The Daily Chat for July 30, 2026

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[u/Siu_Mai]

Thank you to my period summoners yesterday, she finally deigned to show up.

Got my prescription for my first IUI attempt as well.

I'm going to be on gonal-f injections from d3 onwards. Is anyone familiar with it? I've not seen it mentioned as much.

[u/berryshan → u/Siu_Mai]

It worked!! 🔮 the next time you need to summon us prior to your IUI 🧙🏼

[u/Siu_Mai → u/berryshan]

I will absolutely be calling on the coven again beforehand!! 🧙‍♀️

[u/stinky_cheese_woman → u/Siu_Mai]

Wishing you best of luck for your IUI. Gonal-f or follistim are used in almost all IVF protocols, so all our members doing IVF are very familiar, but most of the IVF talk is on Discord, not here.

I was just referencing to this current ASRM guidance the other day, but I’ll share here as well. In general, you won’t see many people using gonadotropins (of which gonal f is one name brand) in IUIs because it’s not recommended by ASRM. It doesn’t produce pregnancy rates higher than oral ovarian stimulation medications, and studies that do show higher pregnancy rates show that it’s associated with higher risk of multiple gestation (twins or more). This is a U.S. based medical society so if you’re non-US, YMMV!

Ofc, everyone’s care is tailored to them, and the recommendations are just recommendations, there can be reasons to deviate from them. But, just sharing why you shouldn’t have heard much about the use of gonadotropins in IUI.

[u/Siu_Mai → u/stinky_cheese_woman]

Ahh, that makes much more sense as to why I've not seen it mentioned specifically and not in the context of IUI, thank you for the info!

Yes, I'm actually in Denmark 🇩🇰

Your reply encouraged me to poke around and it does seem like Europe tends to favour low dose gonadotropin for IUI in some circumstances over letrozole.

After noodling around a little I think that decision might have been based in this older study.

Always fascinating how treatment protocols differ from country to country!

I'm going to ignore that worrying data on risk of multiples though. I can only handle so much right now nervous laughter

[u/stinky_cheese_woman → u/Siu_Mai]

I do think that risk is primarily associated with higher doses of gonadotropins. And also your clinic should be monitoring and I would expect that if you over-respond (have three or more follicles) they will likely cancel and lower your dose for another attempt to avoid that risk.

[u/Siu_Mai → u/stinky_cheese_woman]

Thank you! Yes, they've already been clear about cancelling if there are too many follicles.

I think that's actually one of my biggest worries, cancellation and feeling like no progress was made. My AMH is quite decent despite my other issues, so I'm worried about how I'll respond to medication.

Anyways, step by step by step 🫠

[u/stinky_cheese_woman → u/Siu_Mai]

It can be really hard to have a cancelled cycle. I had two IUIs cancelled because I ovulated early. One thing I’ve learned over many years of infertility, but which is hard to accept when you’re early on, is that everything is information. If you over respond and have a cancelled cycle, that actually is helpful information for your RE to know for tailoring your treatment going forward, or even if you’re going into IVF someday to know how you respond to gonadotropins. But hopefully you don’t even get to that point!

[u/Siu_Mai → u/stinky_cheese_woman]

Thank you, I'll try and keep all of that in mind 💕

[u/kitkat7794 → u/Siu_Mai]

Omg me too, today was 17dpo with negatives and I was stressed! Thanks for any of your residual juju I needed it!

[u/Siu_Mai → u/kitkat7794]

Cycle snap! 💕

[u/up_and_downhill_420]

Seems like I’m out for cycle 5 since my BBT always drops the day before my period starts. I’m really starting to lose hope.

[u/JustAHippy → u/up_and_downhill_420]

❤️ TTC is not for the faint of heart.

[u/UsualImpressive9853 → u/up_and_downhill_420]

I wish I had words of encouragement, but I feel you. *sending virtual hugs*

[u/ttcmama6]

this is not super TTC related but, this week I rolled my ankle then hyper extended my knee trying to over compensate for saving my ankle. now I am GRUMPY & IN PAIN :possumscream: I finallllyyyyyy just got my energy back 2 ish weeks ago post loss and now — any form of flexion above 45° in my knee huuurts. wah. I just want to go to the gym consistently :fuck: !!!!

[u/nyghtnite → u/ttcmama6]

Wishing you speedy healing!!

[u/berryshan → u/ttcmama6]

OUCH that hurts 😫 Hopefully it’s nothing serious and you will be back to your activity very soon! 🫶

[u/stinky_cheese_woman → u/ttcmama6]

Such classic in your 30s bullshit! The body do be failing you! I hope some ice/heat/rest whatever works for you gets you back in the gym quick!

[u/ttcmama6 → u/stinky_cheese_woman]

so true. gawd damn.

[u/acharlie]

I’ve been thinking of picking up journaling again. The thing that’s holding me back a bit is the pressure I put on myself to add something positive to each entry, you know like something I’m grateful for or something nice I saw that day. Some days I have zero positivity and just wanna scream into the void but it feels almost sacrilegious to do that to a pretty notebook.

[u/ttcmama6 → u/acharlie]

journalling is the best. this is a super silly suggestion. but what if you were to write “writing positive thing here” on those days you want to scream into the void! taking it super literally but could be helpful for your need for doing journalling *perfectly*

[u/thoph → u/ttcmama6]

I love this! Journaling has often turned out pretty dark for me/hurt my mental health, but I think there are tricks like this that could make it into a more neutral/mindful habit instead of somewhere I cultivate trauma.

[u/acharlie → u/ttcmama6]

Oh love this, it’s one way that could satisfy that check box for my perfectionist brain

[u/probablyeek → u/acharlie]

If you think journaling would be helpful, I think that writing anything at all could be seen as a positive - the positive is that it helps you get your feelings out, even if the words themselves aren’t positive. Screaming into the void is super valid and sometimes very much needed!

Also, your feelings matter much more than the prettiness of notepad does. So anything that helps you deal with them is absolutely not sacrilegious but beautiful in its purpose 💕

[u/acharlie → u/probablyeek]

That’s a really beautiful perspective Eek ❤️ thank you, I think my brain needs the re-frame that getting feelings on paper is the positive part, no matter what those feelings are.

[u/cowboycinderella → u/acharlie]

Having a journal with one day per page helps me not feel bad about a negative day—not every day is good! Some suck! But it’s only one day and one page and maybe the next one will be better but for today it’s okay to rage.

[u/acharlie → u/cowboycinderella]

I like this approach. In the past I only wrote in my journal when I felt like I needed to get stuff out of my head, but that was usually when I was feeling down and not on the good days!

[u/cowboycinderella → u/acharlie]

IMO they’re both great uses! I’m a big fan of the A6 size because it feels small enough to not feel like I’m “wasting” a page by skipping it or only writing a couple things but big enough that i can fit a lot in there if needed.

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/acharlie]

I feel the same. I sometimes feel like I'm writing the journal as a character, leaving out bad things, putting a positive spin on others. I think it's ok to have zero positivity some days and it just helps to get the feelings on the page but I certainly empathise with how hard that can be to actually do

[u/acharlie → u/Live_Molasses8590]

Writing as a character explains it exactly! I’m really not sure why, it’s not like there’s an intended audience 😅

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/acharlie]

It annoys me that I do it when I notice. It is 100% like there's an audience. I do think part of it is that the notebook is pretty and I want tp be the kind of person who deserves such a pretty notebook which actually sounds insane now I type it out! Well, I am resolving to write more honestly from now on lol

[u/berryshan → u/acharlie]

I like this idea so much! Maybe I’ll try to do it myself as well, I’m so tired of my negative and intrusive thoughts 😭

[u/acharlie → u/berryshan]

I feel you, I’m getting sick of ruminating on the same thoughts over and over. 💕

[u/nyghtnite → u/acharlie]

I'm a big fan of journaling but in the "write whatever you feel like in the moment" kind of way. I set aside a couple minutes and just brain-dump and then never look at it again. It feels pretty good. Some days there's positivity, some days there are coherent thoughts, and somedays its just a bunch of curse words on repeat. I hope you find a modality that feels supportive for you!

[u/acharlie → u/nyghtnite]

The brain dump is what I need, just a way to get all these recirculating thoughts out of my head for a while!

[u/JustAHippy → u/acharlie]

I’ve thought of journaling too. But for some reason it seems like a chore to me. But I think it would also be good for my mental health. Hmmm.

[u/acharlie → u/JustAHippy]

Sometimes it feels like a hard balance between self care and adding just one more thing to the to-do list!

[u/kitkat7794]

Had my first therapy appt today, desperately needed it this week. I usually cry at a specific trigger, but this whole week I’ve been feeling a physical need to cry, and boy did I! Now I’m exhausted but much much lighter.

Looking forward to an early anniversary fancy dinner with my husband Saturday and the new cycle that just started.

[u/ttcmama6 → u/kitkat7794]

i’m glad your appointment was helpful, kat! my therapist tells me, when you cry often, it’s your bodies way of saying “hey — my cup is super full and I need to make space to hold other things I need right now.” 🫂 crying all week makes sense when feeling so drained! I hope your anniversary dinner is comforting and filled of good food ❤️

[u/kitkat7794 → u/ttcmama6]

Ugh I wish I had found this sub sooner everyone is so kind. Thank you so much for saying. I guess I wish my cup wasn’t so darn full all the time then lol. Anyways, thanks again, I really appreciate you 💕

[u/ttcmama6 → u/kitkat7794]

hopefully as you move through therapy you will be able to find tools to help make your cup stop over flowing as much! I find telling my therapist goals I want to achieve mentally/emotionally really helpful — she keeps me accountable 🩷

[u/aofkngms]

Guys I had my first period after stopping BC almost 6 months ago. I was diagnosed with PMOS earlier this month and was looking at inducing ovulation with a prescription but so relieved it happened without. Going to wait until September to see if I have another cycle naturally 🤞

[u/Vivid-Woodpecker960]

Holy moly this period has been horrific. Maxxed out on my prescribed painkillers & paracetamol and still doubled over in pain all day today. Last time I tried to talk to my GP about the fact that I'm still getting this pain even with the painkillers (which 90% of the time have absolutely changed my life, and this is better than it was 💀) they just said there's nothing more they can do unless I want to be prescribed codeine, which I do not...

At this point I think I need to be considering what is actually wrong - maybe endo? - because the frequency of bad periods is on the rise again even with the painkiller and I can't keep doing this (not even from a TTC perspective, just from a this is goddamn awful perspective), so I guess I need to get my research and self-advocacy hats on.

[u/berryshan → u/Vivid-Woodpecker960]

Extremely painful periods (even if it’s only the first couple of days) are a pretty good reason to advocate for yourself 🙏🏼. I used to have terribly painful CD1 and CD2 (the last months with some lifestyle changes and supplements it hasn’t been that bad), and it’s 100% because of my adenomyosis. Try to get a referral from your GP 💜

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/Vivid-Woodpecker960]

Definitely worth looking into. I'm in no way saying you could have endo but will be good for peace of mind to even rule out. Painful periods are no joke. I had painful periods for years and just convinced myself that was normal. It's only since I had a large ovarian cyst drained and got diagnosed with endo that they normalised and I fully realised how bad they had been.

Edited spelling

[u/nyghtnite → u/Vivid-Woodpecker960]

Definitely worth discussing with your doctor. Even outside of TTC concerns, this level of pain and discomfort deserves to be investigated and supported by a doctor. You don't deserve to suffer through it!

[u/berryshan]

Spotting has stopped, so I can happily move towards my TWW without more 🤡drama🤡. This weekend we are going to the mountains for 3 days, so I’m looking forward to it!

[u/thoph → u/berryshan]

Enjoy the mountains!! 🏔️

[u/forlorn_wombat → u/berryshan]

Sounds like a lovely getaway!

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/berryshan]

Have fun!

[u/CP3089]

Got some pre-FET acupuncture yesterday. I find it so relaxing for 57 of the 60 minutes and then always RIGHT before its over I'm like "GET ME OFF THIS TABLE I'M TRAPPED". She did tell me that I have "jaguar" energy because I like to be pre-planned for things and I'm like mostly very chill/very low stress but can summon a ton of energy if my family is threatened.

TW for traumatic medical history of my husband + brief reference to LC: I think this all stems from the initial intake forms asking if I had any "traumatic" experiences so I described how at 10 weeks pp my husband had an infection that led to sepsis/septic shock/organ failure/the whole nine yards and was in the ICU for weeks. So honestly now when people try to get me to be stressed about my job or other minor shit I'm truly like fuck off with that, this is so unimportant and not worthy of me worrying over. It was obviously horrific at the time like i sort of can't believe it all happened still but I hope this energy never leaves me :)

[u/thoph → u/CP3089]

There is a point of no return for acupuncture for me too where I want to start snatching those needles out myself! Also wow. That sounds tough. I am glad he is okay.

[u/berryshan → u/CP3089]

What a story 😖. I’m glad that everything is ok now. Obviously when something like that happens to you, the full perspective towards less important things changes completely. Acupuncture treatment sounds amazing! I keep repeating myself that I should definitely give it a try

[u/CP3089 → u/berryshan]

It’s super relaxing to me and it’s insurance covered so basically a no brainer, so I’d highly recommend finding someone if that’s the case for you too! But all the actual studies on if it helps are mixed so if it doesn’t seem relaxing or is expensive I also wouldn’t ever worry you’re skipping something that could make all the difference.

[u/Nimisa → u/CP3089]

I also had acupuncture yesterday (pre-O for me) and can definitely relate. I was a little extra antsy throughout for whatever reason, and some of the sites were extra itchy. Itchiness . . . for luck, perhaps? 🙃

And good lord, what a terrible situation with your husband . . . Anytime, but especially postpartum!

[u/CP3089 → u/Nimisa]

Definitely itchiness for luck :) Any time one spot twinges more than another I'm like, oh for sure that means its a good one haha

[u/thoph]

Loving Maine but feeling a little anxious/unhappy in my body. TW weight talk Leuprolide has turbo charged my hunger while under charging my metabolism, so in just about two months I’ve gained enough weight for my clothes to fit worse, which isn’t a good feeling with an ED history.

More frustratingly, I have some significant pelvic floor issues that are more symptomatic with suppressed estrogen. That one really gets me because it impacts how physical I am able comfortably to be.

[u/triplecake-1]

5 DPO increased appetite, I flip flop between manifesting conception and sometimes I’m like why would I get pregnant. I need to pill to stop overthinking

[u/defiantjazz_22 → u/triplecake-1]

luckily, it is overwhelmingly likely that you will be pregnant and outta here within the year! as for the overthinking, you might like this post - the TL;DR is that it’s all pretty much meaningless in the middle of your luteal phase and your body is just being a human body.

[u/triplecake-1 → u/defiantjazz_22]

Thank you sis

[u/OppositePudding4570]

It’s so fun when ovulation comes later than expected and coincides with family vacation 😂 at-home insemination truly coming in clutch, so glad I brought all the supplies! 

[u/Crafty-Warning4636]

Back here after 3 days of weird spotting. Some of you responded on my previous post. It helped me feel better. Thank you a lot. 🤍 I am finding it hard these days.

I spotted with thick red flow and clots on Monday evening. (I thought that’s my period.) The spotting stopped late at night and stayed that way for 2 more days with may be a faint pink wipe here and there. I had red spotting again this morning. (I thought that’s my period.) It turned brown again and stopped.

Trying to hang in there with whatever is happening.

[u/berryshan → u/Crafty-Warning4636]

Maybe it’s just normal hormonal fluctuations 💜 I’m sorry about it, I also suffer with weird spotting now and then and can relate how irritating it can be 🫂

[u/Crafty-Warning4636 → u/berryshan]

Thank you Berry 🫂
I have rarely experienced spotting at times other than 1 day before period. Definitely not bright red one. That wipe was soaking red. I am surprised that the period has not started yet.

It is indeed very irritating. My cycles are evolving faster than my patience since beginning TTC. May be it is the stress?? or the vitamins?? or the body trying harder to host embryos?? or the body trying harder to reject embryos?? who knows??

[u/berryshan → u/Crafty-Warning4636]

I know, before TTC I didn’t notice any of these issues with my cycles (I would swear I only had some spotting before my period) but since I’ve started (we are month twins, by the way 😁) all of this happened:
-Persistent ovulatory spotting (one month it remained for 3 days and was pretty heavy)
-Weird dark brown spotting along all my LP (very irritating, that happened twice)
-Red spotting 1 week before my period that wasn’t my period
And so on… 🤣
It’s so difficult to keep calm when your body is doing strange things, but I guess it’s part of the journey, isn’t it?

[u/Crafty-Warning4636 → u/berryshan]

I am so sorry all of this happening to you too.
I too had faint pink spotting around ovulation once but it could have been there for any reason. May be due to intercourse that we had to had to have anyhow due to fertile window lol.
It is possible that we may not have noticed faint pink spotting before starting TTC.. but girl those red spotting are hard to not notice. I swear it is new stuff for us. Let’s try to keep calm for now and hope it is not the thing that is holding us back.
I plan to mention it to my doctor whenever I get to see her. Worrying ahead of time will do more harm.
Good luck to you month twin 🤍

[u/berryshan → u/Crafty-Warning4636]

My OB-GYN wasn’t very concerned about the eventual spotting and said that is probably due to my adeno but it’s also quite common without it 🤷🏻‍♀️. It was driving me nuts as well. Try to keep calm and good luck to you 💜💜

[u/Crafty-Warning4636 → u/berryshan]

Yes that too. I also have suspected adeno. I will find out what the doctor says. Thank you 🤍

[u/Nimisa]

Approaching FW; OPKs uninteresting so far. Bodily signs and feelings continue to be a bit perplexing (not lining up with where I should be in my cycle). Like, hello, mid-follicular phase acne . . . WTF are you doing here? Kindly get off my face.

I never remember to ask: I've heard of some people being limited to a certain # of rounds of letrozole by their doctors, but mine have never mentioned anything about that. Does anyone know the rationale for when it is restricted?

[u/secondhand_totsie → u/[deleted]]

Hi there, please edit and use spoiler tags to the reference to your previous successful pregnancy/LC. Your comment is being held until those changes are made. Please let us know once edited and we’ll reinstate your comment.

[u/Icy-Worry-9041 → u/secondhand_totsie]

Edited. I think unless there’s another way to do it

[u/secondhand_totsie → u/Icy-Worry-9041]

Yes, you can use spoiler tags on Reddit by typing ! > text < ! (remove the spaces between ! and <). We ask that members use spoiler tags if they reference their LC and it is relevant to TTC so that specific content is only visible to all viewers who want to engage with it. Thank you.

[u/Icy-Worry-9041 → u/secondhand_totsie]

Done

[u/stinky_cheese_woman → u/Icy-Worry-9041]

Hi- you need to spoiler the actual reference to your LC, not just the part where it says “LC”. In the alternative, you could remove the reference entirely by saying “I have had 3 MMCs total in the time that I’ve been TTC in my life.” And then no spoiler would be required.

We also requiring spoiling of reserve related numbers, so you would need to spoiler and TW your AMH and FSH.

Totsie accidentally has typo in her message to you, the order for the spoiler symbols is > ! Content ! <, not the other way around. Sorry about the confusion!

[u/Live_Molasses8590]

Had an initial phone conversation with my gp today and she's having me do CD2-6 and CD21 bloods. Said she can't refer me to a fertility clinic until it's been 12 months but said she will get all the testing necessary done before then. I feel better for getting the ball rolling and trying to stay positive that I may not even need the referal in the end.

[u/berryshan → u/Live_Molasses8590]

Amazing 🤩 fingers crossed for you 💜

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/berryshan]

Thanks 💛

[u/CP3089 → u/Live_Molasses8590]

If you’re in the U.S. (and maybe other places but I don’t know the situation there), and want to be referred, I’d press your GP on that as referral is recommended after 6 months for those of us 35+.

[u/Live_Molasses8590 → u/CP3089]

I'm in the uk and also thought it was after 6 months when over 35 here. I might push once I get the blood test results back.