So I went to my doctor for my second appointment regarding ttc and I brought in my charts to show her. She said that she would honestly be stressed out if she was charting cycles, and that I should consider stopping. She said maybe it could help me get my bfp. I'm assuming she means because I won't be actively watching my cycle day to day and that I could 'relax'....but how do I stop thinking about it? For me, charting fertility signs is something I can't stop. Once I've learned about fertility, it can't be unlearned and my mind won't stop going over it no matter what I do -- whether I chart or not.

What I really find stressful, and what may be holding back my bfp, is seeing AF show up EVERY month, without fail. And no matter how many times I've seen her, I still have hope that she won't show up! I've tried many times to give up the hope, especially after ttc for 15 cycles, but I CAN'T LET IT GO! Maybe I'm going crazy, or maybe having a baby is just something I really want and I can't stop until I get him/her.

When I heard that stress can hamper your ttc efforts, I immediately thought of things like losing your job and having the creditors call; having marital problems that aren't getting better; teenage children constantly acting up at school; more than one close relative dies in a short space of time, etc. I thought seeing AF and charting were, at most, "light" stresses that had little chance of messing with ttc...

What are your thoughts? What stresses you out and do you think it has a real effect on your ttc?

I feel the SAME way, I can stop physically charting but my mind will stay moving/thinking about it....

I'm thinking I will try one cycle of not charting and see how it goes. I doubt it would make much difference, but it's worth a try