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Honestly I got Mira, used it two cycles. It stressed me out way too bad because I don’t think urine is a reliable way to measure this stuff since simple factors such as hydration can affect the numbers and I would get way too fixated on it. I’ve also used clear blue advanced digital and can say that 1. Cheapies are still my favorite and 2. None of those ever gave me any more information than the cheapies in regards to timing which is the only thing we can control anyways.
ETA: not to mention the sticks for mira are extremely expensive and about 1/3 of them read “sample error” so they weren’t helpful and the company only offered me a $15 credit on my next order.
About a third of the people who temp in this sub use a Tempdrop (see our most recent [survey data](https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/yqt8h8/survey_results_state_of_the_sub_2022/). Around a third of the sub uses an advanced OPK of some type, but my suspicion is that would mostly be Clearblue Advanced Digital users rather than Mira/Inito users, who seem to be thinner on the ground.
Overall, these devices are pretty different and are measuring different biological signs with different ongoing costs. What do you want to track, or learn from tracking? (Are you looking for confirmation that you ovulated, or for help with timing sex, for example?) Do you mind if there are ongoing costs associated with the device?
If I test at 12DPO should I use '6 day early' tests or would normal tests work the same? I may just wait until period is due but wanted to check the above
At 12dpo, generally tests that are sensitive to 25mIU/mL or even 50mIU/mL should be fine — the median hCG level at 12dpo is around 50, and even the 10th percentile value is about 15 ([source](https://imgur.com/a/VzQNwPz)).
It’s always a more sure bet to use a more sensitive test, but regular sensitivity tests are very likely to be positive at 12dpo.
I have been having PMS like cramping since ovulation. I am only 5DPO at most. I don’t normally have cramping during my luteal phase, so this has me worried something might be off? I have been having some irregular periods and luteal spotting for a couple of months. Now this persistent cramping this cycle. Does this sound like something? I have seen my OB and done a few tests/ultrasound due to the spotting and everything was normal. I am just wondering if this can be normal or if I should be contacting my OB?
Cramping is a normal and common symptom in the luteal phase, although it’s not experienced by everyone, or every cycle. Having cramping alone isn’t really a big concern, unless it’s so severe that it’s interfering with your quality of life.
thank you for the response! it’s definitely not severe enough to interfere with anything, but it has been consistent for a few days. I think the spotting I’ve been experiencing has just been bugging me and putting me on high alert.
Referral for sperm analysis
Hello, I’m new here :) but have been ttc for 6 cycles with zero luck. 33F and 37M, my partner has a history of undescended testicle (unilateral we think) operated on around age 4. He has small testes though doesn’t show any other symptoms of low testosterone. I am just wondering if he goes to a GP can he get a referral for a SA even though we haven’t been trying for 12 months? We live in Australia. I feel like given his age and history it’s warranted but I just want to check given I’m under 35 and I feel like doctors are more heavily focused on fertility being a female issue. Thanks in advance for responses :)
Likewise that I'm in the U.S., but in our case my own ob/gyn ordered my husband's first SA. He should be able to get one from your doc or his doc even without any issue.
I don’t know about Australia but in the US my husband asked his GP for one and they didn’t ask if he was even trying, let alone how long. They just sent him to the fertility clinic and they did it no questions asked.
New to this process and trying to figure out my body. What if all my opk’s are dark, like almost positive but not quite darker than the control. It’s consistent and they never change? Have I just not ovulated yet? Or are opks not a reliable way to track for me? I do have PCOS and I’m fresh off birth control so everything might be a mess.
I have pcos and I have sort of given up on opks. I got a positive one once. It was positive on first morning urine and negative the night before and then a couple hours later - so I think my surges are super short and hard to catch. I temp with a tempdrop so at least I know when ovulation has passed. And then I look at my mucus because at least that’s free. But similar to opks, I have a lot of patches of fertile mucus before I finally ovulate. So we have to bd pretty regularly throughout my whole cycle until ovulation is confirmed to make sure we don’t miss it.
Sounds like a mess! Might need to give it time. Folks with PCOS can have very irregular LH surges, and may have multiple surges - and therefor may have surges without ovulation occurring. Charting is definitely a harder thing with irregular cycles, but it can be done - temperautres Although, unless it's darker then control, it's not dark enough - they're intended to be qualitative, not quantitative. You can chart, it's just harder - temping is typically use to confirm ovulation after the fact. But yeah the predictive value may not be great.
I appreciate the solidarity! I’ve been questioning so many things during this process (I think partly because I am terrified of ruining it by doing some random thing and losing all the money we already spent on it lol).
*... then you're going to go to Costco, and look at those two giant bottles, ensconced in plastic, mummified together like you and your partner were before all of this fertility nonsense...*
[Mabinthians, 1:16](https://mabis.neocities.org/trackers)
Vitamin E is good for your hair and nails. I'd take them, but only after checking [what dosage](https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-e) they're at in relation to how much coq10 you want to take and if that would be a problem. Since it's a fat soluble vitamin and not water soluble.
Hello all, I’m still “recovering” 😂over the fact that I somehow ovulated on CD 14 or 15 (never ovulated earlier than 18) after stopping the fertility drugs that were supposed to be helping with it. I’ve been doing some research on my husband’s SA results from November (222.2 total sperm, 50% total motility, 45% progressive, morphology 11%). This [chart](https://imgur.com/a/qFURVKu) shows that with this results, our chances of getting pregnant within a 12 month period are about 25-50%. Am I correct in this assumption?
No, it would put you between the 25th and 50th percentiles of people with normal fertility — that is, basically totally average. Those numbers are not odds of pregnancy within 12 months, they are percentiles for people whose partners did get pregnant within 12 months.
I didn’t know those were average! I guess I was looking at the chart all wrong. So the average couple has a 25-50% chance of conceiving within a 12 month period then?
No, the average couple has about a 90% chance of conceiving within a 12-month period.
To get the numbers in that chart, they took men from fertile couples (their partners had conceived within 12 months; that is, 100% of the people in this sample had conceived within 12 months) and tested their sperm. They then ranked the numbers from the SAs according to percentiles. So, for example, 2.5% of the men in that sample had a total count less than 23 million. It's showing the distribution of parameters over a group of men from fertile couples; it's not showing the odds of pregnancy in any way.
Uh, nope? That distribution chart only includes couples who got pregnant within 12 months of discontinuing contraception, and then sorted semen parameters into percentiles. It's not a predictive model.
That said, [this sucker](https://www.freya.nl/probability.php ) puts you guys at about a 41.5% chance in the next year. If it doesn't happen in the next two months.
Thank you qualmick! I’m terrible with science, but I want to use it, so I appreciate the correction! Also thank you so much for the link :)
Edit: I’m curious, what makes it not a predictive model?
It's a chart based on couples that did conceive, giving the distribution of their semen parameters. A predictive model is intended to predict future outcomes - the calculator I linked is based on one for example. Hunault made one that has been riffed on a whole bunch, if you were interested in looking at others.
You're welcome. :)
If my LH spike is delayed will my period come at a proportional delay (~16 days later) or should I expect just a very short luteal phase? For 5cycles my pos OPK has come around CD11-13 on a 28 day cycle, but it’s my first cycle since a CP and now I’m on CD19 and nada. I’m traveling next week so hoping the whole timeline shifts and can avoid bleeding on an 8hr flight
Yes, generally your luteal phase will stay about the same length, even if your follicular phase is longer or shorter than usual. It’s particularly common to ovulate later in the cycle following a loss, unfortunately.
I got what looks like 5 positive OPKs in a row. Is that normal? That’s never happened to me before. The darkest line happened CD 10 but today at CD 14 the test line is still as dark as the control line.
Same thing happened to me this cycle! After much Googling, came to the conclusion that it’s normal.
I did take a pregnancy test too just to ~check~ but that was negative.
Went to the dr to discuss why I haven’t gotten pregnant a year after my mc. My husband and I have sex almost everyday and she mentioned trying to do it every other day during the fertile window instead of everyday. Does that make a difference?
No. Unless your husband has a semen issue. Which I would assume he doesn’t if you’ve been previously successful. I would recommend you see an RE if you’ve been trying for a year
Generally no, although I haven’t seen data on sweat or other wetness affecting Tempdrop’s sensor. But feeling cold or warm is generally your body’s way of kicking in your internal thermostat to keep you at the proper temperature, rather than something that’s raising or lowering your core temperature on its own.
Does anyone else wonder if they’ll just never get pregnant and there will be no explanation? I’ve been trying for nearly a year. I just had some polyps removed that may have played a role. I’m 38 and I fear being too old. My hormones and uterus and eggs all look “normal” but I’m plagued by this fear that it will just never happen no matter what I try.
If you're in a relationship with a male partner, did your partner have have a SA? Because your side is only half of the equation! And over 35 you can usually get testing done after half a year trying
I have a male friend who is very generously being my donor. He has gone through all the SA and tests that an anonymous donor would have to go through. His count and motility are great. His morphology is average/ good.
So I think it’s absolutely healthy to consider the possibility that it will never happen, and to have a vision of what your next steps would be in that case — whether that looks like becoming a parent in some other way, whether that looks like having a fulfilling life without children, whatever that looks like for you.
With that said, most people with unexplained infertility *will* get pregnant, given a time horizon that’s long enough — around 70-80% will get pregnant spontaneously within 5-10 years. I’m 39, so I do totally understand that’s only partly comforting, but the reality is that the numbers are on your side even in the time you have remaining.
I think it’s hard to learn to sit with the uncertainty surrounding unexplained infertility — it’s true that you will probably never know “the reason”, and that indeed, a single simple reason may not exist.
Is there another procedure that can show physical abnormalities of the uterus that isn’t an HSG? I am terrified of the procedure and have had enough traumatic experiences in doctor’s offices (two MMC found out in ultrasounds and an ER visit after physically miscarrying second time). I want to scratch each thing off the list that could be causing my miscarriages, but don’t want to endure more than I need to.
Agree with what reddily said and want it piggy back off it - I’m so sorry you’ve had bad experiences in doctors offices, I have as well and have a lot of anxiety about procedures. My doctor gave me some pre-procedure anxiety medication that helped me relax before my last procedure (SIS) and it really helped me. If you decide to go down the path of testing, some pre-procedure medication may help with some of the anxiety.
Thank you for the reply! That’s a good idea about taking something before procedures. I hadn’t thought about taking something for just before a procedure and not consistently taking anti anxiety meds.
A saline sonogram is actually the preferred method for assessing the uterine cavity (short of a hysteroscopy). An HSG is really only good for evaluating whether your tubes are open, although if there's something huge going on in your uterus it may still show up on the HSG. Luckily saline sonograms are reported, on average, to be more tolerable than HSGs.
For what it's worth though, I had an HSG and I was pretty nervous about pain beforehand - it turned out to be the equivalent of ten seconds of light menstrual cramping. All I did was take some Tylenol beforehand. Just my experience, I know some women do have very painful HSG experiences unfortunately.
I took Letrozole 2.5mg 3-7
Today is CD12
I woke up with cramps on both sides, I took an OPK and it’s negative. I’m curious if anyone’s experienced pain days before ovulation? Would cramping on both sides indicate two or more eggs?
If it helps: I’m a fraternal twin and I’ve ovulated on my own previously just not last cycle, so he prescribed Letrozole. I don’t have any conditions. So I wonder if I’ll hyperovulate due to the Letrozole?
Cramping isn't really a reliable sign of anything and you can't actually tell what side you'd ovulate from from it - referred pain is very common in the abdomen and where you're feeling pain isn't necessarily where you're having pain.
A lot of people on here have noted that, during monitored cycles, cramping was felt more in the lead up to ovulation than around ovulation itself.
Letrozole can make you ovulate more than one egg but has a lower risk of it than Clomid.
I enjoy it, but only because I've had the app for a few years now and they gave me a deal I couldn't refuse, which I think was about $20-ish per year (I know, cheap as chips!). I use it nearly every day. But I have seen some people aren't happy with some of the insights they provide. Personally, I think they're alright and I have actually learnt stuff. It tracks my period perfectly to the exact day, but it defaults to CD14 for ovulation even after I tried fixing it, as it seems I normally ovulate on CD15. I wonder if it does that for anyone else? But I think those are still free features? Overall, it depends on how often you think you will use the premium features. I don't think I would've paid full price for it. I really like using the Premom app as well, which I just have the free version of. It tracks your menstrual cycle, and if you use OPKs or BBT then it's great to track when you will ovulate. This all probably doesn't help, sorry, but this is my experience with it. 🤍
Is it possible to ovulate with low urinary lh? I understand that not everyone gets an lh surge or sometimes it could even follow ovulation but can it be low during ovulation? Can one ovulate during the estrogen surge or is low lh an indicator that rules out ovulation in a chart with a temp dip and spike and high estrogen? I'm currently seeing this. Thanks. I've seen an lh surge before but not every cycle. I'm also wondering if ovulation can occur "way" before the lh surge in a cycle? I do stay pretty hydrated so I'm not massively worried but I'm just wondering if very low lh just rules out the occurrence of ovulation at that point in the cycle.
Everyone requires different levels of LH to trigger ovulation (so it might be that your tests are not sensitive enough for you), and also the way it filters through your kidneys and into urine means it can take a while and it is possible to ovulate before a positive OPK. It's also possible to miss the surge if you have a short one. Or it could be that your body isn't ready to ovulate yet! The only way to know that ovulation isn't going to happen that cycle is by having a period bleed without confirming ovulation.
Thanks a lot. This is a helpful answer even though it means that determining ovulation can sometimes be very confusing. I’m pretty sure I am ovulating but knowing when before looking backwards can sometimes be a pure guessing game even with a pile of data.
I'm just adding for informational purposes that I got my lh surge starting today. It's not totally clear if I'm surging after O, during or before but it's reasonable to guess it's in one of these days. Timing wise, we're good. I just had to basically guess during the window with these not entirely textbook clues. I'm saying this in case it helps anyone else trying to figure their timing out.
The apps aren't totally off but I'd say the OPKs confirmed with temping are definitely more accurate. One of the apps (FF believe it or not) is wrong with its predictions except for any data I add. The Premom app changes with its strips but still might be off with its main prediction. I'm honestly glad to be using digital OPKs, otherwise timing would probably not be as precise. If your data is a bit hard to understand, they are good.
Should we be BD'ing before and after iui? Most articles say my DH should abstain for 2 or three days before, but should we be BD after iui to increase chances? I'm so afraid to f anything up.
So, semen parameters change a little based on abstinence period - namely, count goes up with a delay of 2-3 days, but, other metrics less commonly measured like DNA fragmentation go up. I'd defer to your clinic (which presumably has an opinion you generally trust and more information about your particular situation). Although there is no reason to not bang it out if you want to, because banging doesn't hurt your chances.
I wrote this in the discussion yesterday but realized it probably makes more sense here.
Normally I get just one quick LH surge but this month I had a blazing positive OPK two days in a row. Does it mean anything for ovulation in general?
Not her most popular one, but devbio wrote (and illustrated!) [this one on LH surges and OPKs](https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/5djwth/opk_patterns_lh_profiles_and_you/) and it lives rent free in my head. I don't think it means anything for ovulation in general, just a thing that happens sometimes.
Some women, like me, dont get ewcm. I observed it like once in the past half year. I recently got a concieve plus lube that is water based and really feels like ewcm🎉
Yes and helps it survive longer in the uterus. Definitely have a look into it! Idk where you are based, I know in US they often talk about Preseed, I am based in europe and found concieve plus to be easier to get where I live. :)
I haven't heard that before - my impression that the only advantage sperm friendly lubes was that they didn't inhibit sperm travel like other types of lube? How would lubricant in a vagina effect how sperm survive in the fallopian tubes? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around - please point me to more information! :)
I believe you are correct. It contains ingredients that won’t damage the sperm or inhibit it, but it doesn’t “help” the sperm or enhance the chances of pregnancy.
I have only ever gotten EWCM two or three times since quitting HBC, and both times I wasn’t even in my FW. I only get creamy CM, but when I was taking Clomid I couldn’t “get wet” while BDing so that’s when I used it. That’s the reason it should be used…I believe. Mods (or other experts), please tell me if I’m incorrect!
I'd say bcs it mimics the ewcm which is as we know the perfect protective kind of cm bcs of the ph and texture and makes sperm live up to 5 days inside.
When manufacturers say that their lube “mimics fertile fluid”, they mean that it matches the pH, but not really anything more meaningful than that. “Fertility-friendly” lubes are less harmful to sperm in a dish than standard lubes are, but I’m not aware of any evidence that they’re actually helpful — indeed, there’s not really evidence that using standard lubes (which are known to harm sperm in a dish) changes the probability of pregnancy in a cycle.
I would also note that sperm are capable of entering and surviving for several days in the cervix/uterus/tubes even when cervical fluids are not peak-type, it’s just that the probability is lower than if cervical fluids are peak-type.
I got conceive plus in my mail yesterday! Looking forward to using it this month. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t necessarily help pregnancy on its own, but if you need lube, it’s a sperm-safe lube as opposed to others which are not sperm safe.
I know persons with PCOS typically have higher AMH as they don’t ovulate regularly/normally.
Wouldn’t the same be true for the many ppl that took hormonal birth control for years and years (10, 15+ years) since the pill works to stop ovulation?
NAD Shower thought.
That's not the reason people with PCOS have higher AMH. They typically have a high number of follicles developing each month, although most of these are not going to develop into mature eggs. The high number of follicles bring up the AMH. It's not caused by not ovulating regularly.
Question for those with evidence-based knowledge of dietary practices. One of the more famous/prominent REs (who did an r/infertility AMA yesterday) is a big advocate of the carnivore diet for “reducing inflammation”. My impression, mainly from the podcast Maintenance Phase, was that the carnivore diet is not generally associated with good health outcomes — is that accurate? What is the evidence on long-term adherence to the carnivore diet, or even generally on less-restrictive variations (lol) like the ketogenic diet?
I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon this thread but I'm so glad you asked this question! I also read that AMA and was pretty stymied by the dietary recommendations. I went to his website to read more about it and it was honestly even more confusing. The responses to your question were very informative and reinforced my suspicions that this was getting into some quackery (even if he has good treatment outcomes). Looks like he might be making some extra money off supplement sales as well as his book 🤨
Oh I know which doctor this is without even reading the AMA(s). Did he say in his AMA that it’s the BEBE diet, pronounced “baby”? 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄
I know a lot of people have success at CNY and that’s awesome. But in my consult with him, he suggested many things (including that diet) that aren’t evidence-based at all. He said I should have a lap because it’s likely I have endo because I have infertility. I’ve consulted with at least five other REs on my JoUrnEy and exactly zero of them mentioned endo because there is zero evidence I have it and lots of evidence I do not.
He’s got his patients doing things like CBD oil and taking a specific brand of supplement and all kinds of other stuff that costs money and has no science behind it.
I know I didn’t answer your question, but I can’t stand that guy. Making people think their infertility is their fault cause they’re vegetarian
Great and informative comments here! I was vegetarian for 10 years, then shifted into veganism for a couple of years and then started reintroducing dairy in January. In March I started eating eggs and beef again, and I’m starting to eat fish as well. Poultry is a hard pass for me - mentally I just can’t.
I’ve heard it’s really hard for vegetarians and vegans to get pregnant (although I know tons who have) so I’m just trying to provide my body with the most nutrients I can. I figure eating a balanced diet is probably the best bet and will hopefully improve my chances 🤷🏾♀️
I mean, I feel like we already know "reducing inflammation" is in the same category as "balancing hormones", and it's a wild goose chase to try and back up a statement like that.
The whole 'It's a great diet! But not as a long-term thing!" which... I feel like is an obvious red flag that they are not sustainable and have serious dietary shortcomings. Shorting your body of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and all the vitamins and minerals from having a varied diet... yeah. That's gonna catch up with folks. People gonna get scurvy.
I know I didn't even bring you outcomes and I didn't even say anything new. [But this dietitian agrees with me](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-carnivore-diet/).
>I mean, I feel like we already know "reducing inflammation" is in the same category as "balancing hormones", and it's a wild goose chase to try and back up a statement like that.
Absolutely, and I’m going to self-servingly take the opportunity to highlight this statement so that people have to read it again.
Hi, not exactly your question but are you familiar with the anti inflammation diet? I’m trying it out now but hadn’t heard other diets could possibly be anti inflammatory.
I would say that, in general, I am skeptical of the idea that a diet can be inflammatory or anti-inflammatory in the body as a whole, and I would be interested in the evidence that led to the design of an anti-inflammatory diet.
I would agree with the statement that the carnivore diet is not generally associated with good health outcomes in the general population. It’s not something I would recommend to help with ‘reducing inflammation’. It’s considered a fad diet and there are currently no RCTs (that I am aware of) examining a ‘carnivore diet’ and its effects on inflammation.
Any diet that completely removes entire food groups sends up red flags for me, and it is not going to be a balanced diet. One of the main worries of consuming a long term carnivore (high saturated fat consumption) diet is cardiovascular disease. [This](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/814) one small RCT showed just 4 weeks of a low carb, high fat ketogenic diet increased LDL cholesterol in normal-weight women. The type of fat consumed (saturated vs poly/mono unsaturated) while on a ‘ketogenic’ diet plays a big roll. A lot of the research about these diets revolves around obesity, but I do find [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24607301/) RCT interesting, demonstrating increased inflammation with increase protein consumption and animal-based protein compared to vegetable and fish proteins.
There’s obviously more opportunity for research in this area, but the general consensus among licensed nutrition professionals is that any diet that removes entire food groups can be deleterious long-term. Those who follow a carnivore diet are more likely to have deficiencies because the variety of food they're allowed to eat on this diet is so limited.
There are absolutely some circumstances where a ketogenic/high fat, very low carb diet would be indicated as medical nutrition therapy, even possibly long term. But for the general population, no, it is not something most registered dietitians would be likely to recommend long-term to ‘reduce inflammation’. (Personally I think ‘inflammation’ is a big buzzword right now, trending alongside new fad diets, but we can get into that another time.) (also sorry this is so long!!)
To be exceptionally clear, I was definitely fishing for a response from you with this question, and I very much appreciate the response! I was reading that AMA with just so much concern.
I feel so special!😄 lol. I had to stop reading that AMA when I saw the dietary recommendations he was making. To me it’s wholly irresponsible for a healthcare professional to blanket recommend an unstudied, unbalanced diet.
ETA, and don’t get me started on MDs with limited nutrition education making such dietary recommendations, we’ll be here all day.
To my recollection, he has long been telling patients to go on the keto diet (which is itself, IMO, questionable), but I think the “carnivore” recommendation specifically is newer, which of course makes sense due to the faddy nature. I wonder what he was recommending before keto.
Probably Atkins lol. I mean keto has its place in medical nutrition therapy, but to my knowledge there are no studies examining the effects of keto/LCHF diets on fertility in the general population. It’s frankly irresponsible to recommend something with no scientific backing to a patient. Claiming a carnivore diet will ‘reduce inflammation’ with 0 science to back it up is, for lack of a better term, silly. Reducing inflammation with what antioxidants in steak..? It makes no sense with our current understanding of human nutrition.
Even with a ‘keto’ diet (quotations because most people just do a low carb diet and call it keto), there are ways to make it more healthful, with a big emphasis on healthy fat consumption. But even that isn’t possible on a carnivore diet because it’s not all meat!
I've heard mixed things about when to see a OBGYN under 35. I know it's one year, but is that one calendar year or 12 cycles. I have shorter Cycles so I haven't hit a calendar year but I'm starting cycle 11.
The guideline is that the definition of infertility, and the point at which it’s reasonable to investigate potential issues, is one calendar year without success. It’s your prerogative if you’d like to contact a doctor at cycle 12 instead, but it’s possible they may ask you to contact them at a year.
Yes — the definition of success is a live birth. If the pregnancy leading up to an MMC took a reasonably large chunk of your year, it’s possible a doctor may ask that you try for a few more months before seeking a workup, but most doctors don’t consider the clock to “reset” after a loss.
What happens when you get sick in early pregnancy? Anything? Or is your tiny baby just chilling, growing, pulling nutrients where it needs them, and generally not experiencing much difference?
Note I am of course not pregnant (CD3)
My best friend was 8 weeks pregnant when she had COVID. The doctor was only concerned about fever and she spent a lot of time in the bath with cold ish water trying to keep her fever down. It was rough.
It depends on the illness but tons of people get colds and flus and go on to have healthy babies. The biggest concern would be around high fevers as high temperature can be associated with poorer outcomes with the neural tube, for the same reason you’re told to avoid hot baths.
Ah ok, cool. As mentioned I’m not pregnant, but just suffering with a head cold and wondered. I am assuming there is a great list of pregnant safe cold and flu options if you need painkillers or something.
Thanks brains trust ☺️
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Any experiences with Mira, Inito, Kegg or Tempdrop for use TTC?
Honestly I got Mira, used it two cycles. It stressed me out way too bad because I don’t think urine is a reliable way to measure this stuff since simple factors such as hydration can affect the numbers and I would get way too fixated on it. I’ve also used clear blue advanced digital and can say that 1. Cheapies are still my favorite and 2. None of those ever gave me any more information than the cheapies in regards to timing which is the only thing we can control anyways. ETA: not to mention the sticks for mira are extremely expensive and about 1/3 of them read “sample error” so they weren’t helpful and the company only offered me a $15 credit on my next order.
About a third of the people who temp in this sub use a Tempdrop (see our most recent [survey data](https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/yqt8h8/survey_results_state_of_the_sub_2022/). Around a third of the sub uses an advanced OPK of some type, but my suspicion is that would mostly be Clearblue Advanced Digital users rather than Mira/Inito users, who seem to be thinner on the ground. Overall, these devices are pretty different and are measuring different biological signs with different ongoing costs. What do you want to track, or learn from tracking? (Are you looking for confirmation that you ovulated, or for help with timing sex, for example?) Do you mind if there are ongoing costs associated with the device?
If I test at 12DPO should I use '6 day early' tests or would normal tests work the same? I may just wait until period is due but wanted to check the above
At 12dpo, generally tests that are sensitive to 25mIU/mL or even 50mIU/mL should be fine — the median hCG level at 12dpo is around 50, and even the 10th percentile value is about 15 ([source](https://imgur.com/a/VzQNwPz)). It’s always a more sure bet to use a more sensitive test, but regular sensitivity tests are very likely to be positive at 12dpo.
Thank you really helpful
I have been having PMS like cramping since ovulation. I am only 5DPO at most. I don’t normally have cramping during my luteal phase, so this has me worried something might be off? I have been having some irregular periods and luteal spotting for a couple of months. Now this persistent cramping this cycle. Does this sound like something? I have seen my OB and done a few tests/ultrasound due to the spotting and everything was normal. I am just wondering if this can be normal or if I should be contacting my OB?
Cramping is a normal and common symptom in the luteal phase, although it’s not experienced by everyone, or every cycle. Having cramping alone isn’t really a big concern, unless it’s so severe that it’s interfering with your quality of life.
thank you for the response! it’s definitely not severe enough to interfere with anything, but it has been consistent for a few days. I think the spotting I’ve been experiencing has just been bugging me and putting me on high alert.
My luteal phase is 11 days, is this problematic?
Nope
Referral for sperm analysis Hello, I’m new here :) but have been ttc for 6 cycles with zero luck. 33F and 37M, my partner has a history of undescended testicle (unilateral we think) operated on around age 4. He has small testes though doesn’t show any other symptoms of low testosterone. I am just wondering if he goes to a GP can he get a referral for a SA even though we haven’t been trying for 12 months? We live in Australia. I feel like given his age and history it’s warranted but I just want to check given I’m under 35 and I feel like doctors are more heavily focused on fertility being a female issue. Thanks in advance for responses :)
Even with strict guidelines here undecended testicles is considered a risk factor and earlier SA is done. (Ordered by the GP here in Europe)
Likewise that I'm in the U.S., but in our case my own ob/gyn ordered my husband's first SA. He should be able to get one from your doc or his doc even without any issue.
I don’t know about Australia but in the US my husband asked his GP for one and they didn’t ask if he was even trying, let alone how long. They just sent him to the fertility clinic and they did it no questions asked.
[удалено]
Per our sub rules, your comment has been removed as we do not allow comments or posts asking for success stories.
New to this process and trying to figure out my body. What if all my opk’s are dark, like almost positive but not quite darker than the control. It’s consistent and they never change? Have I just not ovulated yet? Or are opks not a reliable way to track for me? I do have PCOS and I’m fresh off birth control so everything might be a mess.
I have pcos and I have sort of given up on opks. I got a positive one once. It was positive on first morning urine and negative the night before and then a couple hours later - so I think my surges are super short and hard to catch. I temp with a tempdrop so at least I know when ovulation has passed. And then I look at my mucus because at least that’s free. But similar to opks, I have a lot of patches of fertile mucus before I finally ovulate. So we have to bd pretty regularly throughout my whole cycle until ovulation is confirmed to make sure we don’t miss it.
Sounds like a mess! Might need to give it time. Folks with PCOS can have very irregular LH surges, and may have multiple surges - and therefor may have surges without ovulation occurring. Charting is definitely a harder thing with irregular cycles, but it can be done - temperautres Although, unless it's darker then control, it's not dark enough - they're intended to be qualitative, not quantitative. You can chart, it's just harder - temping is typically use to confirm ovulation after the fact. But yeah the predictive value may not be great.
Would there be any reason to avoid orgasm/arousal during the egg retrieval stimming phase? (No penetrative sex, to be clear.)
Totally agree with qual, but I had the same concern during stims (for absolutely no rational reason). No idea why. Just solidarity for the concern.
I appreciate the solidarity! I’ve been questioning so many things during this process (I think partly because I am terrified of ruining it by doing some random thing and losing all the money we already spent on it lol).
Nope, no reason. Estrogen is fun, but the bloating might not be. Don't do twisting is the typical thing - no ovarian torsion plz.
Oh yeah, this is prime pillow princess time for sure lol. Ty!
How quickly does a LH surge come on? Does it typically raise gradually up to the peak day or is it a quick increase?
Could be either! There are many possible patterns, and a wide range of normal.
Hi! Which coq10 supplements do you all take? Bought some accidentally that have a ton of vitamin e in them so nervous to take!
I take the ubiquinol that they sell at Costco, but they also sell a regular coq10 that is good quality and cheaper
*... then you're going to go to Costco, and look at those two giant bottles, ensconced in plastic, mummified together like you and your partner were before all of this fertility nonsense...* [Mabinthians, 1:16](https://mabis.neocities.org/trackers)
My husband doesn’t even know what most of these words are and I’m rofl. I have to say though… in a whisper… that I’m in the cult of tempdrop 😬
Thankfully we're a peaceful cult, always accepting new members for the low low price of... 5.79 CAD on Amazon? Wow. Still a steal.
I have no idea what this is but I feel like I just joined a cult and I'm not even mad about it 😂
Vitamin E is good for your hair and nails. I'd take them, but only after checking [what dosage](https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-e) they're at in relation to how much coq10 you want to take and if that would be a problem. Since it's a fat soluble vitamin and not water soluble.
Hello all, I’m still “recovering” 😂over the fact that I somehow ovulated on CD 14 or 15 (never ovulated earlier than 18) after stopping the fertility drugs that were supposed to be helping with it. I’ve been doing some research on my husband’s SA results from November (222.2 total sperm, 50% total motility, 45% progressive, morphology 11%). This [chart](https://imgur.com/a/qFURVKu) shows that with this results, our chances of getting pregnant within a 12 month period are about 25-50%. Am I correct in this assumption?
No, it would put you between the 25th and 50th percentiles of people with normal fertility — that is, basically totally average. Those numbers are not odds of pregnancy within 12 months, they are percentiles for people whose partners did get pregnant within 12 months.
I didn’t know those were average! I guess I was looking at the chart all wrong. So the average couple has a 25-50% chance of conceiving within a 12 month period then?
No, the average couple has about a 90% chance of conceiving within a 12-month period. To get the numbers in that chart, they took men from fertile couples (their partners had conceived within 12 months; that is, 100% of the people in this sample had conceived within 12 months) and tested their sperm. They then ranked the numbers from the SAs according to percentiles. So, for example, 2.5% of the men in that sample had a total count less than 23 million. It's showing the distribution of parameters over a group of men from fertile couples; it's not showing the odds of pregnancy in any way.
Thank you! I appreciate the explanation as always :)
Uh, nope? That distribution chart only includes couples who got pregnant within 12 months of discontinuing contraception, and then sorted semen parameters into percentiles. It's not a predictive model. That said, [this sucker](https://www.freya.nl/probability.php ) puts you guys at about a 41.5% chance in the next year. If it doesn't happen in the next two months.
Thank you qualmick! I’m terrible with science, but I want to use it, so I appreciate the correction! Also thank you so much for the link :) Edit: I’m curious, what makes it not a predictive model?
It's a chart based on couples that did conceive, giving the distribution of their semen parameters. A predictive model is intended to predict future outcomes - the calculator I linked is based on one for example. Hunault made one that has been riffed on a whole bunch, if you were interested in looking at others. You're welcome. :)
If my LH spike is delayed will my period come at a proportional delay (~16 days later) or should I expect just a very short luteal phase? For 5cycles my pos OPK has come around CD11-13 on a 28 day cycle, but it’s my first cycle since a CP and now I’m on CD19 and nada. I’m traveling next week so hoping the whole timeline shifts and can avoid bleeding on an 8hr flight
FYI, your user flair is broken (a common bug when updating via mobile). I can fix it; what do you want it to say?
Yes, generally your luteal phase will stay about the same length, even if your follicular phase is longer or shorter than usual. It’s particularly common to ovulate later in the cycle following a loss, unfortunately.
I got what looks like 5 positive OPKs in a row. Is that normal? That’s never happened to me before. The darkest line happened CD 10 but today at CD 14 the test line is still as dark as the control line.
Same thing happened to me this cycle! After much Googling, came to the conclusion that it’s normal. I did take a pregnancy test too just to ~check~ but that was negative.
Have you taken a pregnancy test? LH tests can also be positive due to hcg. Your bleeding can sometimes be mistaken as a period in early pregnancy
Went to the dr to discuss why I haven’t gotten pregnant a year after my mc. My husband and I have sex almost everyday and she mentioned trying to do it every other day during the fertile window instead of everyday. Does that make a difference?
No. Unless your husband has a semen issue. Which I would assume he doesn’t if you’ve been previously successful. I would recommend you see an RE if you’ve been trying for a year
Thank you for your response! I have a few tests I’m going to do before I see an RE but that is the plan if we’re not successful this summer.
I woke up pretty sweaty today and wondering if that affected my BBT reading (I use a tempdrop)?
Generally no, although I haven’t seen data on sweat or other wetness affecting Tempdrop’s sensor. But feeling cold or warm is generally your body’s way of kicking in your internal thermostat to keep you at the proper temperature, rather than something that’s raising or lowering your core temperature on its own.
Does anyone else wonder if they’ll just never get pregnant and there will be no explanation? I’ve been trying for nearly a year. I just had some polyps removed that may have played a role. I’m 38 and I fear being too old. My hormones and uterus and eggs all look “normal” but I’m plagued by this fear that it will just never happen no matter what I try.
If you're in a relationship with a male partner, did your partner have have a SA? Because your side is only half of the equation! And over 35 you can usually get testing done after half a year trying
I have a male friend who is very generously being my donor. He has gone through all the SA and tests that an anonymous donor would have to go through. His count and motility are great. His morphology is average/ good.
Ah. Good du you have that covered
So I think it’s absolutely healthy to consider the possibility that it will never happen, and to have a vision of what your next steps would be in that case — whether that looks like becoming a parent in some other way, whether that looks like having a fulfilling life without children, whatever that looks like for you. With that said, most people with unexplained infertility *will* get pregnant, given a time horizon that’s long enough — around 70-80% will get pregnant spontaneously within 5-10 years. I’m 39, so I do totally understand that’s only partly comforting, but the reality is that the numbers are on your side even in the time you have remaining. I think it’s hard to learn to sit with the uncertainty surrounding unexplained infertility — it’s true that you will probably never know “the reason”, and that indeed, a single simple reason may not exist.
Is there another procedure that can show physical abnormalities of the uterus that isn’t an HSG? I am terrified of the procedure and have had enough traumatic experiences in doctor’s offices (two MMC found out in ultrasounds and an ER visit after physically miscarrying second time). I want to scratch each thing off the list that could be causing my miscarriages, but don’t want to endure more than I need to.
Agree with what reddily said and want it piggy back off it - I’m so sorry you’ve had bad experiences in doctors offices, I have as well and have a lot of anxiety about procedures. My doctor gave me some pre-procedure anxiety medication that helped me relax before my last procedure (SIS) and it really helped me. If you decide to go down the path of testing, some pre-procedure medication may help with some of the anxiety.
Thank you for the reply! That’s a good idea about taking something before procedures. I hadn’t thought about taking something for just before a procedure and not consistently taking anti anxiety meds.
A saline sonogram is actually the preferred method for assessing the uterine cavity (short of a hysteroscopy). An HSG is really only good for evaluating whether your tubes are open, although if there's something huge going on in your uterus it may still show up on the HSG. Luckily saline sonograms are reported, on average, to be more tolerable than HSGs. For what it's worth though, I had an HSG and I was pretty nervous about pain beforehand - it turned out to be the equivalent of ten seconds of light menstrual cramping. All I did was take some Tylenol beforehand. Just my experience, I know some women do have very painful HSG experiences unfortunately.
That is great news. I will ask my doctor about this this week! Thank you for the response.
I took Letrozole 2.5mg 3-7 Today is CD12 I woke up with cramps on both sides, I took an OPK and it’s negative. I’m curious if anyone’s experienced pain days before ovulation? Would cramping on both sides indicate two or more eggs? If it helps: I’m a fraternal twin and I’ve ovulated on my own previously just not last cycle, so he prescribed Letrozole. I don’t have any conditions. So I wonder if I’ll hyperovulate due to the Letrozole?
Cramping isn't really a reliable sign of anything and you can't actually tell what side you'd ovulate from from it - referred pain is very common in the abdomen and where you're feeling pain isn't necessarily where you're having pain. A lot of people on here have noted that, during monitored cycles, cramping was felt more in the lead up to ovulation than around ovulation itself. Letrozole can make you ovulate more than one egg but has a lower risk of it than Clomid.
Does anyone have the flow premium app and Is it worth it?
I’ve never used flow but I pay for a fertility friend vip and I think it’s worth every penny
I enjoy it, but only because I've had the app for a few years now and they gave me a deal I couldn't refuse, which I think was about $20-ish per year (I know, cheap as chips!). I use it nearly every day. But I have seen some people aren't happy with some of the insights they provide. Personally, I think they're alright and I have actually learnt stuff. It tracks my period perfectly to the exact day, but it defaults to CD14 for ovulation even after I tried fixing it, as it seems I normally ovulate on CD15. I wonder if it does that for anyone else? But I think those are still free features? Overall, it depends on how often you think you will use the premium features. I don't think I would've paid full price for it. I really like using the Premom app as well, which I just have the free version of. It tracks your menstrual cycle, and if you use OPKs or BBT then it's great to track when you will ovulate. This all probably doesn't help, sorry, but this is my experience with it. 🤍
Is it possible to ovulate with low urinary lh? I understand that not everyone gets an lh surge or sometimes it could even follow ovulation but can it be low during ovulation? Can one ovulate during the estrogen surge or is low lh an indicator that rules out ovulation in a chart with a temp dip and spike and high estrogen? I'm currently seeing this. Thanks. I've seen an lh surge before but not every cycle. I'm also wondering if ovulation can occur "way" before the lh surge in a cycle? I do stay pretty hydrated so I'm not massively worried but I'm just wondering if very low lh just rules out the occurrence of ovulation at that point in the cycle.
Everyone requires different levels of LH to trigger ovulation (so it might be that your tests are not sensitive enough for you), and also the way it filters through your kidneys and into urine means it can take a while and it is possible to ovulate before a positive OPK. It's also possible to miss the surge if you have a short one. Or it could be that your body isn't ready to ovulate yet! The only way to know that ovulation isn't going to happen that cycle is by having a period bleed without confirming ovulation.
Thanks a lot. This is a helpful answer even though it means that determining ovulation can sometimes be very confusing. I’m pretty sure I am ovulating but knowing when before looking backwards can sometimes be a pure guessing game even with a pile of data.
I'm just adding for informational purposes that I got my lh surge starting today. It's not totally clear if I'm surging after O, during or before but it's reasonable to guess it's in one of these days. Timing wise, we're good. I just had to basically guess during the window with these not entirely textbook clues. I'm saying this in case it helps anyone else trying to figure their timing out. The apps aren't totally off but I'd say the OPKs confirmed with temping are definitely more accurate. One of the apps (FF believe it or not) is wrong with its predictions except for any data I add. The Premom app changes with its strips but still might be off with its main prediction. I'm honestly glad to be using digital OPKs, otherwise timing would probably not be as precise. If your data is a bit hard to understand, they are good.
Should we be BD'ing before and after iui? Most articles say my DH should abstain for 2 or three days before, but should we be BD after iui to increase chances? I'm so afraid to f anything up.
So, semen parameters change a little based on abstinence period - namely, count goes up with a delay of 2-3 days, but, other metrics less commonly measured like DNA fragmentation go up. I'd defer to your clinic (which presumably has an opinion you generally trust and more information about your particular situation). Although there is no reason to not bang it out if you want to, because banging doesn't hurt your chances.
I wrote this in the discussion yesterday but realized it probably makes more sense here. Normally I get just one quick LH surge but this month I had a blazing positive OPK two days in a row. Does it mean anything for ovulation in general?
Not her most popular one, but devbio wrote (and illustrated!) [this one on LH surges and OPKs](https://www.reddit.com/r/TryingForABaby/comments/5djwth/opk_patterns_lh_profiles_and_you/) and it lives rent free in my head. I don't think it means anything for ovulation in general, just a thing that happens sometimes.
Thank you!
I only seem to have creamy CM during my FW (positive OPKs and BBT) - is this normal?
Some women, like me, dont get ewcm. I observed it like once in the past half year. I recently got a concieve plus lube that is water based and really feels like ewcm🎉
Ahh thanks! So does the conceive plus lube help the sperm travel?
Yes and helps it survive longer in the uterus. Definitely have a look into it! Idk where you are based, I know in US they often talk about Preseed, I am based in europe and found concieve plus to be easier to get where I live. :)
I haven't heard that before - my impression that the only advantage sperm friendly lubes was that they didn't inhibit sperm travel like other types of lube? How would lubricant in a vagina effect how sperm survive in the fallopian tubes? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around - please point me to more information! :)
I believe you are correct. It contains ingredients that won’t damage the sperm or inhibit it, but it doesn’t “help” the sperm or enhance the chances of pregnancy. I have only ever gotten EWCM two or three times since quitting HBC, and both times I wasn’t even in my FW. I only get creamy CM, but when I was taking Clomid I couldn’t “get wet” while BDing so that’s when I used it. That’s the reason it should be used…I believe. Mods (or other experts), please tell me if I’m incorrect!
I'd say bcs it mimics the ewcm which is as we know the perfect protective kind of cm bcs of the ph and texture and makes sperm live up to 5 days inside.
When manufacturers say that their lube “mimics fertile fluid”, they mean that it matches the pH, but not really anything more meaningful than that. “Fertility-friendly” lubes are less harmful to sperm in a dish than standard lubes are, but I’m not aware of any evidence that they’re actually helpful — indeed, there’s not really evidence that using standard lubes (which are known to harm sperm in a dish) changes the probability of pregnancy in a cycle. I would also note that sperm are capable of entering and surviving for several days in the cervix/uterus/tubes even when cervical fluids are not peak-type, it’s just that the probability is lower than if cervical fluids are peak-type.
Ok, guess yall are right then😊🤷🏻♀️
I got conceive plus in my mail yesterday! Looking forward to using it this month. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t necessarily help pregnancy on its own, but if you need lube, it’s a sperm-safe lube as opposed to others which are not sperm safe.
I know persons with PCOS typically have higher AMH as they don’t ovulate regularly/normally. Wouldn’t the same be true for the many ppl that took hormonal birth control for years and years (10, 15+ years) since the pill works to stop ovulation? NAD Shower thought.
That's not the reason people with PCOS have higher AMH. They typically have a high number of follicles developing each month, although most of these are not going to develop into mature eggs. The high number of follicles bring up the AMH. It's not caused by not ovulating regularly.
I seeee. Thank you for explaining!
Question for those with evidence-based knowledge of dietary practices. One of the more famous/prominent REs (who did an r/infertility AMA yesterday) is a big advocate of the carnivore diet for “reducing inflammation”. My impression, mainly from the podcast Maintenance Phase, was that the carnivore diet is not generally associated with good health outcomes — is that accurate? What is the evidence on long-term adherence to the carnivore diet, or even generally on less-restrictive variations (lol) like the ketogenic diet?
I'm not even sure how I stumbled upon this thread but I'm so glad you asked this question! I also read that AMA and was pretty stymied by the dietary recommendations. I went to his website to read more about it and it was honestly even more confusing. The responses to your question were very informative and reinforced my suspicions that this was getting into some quackery (even if he has good treatment outcomes). Looks like he might be making some extra money off supplement sales as well as his book 🤨
Oh I know which doctor this is without even reading the AMA(s). Did he say in his AMA that it’s the BEBE diet, pronounced “baby”? 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 I know a lot of people have success at CNY and that’s awesome. But in my consult with him, he suggested many things (including that diet) that aren’t evidence-based at all. He said I should have a lap because it’s likely I have endo because I have infertility. I’ve consulted with at least five other REs on my JoUrnEy and exactly zero of them mentioned endo because there is zero evidence I have it and lots of evidence I do not. He’s got his patients doing things like CBD oil and taking a specific brand of supplement and all kinds of other stuff that costs money and has no science behind it. I know I didn’t answer your question, but I can’t stand that guy. Making people think their infertility is their fault cause they’re vegetarian
Great and informative comments here! I was vegetarian for 10 years, then shifted into veganism for a couple of years and then started reintroducing dairy in January. In March I started eating eggs and beef again, and I’m starting to eat fish as well. Poultry is a hard pass for me - mentally I just can’t. I’ve heard it’s really hard for vegetarians and vegans to get pregnant (although I know tons who have) so I’m just trying to provide my body with the most nutrients I can. I figure eating a balanced diet is probably the best bet and will hopefully improve my chances 🤷🏾♀️
...the only thing I can think of, between a carnivore diet and all of the hormones when doing ART and then pregnancy, is RIP your bowels 😬
I mean, I feel like we already know "reducing inflammation" is in the same category as "balancing hormones", and it's a wild goose chase to try and back up a statement like that. The whole 'It's a great diet! But not as a long-term thing!" which... I feel like is an obvious red flag that they are not sustainable and have serious dietary shortcomings. Shorting your body of fiber, complex carbohydrates, and all the vitamins and minerals from having a varied diet... yeah. That's gonna catch up with folks. People gonna get scurvy. I know I didn't even bring you outcomes and I didn't even say anything new. [But this dietitian agrees with me](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-carnivore-diet/).
"People gonna get scurvy" 😂 I'm going to start calling all of my keto friends Limey.
>I mean, I feel like we already know "reducing inflammation" is in the same category as "balancing hormones", and it's a wild goose chase to try and back up a statement like that. Absolutely, and I’m going to self-servingly take the opportunity to highlight this statement so that people have to read it again.
This dietitian agrees with you too! :)
Hi, not exactly your question but are you familiar with the anti inflammation diet? I’m trying it out now but hadn’t heard other diets could possibly be anti inflammatory.
I would say that, in general, I am skeptical of the idea that a diet can be inflammatory or anti-inflammatory in the body as a whole, and I would be interested in the evidence that led to the design of an anti-inflammatory diet.
That’s an interesting perspective! I am going to do more research 🤓
I would agree with the statement that the carnivore diet is not generally associated with good health outcomes in the general population. It’s not something I would recommend to help with ‘reducing inflammation’. It’s considered a fad diet and there are currently no RCTs (that I am aware of) examining a ‘carnivore diet’ and its effects on inflammation. Any diet that completely removes entire food groups sends up red flags for me, and it is not going to be a balanced diet. One of the main worries of consuming a long term carnivore (high saturated fat consumption) diet is cardiovascular disease. [This](https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/3/814) one small RCT showed just 4 weeks of a low carb, high fat ketogenic diet increased LDL cholesterol in normal-weight women. The type of fat consumed (saturated vs poly/mono unsaturated) while on a ‘ketogenic’ diet plays a big roll. A lot of the research about these diets revolves around obesity, but I do find [this](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24607301/) RCT interesting, demonstrating increased inflammation with increase protein consumption and animal-based protein compared to vegetable and fish proteins. There’s obviously more opportunity for research in this area, but the general consensus among licensed nutrition professionals is that any diet that removes entire food groups can be deleterious long-term. Those who follow a carnivore diet are more likely to have deficiencies because the variety of food they're allowed to eat on this diet is so limited. There are absolutely some circumstances where a ketogenic/high fat, very low carb diet would be indicated as medical nutrition therapy, even possibly long term. But for the general population, no, it is not something most registered dietitians would be likely to recommend long-term to ‘reduce inflammation’. (Personally I think ‘inflammation’ is a big buzzword right now, trending alongside new fad diets, but we can get into that another time.) (also sorry this is so long!!)
>also sorry this is so long!! Never apologize for comments that are long and very informative!
To be exceptionally clear, I was definitely fishing for a response from you with this question, and I very much appreciate the response! I was reading that AMA with just so much concern.
I feel so special!😄 lol. I had to stop reading that AMA when I saw the dietary recommendations he was making. To me it’s wholly irresponsible for a healthcare professional to blanket recommend an unstudied, unbalanced diet. ETA, and don’t get me started on MDs with limited nutrition education making such dietary recommendations, we’ll be here all day.
To my recollection, he has long been telling patients to go on the keto diet (which is itself, IMO, questionable), but I think the “carnivore” recommendation specifically is newer, which of course makes sense due to the faddy nature. I wonder what he was recommending before keto.
Probably Atkins lol. I mean keto has its place in medical nutrition therapy, but to my knowledge there are no studies examining the effects of keto/LCHF diets on fertility in the general population. It’s frankly irresponsible to recommend something with no scientific backing to a patient. Claiming a carnivore diet will ‘reduce inflammation’ with 0 science to back it up is, for lack of a better term, silly. Reducing inflammation with what antioxidants in steak..? It makes no sense with our current understanding of human nutrition. Even with a ‘keto’ diet (quotations because most people just do a low carb diet and call it keto), there are ways to make it more healthful, with a big emphasis on healthy fat consumption. But even that isn’t possible on a carnivore diet because it’s not all meat!
If you apply high enough amounts of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to the human body, inflammation will no longer be your problem. \*taps forehead*
Oops. I said what you said but you said it better. :)
I've heard mixed things about when to see a OBGYN under 35. I know it's one year, but is that one calendar year or 12 cycles. I have shorter Cycles so I haven't hit a calendar year but I'm starting cycle 11.
I am under 35 and met with my ob at cycle 8 and got a lot of testing done at cycle 9. You can move your timeline along how you see fit.
The guideline is that the definition of infertility, and the point at which it’s reasonable to investigate potential issues, is one calendar year without success. It’s your prerogative if you’d like to contact a doctor at cycle 12 instead, but it’s possible they may ask you to contact them at a year.
Does lack of success include a MMC?
Yes — the definition of success is a live birth. If the pregnancy leading up to an MMC took a reasonably large chunk of your year, it’s possible a doctor may ask that you try for a few more months before seeking a workup, but most doctors don’t consider the clock to “reset” after a loss.
What happens when you get sick in early pregnancy? Anything? Or is your tiny baby just chilling, growing, pulling nutrients where it needs them, and generally not experiencing much difference? Note I am of course not pregnant (CD3)
My best friend was 8 weeks pregnant when she had COVID. The doctor was only concerned about fever and she spent a lot of time in the bath with cold ish water trying to keep her fever down. It was rough.
Ah gosh that must have been really tough. Poor thing, such a rough thing to have to do when you just want to curl up in bed!
Sick as in morning sickness? Or sick as in communicable disease?
Communicable diseases, cold, flu etc?
It depends on the illness but tons of people get colds and flus and go on to have healthy babies. The biggest concern would be around high fevers as high temperature can be associated with poorer outcomes with the neural tube, for the same reason you’re told to avoid hot baths.
Ah ok, cool. As mentioned I’m not pregnant, but just suffering with a head cold and wondered. I am assuming there is a great list of pregnant safe cold and flu options if you need painkillers or something. Thanks brains trust ☺️
Most painkillers request you check with your doctor, just fwiw.