I took DH's pH ...

[atomic sagebrush]

Just an update to say that I don't think the wine was the culprit because DH's pH is still the same! We're carrying on with the frequent release (I think it's very liberating for him to come down in the morning and proudly announce to me that he's just had a @~*&!) so I'm hoping there might be a reduction in volume by the time of our attempt and I'll probably JAD but I'm rather concerned that there's no chance on earth I'll get pregnant!

Any suggestions Atomic? I'm using Rephresh every 3 days and may use a little Aci-jel a few hours before our attempt (not if I've used Rephresh very recently) and will probably use a little Sylk for lubricant. Does acid actually kill sperm or just immobilise them for a while - at the levels of pH we're aiming for?!

I believe with every fiber of my being that acid in the pH of 4's and even 5's, kills at least SOME sperm (and probably quite a few). Tamara would say that it does not kill sperm, it simply makes Y sperm "go to sleep" and if the pH goes up, they will "wake up".

TBH I think that frequent release PLUS j and d PLUS RepHresh, Acijel, Sylk, and antihistamine (I'm assuming you're taking that) and spermicide if you decide to use that, is overkill. But, hey, give it a shot or two (if you feel so motivated, since you're doing so brilliantly on diet) and if it doesn't work you can rethink some of it.

[zanacal]

Yes, I agree Atomic, probably overkill - but I kind of feel as if I have to start out with too much and drop a bit if I don't get pregnant, especially since my discovery that DH is a very frequent releaser anyway and we have 3 boys! I also haven't got to a very low weight like some of the other ladies and I worry that I've actually made myself more fertile by getting my weight into a healthy range iykwim.

As it happens, I ovulated early this month so the deed is done DH released twice a day most days (once a day on a couple of occasions) then the day I got my +OPK was cd11 and having released twice that day we had our attempt very early the following day (so 3 times in 24 hours and about 7 hours since his last!). I had used Rephresh 2 days previously and I bunged some Aci-jel in before I went to bed (so 7 hours before). We didn't use Sylk because it was like 5am and dark and I couldn't be bothered but I did JAD. I usually get 2 days of +OPKs so I thought we'd be just in advance of O but I had a negative at 1pm the next day so I suspect we DTD practically on top of O - but I'm thinking that may not be a bad thing given the amount of other stuff we did (I also did antihistimines - didn't have loads of EWCM but did have some). I feel good to have an attempt under our belt! If we need to try again next month I think we'll drop the 3 times in 24 hours because DH did struggle to finish and just DTD on the night of the first +OPK.

[atomic sagebrush]

I was eyeing your ticker actually! Congrats on yoru first attempt and GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

I totally agree that DTD close to O, in light of everything else you had going on, could only be a good thing. !!!!!

[fresas]

Atomic, he was not on an SSRI until this year.

Up until this year, the only medication he has put in his mouth were MVIs, calcium, and other supplements like that. I was taking a lot of benadryl with DS2, but that was about the only supplement for me in addition to MVI and calcium.

I will be trying to test DH's pH next cycle. I wish I could look at his sperm's motility, as that was mentioned in the Telegraph article, but we don't have a microscope.

[fresas]

zanacal, lots of healthy GIRL dust your way!

[zanacal]

Aww, thank you fresas, you too (although I'm not sure that I personally have any!!).

[atomic sagebrush]

Atomic, he was not on an SSRI until this year.

Up until this year, the only medication he has put in his mouth were MVIs, calcium, and other supplements like that. I was taking a lot of benadryl with DS2, but that was about the only supplement for me in addition to MVI and calcium.

I will be trying to test DH's pH next cycle. I wish I could look at his sperm's motility, as that was mentioned in the Telegraph article, but we don't have a microscope.

Gotcha! In that case, I think the medication is only going to help your sway.

TBH, I think it's mighty tough for the layman to tell anything about sperm via a microscope anyway. I know they do it on some other sites, but I tend to wonder if it's not at least in part "wishful thinking" that they see what they believe they are supposed to see. I wouldn't worry about it.