After 16 months of swaying...

[atomic sagebrush]

1)No. There is more than one way to think of "reduced fertility" and reduced fertility from PCOS-tendencies sways BLUE. So you fix that and you may have normal cycles but you're still swaying pink. If your cycle is wackadoo from PCO tendencies, then you go onto a more IR-friendly diet, you have FIXED the problem (both fertility and for pink). You will be swaying pink because you're moving in the direction of less but there is a huge middle ground (where most of us get pregnant at) where you're fully fertile but still more pink friendly.

I cannot answer if you've been swaying too long. I have the concern that in some cases people do adjust over time, but I don't have the data to know how long that takes (probably different for every person anyway) and certainly not enough to tell you personally if YOU have been swaying too long. Just beyond my ability to know. I would keep doing what you're doing as the PCOS-type diet and inositol both have gotten good results.

2)It's not terrible, let's keep it minimal though. It's a continuum, not a pass/fail, if that makes sense. Some people can tolerate quite a bit of sugar provided they're doing well on diet in most other ways. Some people can't, and still others have to really cut carbs entirely (mostly grains). I'm sure you're ok to carry on, esp. given the cinnamon and inositol.

3)Play this by ear. Both, probably, but this can vary pretty dramatically by the individual.

4)Most of our husbands would do nothing to help. I don't think DH's diet matters much if at all. I agree with your take to let go of the things you can't control anyway - that is KEY! Way more important than anything DH does.

[atomic sagebrush]

And thank you for your patience by the way!

[WelcomeBaby]

Ooohhhh, thankyouthankyouthankyou Atomic for your long and thorough replies! You really have given me hope that I can conceive a girl, after all. I was hoping that fixing my irregular cycles through the LE PCOS diet would be a step in the right (pink!) direction. Thank you for reassuring me on that.
I'm quite sure I'm getting 60 grams of fat and about 50-60 grams of protein (only counting dairy & meat - both of which I have daily in small to moderate amounts - and the occasional egg). Daily calories is anywhere from 1600-1900. Soy milk is only like 3oz a day because I don't like my coffee black.
Also wanted to mention that the coarse black hair on my chin never grew back after I plucked it in November and that this time, AF showed up in the afternoon instead of at night (I have ALWAYS started my period at night since I was a young girl). Just re-read the thread about the possible connection and thought I'd share this piece of info with you!
Yes, I'll buy OPKs again and try to have 1 attempt (hopefully DH will cooperate!!!!), but no Acijel or J&D this time! I really hope I'll conceive this time! I'll keep you posted!!

[atomic sagebrush]

ok then that level of soy is fine.

I think you're on the right track - keep up the great work!

[WelcomeBaby]

Thanks again, Atomic! This cycle I'm just drinking peppermint tea for a few days, not the entire follicular phase (finding it so hard to drop it completely because it seems to lower free testosterone pretty efficiently, according to the research I found online).
Oh and I also stopped eating tofu which I did once or twice a week instead of meat (good quality meat is so expensive!!!).
Attempt will have to be on Sunday because DH was told today that he'll have to fly out of town on Monday to attend a conference... Well, provided I ovulate on CD14 or 15 like I pretty much always do, we still have a chance to conceive this month. I'll know more next week!

[atomic sagebrush]

Well, I understand the research that was done, but the thing is it didn't work for us and really messed up people's cycles, and even when it didn't, people just mysteriously didn't get pregnant for many many months while using it. Plus, testosterone has never been proven to sway anyway. I know they make it sound like such a sure thing, but the needed research has never been done, and I think it wisest for you guys to focus on doing what has actually worked rather than chasing totally unproven theories that have actually very little support backing them up.

But, I understand that ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Good luck!

[WelcomeBaby]

Well, that's scary about the peppermint tea. I really, really want to do everything I can to conceive a girl, but a) you know more about the real life effects of pep tea than I do and b) I realize that in my situation - with an uncooperative DH who's gone back to doubting we should have another kid at all - the hardest thing will be to conceive at all. So I really need to have my priorities straight and drop everything that could hinder conception (and doesn't really sway in and of itself). So the pep tea had to go, had it just 3 times this cycle. Thank you again for all the things you do and the info and hope you give to so many women everyday!

[atomic sagebrush]

Ah yes, that is a big wrinkle and in that scenario I agree it's actually by far the best move to focus on getting pregnant fast. DH's do sometimes change their mind, and swaying as a way of life + lots of BFN seem to make them change their mind even faster so I think that's the right call.