TTC After Loss

I just noticed that I can check out what people searched for in a search engine to find my blog. (Don’t worry, there’s no identifying information!) I was amazed to find that 1) people actually come here! and 2) there are a lot of people with questions about TTC! Since it seems like you’re all coming here looking for answers, I thought I would answer a few to help out. Remember, above all, your doctor is the only one who can give you a truly accurate answer! I can only regurgitate things I have read in books, read on web sites, and discovered on my own.

CM/CP
do you have alot of cm before your period
ewcm right after period
what does cm look like when you are actually ovulating
two different cm in one day ttc
how many days before ovulation do you get cm
how many days in your cycle do you get fertile cm?
6dpo should i have lots or none of cm after ovulation
if you become pregnant will your egg white cm go away
watery cm before bfp
pregnant with very little cm
Wow, a lot of CM questions! Here’s the deal: Cervical mucus changes throughout your cycle. It usually loosely follows a pattern. The pattern is different for everyone, but it should resemble dry, sticky, creamy, watery, egg white CM (EWCM), then dry until AF shows. Some women skip steps, some repeat steps, and some follow no pattern at all. The important thing to remember is that EWCM is the most fertile CM, followed by watery, followed by creamy. It doesn’t really matter when they show up or in what order. (You should see a doctor if you have concerns though!) You generally ovulate during or shortly after your most fertile CM. I have experienced two different types of CM in one day, so I always chart the most fertile. (I suppose you can decide which to chart, but that’s my suggestion.) And after ovulation, I have found that anything goes whether or not you get a BFP. I have had lots of watery CM before AF, and I have had creamy CM and none at all. I had lots of creamy CM when I was pregnant, but that’s not true for everyone.

can you get pregnant if you just have the watery cervical mucus?
Yes! Watery CM is fertile CM. It may not be as good as EWCM (although I haven’t read that 100% for sure anywhere), but it is fertile. You may also just be missing your EWCM if it only comes for a few hours. (Overnight perhaps?) Talk to a doctor if you’re concerned. Pre-Seed is a product available to “replace” EWCM, but I have no idea if it actually works because I’ve never tried it. You might look that up if you have CM issues.

only had sex once when noticed egg white discharge could i still get pregnant
sex on the day of egg white cm
should we have sex today as i have ewcm or is it too late?
EWCM is your green light for sex if you’re trying to get pregnant! Because it usually comes before and during ovulation, it is the perfect time to BD. And as far as having sex only once, that’s all you usually need. EWCM allows sperm to live for up to five days (assuming you and your partner have no medical issues that would affect that).

after period cervical position stay high soft or low
I’m not sure if this means during AF or after it’s ended. During AF, I don’t think most women chart. I find that my CP is different each time I check during AF. It’s not very reliable then. After AF ends though, CP will usually be low, firm, and closed until you approach ovulation. If you happen to ovulate within the days after AF though, your CP will of course show signs of being fertile. It all really depends on your personal cycle, which is why only checking CP is not very reliable.

Sex
sex ttc positions
The jury is still out on this one as far as I know. People get pregnant in every position. If you want to get pregnant faster though, common sense dictates that positions that keep semen closer to the cervix would be best. I have read both missionary and “doggie style” (I hate that term!) suggested. The “spooning” position (man behind woman, both lying on their side) also works.

twice a day sex to get pregnant
ttc sex twice day
This works! I don’t know if it’s better or worse than once a day, but this is how I got my BFP. If you have sperm count issues, you need to check with a doctor about how often to have sex. If you don’t though, I know for a fact that twice a day is not too much. It’s true that there may be less sperm per ejaculation, but overall there will be more sperm and fresher sperm available to the egg.

Sperm
Note: There were tons of these questions, and I suspect that many came from males (and at least some from young males). Interesting!

can come live 5 days in a women and get her pregnant
if you have sperm on your hand can you make a woman pregnant
how far in does semen have to go to get pregnant
if i have sex twice aday is my sperm still fertile?
Guys, do not fool around with this if you aren’t trying to get a girl pregnant! I remember there being all kinds of voodoo magic rumors about getting not pregnant in hot tubs, masturbating all day to lower sperm count, douching with Coca-Cola (I’m not kidding), etc., etc., when I was in high school. In short, if there is a tiny chance to get pregnant, she will, and no amount of douching will keep it from happening. A condom is the only reliable way for a guy to make sure his sperm aren’t signing him up for 18 years of child support payments, and even then there’s a chance. To answer the questions though, yes sperm can live for five days, yes sperm on your hand can get her pregnant, semen doesn’t necessarily have to go far to get her pregnant, and yes your sperm is fertile even if you have sex a hundred times a day. Be safe, guys!

do i need to save up semen to be more fertile
does saving up sperm make less pregnant
how to get largest sperm count
my average sperm to get a woman pregnant
“Saving up” sperm does not help one get pregnant. (It doesn’t effectively help not to get pregnant either, if that’s what the one question is asking.) In fact, ejaculating less than once a week can actually inhibit sperm fertility. And there isn’t much you can do to get a higher sperm count, other than cutting bad habits (smoking, drinking, caffeine, unhealthy diet). I don’t know much about sperm counts, but you should see a doctor for a semen analysis if you have questions about that. It only takes one sperm to get a woman pregnant, but obviously more will give you a better chance. See here (”Category: About Sperm”) for more information on sperm and improving your sperm count.

how long sperm stay in body when woman trying to get pregnant
how long does sperm live if there is no ewcm
how to make sure that sperm stay alive for 24 hours at least?
Sperm can live for up to 5 days in EWCM (if both partners have no medical issues that would affect that). Sperm can live for 1–2 days without EWCM. I don’t know of anything you can do to make sure sperm stay alive other than having healthy habits (see info above) and having sex during a woman’s fertile window.

how can males help to get pregnant
Awww, this one seems so sweet to me. :) First and foremost, emotional support from her male partner is the most helpful thing for a woman trying to get pregnant. Be interested in the process, and share in her worries and disappointments. You don’t have to become a fertility specialist overnight, but check in regularly to see where she is in her cycle and what’s going on with her emotionally. Not only will this improve your relationship, but it may help cut down on her stress, which actually can help her ovulate regularly! Another thing a man can do is spend more time getting his female partner “in the mood” when it’s time for sex. It will help the process be less tedious and stressful, and there is some research to show that arousal helps a woman become pregnant. (Female orgasm before male orgasm can actually create a “pool” near the cervix to keep semen in place, supposedly.) Even starting out with a back rub will work wonders! Then there is the sperm count issue, which was addressed above. I think the biggest thing that helps is having both partners “on track” together in the process.

my doctor said to do a wash to get pregnant does this option work
I don’t know what this could mean other than a sperm wash. I don’t know much about these, but supposedly it involves a doctor “washing” a man’s semen to get rid of bad sperm and other detrimental things before inserting the specimen into the woman. You should really ask your doctor for more information about recommended procedures.

Testing & Symptoms
why opk keeps comming up negative im 28 day cycle
It’s incredibly important to follow the instructions on OPKs exactly! They are made to be used a certain way, and I can tell you from experience that they will not work if you use them differently. If you’re using them correctly, then one of a few things might be happening. The tests could be faulty. (Unlikely, but possible.) You could be having anovulatory cycles in which you aren’t ovulating. This is normal to happen every once in a while, and it’s usually caused by stress. However, if you think this is happening, you need to see a doctor! You could also simply be missing your LH surge. (I suspect that this is most likely.) The surge can last for 12 hours, which means that you will miss it if you’re testing once a day. This is why I only recommend OPKs in addition to charting. They can be helpful, but they are by no means reliably accurate!

can taking an hpt apart cause a ghost line
My guess is that taking the test apart won’t cause the line, but you’ll be able to see it more clearly. And considering how long some of them take to disassemble, you may simply be passing the test time window by the time you get it open. If you have an evaporation line, try testing again in two days.

how long after your fertile window closes can you tell if you are pregnant
The common answer is 8–10 days past ovulation is the earliest you will get a positive HPT. My suggestion is to wait until 13DPO if you can. Then there’s no ambiguity (in most cases), and you don’t have to suffer through a million BFNs before AF comes. Easier said than done, I know. :)

just had miscarriage one week late, need to know if pregnant but used condom
Considering that you had a miscarriage recently, you may still have HCG in your blood, so an HPT may not be accurate. A visit to the doctor is in order!

is it possible to feel like your period is coming if you are pregnant
Yes! A lot of the symptoms happen to be the same. (Sore breasts, nausea, headaches, irritability, cramping, even spotting.)

Cycles & Timing
my cycle is 35 days, can i still get pregnant?
do women with a 21 day cycle have a harder time getting pregnant?
28 day cycle but having a hard time getting pregnant
The “average” menstrual cycle is between 21 and 35 days long. Cycle length doesn’t have much to do with whether you can get pregnant so long as you’re ovulating each cycle. In fact, assuming that you ovulate each cycle and your luteal phase (time between ovulation and next period) is normal (11–17 days long), women with shorter cycles have more chances each year to get pregnant. If you’re concerned about your cycle length (or having trouble getting pregnant with a “normal” cycle length), see a doctor to find out whether you’re ovulating and if your LP is long enough. If you’re charting your temperature, you will know whether you O and how long your LP is. If you’re having trouble, you may be missing your ovulation, and charting CM and temperature will help you.

when is to day to have sex for 28 day circle to make sure she gets pregnant?
i had sex on every one of my fertile days….will i get pregnant
bd during fertile week not pregnant
getting pregnant “that time of the month”
can you ovulate at different times each month
is having sex on the day you ovulate too late to get pregnant?
The only way to know when you ovulate is to chart. I can’t stress that enough! Charting CM is the only way to predict ovulation. If you don’t chart, having sex every day or every other day will ensure that enough sperm is available to the egg. If you have sex every day during your fertile window, you have increased your odds at getting pregnant. Every cycle though, a woman supposedly only has at most a 25% chance at getting pregnant. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a few months! I suppose it’s possible to get pregnant if you have sex during your period, especially near the end of your period. Unlikely, but possible depending on how soon you ovulate after your period. You can ovulate at different times each month depending on different factors, most frequently stress. (The time between ovulation and your next period is very consistent, though.) Having sex on the day you ovulate will usually not get you pregnant because the sperm take too long to get to the egg. Having sex in the days before ovulation is far more helpful.

when do you consider the first day of your period after a miscarriage with constant spotting
I see this question very often, and unfortunately, there’s no easy answer. Every woman is different, and every miscarriage is different. The only way to know whether you’ve had a period yet is to check with your doctor.

Miscellaneous
if you can only get pregnant when ovulating then how come so many teens get pregnant the first time they have sex is that just coincidence
I often ask myself this! My guess is that many of these teenagers are lying because they’re uncomfortable admitting that they were sexually active before conception. (Not pointing fingers there, I just remember being a teenager!) Also, because your fertile window can be quite long (I think 5 days is average, but don’t quote me on it), that’s usually enough. I have also come to believe that sixteen-year-olds are magically fertile, although of course that’s bred of my TTC frustration more than anything else. :)

do women get pregnant if they don’t want too?
Yes, and thank God for it because many of us, including me, wouldn’t be here otherwise!

how much should i weigh before i get pregnant
Your chances at getting pregnant quickly and having a healthy pregnancy are best if your Body Mass Index falls within the “normal” range of 18.5–25. (These numbers change slightly depending on the source, but that’s a good average range.) Check with your doctor if you have concerns about this!

i try to get pregnant but i had infection can that be the reason i could not get pregnant
It all depends on what kind of infection, how bad it was, if it did damage to your reproductive organs, etc. etc. Certain types of infection can cause damage to your uterus and other organs, but don’t worry too much about it! Doctors can diagnose and repair these types of things in many cases these days. Talk to your doctor ASAP!

on average is it actually easy or hard to get pregnant?
That depends on who you ask. :) I would say that it is “easy” for most people.

how to get pregnant if i tried a lot of times
I’m sorry you’re having trouble! See my previous post on this topic.

causes of failure to get pregnant
ttc what is the main reason woman can’t get pregnant?
There are a few common reasons that women have difficulty getting pregnant. They include endometriosis, problems with ovulation and egg quality, PCOS, and damage to the fallopian tubes. In men, common problems include sperm count, sperm motility, sperm morphology, and varicocele. There is also such a thing as sperm “allergy,” in which people develop allergies to sperm which can affect fertility. The important thing to note is that no one can tell you if you’re having problems due to a medical issue other than your doctor. Your doctor can, in the vast majority of cases these days, help you overcome your fertility problems to have a healthy pregnancy.

I hope all of this helps you. Good luck!

Sources: Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler (best book ever!!!); FF Faqs; Babyhopes.com TTC Articles, Fertility and Weight

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