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@paranundrum: thatβs the problem is that real life still goes on! I always feel like I wish I could take a break from life to just ttc π€£
As for me - not sure what is happening yet. Iβm trying femara again and a bit of prednisone... Iβm always worried about fixing things that arenβt broken since I think I was getting father in pregnancy when I didnβt have all these meds on board (still doing baby aspirin/progesterone/lovenox/one million supplements) But itβs a process full of trying this and that and second guessing! I wish I had a crystal ball sometimes, I think itβs part of what makes βunexplainedβ so frustrating.
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@Kaohinani: what a great update!
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@yellowbeach: Thank you!
I am hoping everything pans out this cycle.
Today's update:
Uterine Lining - 10.6-mm
Rt follicle - 12.5-mm
Lt follicles- 16.9-mm, 13.2-mm
E2 = waiting for results
I may have to go back tomorrow morning if they do not advise to trigger this evening. (Note - My RE will trigger 16+ mm follies but prefers 18-mm.) I was also given a sterile collection kit for DH to use when we get the green light on that. -
@fuzzypeaches: Well, if life was fair, nobody would have to TTC for so long and it wouldn't even be a problem. But as it's not...we just have to keep trying to find the balance!
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@Kaohinani: Fingers crossed!
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@fuzzypeaches: Thank you so very much!
I am hoping [for once] everything progresses without any hiccups.
@paranundrum: Thank you!
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Holy moly Iβve mossed so much!! Life is so crazy nowadays between work, kids, homework for first kid (!!) and terrible pre-twos
@Kaohinani: what a rollercoaster you poor thing!! Iβm kind of glad I didnβt see your updates until today because I would have been so stressed for you!!! lol
For me, last month I have a weird anovulatory cycle. Totally bummed me out. Went back on femara and Iβm CD 14 today with this OPK. I usually O CD 35ish. What say you my lovely ladies?
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This is my app
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I have my emby transfer tomorrow at 2pm - on a full moon on friday the 13th. What could go wrong with a date like that?
DH is out of town working too so he can't come to this one which is 
and I told him if we have to do this more than once he is not missing the next one.
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Question! For my TTC experts- what is the " ideal" TTC schedule? Every day on fertile week? every other day? With my first, we were young and free and had TIME and just did it every day the whole month. But this time around, we are definetely blocking time for this and I don't want to overdo it or miss this month. What do you think is the sweet spot?
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@Mrs.Panda: Thank you!
It has been quite a busy month filled with a number of unfortunate events. Things have begun to look up and, hopefully, they will stay that way. As for you, that is definitely a positive OPK! Definitely, time to baby dance! @skiierchck99: Good luck
and good vibes for a spectacular transfer! Perhaps, the crazy of a full moon and Friday, the 13th will have no bearing on your luck and all will proceed perfectly [and leading to your BFP!]. I shall keep my fingers π€ and toes π¦Ά crossed for you! I know how it feels to have a traveling DH. We have missed out on a number of cycles due to his work trips and time training with the military. He will not be there during my IUI since this weekend, he has training and next week he can't leave his job. I, definitely, feel for you.@LiliBillie: It depends on how long until your OV and how spectacular DH is in replenishing his "baby batter." Most OBGYN'S and RE's advise every other day starting from the day after the last day of AF so the concentration of sperm and number of quality "swimmers" will not degrade; as well as, to ensure a woman hits her fertile period. Also, ejaculate deposited 2-3 days before OV has the highest chance to fertilize an ovum since it is already sitting there [waiting] to meet the ovum. It takes 6-12 hours for sperm to make it past the cervix to the fallopian tubes. By overlapping deposits on an every-other-day basis, one can ensure that (1) sperm is there, and (2) the quality and quantity is not compromised. That stated, if you have a shorter cycle (as do I) having intercourse 2 days in a row after the end of AF then every other day until a positive OPK then 2 days in a row again, can ensure an adequate build up of "reserve" waiting to greet an ovum. If your DH has lower sperm counts, some specialists ask that the couple has intercourse once every 2 days (* think sex Monday skip Tues and Wed, sex on Thursday and so on) and then on ovulation day. Also, SMEFP is popular and touts high success rates. It is all up to you and your SO. Good luck
!
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UPDATE: IUI is SATURDAY at 0900!!!!
One more day Follistim @ 25-iu at 1600 and then Ovidrel @ 2100. BD tonight and IUI on Sat. Super excited!!!!! -
@Kaohinani: GOOD LUCK!!!
Cheering you all on! 
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@Kaohinani:
!!!
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@JennyLayneAZ: @bhbee: Thank you!
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@Kaohinani: THANKS! I was secretly writing so you answer.
More questions. Is there a way to know what is a spectacular "baby batter" w/o testing
How do you know you have a shorter cycle? I don't tempt right now. I only use FLO the app. So far, I got my AF the day the app predicted and "feel" a pulling sensation when it says I'm about to O. I'm trying to not overthink this and might tempt if I don't get results in the next few months.
Lastly, what is SMEFP? THANKS! -
@LiliBillie: No problem! It is always a please to answer questions.
To respond, no, the only way to determine the true quality of a man's sperm is through a semen analysis using a sample. Quality sperm have great motility, heavy viscosity (volume) and concentration (ie. A sample loaded with sperm), and atleast 4% or greater morphology of high-quality (well shaped) spermies.
On your query as to what defines a "shorter cycle" and how to check - I have a shorter cycle due to the fact that I have short periods (usually 2-4 days), my follicular phase is short (* my follicles and lining grow super fast even without gonadotropins) and I ovulate early (think CD 8-12). The second half of my cycle (luteal phase) is long and usually runs 14-18 days. My entire cycle can be 24-27 days any given month. I use OPKs, track my BBT, track fertile "signs," and go in for u/s and bloodwork every cycle so I am certain of when I ovulate. DH and I basically begin baby dancing as soon as my AF ends because I usually only have 4-6 days before I ovulate.
Tracking apps are amazing; however, they can not, with 100% accuracy (or even 90%, for that matter) definitively determine WHEN a woman will ovulate. They afford a woman an educated "guestimate." Most are run on programs that assume that a typical cycle is 28 days (in reality, normal cycles can run 21-40 days) and that most women will ovulate on CD 14 which is [usually] 14 days before her next AF. Keep in mind, the same woman may ovulate on CD 12 one month and CD 20 the next... The app wouldn't pick up on this until the next AF. She may also only have a 12-day LP (or a 16-day LP!). For example, when I was using Ovia 2 years ago, it predicted my OV date to be CD13, when in fact, I was ovulatory before then and had a 16-17 day LP. For months, DH and I kept missing our "sweet spot" to BD. After I began to use OPKs and track BBT, I was able to pin point my OV dates and enter the info in the app. My dates adjusted and now, it has me ovulating around CD 11 every cycle.
Finally SMEFP (sperm meets egg fertility planning) is the idea that a woman should have intercourse starting the day her AF ends on the schedule of every other day until around ovulation and then the day before OV, the day of OV, and THEN once two days after OV. There is a lot of information out there (including on the WWW) on it and the success rate of using it.
I hope my responses were adequate and helpful.
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@Kaohinani: SUPER HELPFUL! Thank you so much. I will totally track if it takes longer than 3 months. My husband really wants me to "take it easy" and not over obsess over it. Which is not easy at all. Baby dust to all!
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@Kaohinani: omg yay!!! Fingers crossed for you lady!
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@Mrs.Panda: Thank you so much!
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@Kaohinani:
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@MoonMoon: Thank you!
I can't wait!
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@Kaohinani: good luck I hope this does the trick for you. If you have to transport your husband's sperm my RE said to tuck the cup in my bra (which was so bizarre) but we got E out of our 1st IUI so who knows maybe that was the lucky charm.
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@snarkybiochemist: Thank you!
That is an awesome idea... for his SA, they said he could wrap his sample in a wash cloth heated for 30 secs in the microwave. Tucking it in my bra to keep it at body temperature makes more sense and just seems all around easier. π€·ββοΈ I am hoping it is as lucky for me as it was for you. -
@Kaohinani: I did like six rounds of iui before moving to ivf with my first (cutting to the chase this time since dh struggles in morphology, Motility, and count, I think because of his high stress job) and we used the bra method too! Awkward but it works.
Iβm honestly prepared for it to not work since each has maybe a 36% rate but it would be awesome to have an early summer baby this time - dd is Feb!
Wishing you all the luck on your iui, too.
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@Kaohinani: @skiierchck99: Exciting! Good luck to you both!
(I don't even feel the need to ask you to keep us in the loop, I know we'll have updates super fast! )
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@skiierchck99: Thank you so very much! :
It is great to know that the bra trick works. 
Hopefully, your IVF will be what brings you a #2. I know it is hard to stay positive after so many set backs. I try to remain hopeful something "good" COULD happen even when I think my odds aren't so hot. You know - hope for the best, plan for the worst. As to your comment on having a summer baby since your DD is a Feb-baby (I'm a Feb baby, myself. @paranundrum: Would I ever let you down and NOT update?
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@Kaohinani: I know I can count on you!
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@Kaohinani: Ahhh! I'm so excited for you!
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Welp. I'm out for this month. AF arrived 11 DPO. Debating whether to be in for next month or wait what is likely 2 cycles to be eligible for FMLA (teacher who changed jobs. This month was nbd as it aligned almost to the day with summer).
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@SweetCaroline: Thank you!
@farawayyama: I am sorry that AF found you!
I can't make a decision for you, but I have dealt with job transitions in the educational field and FMLA. It is, ultimately, up to you, but I will say that I am happy that I never stopped TTC because one never knows if a particular month will take or not π€·ββοΈ ... for me, it has yet to pan out so I have not been affected. IDK how easily you fall pregnant so, for you, it definitely may be of a concern. In any case, we would love to have you with us next cycle, but, if you choose to wait it out, we all understand. -
@Kaohinani: Thank you (and others) for the congrats. I'm trying to maintain some space from HB and be chill while hoping this is a sticky baby. Still following along and rooting for you all!
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@Kaohinani: Me again! So i decided to purchase some OPK last night because I was genuily curious. More questions! I purchased the ClearBlue Ovulation strips ( pink ones). It says to dip the stick 15s and so far I'm not getting a smiley. The reviews on Amazon say to not test in the am, some say to do, some say to do it twice a day.. According to my FLO chart, I will be ovulating in two days. Any insights/tips for a very new OPK user? Thanks!
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@Kaohinani: Cβmon Saturday hurry up and get here!!!
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@Kaohinani: by far one of the stranger things I have ever carried in my bra. It also means that I get to tease my husband that he might not have been there when E was made. He came home on his lunch break and did his thing and then went back to work and I went to the RE's office alone with semen in a cup in my bra and then my doctor did the IUI.
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@LiliBillie: In the CBE family of products, I am most familiar with the ClearBlue Easy Advanced Digital OPKs (CBEAD) which one DOES use with FMU. Normal OPK strips are meant to be used from 10 am to 8 pm as that is when one's LH has been processed through the liver and kidneys. CBEAD tests for both LH and proteins [which are affected by changes in LH] in the urine which is why it is meant to used with FMU. The CBEAD shows a circle for "low" LH days, a flashing smiley for "high" fertility days, and a solid smiley for "peak fertility" which means your LH is surging and there is a good chance you will OV that evening or the next day. As far as I know, the regular CB OPKs only show low days [open circles] and peak [solid smiley faces] days (similar to a traditional OPK in which a low day would show a test line lighter than the control line and a dark test line which is the same or darker than the control on days you are surging). If you are receiving an open circle, you either (1) missed your surge OR, more likely, (2) haven't surged yet and should continue to test daily. Follow the directions in the box, which will instruct you whether or not to test in the morning vs. evening. With "traditional" OPKs, many women (myself included) test in the afternoon and evening. With my CBEAD, I test in the morning and then follow up with my IC OPKs in the afternoon until my line is nearly positive and then I begin to also test at night to make certain I don't miss my surge. A woman ovulates between 12 and 48 hours after her first positive OPK, although most will ovulate around 36-40 hours. Keep testing and start baby dancing now (every other day) to build a reserve and to ensure you do not miss your surge. Good luck
, hun.
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@Kaohinani: THANK YOU you're the best. Super clear. I will test again in the afternoon. and from now on I will do 10 am and 7pm so I don't miss it.
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@yellowbeach: I know, seriously!
@snarkybiochemist: That's too funny!
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@Kaohinani: Mine didn't even have to sign consent at the office. If I remember correctly, he signed the sample cup signifying it was his and at the office I initialed and dated every pipet and tube that would come in contact with the sample during processing and then verified it as the moved through each step. We DTD Sunday afternoon triggered Monday at 8am IUI Tuesday 1:30pm and did and at home ICI (turkey baster, well 5cc syringe no needle) Tuesday night around 8pm.
Good luck tomorrow, fingers super crossed. -
@snarkybiochemist: Thank you so much!
I am hoping everything pans out this cycle.
DH is out of town working too so he can't come to this one which is 
and I told him if we have to do this more than once he is not missing the next one.
Hopefully, your IVF will be what brings you a #2. I know it is hard to stay positive after so many set backs. I try to remain hopeful something "good" COULD happen even when I think my odds aren't so hot. You know - hope for the best, plan for the worst. As to your comment on having a summer baby since your DD is a Feb-baby (I'm a Feb baby, myself. 
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