What marks the stages?

[maybebabiesrus]

In your opinion, what marks the stages of TTC? For example, a couple who isn't TTA nor tracking anything could be said to be in the "let's see what happens" stage. Then the more actively TTC couple might track cycles. What else classifies actively TTC to you? I'm wondering at what point you think TTC crosses over into trouble or difficulty. What tests and practices do you consider a normal part of actively TTC vs. symptoms/practices/tests that mark you've crossed over into a new phase of trouble TTC?

I know the official definition of 12 months of trying or 6 months of trying if you're over 35, but I wonder how it feels to you.

[Mushe]

That's a good question! It's funny how different it is to different people.

Someone from my BMB with my son was calling herself TTTC after trying for 9 or so months, but she had no understanding of how her cycle works, and hadn't tried temping or OPKs.

For us, TTC meant actual timed intercourse, using OPKs only. To me, if you're not trying to time it with OPKs and/or temping, it seems like it's just the seeing what happens stage .

[maybebabiesrus]

I have pcos, anovulatory cycles, and no predictability to my cycles, so I'm on my first month of clomid, but I'm still optimistic because this is my first month of treatment, even though it's my 16th month since we stopped TTA.

I feel like I'm living in a weird middle ground between just starting actively TTC based on the fact that most months I didn't even have a predictable cycle or ovulate therefore no timed intercourse vs. trouble TTC based on the fact that I'm doing treatment and started this process 16 months ago.

So I have these newbie questions that feel out of place on TTTC and some serious problems that make hanging out here feel hopeless since there are so many people who are simply in the actively TTC phase but who don't have "trouble."

[shauni27]

I think that you are TTC if you are taking steps to make it work and not just seeing what happens, you know? Even if that just means you are tracking your cycles and paying attention to your body for ovulation, I think that is something.

I am not sure when it crosses over to trouble TTC, to me it feels like that now, but it has only been 9 months. To me, nine months feels like forever, but I am aware it is not.

[achi]

I charted and monitored CM while we TTA for 13 or 14 months. We debated doing the "not trying but not trying to avoid" thing but I'm a type A personality so the wait and see approach does NOT register with me. We jumped right into full on TTC which for us means I temp, observe CM, and use OPKs. I started OPKs in cycle 2 which is when I had my chemical pregnancy.

If I don't get pregnant with a take home baby in 12 months of TTCing then I will consider us TTTC and will be referred to an RE by my GP.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Let's see what happens: Not trying to avoid, but not doing ANYTHING (other than each other) to affect the results
TTC: actively timing sex, temping, or otherwise charting
TTTC: requires medical intervention

Technically, we're probably in the TTTC camp, but since we're going to refuse medical intervention other than testing, as soon as we get CD3 bloodwork and SA results and possibly HSG results, we'll be headed back to the "see what happens" camp. It'll be nice to stop temping.

[daisy]

I considered us as "not preventing" from the time I stopped taking BCP to when I started charting to avoid. The last 7 cycles I was TTA by charting and using OPKs. Next cycle is our first official TTC cycle where we will be actively trying with charting, OPKs, and not avoiding fertile days.

As far as TTTC, I don't know. My doc has told me to come see her after 6 months of actively trying. She knows I've been off BCP for nearly 3 years but I don't think that will put me in the TTTC category at that point.

[achi]

Jul 3, 2014 13:12:29 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Let's see what happens: Not trying to avoid, but not doing ANYTHING (other than each other) to affect the results
TTC: actively timing sex, temping, or otherwise charting
TTTC: requires medical intervention

Technically, we're probably in the TTTC camp, but since we're going to refuse medical intervention other than testing, as soon as we get CD3 bloodwork and SA results and possibly HSG results, we'll be headed back to the "see what happens" camp. It'll be nice to stop temping.

I'm curious why you're planning to refuse medical intervention. Is it a religion thing or something else? You can tell me to piss off if you want, but I'm genuinely curious since everyone approaches TTCing so differently.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Jul 3, 2014 15:20:28 GMT -5 achi said:

Jul 3, 2014 13:12:29 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Let's see what happens: Not trying to avoid, but not doing ANYTHING (other than each other) to affect the results
TTC: actively timing sex, temping, or otherwise charting
TTTC: requires medical intervention

Technically, we're probably in the TTTC camp, but since we're going to refuse medical intervention other than testing, as soon as we get CD3 bloodwork and SA results and possibly HSG results, we'll be headed back to the "see what happens" camp. It'll be nice to stop temping.

I'm curious why you're planning to refuse medical intervention. Is it a religion thing or something else? You can tell me to piss off if you want, but I'm genuinely curious since everyone approaches TTCing so differently.

For us, we decided prior to starting TTC that we would not pursue intervention - either it happens naturally or it doesn't.  There's no religious or anti-medicine slant here.  Just a personal (and financial) decision.  We're both content with either remaining DINKs or pursuing foster/adopt and helping kids who need a family and don't have one.  That's not to say it's the right decision for everyone, though.  Honestly, every month as we've approached the time for testing I've been more and more disappointed that it wasn't happening for us; I can totally see and understand why people do pursue medical intervention, but it's just not the right choice for us.

[achi]

Jul 3, 2014 15:28:27 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Jul 3, 2014 15:20:28 GMT -5 achi said:

I'm curious why you're planning to refuse medical intervention. Is it a religion thing or something else? You can tell me to piss off if you want, but I'm genuinely curious since everyone approaches TTCing so differently.

For us, we decided prior to starting TTC that we would not pursue intervention - either it happens naturally or it doesn't.  There's no religious or anti-medicine slant here.  Just a personal (and financial) decision.  We're both content with either remaining DINKs or pursuing foster/adopt and helping kids who need a family and don't have one.  That's not to say it's the right decision for everyone, though.  Honestly, every month as we've approached the time for testing I've been more and more disappointed that it wasn't happening for us; I can totally see and understand why people do pursue medical intervention, but it's just not the right choice for us.

Thanks for sharing.

[cheeseandcrackers]

I considered it trying when I tracked my ovulation date on my app and we stopped using any sort of protection.

[pink]

DH and will be going straight from blocking to actively TTC (charting, temping, etc). But that's because I'll need to go off of two of my meds and I'd like to minimize that time as much as possible.

[pooh8402]

If you're having unprotected sex, you're TTC.

If you've been having unprotected sex for a year+, you're having trouble TTC. (WHO definition). Btw, this is for women 34 and younger. 35 and older, 6 months+.

If you have diagnosed fertility issues, like our MFI and PCOS, especially combined with unprotected sex for a year+ (or 6 months+ for 35 and older), you're IF.

Just my opinion.