, but I’m definitely having sticky quality CM when I test further. Can anyone shed light on this?

Hi ladies, just wanted to see if others have felt the same way. I having been charting several cycles and am now feeling comfortable with interpreting them. I have been abstaining for this full period while learning, even during my anniversary (isn't my husband lucky). Despite having a clear cycle this month, being post-ovulatory, and understanding that FAM can be quite effective, I find that I am still scared to jump in and have sex while following a FAM. This is a feeling that I never had while on hormonal birth control (which I understand can also fail). Anyway, just wondering if anyone had any stories or words of wisdom regarding taking the leap once they became knowledgeable on a FAM.

Hello,

I am 35 and just got married and we are trying to conceive, after being unsuccessful last month despite acting like newlyweds. Last month I only considered the calendar.

This month I am using ovulation sticks and trying to evaluate my CM. Unfortunately the likely fertile week corresponds with a week that, due to my work schedule, my sleep is getting broken up so I have not been getting temperature readings (I use apple watch for BBT).

My ovulation sticks have been stubbornly at .7 according to line analyzer on FF since CD 11.

Which brings me to CM. It's pretty dry. I've been checking my underwear and I see a spot or two but I can't even get enough on my fingers to evaluate it. Yesterday I felt up near my cervix and the fluid was thin and the color of lotion, but I'm not sure what that would be qualified as. Even after I took a run this morning there was virtually no discharge.

Is there a more reliable way to evaluate it, or is it really just dry?

I read TCOYF awhile back, though I might be due for a reread.

Hi everyone. I am a 24F and I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 22 years old. I was diagnosed due to ultrasound and because I missed my period for two months. My periods have always been regular except for those two months and after those 2 months my period resumed normally. I have always been a runner and I loved nutrition so I was confused on my diagnosis and my doctor didn't give me any advice because I was already thin and did all of the things they normally recommend to patients. I just met with my GP who told me that pcos can be related to increased cortisol which interferes with glucose and insulin. I dealt with a great deal of anxiety and trauma in high school and when I missed my period and was diagnosed I was under a great deal of stress. When I stopped exercising as much and eating more protein my cycle returned but I still struggled with cystic acne. I started taking inositol and my skin on my face has cleared and my period is very regular with a temp spike the being the same day +/- each month but I still struggle with back acne around my sports bra when I work out. I am also in medical school and still have a hard time coping with stress despite having seen counselors. I feel like these are things I need to change to be fully "healed." I currently take a probiotic, thorne ovarian care which has inositol, fish oil, and NAC. Has anyone read books that gave more insight into diet/ exercise for fertility as well as books with practical ways to decrease stress? My main goal is to feel comfortable in my own skin and to take care of my fertility as much as I can for when I am ready to start having kids.

Is there some free version of read your body or kindara? New here.

Would anyone be interested in joining a group chat for updating each other on Clearblue test stick deals?

For example, right now on the Walgreens app there’s a few good coupons and Amazon subscribe and save is also a good price.

I figured that not everyone knows when the price dips or about when certain coupons are available, so I’d put it out there if some people wanted that.

Comment below if interested!

Hi, I can't use any hormonal contraceptives so I decided to try the fertility awareness method. I tried taking my temperature but because I have a 6 month old baby and have to get up at night, my temperature is different every day. I have also tried the mucus method but I am not confident in that at all because I haven't noticed any difference in my entire cycle. (Maybe I don't have fertile mucus?) I'm interested in the clearblue monitor method but it's quite expensive for me. So I was wondering who have young children here, what method do you use and if you have any tips? Thank you:)

I’m new here :) and 4 months PP exclusively breastfeeding. I got my first period back at 3 months PP, earlier than I was expecting tbh. I’m currently on day 32 of my cycle, and I’ve had heavy fertile-looking mucus and slippery sensation for the past 8 days. I thought I had hit peak already around day 18, but this is making me think otherwise - it’s just so late in my cycle!!

Does anyone have experience with navigating the Billings method postpartum? Before I got pregnant, my cycles were very normal and predictable and charting was easy. Now, it’s like I have hardly any dry days to tell if I’m infertile. I’m not looking to be pregnant again any time soon and I miss my husband!!

Thanks in advance <3

https://preview.redd.it/vrjmcr4pj33e1.png?width=1560&format=png&auto=webp&s=e84aaf88f56cf8ef412a85c54bef1b7db647dd5f

Hello! I'm creating a resource for fertility tracking, and I'm wondering what data fields you would add/remove and what method you're using? The example provided is my original content based on the data I've collected from my own cycle. Discussion, commentary, and critique welcome!!

Currently have an IUD, my periods are extremely irregular with hardly any pattern at all and have been that way all my life. Is NFP an option for me and if so what would be the best method? Any advice for my transition off hormona IUD?

Happily married and not the most risk averse, but would prefer to have some agency over when I get pregnant. Thanks in advance!

Hello! im 28 and on hormonal bcp (sprintec) from 17-23y/o. i then wanted off hbc in general and went off the pills for 2-3 months to try the temperature. I got an ovarian cyst and met with my PCP and they said the only way to make them go away was by going back on the pill. i didn't like that response so i met with a midwife and beacuse of my age and that i didnt want to get pregnant she advised i get an iud. i got the skyla and had that in from 23-25. i then got the liletta at 25 and have had that since then.

i dont have any negative side effects from the iud but i dont want to be on hormonal birth control anymore and want to sort out my cycle and any potential cysts etc. is there anything i should be aware of or consider here before getting it removed?

This is an intimidating journey to look down the barrel of but im confident in my ability to navigate tracking my cycle with TTOYF, this sub, getting an instructor and using backup forms of contraception. Just looking for some words of assurance or personal accounts to share the mental load of this if possible…thanks in advance❤️❤️❤️

What is your favorite app to chart all of your symptoms? Currently using both Natural Cycles and Ovagraph.

I don’t know if I want to keep using NC because I can’t track my vaginal sensation easily and I don’t follow the green/red windows anyways. I really like the ovagraph app because it’s a basic chart, but it’s a bit outdated and glitchy. I’ve tried Premom but I’m TTA and can’t turn off all of the pregnancy features.

TIA!

Very new to NFP and have been tracking for like 2 weeks. For the Creighton Method, I am having a hard time tracking mucus. My book says that you should not do internal checks but I never have discharge unless I reach in my vagina and will usually observe gluey mucus. Would appreciate if someone could explain the observations to me in a very simple way! Going to see an instructor just trying to ensure I at least have a basic understanding.

(TTA0, RYB chart in comments)

I’ve never had pre-menstrual spotting in as long as I can remember, so when I saw some spotting today that didn’t seem to be turning into a full flow even though I’m expecting my period, I got nervous that it could be implantation bleeding. I didn’t have any pregnancy tests around and was in a bit of a panic. I’d heard that LH tests come back positive when you’re pregnant, so I took one of those out of curiosity / with the hope of easing my anxiety. It came back positive.

I then went and got an early detection pregnancy test (ClearBlue) and it was negative.

Does anyone have thoughts about whether the combination of light spotting and a positive LH test should be cause for concern or if there’s some other explanation for this?