35+ FR how many attempts?

[bluebonnet22]

Option b involves not using OPK at all. dh and I are doing this. We are BD on CD5, 9, 13, and 17. I usually ovulate around CD14, but with this method I'm not doing OPK so I'm not stressing about timing.

Option C involves every 4 days plus another attempt at positive OPK. So if dh and I BD on CD9 and then got a positive on CD11 we would BD again even if it had not been 4 days. This isn't as good of a pink sway but does Increase odds of conception.

[CattyPad]

Aaaaaah ok that makes sense now, thanks bluebonnet!
So cd5 is 5 days after your first day of AF? Or 5 days after AF goes away?

[bluebonnet22]

Cd5 was day after AF for me. You can start whenever you want after AF, anytime between CD4 and CD10 is probably fine for most people.

[bluebonnet22]

Sorry didn't answer your question, CD1 was first day of flow so CD5 was just after AF ended.

[CattyPad]

Thank you very much!! All clear now!!

Finally...(sorry to be a pain), should I give DH cranberry supps or OLE (pill form, 400grams). Thanks!!

[bluebonnet22]

I think most of us have dropped cranberry and are doing OLE. Personally my DH is on OLE.

[CattyPad]

Thank you!

Well I promised no more questions but I have some extra info today...
I measured DH's sperm ph today and it was about 8 - is that very bad?? Do I need to try and lower it?

I measured mine on my last day of CM (unaware it was about to go) and it was 4, which I was pleased about until I read atomics essay about ph lol!
Thanks again!

[Christi]

Honestly, I would skip measuring pH. You'll make yourself crazy trying to control it and end up increasing your testosterone levels which sways blue. Atomic has some articles about how pH doesn't really sway that much anyway, so rather than stressing about the levels, just implement the things you can control (diet, exercise, supplements, one attempt, etc...) and trust that you are doing the best sway possible. Honestly, let's say you are doing everything you can to safely sway and your husbands sperm is still not the "right" pH? What will you do? What can you do? Nothing, except make yourself crazy with worry that your sway is ruined, or it's all hopeless. There is nothing to be gained.

Swaying reminds me of this prayer: God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

I should also point out that if you mess with pH too much, what you do is really reduce your chances of getting pregnant at all. Sperm can't survive if the pH is too low, so you don't want to kill all his swimmers. You want to lower sperm count, not eliminate it entirely!

Good luck!

[atomic sagebrush]

Sorry I think this kept getting bumped away from me LOL.

1)I think older couples should always use OLE

2)Ok let me recap the DTD patterns again here

Best sway, lowest odds conception - one attempt at positive OPK. You can do this WITH daily release (lowest odds of conception of all, ~maybe~ slightly better sway) OR have DH release every 2-4 days and then still do one attempt at pos OPK.

Compromise - DTD every 4 days. YOu will have actual unprotected sex every 4 days. NO additional attempt at positive OPK. Let the attempt fall where it will. YOu aren't trying to time it to coincide with positive OPK, in fact most people don't even DO OPK when they do this method. they start after AF ends and just keep DTD every 4 days.

OR you can do BOTH DTD every 4 days (without trying to time it to coincide with any particular dates, just DTD starting after AF) and then an additional attempt at pos OPK. This ends up being TWO attempts in fertile window. The others are one attempt in fertile window. The functional FW is really more like 4 days, not 5. Very few people get pg from attempts O-4 and even O-3 is slim chances.

THe fertile window does NOT open at positive OPK and continue on for 5 days. It is a 3-5 day period ending the day of ovulation (no pregnancies have ever been proven to have occured the day after ovulation - your odds of conception are ZERO) For most people it ends up being O-3, O-2, O-1 (and this is the day you tend to get pos OPK), and O day.

[atomic sagebrush]

Aaaaaah ok that makes sense now, thanks bluebonnet!
So cd5 is 5 days after your first day of AF? Or 5 days after AF goes away?

CD 1 = first day of AF (actual bleeding, not spotting)
CD5 is the 5th day after the start of AF (so some people may still be on AF and would NOT start DTD yet, others will have already gotten off AF and will have already started)