This forum for BFP stories helped me get through our tough time and I knew I would share our good news when it happened. I am 31 and DH is 33.
I came off birth control in Dec 2015. We weren't trying to conceive at the time but we were hoping it would happen by chance. In Aug 2016, we moved places for easier commute to our jobs and to be closer to our families. I had always told DH that I wanted to live close to my parents when we started our family.
Unfortunately it wasn't the easy process we had hoped for. At the end of Aug 2016, we started to actively ttc. I started using ovulation tests to track ovulation and after 2 months of tracking, I noticed that my luteal phase was only 10-11 days. My luteal phase defect was likely due to excessive estrogen since I had used Evra patch for birth control. To help correct my luteal phase, I used DIM supplement for 4 months in addition to taking prenatal vitamins, B6 and coenzyme q10 and DH took multivitamin, zine and coenzyme q10.
By Dec 2016, my luteal phase was consistently 13-14 days but since we still were not successful, I started tracking my temperature and confirmed that I was ovulating every month and although my luteal phase was consistent, my cycles were varying from 29-36 days. We also started to use Pre-seed each time we BD at ovulation.
By April 2017, we decided we wanted to see a specialist as we had been off birth control for over a year and still no luck. We got an appointment for early June 2017 and the doctor told me I likely had mild PCOS since my cycles were not regular and started me on cycle monitoring and did a sperm check for DH. He also told us not to use Pre-seed and to spend more time on foreplay instead.
Through cycle monitoring, we found out that all was well (tubes, egg development, uterus) and my DH's sperm was normal in number and motility. We were relieved but the cycle that was being monitored was was very long. Through the monitoring, we were told to BD CD 22-25 (I also found that I had strong positive ovulation tests and +++ewcm). At CD 28, I had bloodwork done and was told my progesterone was 47.3 (anything over 30 is good). At CD 35, I had bloodwork to test me for pregnancy and they called me to come in because my hcg level was 17 (anything over 5 is positive)!
DPO 1-DPO 5: no symptoms except for temperature rise
DPO 6: pink spotting, sharp shooting breast pain
DPO 7: very sore nipples and sharp shooting breast pain
DPO 8-10: very sore nipples
DPO 11: sore nipples; hcg level 17 and I tested with easy@home hcg test for faint positive and FRER clear +ve
DPO 12-13: slightly darker +ve on hcg test and clearblue digital +ve test with 1-2 weeks indicator (since conception)
DPO 14/day of missed period: brown spotting and darker +ve on hcg test
We are so excited for the months ahead! Babydust to all! Have Faith!