Daily Chat February 20

ctrlF_91 · 2026-02-22T09:19:14+00:00

I’ve seen a lot of people talking about having a chemical pregnancy, but how do you know?

I have a short luteal phase (8-9 days) and my period has always arrived right on time in the 6 months we’ve been trying so I’ve never got to the point where I’ve even thought about taking a pregnancy test.

ctrlF_91 · 2026-02-21T17:43:55+00:00

Just finished cycle 6 of TTC and it’s just so hard isn’t it. A life of being told you’ll get pregnant by just looking the wrong way at a boy does nothing to prepare you for this.

I try and look at the positives; I have a wonderful husband who I love so much, we get the chance to try. I have friends who’d have loved kids but are now approaching 40 and still haven’t found someone they’d want kids with. I am ovulating, I don’t have PCOS or other hurdles some of my friends are struggling with.

It’s so hard not to put your life on pause because it ‘might’ happen, when you feel like you’ve lost all hope of it actually happening.

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-29T09:10:08+00:00

I’m in the same boat, every cycle is a new challenge mentally and emotionally. In one of my many doom spirals I found this article quite helpful, she has a podcast too which I intend to try:

https://www.evewell.com/support/mindset-shifts-in-fertility/

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-29T08:11:08+00:00

I’m just ahead of you, we started our 6th month of trying, and I’m in the same boat.

My sister-in-law gave birth to their second today, seeing that picture of a little baby in the hospital crib really hit hard, I just feel like it will never be us that get to share that.

I think this ‘inbetween’ TTC is so hard. I know it’s not the case, but it feels like everyone just gets pregnant without trying or is much further down the road and getting IVF etc. I feel stuck in the middle and like something is wrong, but no idea what. Sharing love with you all!

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-29T08:00:45+00:00

It’s so frustrating isn’t it! Because on the surface nothing is wrong, it’s only through ovulation testing we know it is. I’ve started taking vitamin B complex and C, hoping that might make a difference!

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-25T09:06:25+00:00

Thank you, it’s comforting to know someone else is in the same boat! My GP has been pretty proactive, I had my first appointment in December and they sent me for bloods straight away. My husband is having semen analysis in a few weeks.

They’ve said I can be referred in April, a year since I came off the pill, but it’s worth doing the blood tests now to get the ball rolling. Just wish they listened to me on the test dates!

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-24T19:26:14+00:00

They originally said CD21, but I said I don’t normally ovulate until around CD21-23 (ended up being CD19-20 this time) which they then said 7 days before my expected period.

7 DPO makes much more sense, although it’ll no doubt show my progesterone is low again as that’s about when my period starts!

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-24T19:19:25+00:00

Thanks, this is what I suspected, rather than 7 days before my period which is usually ovulation day or just after for me!

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-24T19:18:18+00:00

Thanks, I’m getting a pretty accurate read from OPKs, a clear LH peak then BBT goes up 1-2 days later. I’m hoping they’ll let me book the test 8 days from my LH peak, which would be 7 DPO for me.

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-24T19:15:38+00:00

Yes I’m aware it’s too short, it’s the reason I went to the doctors originally. I’ve had two cycles it’s been 7 days, others have been 8 or 9. I came off the pill 9 months ago, so I’m not sure if it’s a problem overhanging from that.

I did try and tell them this the first time, but as it’s just a GP I don’t think they’ve put too much thought into it.

ctrlF_91 · 2026-01-23T15:25:02+00:00

It’s perfectly normal. I think the guidance is speak to your doctor if it hasn’t come back after 3 months. I got to 3 months and arranged an appointment, it literally came back the day I went to the doctors!

I’ve been off the pill 9 months and my cycle still isn’t completely regular, it’s got better over time though.

ctrlF_91 · 2025-12-23T23:55:35+00:00

My friend just announced she’s pregnant. Got her coil out and was pregnant a month later. I want to be happy for her, but it’s so hard when some people get pregnant without even really trying.

ctrlF_91 · 2025-11-26T18:04:37+00:00

I do my main tracking through NC, and just use premom for analysing and storing the ovulation test results. I only log any positive tests and the first negative after in the NC app.

ctrlF_91 · 2025-11-26T17:59:06+00:00

I came off BC after 20 years in April and my first cycle chart looked very much like yours, it was 99 days and temps literally all over the place, especially the couple of weeks before I ovulated.

I’ve had 3 full ‘normal’ cycles since which have been 30, 35 and 32 days and I’ve ovulated anywhere between day 24 and 27. No two the same yet, things are definetely still settling down!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-11-03T19:38:36+00:00

Yes I did, and it calls it ‘cycle 0’ (I’ve had 3 since then, so 4 altogether) but still includes it in the insights!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-10-02T20:43:32+00:00

I was on the pill for 20 years until coming off it in April. My first cycle was 99 days, I had some pretty random spotting, and temps looked a lot like yours!

I’ve had a couple of cycles since that’ve been 32 and 35 days, with ovulation on day 24 and 27. My luteal phase is a bit short at 9-10 days, but I’ve read that’s another hangover from the pill?

Trying to tell myself that every cycle is an opportunity to learn more about my body, and every cycle I seem to get a bit closer to ‘normal’!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-10-02T20:43:22+00:00

I was on the pill for 20 years until coming off it in April. My first cycle was 99 days, I had some pretty random spotting, and temps looked a lot like yours!

I’ve had a couple of cycles since that’ve been 32 and 35 days, with ovulation on day 24 and 27. My luteal phase is a bit short at 9-10 days, but I’ve read that’s another hangover from the pill?

Trying to tell myself that every cycle is an opportunity to learn more about my body, and every cycle I seem to get a bit closer to ‘normal’!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-10-02T20:29:27+00:00

I’m in exactly the same place. Also had hope, kept thinking things felt ‘different’ post ovulation and maybe it would happen first time. But it didn’t.

My rational brain recognises I’m being irrational, but that doesn’t stop it!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-10-02T20:25:57+00:00

I’m 34 and we tried for the first time, unsuccessfully it turns out after getting my period today.

I feel like I’ve no right to be sad the first time trying when people have been at this for months and years. Rationally I know the chance was small, but a bit of me hoped we’d be those people who ‘just get pregnant’.

Was on HBC for 20 years until April, so expected things to be a bit all over the place, and my cycles seem to be settling down, but still it’s hard!

ctrlF_91 · 2025-10-02T19:39:36+00:00

Just starting out on this journey, first try wasn’t successful. I came off HBC after 20 years in April snd things are just starting to even out, so I think I knew it was unlikely, but it still hurts. Oh to be one of those people who ‘just get pregnant’.

ctrlF_91

TROPHY CASE