What day did you get your bfp?

I got my BFP on 13DPO - I didn't test before. That's an interesting article about charting - charting your BBT alone isn't enough but once you've done it for a while you start to see other signs - OPKs don't work for me for some reason - I don't know why - I never get a clear + with them. For me signs are CM, low temp and ovulation pain which is hard to ignore. I only started charting after a ruptured ovarian cyst that required emergency surgery. We've been using the FAM since DD was born (well once I started ovulating again at 4m PP) and she's now 16m and no BFP (even if that is getting annoying now)

I was diagnosed with PCOS by a few doctors here, usually after just a quick scan and no hormone tests, and they just wanted to chuck medication at me. I did have insulin resistance as well, but nothing else to indicate full-blown PCOS. I saw Dr Elsa and she said while I did have cysts on my ovaries, hormone tests showed I didn't actually have proper PCOS. So sorry, I probably can't help you there! Although if you have any doubts about your diagnosis, do seek a second opinion. I think PCOS may be one of those vastly over-diagnosed syndromes here.

;)

You're most welcome. If you have any questions just fire away on here! And good luck :D.

'If you are trying to conceive, it is worth knowing that charts are not as easy to use nor as accurate as urine-based OPKs for predicting ovulation. Fertility experts also warn against charting because it is an unreliable method of ovulation prediction and using them to time intercourse can make the whole process of trying to conceive more stressful. Beware of becoming obsessed with your temperature chart - it's easy to understand how this can happen, given that it's the first thing you have to think of doing when you wake up in the morning!' I just copied the above from the site you linked. - No, they're not always easy to use and sometimes it can be hard to confirm ovulation if you have a few days where your temps are all over the place (lack of sleep, a good night out on the lash, medication). I found FertilityFriend really helpful when I was stuck, though, and you do get to know pretty quickly when a temp should be discarded. - OPKs are definitely more accurate at predicting ovulation, IMO, but I didn't like the idea of forking out 300dhs a pack when it can sometimes take two or three sticks a day to get a positive! Sometimes the surge can be in the middle of the night, so you won't see a positive however many you do unless you set your alarm for 3am. - Yes, charting can definitely stress you out if you've been trying a while. But then, anything you're doing to try and get pregnant stresses you out after a while. I had a couple of days where I thought, 'Sod it, I can't be bothered with the thermometer this morning, nothing's working anyway' but they were few and far between. I felt knowing my body and what it was doing - so if there was a problem it would have been easier for my doctor to work out - was worth the extra stress and hassle. It's a personal decision and FAM is definitely not for everyone. Give it a go, though, and see how it works for you. I do have a copy of TCOYF floating around Dubai somewhere but I'll have to track it down and then I've promised it to another poster first ;). Or, I'm in the UK at the moment and happy to bring back a copy if I can find it. edited by DubaiCat on 06/09/2011 Totally agree with everything DC has said. Charting was very successful for me too, I swear by it. But it does take a 110% commitment to stick with it, IMO. I think that for women having difficulties TTC what have they got to loose? Absolutely nothing at all. Try it for a couple months, if its not for you then at least you can say you gave it a go. I wish you all the luck there is, OP. Praying you get your BFP one day soon!

And just to add I was also diagnosed with PCOS by a few doctors here. One wanted to give me fertility medication without doing even the most basic of hormone tests. A fellow poster on here got me onto charting and recommended a different doctor, and it turned out while I had cysts on my ovaries I most definitely did not have PCOS. DS was conceived naturally - after a long while, admittedly - and so was the bump.

'If you are trying to conceive, it is worth knowing that charts are not as easy to use nor as accurate as urine-based OPKs for predicting ovulation. Fertility experts also warn against charting because it is an unreliable method of ovulation prediction and using them to time intercourse can make the whole process of trying to conceive more stressful. Beware of becoming obsessed with your temperature chart - it's easy to understand how this can happen, given that it's the first thing you have to think of doing when you wake up in the morning!' I just copied the above from the site you linked. - No, they're not always easy to use and sometimes it can be hard to confirm ovulation if you have a few days where your temps are all over the place (lack of sleep, a good night out on the lash, medication). I found FertilityFriend really helpful when I was stuck, though, and you do get to know pretty quickly when a temp should be discarded. - OPKs are definitely more accurate at predicting ovulation, IMO, but I didn't like the idea of forking out 300dhs a pack when it can sometimes take two or three sticks a day to get a positive! Sometimes the surge can be in the middle of the night, so you won't see a positive however many you do unless you set your alarm for 3am. - Yes, charting can definitely stress you out if you've been trying a while. But then, anything you're doing to try and get pregnant stresses you out after a while. I had a couple of days where I thought, 'Sod it, I can't be bothered with the thermometer this morning, nothing's working anyway' but they were few and far between. I felt knowing my body and what it was doing - so if there was a problem it would have been easier for my doctor to work out - was worth the extra stress and hassle. It's a personal decision and FAM is definitely not for everyone. Give it a go, though, and see how it works for you. I do have a copy of TCOYF floating around Dubai somewhere but I'll have to track it down and then I've promised it to another poster first ;). Or, I'm in the UK at the moment and happy to bring back a copy if I can find it. <em>edited by DubaiCat on 06/09/2011</em>

Sorry to hear that, Melinda. But at least now you can start afresh with a new natural approach which, imho, is very positive. So many women are pushed down interventional routes when they don't need it. For the record - I was diagnosed with pcos a few years before I started ttc. I also had a history of hypothyroidism (admittedly under control by the time I started ttc). I was also working in a stressful job when I decided to start ttc, and had a major deadline looming a couple of months down the line, so felt pretty pessimistic. I decided to begin charting without ttc for 3 months first. I couldn't believe what I saw - really regular thermal shifts every month! As soon as my deadline passed we started ttc and I got pg on my 2nd cycle. For my 2nd and 3rd pregnancies, the odds weren't looking great either. I am an extended bfer and didn't get af after dd1 for 18 months. Then I got a bfp on my 1st cycle of ttc (turned out to be chemical though and got af at 6 wks). I conceived again successfully ont he 2nd cycle. Again though charting and observing 'other' signs. After dd2 I didn't gt af for nearly 2 years! I was ready to throw the towel in and admit defeat. But i read TCOYF and started charting again. Believe it or not, I never got an af but managed to 'catch' the very 1st ov in 2.5 years just by checking cm (tmi). I am now 6 months pg despite not having had a period for over 3 years. Oh and I turn 38 this month. With hindsight, I am so glad that I tried the natural route on my own rather than seeking medical advice. When I was 6 wks pg i went to see an OBGYN. Before I told him I was pg he asked for my LMP and said it was 'very unusual' not so get a period for so long after a baby. Thankfully I know that that is not the case as I am a bfing mother supporter and have basic knowledge of these issues. But he could really have stressed me out telling me that I was a lost cause and needed fertility treatment. In my expereince, doctors here do not really like FAM as it empowers patients. One OBGYN even told me to stop taking temps as it would stress me out! Thankfully I didn't take any notice. Not sure which bookshops currently have TCOYF in stock but I have previosly seen it in Kinokuniya and Magrudy's. I would call them before setting off though as seems to sell out quite quickly. Failing that, you could always borow it from the Old Library at MoE. That's what I did last time as I'd lent out my own copy and couldn't find it in the shops. Best of luck with FAM and let us know how you get on :-) KB x

During s@x week (every second day days 10-17) I took cough syrup for productive coughs, which is rumoured to thin your cervical mucous making it more "friendly", could be/probably is a myth but despite a few fertility issues we got preggo really fast, can't hurt I guess. I used the ovulation pee sticks to chart my ovulation and found it was always day 15

Melinda, I'm sorry to hear you're feeling down. Ttc can be v stressful. Fyi I just checked my chart (FAM geek) and it turns out I had a thermal shift 6 dpo (jumped from 36.1 to 36.6). Temps continued to climb until 15 dpo (36.85) when I tested and got a bfp. FAM states that you need around 17 high temps past ov to indicate a likely pg. This is why I tried my best to hold off testing too early (although I caved in on 15dpo). Not sure this is of any help to you but just thought I would give you my 10 pence worth. Have you read TCOYF? I have no idea if charting would work in conjunction with IUI and hormone treatment, but maybe your doctor could advise you? I found it invaluable in that I didn't waste excitement and hope when I needn't have, as I knew exactly what my body was doing. Couldn't agree more, DC. I am currently pg for the 3rd time having used FAM and am amazed at how empowering the method is. This is going to sound OTT but reading Toni Weschler's book (TCOYF) totally changed how I viewed my body and made me a lot more confident. I learned to monitor my fertility signs and just 'knew' when I had ov'd by tracking my temps. Like you I have no idea how it would work in conjunction with a more medicalised approach, but there are a couple of chapters devoted to IVF etc so I would definitely take a look. Oh and they have a copy at the Old Library if anyone's interested!

Many thanks ladies..Dubaicat did you test before day13? I didn't, but I didn't because I was charting my temperatures and 10/11/12dpo were all 36.79, whereas 13dpo was 36.99 so I flew out of bed and did the wee on the stick thing (and then nearly fell off the loo). I have no idea if charting would work in conjunction with IUI and hormone treatment, but maybe your doctor could advise you? I found it invaluable in that I didn't waste excitement and hope when I needn't have, as I knew exactly what my body was doing.

Did anyone realistically still test positive after dpo11? My period is due in 2days I did, exactly at 11dpo!!! It is possible to test this early if you know [u'>exactly[/u'> when you ovulated! Good luck x

Dont understand the technical jargon but i've just tested positive 2 days after period was due (no symptoms at all). With DD i tested postivie 1 week before period due (mega breast swelling and tiredness,cramping).They do say every pregnancy is different i guess. Really hope that it all works out for you.

I tested positive 13dpo with DS. I'm guessing with the medical intervention you'll know for sure when you ovulated? I reckon you should give yourself a few more days just to be sure. Fingers crossed and lots of baby dust for you! It must be so frustrating :(.