Hi peanut, I'm on cycle 6 of ttc#1 too and I also have 22 day cycles. Mine have been anywhere from 21-25 days, but I seem to be settling on 22 now. I've been using opks from the start, and I just started temping last cycle. Both that along with checking CM confirm that I am in fact Oing. That helped put the fear that I maybe wasn't Oing at all to rest. Temping also helped confirm that my temps stay up throughout my LP, so my progesterone is probably good too.
First, let me say that it's totally normal for it to take 6-12 months to conceive. Even if you're both perfectly healthy, you only have a 15-25% chance (depending on age) each cycle. Your odds are the same each cycle, it's just that with enough flips of the (4+ sided) coin, you should eventually get the BFP side you're hoping for. That being said, if you have concerns you should absolutely talk to your doctor. You know your body and situation better than anyone else and deserve to be heard. I also know and understand all of this but still need a good cry each time AF shows. Numbers are cold and not so comforting.
I tried preseed last cycle. We enjoyed it, and it definitely doesn't hurt. There are a lot of anecdotes of couples getting a BFP with it right away, but that could be coincidental. It's a safe lube to use when ttc, but it's not necessarily a conception tool.
What I've decided to do differently this cycle:
1. Cut back on my glass of wine after a long work day. There is a growing body of evidence that indicates that even moderate drinking (5/week) affects egg quality and time to conceive. There is also evidence that moderate drinking affects sperm quality and motility, so I have asked DH to cut back as well. We're not heavy drinkers, but we do have a glass of wine with dinner most nights.
2. I'm someone who religiously gets up and cleans off to prevent infection after dtd. I used to get UTIs on a regular basis, but I haven't had a single one since starting this routine. Research shows no difference in pg rates in those who lay with hips elevated 30 minutes after BD, BUT I'm now reading that REs generally recommend just staying supine for 5-10 minutes. Sperm are built to get on in there and find the egg regardless, but it can't hurt to give them a head start before you throw gravity into the mix. I've also seen REs recommend positions where you are either supine or prone as there is some evidence that more sperm sticks on back there afterward. We will be trying both this cycle. Again not a guarantee, but can't hurt, and I think I can handle 5 minutes before cleaning off.
