Chat with a gynaecologist

[Maximus17]

Hiya I went for my follow up appointment after laparoscopy and I asked her about OPKs she said don’t waste your money on those things her advice was to have sex at least 3 times a week consistently. Whe I think about our schedule we only do it during my fertile week and only when I see high fertility maybe that’s why I am not getting pregnant as well could be missing my ovulation. From now on I will try to BD at least 3 times a week even if I don’t think I am fertile. Let’s see how it goes

 

[Melly41]

It worth a try! Good luck i hope it works for you x

 

[Jemmlove]

Hey! There’s an app called Clue that has good reviews at tracking cycle and fertile window. I mean by all means bd as much as you can but still focus on your fertile week I’d say!

 

[Sunflower1]

Does she not believe they work? There's no way we could manage 3 times a week.

 

[Maximus17]

Hi she does but she said it adds stress and very expensive. She said that you could ovulate anytime so I think once I see the peak it’s too late as most of the time I ovulate straight away after peak and we only tend to bd once before the peak so I think we have been missing it. And I checked ovulate between days 10 and 13 so my plan is to bd starting as soon as my period ends cd5 and keep BD every other day till cd15. Let’s see if it works I will let you know only 3 days to start the marathon I am not looking forward to it but it must be done lol

 

[Sunflower1]

Sounds like a good plan. We use CD 4 day advanced so I get a few days notice when my estrogen peaks before the LH surge. I agree if you can dtd regularly you dont need opks.

Hope it goes well. Good luck!

 

[MoominGirl]

I suspect the reason she says OPKs are a waste of money is that if you dtd 3 times a week, every week, you're always going to be covered. We always start way before the OPKs start to go positive so we don't miss the surge and for me the main reason is so I know when the witch will arrive.

I think realistically though, it's all well and good for someone to sit behind a desk and say dtd 3+ times a week, every week but unless you're a high sex drive couple, I'd really challenge any other couple that's been at this long term to be able to keep that up. We've been struggling for nearly 3 years in total and our sex life already feels forced as it is without piling that amount of pressure on for the entire month, every month.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Sunflower1]

I agree Moomingirl. I'm in my 40s and my DH is 40 next year...3 times a week was fine in my 20s but after 2 years TTC in my 40s no chance!

 

[Baby Cakes]

Hi dtd 3 times a week would be hard.for me and my OH as i work shifts.
And every other week we like ships passing in the wind.

 

[MoominGirl]

The only reason we still focus on the fertile week is so that we know we have covered the important days and done our best. Then we can do what we feel for the rest of the month which often isn't that much due to the stress the whole thing is putting us under. I wouldn't want any more pressure than we've already got and I truly can't wait to put anything relating to charting in the bin if I'm honest.

The point Baby Cakes makes about shift work is another good point. I used to work shifts before we started TTC and I can't imagine the extra obstacles it would cause. Sometimes it's bad enough as it is.

 

[Sunflower1]

The only reason we still focus on the fertile week is so that we know we have covered the important days and done our best. Then we can do what we feel for the rest of the month which often isn't that much due to the stress the whole thing is putting us under. I wouldn't want any more pressure than we've already got and I truly can't wait to put anything relating to charting in the bin if I'm honest.

The point Baby Cakes makes about shift work is another good point. I used to work shifts before we started TTC and I can't imagine the extra obstacles it would cause. Sometimes it's bad enough as it is.

Absolutely. I know someone whose husband used to work away 4 days a week when they were TTC. They eventually went on holiday and get pregnant.

 

[Maximus17]

Yeah I know 3 times a week is also too much for us. Before TTC we were only once a week so going from that to 3 times a week will be too much but I am going to at least try t one month of my DH is up for it