QuestionQUESTION: Hi there, i hope i am in the right category!:) i have been practicing NFP for close to 5 years. to avoid getting pregnant. I have been off the pill that long as well. I get my period every 29 days, so i know to avoid intercourse on day 10,11,12,13,14. and its worked. Now my husband are going to try to get pregnant starting next month. Do you know when my most fertile day is? I know the egg can only survive for 48 hours, and sperm can live for 5 days right? how do i know which day my egg is being released? and am i right on which days i am ovalating? i can feel a slight pain when i am ovalation and i do get mucas discharge as well those days. Is day 14 the most fertile? Thank you for your advice, and i look forward to hear from you!
ANSWER: So, to reverse the process you pick those days to have intercourse. However, the egg only lives 24 hours, sperm can live 5-7 days under ideal conditions (ovulation mucus is an ideal condition).
I have a concern though since you mention that your cycles are 29 days long. It may indicate that you have a short post-leutal phase, which is the phase after ovulation. If that phase is not 12-14 days long, it is nearly impossible to get pregnant or to sustain a pregnancy. The progesterone hormone doesn't have enough time to rev up to keep you pregnant.
It doesn't sound like you've been using your temperature sign to do your NFP charting or tracking, and that would be very helpful here to know how long your post-leutal phase is. And to confirm if you are ovulating.
I would recommend that you begin to take your basal temperature at the same time in the morning before you get up out of the bed. It doesn't take long. Then you need to record it on a special graph (you can find the graphs online at various websites) and watch to see what the pattern is.
I had this same problem and didn't get pregnant for a long time but I started taking Vitamin B6 and it all changed and I had three pregnancies, 3 children after that.
I recommend this website for information: www.ccli.org
Let me know if you need more help or information.
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QUESTION: my heart sank when i read your reply! i was thinking since i am so regular, never late, always on day 29 my period comes, it would be easier. Help me understand why having a 29 day cycle is negative for pregnancy? is a normal cycle 28? I read info on checking temp, how does that really help? don't you typically ovulate 10 days later and it last through day 14? should i start taking vitamin B6 now? i always thought i was ovulating, i can feel it, i get a slight little pain in my ovary and i do get very mucasy typically closer to day 14. i will buy a digital thermonitar and start tracking, i am due to get my period August 3rd. Should i start tracking after i get period? do i track on day 1 of my cycle? all your info is very helpful! thank you
AnswerI just remember my experience and what I read about infertility and PMS (I was mostly concerned about the PMS when I did the research). My cycles were 29 days and I was taking my temperature and I was ovulating (as I recall - this was all 29 years ago!)
Start charting your temperatures with your first day of your period. It certainly won't hurt to start taking Vit B6 - I took 1000 mg because I thought I had the worst case of PMS in the world (very subjective) and there were no side effects, except that the PMS stopped instantly.
The concern is for the progesterone level to have enough time to build up and for whatever reason, if the post-leutal phase is too short it doesn't happen. Miscarriages occur because of low progesterone levels, too.
So, with your temperature, you want to notice the rise in temperature around the time of ovulation - it has to be at least .4 degrees above the average of the previous levels (before ovulation) and it has to stay up at that level until your period starts. This will give you good information in case you don't get pregnant soon. You can show your charts to your doctor for his/her evaluation.
It is possible that you won't have any trouble getting pregnant but more information is better than less, I always say. The more you have now the better prepared you will be when the baby is born to resume NFP for spacing your next child.
Omega-3 from fish oil or flaxseed is also a really good supplement to be taking and it is a good idea to start taking a good pre-natal vitamin while you are trying to get pregnant.
Let me know if this helps and if you need anymore information.
