I'm not regular How do I know when to concieve?

[aquababe]

ok I've decided to try to concieve no2 but dd was a 'surprise' so not sure what to do.

I'm not regular(btwn26+32) so how do I know when my ideal dates are?
I know it's got something to do with temp. Does that mean in general or down there?
Are there other ways of knowing?
I haven't been keeping check on temps so does that mean I can't calculate it properly this month?

[scorpio1]

temp has to be taken every day upon waking to notice any changes. its normally done orally but soem do it vaginally, too.

there are bodily signs such as cervial mucus. when you are fertile it will appear like egg whites - clear, stretchy. this is fertile mucus, it helps the sperm to travel through your cervix. look when you wipe, or you can go searching for it if you want!

keep an eye on your cycle lengths. maybe use opk's? try accessdiagnostics.com for cheapy ones, although they dont work for everyone!

[belgo]

when you went to have sex is a good indicator of when you're fertile. My cycle is also 26-34 days or so, and impossible to predict. Am also TTC.

[aquababe]

Is when I'm fertile the same as my ovulation day.
Ideally I would like to have another girl so want to try before my ovulation day on the off chance it works

[scorpio1]

the fertile window can be around 72 hours before ov and 48 hours after.

for a girl, do it a day or two before your predicted ov date.

do you know the things to do if you want a girl? i have a book if you want?

[aquababe]

i've just been looking at some websites but they've not been overly helpful

[Halfbumphalfbiscuit]

I got some ovulation tests from an NHS supplier on ebay, they were cheap and the kind the doctors use, not the expensive sort you get in Chemists. I also took my temp every morning and waited for a small rise in temp. It didn't work, I was convinced I wasn't even ovulating but then got pregnant surprisingly quickly by just having lots of sex 12 - 16 days from teh start of my period. Good luck, and have fun!

[andiem]

Old robert winston's advice is to just have sex 2 to 3 times a week all the time and you are bound to hit lucky! Tricky if you want to time it to maximise chance of one gender over another.

[aquababe]

My dh had a good giggle last night when I tried to keep my hips in the air. I've also been trying to keep it romantic. lovemaking rather than just sex

[beansprout]

As scorpio said, a basal temp thermometer (about 8 quid on line) will help you. Take your temp first thing, before you do anything else, inc getting up, drinking, speaking to your dp etc etc. Keep a note and your temp will rise after you have ovulated. It won't predict when you have ov but it will let you know when you have so you can stop having sex (if you want to).

I have the same cycle as you. Within reason, if you start having sex on day 10 and then have it every day or every other day until your temp rises, that should pretty much cover it.

There are some really supportive and knowledgable MNers on the temp threads in this section (hi Scorpio! .

Good luck!

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

TBH if your cycle lengths are like this I would not either use temp charts or opks. Both are beset with problems, particularly if a cycle is irregular. They can give misleading results.

If your cycles continue to be like this I would have a blood test done to see what your hormone levels are like. In this regard the level of LH (luteinising hormone) must be compared against that of FSH (follicle stimulation hormone). Ideally these two levels should be the same; if they are not then ovulation would be affected. It is actually quite possible to have periods without ovulating.

[aquababe]

the lh & fsh sounds very complicated.
Would I have such blood tests done at doctors. Is their a certain time in the cycle I should have them done.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

LH and FSH levels are measured early in a cycle , its called a day 3 test. Its not complicated really - this test would compare the level of LH in your bloodstream compared with that of FSH.

The GP can arrange for you to have such a test done. It can also be done according to calendar days i.e the 3rd of a month.

[Flamesparrow]

I keep reading this title as "I'm not a regular" and getting all cross that a lurker should have to explain themselves in a conception thread

I am another one who can tell ovulation with sex drive - DH has a window of about 4 days when I jump him at every spare moment... that is me ovulating!

[mammaduck]

have you tried ovulation tests? clearblue do a packet of 7 for £20.

[mammaduck]

forgot to say ovulation tests work the same as pregnancy tests - not complicated at all!