TTC for over 6 months now ... issues pinpointing ovulation days AND with HAVING sex.?

Question

My cycle has been regular until my hubby and I started TTC. A part of it is probably mental, but I assume my recent job switch and getting a high-maintenance puppy has contibuted to this. I am using a few different ovulation predictor kits, but they are showing multiple ovulation phases through the month. At a separate point in the month, my cervical fluid is eggwhite/fertile fluid. Has anyone encountered this before? Any ideas why this happens?

On top of this, my husband is having issues getting/maintaining an errection OR he does not always ejaculate. We have an AWESOME relationship and marriage, but things just are not working in bed for us. It's REALLY frustrating ...

Any suggestions on the ovulation and / OR sex issues???

Answer 1

Go to http://www.mymonthlycycles.com and put in your period info and it will calculate when you will be fertile and ovulating.
It is a free and very helpful site.

When you have alot of stress going on in your life that can throw your cycle off. Also if you & your husband are obsessing over trying to get pregnant then that could be why you aren't getting pregnant cause your mind has alot to do with someone getting pregnant.
Maybe he feels like sex is a job now since TTC'ing....Maybe that is why he is having a hard time.
Just both of you relax and stop worrying. Just have sex when you feel like it.

It took me a year to get pregnant. When i stopped worrying over getting pregnant that is when it happened.

When a little soul is meant to be brought into this world it will come no matter how hard you try or plan it.

Here is some info though:
Trying to Conceive - Helpful tips for getting pregnant
Find out when you are ovulating
There are several ways you can do this. One of the easiest ways is to purchase a Basal thermometer and start charting your temperatures. You can use Justmommies free fertility chart to record and keep track of your temperatures. Make sure you take you use a basal thermometer.

It is the most accurate for charting ovulation. Take your temperature as soon as you wake up, before you get out of bed, go to the bathroom or do anything. Try to take your temperature at the same time every morning if you can. This way your chart will be more precise. The best time to have sex is between the time your temperature drops and before it rises again.

One other way you can find out when you are ovulating is by using an ovulation predictor test. You can purchase ovulation tests in bulk online to make it more affordable. Ovulation kits measure the amount of Lutenizing Hormone in your body. Right before you ovulate your body releases a large amount of LH. The test kits are easy to use. They are very similar to a pregnancy test. You will have a reference line and then a sample line to compare that to. Once you show a positive test for ovulation you should have intercourse within twenty-four hours.

Some of the best ways to predict when you are ovulating are by watching your body for signs of ovulation. Some women feel cramping on one side when they ovulate. Ovulation pain should not be the only thing you watch for but it is one indicator of ovulation. You should also keep an eye on your cervical mucous. You will notice that your cervical mucous will pick up several days before ovulation. When your cervical mucous starts to look like egg white and becomes really slippery, this is the best time to get pregnant. The slippery consistency helps to carry the sperm up the vaginal canal. Some doctors recommend taking Robitussin to help thin out your mucous which will help to transport the semen.

Some dos and don’ts for getting pregnant

Do limit movement after intercourse. Standing up after intercourse can cause the semen to leak out. Try to wait twenty minutes after sex before getting up and moving around.

Do try to keep the sperm inside your vagina longer. You can hold the labia together to try to keep the sperm inside of you. You can also try putting a pillow under your pelvis to help tilt your body so the sperm can travel upwards easier.

Do try to make sex enjoyable. Sometimes when a couple is trying to conceive it will affect the quality of their sex life. More enjoyable sex means higher sperm count and better “swimmers”.

Do limit intercourse and male masturbation prior to the days you are trying to conceive. It will help to increase the man’s sperm count and improve your chances of getting pregnant.

Do take prenatal vitamins if you are trying to conceive. Folic acid and other vitamins are very important during the first trimester of pregnancy.

Don’t drink alcohol or use drugs at the time of conception. This applies to both the male and female. There is strong evidence that alcohol can effect your chances of getting pregnant.

Don’t douche after having intercourse. It can wash out the sperm that has just entered your body.

Don’t have oral sex prior to intercourse. There is some evidence that the bacteria in the mouth can cause damage to male sperm.

Don’t have anal sex prior to intercourse. Bacteria in the anas can be carried into the vagina from the man’s penis. If you do have anal sex before intercourse, make sure your partner washes his penis first.

If you have been trying to conceive for over a year please consult a doctor. You may need to have tests run or use fertility treatments.

Get more trying to conceive information at Justmommies

Good luck

Answer 2

For ovulation: Have you thought about charting your BBT? This would let you know if you were actually ovulating. The multiple ovulation phases on OPK could be due to multiple things:

1) PCOS (a common but unlikely cause in your case since you had regular periods before)
2) Stress/Illness delaying ovulation (most likely)-so you are seeing the beginning of the surge but it may not be high enough to ovulate or your estrogen is not high enough in the 1st half of your cycle to allow the egg to be released.
3) Depending on age you could be ovulating less often (this happens as women get older)

If I were you I would chart your BBT. You can use a free service at www.fertilityfriend.com. They have tons of information. Also, a book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" may help.

As for the sex issue:

The stress of trying to conceive may be weighing heavily on your husband. Charting your BBT will also help this as you will know when you are fertile. In the unfertile times make sure you two are "making love" and not worrying about "making babies". This will take some pressure off.

Also, your husband may want to get checked out (depending on his age) and put on a libido enhancing drug if needed (i.e. Viagra). I have a feeling it is the stress of baby making though since it was sudden but he should be checked out for any serious problems.

Also, even though you are both happy you may need counciling to find out why he is having trouble (if nothing medical is found). Maybe he doesn't even know he is stressed or feeling pressured. Maybe he isn't ready for children, etc. Not saying it is that but it should be looked into.

If you need any help with the BBT stuff let me know.

Answer 3

This is my standard answer......... go get a book called Taking Charge of your fertility by Toni Weschler
This book will help you with all of your menstrual and conception questions. It’s for all women - not just women trying to conceive. It covers everything from temperature to mucus checking, etc.. It will help you understand your body and all the myths about it. It will help you time when you are ovulating and the best times to conceive – or not! It tells you how to figure out your cycle and what to expect. My husband and I tried for a year to conceive and nothing happened. The first month I used the book we conceived right away. Now I am due Feb 2. It's about knowing your body and knowing when you are fertile or not. You can pick and choose what you do with your info. Good luck and don't listen the all the myths!

Answer 4

Get the book "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler! It's really informative and will tell you all about what you're going through! It also tells you how ovulation kits aren't always reliable! As for your husband...maybe make him go to the doctor!! I don't know....but I do know that you really need to lighten up on the stress! Maybe that's what has your husband so "messed up"!! Sorry about your situation...I know what you're going through! Except I've been TTC for almost 2 years now!! All I can say is try to relax!!! Good luck with everything...and get that book...it really helps!

Answer 5

Check out www.mymonthlycycles.com

It has a lot of information on their and keep stract of your periods for you and predicts your most fertile time.

Also stress could be throwing your period off.

Maybe he is tired of having sex only to concieve and bringing disappointment.

Take a break it wont hurt anything plus it will give his sperm time to build up.

Answer 6

I had done the same I bought test after test. The ONLY thing that worked for me and CHEAPER was try to have sex every 2 days! BEST WISHES