A little confused- please help

So when i told my doctor i was going to start TTC i let her know that my cycle was 30 days. She said - ok then you ovulate on day CD 16 so BD starting one week before every other day. AF came this month on the 1st. I thought i was going to start trying next wednesday - the 9th because that is one week before the 16th- but all the ovulation prediction websites say that i should be trying between the 14th and the 19th.... Im so confused-- can someone help a newbie out?

Re: A little confused- please help

i dont know how the dr. could give an exact CD that you ovulate

Re: A little confused- please help

Nevermind I read the post again and now I'm not sure.

If you have a 30 day cycle, you should start testing with an OPK on CD 13 which would mean you're going to peak within the next couple of days.

I would think you'd want to BD every other day starting CD 13.

I would call your doc and ask her to explain her reasoning for you. We could be missing something.

Message edited 4/3/2008 9:25:25 PM.

Re: A little confused- please help

Your doctor was estimating the day you ovulate based on what a "normal" cycle looks like.

In a textbook cycle the woman has a 28 day cycle and ovulates on day 14. Her period comes 14 days after she's ovulated. But many women do not follow this pattern. Since your cycle is 30 days, the doctor counted backward 14 days and estimated that you would ovulate on day 16.

The second half of a woman's cycle (the luteal phase) can range from about 11 to 16 days (less than 10 days may indicate a progesterone deficiency which is a problem), with an average of 12-14 days, but should remain pretty constant. Your O date can fluctuate depending on lots of factors including stress, illness, travel, etc. So, for example, if your LP is 12 days, you should get your period around 12 days from your O date, no matter when you O.

The websites are just not giving you as wide as a window as your doctor suggested. Since sperm can live inside of you for up to 5 days, it's worth trying earlier than later. If you chart your temperature every morning, it will tell you exactly when you O'd, and if you use OPK's they can give you an indication of when you will O within a few days.

Hope that helps.

Message edited 4/4/2008 6:53:53 AM.

Re: A little confused- please help

Your dr probably meant the 16th day of your cycle...not necessarily the 16th of the month...so if AF came on the 1st you would be Oing approx on the 16th, so yes you would start BD every other day on the 9th.

Online is prob giving you an indication of your most fertile days (the couple of days before and after you O). Your dr is just telling you to start a little sooner to cover your bases.

Message edited 4/4/2008 9:12:51 AM.

Re: A little confused- please help

Thanks so much for the help!!

Re: A little confused- please help

I have a 30 day cycle and actually ovulate on day 12 usually according to fertility sticks.