Number of attempts and time to pregnancy?

We decided we wanted a fourth last year. We TTC’ed for one month, did E4D and did not conceive. I went back on bcp due to an international trip. Due to Covid the trip was cancelled, so I went off bcp again on May 3. We did E4D that first cycle and did not conceive. I don’t think we had any success this cycle (I ovulated while tent camping with our kids, so no privacy). When we decide to go for another baby I get super impatient. How long should we do E4D before trying something else? Would it be more worthwhile to get an ovulation kit and try one attempt? I’ve read that sometimes waiting for LH surge to attempt can actually be too late, so that concerns me a bit.

Also, what are the stats on the SMEP? I’m guessing it sways boy? I’ve conceived all of my boys in 1-2 cycles so I’m annoyed that we’ve had three cycles of nothing. I’m almost 32 and husband is almost 36, should I be doing anything differently due to our ages? Thanks!

No I'd not have you go BACK to one attempt, that is only gonna be lower odds of conception.

How long to do e4d is - it depends. It depends on how long you have to conceive, how big a hurry you're in, how bad you want to try everything to get a girl. Personally, I think that 2 of those months were really not stellar (coming off BCP is always a toss up that first month if you'll be able to get pregnant) and what you describe it sounds to me like this wasn't even a real attempt this month, right?? So I would hang with e4d at least another month or two. It takes fully fertile couples doing nothing to sway 3-6 months to fall pregnant. And our time to conception with swaying is average 3 months. So the way I see it I'd call this at best 2 months, I'd give it at least one more month.

Your ages are YOUNG! There is no hurry (unless you're in a hurry for some other work related reason) and I think you have time.

If you are ready to start adding attempts I would not do SMEP. I would go to e4d plus one more attempt at positive OPK and give that a couple months first. But I think this is just a case of not enough time just yet.

Thank you for very kindly telling me to be more patient :) and you’re right, my first cycles off of bcp are weird. This cycle we may have managed an O-4 attempt, which I know is very unlikely to result in pregnancy.

The only reason I was hoping to conceive in the next couple of months was to balance birthdays, but that’s trivial of course. I think we’ll continue E4D (with no more tent camping in the foreseeable future, lol). I would be happy with another boy, so I figured I would try the least difficult away tactic and if we have a boy we’ll still be thrilled. Thank you for your advice!

Excellent!!! Keep me posted how it's going!

Omg, I got a positive test today! I’m beyond shocked. I was ready to count this month out!

WOW huge congrats and sending you all my pink dust I can scrape together!