What should I do?

[monkeymama]

So we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to start TTC a month earlier than planned. We BD'd every evening from CD 12 to a +OPK (which was last Wednesday, 8/22, CD 19). BUT I haven't had a sustained temp rise, so I don't think I actually Ov'd. I'm out of OPKs and I can't buy more until Friday (payday). What should I do?

(1) Have DH continue to abstain, then try for an O + 12 when I finally do ovulate?
(2) Start BDing again until I see a temp rise?
(3) Write this month off as practice and start again next cycle?
(4) Other?

If it helps, here's my chart: 1ee7fa Ovulation charts on FertilityFriend.com (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/1ee7fa)

Relevant info: my temps have been REALLY erratic this cycle (haven't really had this problem in the 6 years I've been charting). Typical pre-ov temps are 96.9-97.2 and typical post-ov temps are 97.6-97.9. I used RepHresh every 3 days after AF, so CM was unreliable. Missing data from CD 8-9 is because I was at my annual Girls' Weekend. :) And missing temp from CD 23 is because I woke with a low-grade fever of 98.9.

[bythestream]

Are you using vitex? It really stuffs up my temps.

[monkeymama]

No, no Vitex. Or any other supps. Only significant change was starting a low-carb, low-calorie diet.

[monkeymama]

Is there any chance temps are just unreliable this month? Everything else points to ovulation on CD 20 (+ OPK on CD 19; high and soft cervix on CD 19 and 20, getting firmer from CD 21 on; and I actually had a temp dip on CD 20, followed by a rise on CD 21 - just didn't stay all the way up). Or is all that indicative of my body trying to ovulate, but the lack of a sustained rise means it didn't actually happen? Is there any point to taking a HPT when it's time, or is that just tooooo wishful thinking?

[bythestream]

Im sorry Im no expert but on vitex my temp doesn't really rise higher until about 7 or 8 days after ovulation. If you had a fever your temps might be mucked up because you were sick, i think that's what happened to me too right around ovulation. Do you know when you usually ovulate?

[monkeymama]

I'm very irregular. It generally happens somewhere in the 20s!

I guess I'm just wondering what to do now. Assume I did ovulate, or assume I didn't?:confused:

[bythestream]

I think assume you did after all if you were bringing TTC forward anyway it probably doesn't matter if this month doesn't work.

[atomic sagebrush]

How do you feel about your sway otherwise? If you feel good about it, then I'd prob. go ahead and start bding again. If you don't feel good about it, I'd either take it as a sign and postpone, or abstain + 1 attempt only try for before O rather that after.

[atomic sagebrush]

I'm very irregular. It generally happens somewhere in the 20s!

I guess I'm just wondering what to do now. Assume I did ovulate, or assume I didn't?:confused:

Always assume you didn't.

[monkeymama]

The problem with assuming I didn't is that we can't keep up the daily BD. Suggestions? :-/

[atomic sagebrush]

Drop the frequency and just BD when the mood strikes if you feel good about your sway otherwise. It's very likely that frequency doesn't even sway by much.

[monkeymama]

I'm sorry, I didn't see your post asking how I feel about my sway, atomic. The answer is not too good! My "sway" consists of weight loss (not sure how much, since I can't find our bathroom scale--but my clothes are absolutely fitting much more loosely!), low blood glucose, RepHresh (which I stopped when I thought I had ov'd), and FR (which we also stopped when I thought I ov'd). I'm not following the LE (or any other pink) diet--I have glucose intolerance issues, so I'm just limiting carbs and eliminating red meat. I wanted to be on a low-carb diet when I got pregnant anyway (and I really should be for the rest of my life!), and I'm more concerned about having a healthy pregnancy than having a girl.

I'm so far into my cycle now (CD 28) that if I didn't ov, I think I'm just gonna write this month off. It was a bonus month anyway! If I start to notice fertile signs again, we might give it one more shot. But DH has not been abstaining, so do you think RepHresh + J&D could cover the potentially high sperm count problem?

[atomic sagebrush]

Yes, I do think RepHresh and J and D can undo a lot where sperm numbers are concerned!!!

Such a long cycle may sway pink anyway or at least indicate a pink-friendly month, so I would def. give it a shot this month if the occasion presents itself.