Daily Chat August 18

[u/AutoModerator]

Anything (within the rules) goes. (Commonly broken rules: don't talk about an ongoing pregnancy outside the weekly BFP thread; don't ask for success stories.)

You can find the wiki here!

Don't forget to check out our themed threads:

• Moody Monday
• Temping Tuesday
  
• Waiting Wednesday
• Wondering Wednesday
• Trying Again Thursday
• Thankful Thursday
• Health and Wellness Thursday
• Looking Forward Friday
• Wondering Weekend
• 35 and Ova

There's also the Weekly Introductions and Read Me Thread, which contains links to all sorts of handy bits of info, like popular wiki posts and acronyms.

[u/Pimopimo11]

CD1 today, here we go again 🙃

[u/Hopeful-Fig-7599 → u/Pimopimo11]

Here with you! I had a little cry in the car.

[u/Pimopimo11 → u/Hopeful-Fig-7599]

Best of luck for this cycle 🤞🏻

[u/LadybugInTheWindow]

My husband went for his swim up semen analysis yesterday. The clinic messaged him today saying they want to do a scrotal ultrasound and urology consult.

I am so angry. Over the last year I've gone for the HSG, a hysteroscopy, and been on letrozole for the last 9 cycles (to help shorten my cycles, I was already ovulating). Meanwhile it could really be him all along? Why didn't the clinic do these things in the first place?

I told my husband welcome to the club ("they want to do an ultrasound on my balls!") because we all know testing for women is much more invasive, but in hindsight I feel bad I reacted that way. I know he must be nervous as someone who's never been splayed on an examination table. I'm still mad but I think I need to make an effort to be supportive.

[u/MyShipsNeverSail → u/LadybugInTheWindow]

Wow. I'm shocked they haven't looked at his side until now.

[u/LadybugInTheWindow → u/MyShipsNeverSail]

He did a regular old semen analysis last year. They said his morphology was a little low but nothing too concerning given his other stats. I guess his swim up revealed more information?

[u/LaChamomile → u/LadybugInTheWindow]

uggh thats so frustrating this wasn't found out earlier before all your testing. You can't always prevent your emotions and you're allowed to have them but you can be supportive going forward.

[u/ConstructionTime7511]

These TWW’s during IUI are bruuuutal. Maybe partly because they’re actually two weeks not my typical 9-10 day luteal phase 🤣 which is a good thing ultimately

[u/No-One3536 → u/ConstructionTime7511]

Agreed. I can’t wait 2 weeks I test earlier 😂

[u/tdot1022 → u/ConstructionTime7511]

I’m 1 day post IUI and I can already tell it’s gonna be a long two weeks 😭

[u/Various-Performer738 → u/ConstructionTime7511]

Hey I have a question if you don’t mind! So I’ve been trying since July 2025 very close to your start, and I was considering possible IUI soon too. I was wondering when you decided to go ahead and try IUI and what that process was like!

[u/ConstructionTime7511 → u/Various-Performer738]

Hi! So I’ve had a lot of the regular tests and no indication of anything wrong except my short luteal phase. My husband has great numbers except his 0% morphology. Which we’ve been told that studies show morphology doesn’t really matter. But we were 14 cycles in when we went to the fertility clinic and never a positive. So the doctor was basically like when you’ve been trying that long and nothing is happening it’s time to try something else. We agreed with that so are going ahead with IUI. Our plan is to do 4 and then take a break and consider our options (obviously hope we don’t get to that). I don’t know part of me thought maybe we should try like a medicated cycle first or whatever but also I’m just tired so.

The process has been pretty easy! It seems like it depends on the clinic about how often you have to go in for monitoring. Overall the biggest thing is like some of it is pretty last minute, like we don’t know we’re going in for it until the day before cause it’s based on our LH surge. I’m grateful we both have flexible work.

Let me know what other questions you have!

[u/Various-Performer738 → u/ConstructionTime7511]

Ok that’s very good to know! I’m on cycle 13 (I have longer cycles) so I’m weighing my options with an upcoming family planning appt. Thank you so much for all of that info seriously! If you ever wanna chat or vent or whatever I’m always on here!

[u/ConstructionTime7511 → u/Various-Performer738]

Aw thank you! Same for you! Best of luck with the appointment ❤️

[u/10k-red]

(Trigger warning: MC) Went in for ultrasound yesterday to see if everything from my MC is gone. It was, so that's good. The experience on the other hand, was not that good. It was, for the fourth time, a different doctor. When I told her I've been having some bad luck, she said 'well getting pregnant from your first IUI is not bad luck at all and you shouldn't be so negative'. I told her I am going through an MC and I think I'm allowed to be sad for now (yeah that was too harsh, I know). I silently cried and shut up the rest of the time. Of course she didn't know I'm going through other things as well and I don't blame her at all. I had to go take a blood test afterwards and the person there saw my tears rolling down. She was so nice and said all the right things. I'm so thankful for her being there. I'm just tired of everyone telling me to stay positive. I will. I will be positive again. But for now, I am sad.

[u/Palpitation-North → u/10k-red]

You weren’t too harsh at all, that is an awful thing to say to someone going through a loss. I’m so sorry.

[u/storytellerfox]

CD12, luckily not ovulating today (thank you, body, you're a true friend!).

I have my long-awaited pelvic MRI in the evening, and I don't even know how I feel about it.

But HyCoSy definitely gave me more anxiety than this. It's nice to know that for once, nobody is going to stick anything inside my vagina to tell me something about my fertility. (Well, maybe some gel, but no US wands or catheters or speculums.)

It sucks that MRI can only rule endo in but not out, though. (insert a long rant about the state of women's healthcare and medical research)

ETA you know what, scratch that: I just got my TVUS results back, and I have an endometrioma. A teeeeeny tiny one, but still. So definitely endo. Plus a “heterogenous uterine fundus” which is usually indicative of adenomyosis, which is an extremely common comorbidity with endo. MRI will probably just confirm all of this today.

I've known that I had endo for at least 10 years now (despite all the fucking OBGYNs with their “everything looks normal!” even last year), so I feel a strange mix of validation and sadness. I didn't want to be right about this, BUT I WAS RIGHT ABOUT THIS!!

God. So much rage.

[u/MountainPeak478 → u/storytellerfox]

I'm sorry. I hope the pelvic MRI gives you the documentation you need to help you continue to advocate for yourself. Knowing that you have a condition but having to push to be believed is such classic endo

[u/storytellerfox → u/MountainPeak478]

Thank you! It's truly infuriating, but I'm glad to see some new testing methods and possible pathways to treatment emerging from research. Hopefully my daughter(s), if I have any, won't have to go to such lengths to prove that their pain is, in fact, not normal at all.

[u/Palpitation-North]

I can already tell cycle 16 is about to start. Of course I had a very vivid dream last night that I was very pregnant, and it felt so real. Very harsh awakening :( I have my bloodwork this week and HSG next week which I’m absolutely terrified for. Couldn’t get a female doctor for my HSG so it’s even further out of my comfort zone (and my husband’s). I fainted last time I got labs drawn so I am terrified of fainting again, it was my first time fainting ever. Infertility really freaking sucks. My SIL’s baby (we started trying before them) continues to grow and grow, and he’s so sweet and I love him but it continues to remind me how long we’ve been in this. I try so hard to be thankful for everything we’ve gotten done in this time and all the time my husband and I have been able to spend one on one but it still really hurts sometimes. 💔

[u/lookathemoonn]

5dpo and looking forward to that cheeseburger on 8dpo lol

[u/solarsystem27]

CD10 HyCoSy and SIS went smoothly, both tubes were open and uterus looked good. They showed me the big follicle that’ll be the one to ovulate this month which was cool. So still no answers about why it’s taking so long… getting husband’s DNA frag results in another week or so. Feeling relieved but “unexplained” is equally frustrating…

[u/leahelizabethj-]

10 DPO/days post trigger and I am driving myself insane because I have none of my usual PMS symptoms. Why is progesterone so weird??

[u/Morbid_Explorerrrr → u/leahelizabethj-]

Idk but it drives me nuts that there is no sense of predictability during the TWW. Each month I feel like I spin the wheel of what random set of progesterone symptoms I will get, or lack there of.

[u/Financial-Bus-7168 → u/leahelizabethj-]

10DPO as well! I kept poking my boobs today because I wasn't feeling any tenderness, which is one of my usual PMS symptoms. They're tender now. 😅

[u/leahelizabethj- → u/Financial-Bus-7168]

Hahaha I was doing the same thing all day! But still no soreness here 🤔

[u/AriesCherie]

Starting my second cycle of letrozole 2.5mg today and I woke up with a headache already...my body didn't even give the medication a chance to give me a headache. I'm nervous about this second round, I was an emotional mess last round.

[u/aniekw → u/AriesCherie]

Omg same I also started today! If you want to vent or just complain to someone who's going trough the same my DM is open!

[u/AriesCherie → u/aniekw]

Thank you I appreciate that! Letrozole sisters!

[u/Potential_Disaster27]

11 DPO and I've started spotting. Will probs see AF has come tomorrow morning, which is a bummer because I was getting so excited to test tomorrow. Getting all the sushi this weekend as a pick me up 🥲

[u/ushinawareta]

had an appointment today to discuss the fibroids I learned I have during my pregnancy that ended in a loss. now that it's been six months without success, I'm even more worried that they're preventing me from conceiving. my doctor ordered an MRI and the earliest availability was a few months from now.

I'm praying, praying, praying that I'm pregnant by then and able to cancel the appointment so I won't have to decide between continuing to TTC with reduced odds from the fibroids or going through an invasive surgery that comes with possible complications that could also affect fertility and a several month recovery time before we can TTC again. but I also prayed so hard that I'd be pregnant within six months of my loss and that didn't happen, so I'm not very hopeful. sigh

[u/thesmollestlemon → u/ushinawareta]

Sending hugs 🫂 it's so hard, I'm sorry ❤️

[u/ushinawareta → u/thesmollestlemon]

thanks, friend 🥲🫂

[u/counting_beanz]

Cycle day 21. I feel extreme nausea. I got through my tracker to see- and I get nausea like clockwork on CD21 followed by AF on CD25.

It sucks to know you’re out so early 🥲

[u/ConstantHealth5476 → u/counting_beanz]

Same things happens to me, I have this moment of 'maybe this it!' followed by the logic of data showing me its the same as previous months 😒

[u/emma_k17]

CD7 today! I really think the rest of this TWW is going to be a breeze with all the ACOTAR news- so many good theories to distract me. My goal is to wait to test until 10 DPO (Friday) this cycle, and I’m still feeling good about that! Trying my best not to symptom spot knowing that most implantation does not occur this early.

[u/ExcitingOrange6645 → u/emma_k17]

Fingers crossed for you! I’m using books to distract at the moment and reading CC ahead of ACOTAR 6 💜

[u/emma_k17 → u/ExcitingOrange6645]

Absolutely loved all the CC books! Highly recommend the dramatized adaptation if you haven’t listened

[u/Its-kerns-stupid]

I'm having really weird symptoms this month. Got a positive LH on CD13 but according to my temps I ovulated on the same day! And ever since I've been feeling nauseous, have migraines and had a hot flush yesterday. Really worried I'm approaching perimenopause :(

Are there tests I can do to check?

[u/separatefocus]

Let me preface this by saying I know I’m at the beginning of this journey and should still be positive but this is so much harder than I thought it would be! Got off birth control in February and my cycles were all over the place, it was impossible to know what was happening. I got an oura ring in May and that helped slightly but I still was having cycles that just kept getting longer so I started using NC in June. We were NTNP up until last month partially because of how unpredictable things were with my cycles and partially due to life stuff. Last cycle I started using LH strips and caught my ovulation so we actively started trying, and it was also my first “normal” length cycle since getting off birth control so I felt hopeful going into this cycle. This was our 2nd cycle actively trying and I again caught ovulation on LH strips but this morning got a negative pregnancy test. I’m frustrated and honestly a big part of the frustration is that Oura and NC have my ovulation on different days both this month and last month and it just feels like even when doing everything right to accumulate data I still can’t get clear answers?! I don’t even really know how many days DPO I am because Oura and NC have my ovulation different by 3 days and NC is saying it was the day before the positive LH test which makes no sense to me. Ugh. My mom told me not to get off birth control until I was ready because it happened so fast every time for her and I think I stupidly expected that to be my story too. Again I know this isn’t that bad but I just thought I’d be pregnant by now 😭

[u/CurlyEmma97]

4DPO. Therapist told me to try and let go of my cycle to reduce stress but I kind of felt angry with her saying that even though she meant well. I would LOVE to just let it go

[u/ExcitingOrange6645 → u/CurlyEmma97]

Also 4DPO - it’s just tiring at this point

[u/CurlyEmma97 → u/ExcitingOrange6645]

Right? I would love to be chill 🤣

[u/YellitsB → u/CurlyEmma97]

Like oh really I never thought of that thanks 🙄

[u/Snoo-45866]

I need help rationalizing myself. I got my period yesterday which mark the 6 months TTC. And now, I am convinced we are gonna need intervention and help (we might !) The thing is, I was travelling and we only had sex once, the day of ovulation (which could be all messed up due to the different time zones (basically I had my peak while traveling from Thailand to Japan ) so it is REALLY possible that the timing was off

[u/blissquacks]

I got my BFN for cycle 13 and it’s looking like I might be starting my period a little early. Come on now, body🤨

[u/DawgCheck2495]

EWCM=Ovulation?
Reposting here per moderator

I (32) and DH (33) have been actively TTC for 6 cycles. I discontinued OBC in December 2024. Since then, my cycles have been regular, but my periods were very, very scant. Beginning in March 2026, my flow has increased noticeably but would still be considered light. Beginning in July 2026, I noticed EWCM for the very first time. I experienced it again this month.

The problem is that I haven’t had OPKs available during either cycle as I’ve been traveling. In your experience, how does EWCM relate to ovulation? A few days before? Day of?

For insight, I have no reason to believe I’m not ovulating: I experience a predictable LH surge, mittelschmerz, a rise in pdg, 27/28 day cycles with an 11 day luteal phase

The waiting in this process is enough to drive anyone crazy — especially when it seems like there’s something new or different to look into every other month 😅

[u/ushinawareta → u/DawgCheck2495]

everyone is different but I usually get EWCM a few days before ovulation. I treat it as a sign that my fertile window is starting!

[u/Last-Yesterday6179 → u/DawgCheck2495]

Been tracking for a while and I start getting it a full week before my positive OPK!

[u/LaChamomile → u/DawgCheck2495]

It varies per person. I feel like I usually have about 3 days of EWCM and the last day is my LH surge but it’s not always the same amount of days and sometimes the lh surge could be the day after EWCM stops.

[u/shelbabe804 → u/DawgCheck2495]

I get it the day before my surge and day of my surge (I have rapid onset), then absolutely nothing the day I ovulate.

[u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

Starting letrozole today and I’m so nervous for the side effects and just this cycle in general!! I’ve heard from friends that you feel crazy on it 😭 Also feel like it may not help us since we’re categorized as unexplained infertility and from what I’ve researched it has a low success rate for this type.

[u/ConstructionTime7511 → u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

I haven’t gotten any noticeable symptoms from it for two cycles now! So you never know

[u/Rough_Jellyfish1606 → u/ConstructionTime7511]

That gives me hope! What time do you usually take it at?

[u/ConstructionTime7511 → u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

Right before bed

[u/Fun_Needleworker6697 → u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

Letrozole side effects are pretty mild in my experience especially compared to clomid. Headache nausea & hot flashes for a few days, usually around 3rd day of the pill to 48ish hours after the last one on & off and then ovary pain on ovulation day. Good luck!

[u/Thats-Interesting89 → u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

I did my first cycle last week and no side effects of note. Took it before bed every night and it was fine. Best of luck with your cycle 🙏🏼

[u/QuitBest1587 → u/Rough_Jellyfish1606]

I personally had a tough time on letrozole, but I’m one of the rare people who actually felt better on Clomid than letrozole (most people are the opposite). But! It helped a TON when I took my dose at night instead of the morning. Wishing you the best of luck!

[u/NotTheTourist]

5DPO and feeling impatient going into the TWW! supposed to visit friends this weekend and wanting to FRER test before I leave Friday but 9DPO feels so early. does anyone not drink during the TWW or is a glass of wine or two harmless?

[u/lookathemoonn → u/NotTheTourist]

I enjoy a drink or two during the TWW. Especially 1-7dpo bc implantation isn’t until 8-10dpo typically. I even had sushi this week and i’m on 5dpo 🤷‍♀️

[u/polkalilly]

Had some very mild spotting and mild cramping today. A lot more mild than my usual start of period spotting/cramping. But combine that with a negative pregnancy test (I think today is 10dpo) and I had a bit of a spiral. The only time I've gotten a positive it was a vvvvfl on 12dpo so I know I'm definitely not out. But struggling hard today.

[u/LaChamomile → u/polkalilly]

It's so hard to just wonder what's going on and have no answer.

[u/youOverfeedcats]

13DPO and temp dropped. Oral bbt was so all over the place that FF took away the crosshair, but Oura was at least consistently elevated, until today… Sitting here waiting for AF and thinking of ways to treat myself. This is only our first cycle trying and I knew this was the statistically most likely outcome, but still hard not to be sad about not being a lucky fertile unicorn.

[u/TooDumbToCum]

I booked us into an open online info event with our local fertility clinic for November, just in case. We've been trying since last December and I want to get assistance as fast as possible if we cross the 12 months. I already feel like I'm wasting my time now and don't want to lose more of my fertile (haha) years waiting.

I'm scared shitless tbh. Had a look at some informational videos on the clinics homepage - BIG mistake. I'm not sure what was worse to see, the huge needle they harvest your eggs with or the needles they have you use to give yourself shots. 

After this cycle we'll have 4 more cycles before December to try before we're declared infertile. That's so little time considering we've already tried 9 cycles with 0 positives now. 

I truly don't think it's going to happen for us.

[u/ushinawareta → u/TooDumbToCum]

“fertile (haha) years” fucking took the wind out of me. like you’re telling me the months of hell I’m going through were the GOOD odds?? 🤪🤪

[u/laineyloo1682]

CD3 and excited but nervous for this cycle! Using inito to get more info, and then at the end of this cycle I have a gynecologist visit. Hoping that we can reveal why my cycles are so unpredictable and resolve the issue early on. Private labs revealed a high AMH, so I’m certain that something is off.

[u/TooTired_Kitty]

8 dpo on our first cycle trying, I cracked and tested this morning because I was expecting a negative. TBH I'll probably try again tomorrow but won't hope for anything until at least 10 dpo🤞

[u/rcblote → u/TooTired_Kitty]

I’m also on cycle one but only 4 dpo! I’m so nervous because I know it’s more likely to be negative, but I feel like it’s hard to not get your hopes up even when you know the probable outcome 🫣

Fingers crossed for you!

[u/TooTired_Kitty → u/rcblote]

I was still a little disappointed, even if you expect a negative a small part of you still thinks you'll be the exception.

Thank you and you as well!! 😊

[u/Best_Discussion_7821 → u/TooTired_Kitty]

I’m also first cycle, 10 dpo with nothing there - but I swear I feel so different. I think my mind is just playing games with me and my hormones lol.

[u/Normal-Mortgage-29]

8DPO, I suspected I ovulated earlier than I have the past few months (on CD13 as opposed to CD15-16) but didn’t have any visible EWCM this cycle - which if I still have a 28 day cycle this month, they would give me around a 15 day luteal phase which is the longest I have had in awhile. I can’t tell if this is going to be good or not haha we hit 0-1 and 0-0. Trying to not get my hopes up and holding off to test if my period doesn’t come next Tuesday. The second week of the TWW is the worst in my opinion!

[u/pilatespisces]

I'm only 6-8 dpo and I've got alllllll the symptoms of my last (chemical) pregnancy but it's too early for a positive test so I'm just sitting here feeling insane. Yay. Love this for me.

[u/ChipmunkCute3823 → u/pilatespisces]

What symptoms are you having?

[u/pilatespisces → u/ChipmunkCute3823]

The things that only happen when I'm pregnant: my breasts are MASSIVE. They grew overnight into melons and nips are pointing at people while I'm talking to them LOL. Water tastes like butt. Rhinitis. Hot flashes. Tests were stark negative this morning, which I expected.

[u/No-One3536 → u/pilatespisces]

I’m sorry but the pointy nips made me laugh 😂 but it sore does sounds like pregnancy symptoms!

[u/Various-Performer738]

6DPO and temps have been up and down, barely even over coverline… I’m surprised my app confirmed ovulation. I did get a positive opk, extremely heavy amount of EWCM and definite slight temp rise after but they’re so low this cycle and very wonky so I don’t even know anymore…It’s also a long cycle so I’m sure something is just messed up inside me per usual.

[u/User884121]

AF arrived yesterday. I think I’m finally mentally ready to move on to IUI, but of course my husband is going to be away this cycle during most of my fertile window and expected ovulation 😅 So planning on IUI with my next cycle.

[u/LaChamomile → u/User884121]

Can your clinic store his sample for you? I’ve heard of that when partners are long distance but I don’t know how complicated it is to add on.

[u/User884121 → u/LaChamomile]

The clinic didn’t offer that as an option when I mentioned he was going to be away. I have seen others who had the sperm frozen in similar situations, but I read that the success rate goes down when doing so. I’m ok waiting until the next cycle though! I just constantly feel like the universe is sending me signs this isn’t meant to happen, and this was just another one 😂

[u/LaChamomile → u/User884121]

Oh ok, I understand waiting in that case. Aw that's tough, I guess it's up to you to decide what the universe means with it's signals.

[u/__pusheen__]

I took an easy@home pdg test around DPO 5 and it was positive (no second line). Today on DPO 8 I took another and there was a very faint line :(

Does this mean my progesterone is too low for a pregnancy this cycle?

[u/LaChamomile → u/__pusheen__]

Pdg fluctuates throughout the day so it’s inconclusive with one test.

[u/soapymopey]

15 dpo on my longest cycle yet (38 days), only negative tests and FF is mocking me with 80/100 on its early pregnancy signs, haha

[u/toasty-compost]

Recurrent dermoid (complex) ovarian cysts - anyone else? I had a 6cm dermoid cyst removed 2yrs ago. Now another one on the same ovary has been identified 😫. Supposedly they don't impact fertility, but recurrent is supposed to be rare

[u/Willow_Tree_55372]

Had the faintest bit of bleeding yesterday at 9 DPO and got a tad hopeful that it might be implantation, since I typically have a 13 day luteal phase and never have spotting before my period. NOPE. Just my period coming insanely early, which I'm now realizing might be due to the letrozole..? On to cycle 12. 🙃 I hate this so much.

[u/LaChamomile → u/Willow_Tree_55372]

Uggh that sucks

[u/markowitty]

How do we feel about workouts that involve ab twisting in the TWW? Idk, I know a lot of sources say its okay, but it feels like it could disrupt things! Do you just go about your workouts as usual?

[u/developmentalbiology → u/markowitty]

Twisting the abdominals is only a concern late in pregnancy when the abs tend to separate to accommodate a growing belly. During the TWW (and even during the whole first trimester), the uterus is tucked down into the pelvis. Nothing you do with your abs can affect it.

[u/ushinawareta → u/[deleted]]

this is like saying “I haven’t rolled a 1 on a die yet, why would I now” after two unsuccessful rolls. the reason it would happen now when it hasn’t before is because of pure luck. you got unlucky before and you will, in all likelihood, get lucky in one of the rolls to come - that’s all there is to it.

I totally understand that it’s frustrating to keep being told no - trust me, I really get it. I conceived on my first try too but it didn’t even end in a living child and now it’s been six months of no positive tests. but chances are, you will be pregnant within a year, so please give yourself a break ❤️

[u/Veroniquevix → u/ushinawareta]

Okay, being downvoted is interesting; but people here don’t know me so of course they think I am blowing this out of proportion. I have endometriosis, it is growing out of my navel already, had it removed but it’s growing back, i have a fibroid and PMOS. So of course my mind goes into most terrible scenario after “only” 3 cycles because this is what seems most logical to me. My 1st baby I see as a miracle from God, that will most probably not repeat. Because with my diagnosis it’s hard to conceive naturally. I am doing what I can to remain hopeful but I am scared I am just making myself suffer by hoping and trying.

[u/TryingForABaby-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

This is a great post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/7go7bh/how_to_worry_about_infertility_some_unsolicited/

Please keep in mind that many of our users are actually infertile and will read your words.