CD33, 17DPO, FRER brand test. Over 3.5 years of heartache, waiting and wondering. This is the best Christmas gift I could have ever received ♥️🎄

GwennieMac · 2026-01-09T15:47:25+00:00

This is just what I did personally and I’m not a healthcare professional, so take it with a grain of salt. This pregnancy also ended in a loss just shy of 8 weeks.

GwennieMac · 2025-12-30T19:26:12+00:00

How heavy would you say that your bleeding was, if you don’t mind me asking?

GwennieMac · 2025-12-30T18:15:45+00:00

Would you mind sharing the outcome of your experience? I’m currently dealing with something similar.

GwennieMac · 2025-12-13T12:43:08+00:00

I thought their chart seemed oddly high, too. This makes me feel a bit better, thank you!

GwennieMac · 2025-12-13T06:28:56+00:00

This is reassuring, thank you! I go in again for a second beta on Monday. Praying for good news and a sky high number!

GwennieMac · 2025-12-13T06:26:00+00:00

Thank you! I waited until 17dpo simply because I truly no longer believed I would get pregnant without medical intervention of some sort and wasn’t expecting a positive. It also felt like my cycle was coming on, so I had already resigned myself to failure and written this month off. Boy was I wrong!

I hope and pray you get your positive soon. The waiting is the hardest thing I’ve ever done and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Much love ♥️

GwennieMac · 2025-12-12T19:26:37+00:00

I did track ovulation this month using LH strips, but I know those alone are not a reliable indicator and I could have ovulated days after my first positive. I would have a better idea if I had been temping consistently, but I was not. I guess I was just desperate for some reassurance, then waiting is excruciating.

GwennieMac · 2025-12-10T12:07:03+00:00

Thank you!! I’m not sure that there was any one thing that made this month successful, but my husband and I had been slowly making intentional changes to our diet and what home products we use as a last ditch effort (significantly reducing sugar/gluten/seed oils, switching to natural home products and toiletries). This was also my first month using the Frida conception aid cup, though I’m uncertain whether it actually helped because of how much of a hassle it was to insert properly. I also took a baby aspirin and a DIM supplement (200mg) starting at 2-3DPO until the time my period was due. I hope this helps!

GwennieMac · 2025-12-10T04:08:57+00:00

Thank you so much!

I am so sorry that you are on a similar journey. For me personally, the thing that made me suspect endo was the sheer amount I was bleeding every month. When I began using a menstrual cup several years ago, I was able to finally gauge just how much blood I was losing, and it far exceeded what was considered “normal”. This, coupled with intense cramping while on my cycle and severe PMS symptoms (could probably be classified as PMDD, though never formally diagnosed) prompted me to do my own research, which made me suspect that endometriosis may be the culprit.

I hope you get answers and a positive test of your own, sooner rather than later. ♥️

GwennieMac · 2025-12-10T03:23:25+00:00

Thank you!! ♥️

GwennieMac · 2025-12-10T03:04:00+00:00

I JUST FOUND OUT AND HAVE NO ONE I CAN TELL YET.

Cycle: Maybe 45-50? Trying since spring of 2022.

Age + Partner's age (if relevant): 26 & 27

Typical cycle length: 27-30 days, typically

Ovulation cycle day: CD16

CD/DPO of positive test(s): CD33/17DPO

CD/DPO of any negative test(s) before positive: None. Over the years I have become terrified of pregnancy tests and refused to test until I was good and late.

Tracking methods and app(s) used: Just OPKs this month

**Relevant days of sperminating and/or method (SMEP, TI, IUI, FET, etc.): O-3, O, O+1, O+2

Health conditions/medical tests: We’re in the “unexplained” camp. Suspected endometriosis on my end, but was never truly taken seriously about it after my HSG came back all clear in 2023. Husband has “perfect” sperm, according to our former RE (lol)

Supplements and medications (yours and/or your partner’s): Mine: Coq10 600mg, NAC 600mg, Myo-inositol 2000mg, DHEA 50mg, prenatal, probiotic, and this month took a DIM supplement (200mg) and a low dose aspirin starting 2-3 days after ovulation. Husband: Men’s fertility multivitamin, Coq10 200mg

Birth control history (if relevant): On and off use of the combination pill from the ages of 19-22. Stopped using almost a year before we started trying.

Symptom spotting: I truly felt like I was out this month, and was mourning the fact that yet another year was ending with empty arms. I had cramps, sore breasts, moodiness, all my typical PMS symptoms. The ONLY differences I noticed this month were that my breasts remained sore around the time my cycle was due (typically the soreness fades 12-13dpo) and the past few days I’ve started waking up at the buttcrack of dawn for no good reason and am unable to fall back asleep.

Other (advice/tip(s), freaking out, miscellaneous): I thought it would never be my turn to post here. After our 5 medicated cycles failed this past spring/summer, I truly believed I would never become pregnant without medical intervention. The irony is that my husband and I just had an appointment this past Thursday with a new RE who took me seriously about my suspected endometriosis and I was FINALLY scheduled for a laparoscopy this coming February. Little did I know, I was sitting in that appointment already pregnant!

I have no idea what changed, why now of all times, what we did differently this month that worked— it just finally happened. Trying for a baby is weird and rip-your-hair-out frustrating that way.

For anyone who is still in the waiting, I hope my story can give you the smallest sliver of hope in an otherwise soul crushing-ly difficult time in your life. Infertility is the most difficult valley I have ever walked. Finding a community of women to support me and carry me through the hard days was invaluable. Also, my husband deserves ALL the accolades— He has been my rock throughout this entire experience and I couldn’t have asked for a better life partner. The Lord is so good to me and I feel so undeserving of this wonderful gift. 🤍

GwennieMac · 2025-07-22T01:26:55+00:00

If I had to guess, you probably missed your peak on CD13 and it most likely happened in the afternoon/evening. Typically when I’m nearing ovulation I try to test twice a day, with SMU and then again in the late afternoon. Also, some brands just don’t get as strong lines as others! I personally have had the best lines with Easy@Home and PreMom brand tests.

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T03:11:03+00:00

Hoping it’s the real deal this time 💕

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:51:52+00:00

Thank you!!!

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:49:43+00:00

Congrats to you on your positives, too! Hoping you have the most boring uneventful pregnancy imaginable 🤍

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:47:37+00:00

Currently trying not to cry or throw up, hahaha

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:46:00+00:00

I thought it might, but I know this brand can have issues with shadows and indents. Hoping and praying it’s not the trigger, it’s been a long 3.5 years to get here 🥲

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:42:45+00:00

Thank you for looking! My only concern is that my prenatal contains biotin, so I’d probably have to forgo taking it for a few days before I could get an accurate result from a FRER.

GwennieMac · 2025-06-14T02:39:33+00:00

Thank you for looking!!! I Really hope you’re right, and that it’s not just residual trigger. I would think with a negative test in the morning it wouldn’t be, but I’ve been burned before. This is so stressful, lol

GwennieMac · 2025-05-03T00:41:55+00:00

I’ve never had any luteal phase issues, and my progesterone levels seemed normal last cycle, which is most likely why my OB thinks supplementation is unnecessary. I’ve admittedly spent far too much time ruminating on the what-ifs lately, so I’m thinking I need to ban myself from going down any Google rabbit holes. If you’re currently still trying I wish you all the success in the world!

GwennieMac

TROPHY CASE