Effective BD timing / too much BD in days prior to ovulation?

[aprilshower]

Last cycle was my first post-m/c ovulation. http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/36398b/

As you can see in my chart, we BD 4 days prior to ovulation + day of ovulation + day after ovulation = for a total 6 days in a row.  I had +opk on day before ovulation.  And I did not conceive, even tho I had a super chart with lots of pregnancy symptoms up until the temp drop :(

When I conceived my m/c baby in October (not sure if you can go to my Oct 16 cycle at the link?), we BD only day before ovulation and day of ovulation.  Also then, I had a +opk on day before ovulation.

When I conceived my #3, we BD every other day only up to the day of my +opk.

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So... I'm thinking that our extreme BD last cycle may have played a part in me not conceiving.  My dh justs us to hurry up and conceive again - so he is very sweet to BD on all of the days I tell him are fertile.  At the same time, he was definitely exhausted by the last few days of BD - which were the most important days :(  My dh works a very high stress job too.  I'm thinking that too much BD plus all of his stress may have decreased the sperm count/quality?

Just wondering what you guys think? 

Should I cut back our BD this cycle to day before ovulation, ovulation day, and day after ovulation?

Thanks so much :)

[Jaimee]

I think it's important to keep in mind that human conception is surprisingly inefficient.  So even if you timed things well and sperm was present at the time of O, I believe there is still only a 20-30% chance of conception for any given cycle.  Not great odds, really!  So I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that your dh has a low sperm count.

However, if you suspect a low sperm count and want to try something different, the recommendation is to first try DTD every 36 hours as soon as you see fertile CF until three days of high temps.  That would be night and then the morning, night, morning, alternating days.  If that still seems like too much or morning time isn't really an option, then I would suggest DTD every other day like you did with your first and also what you suspect to be your most fertile day if you can swing it.  While I don't think that high stress usually diminishes sperm count, it can certainly take away from the fun of TTC, and you don't want to make it a chore.  Generally jobs or hobbies that involve pressure on the crotch (like biking) or higher than normal levels of radiation (pilots, radiologists, etc.) risk a lower sperm count and a higher female sperm count.

[Stevi]

I have read quite a bit about the benefits of BDing every other day for sperm count. I guess it gives the guys time to rebuild their supply. If I had a DH instead of donors, I would go with every other day up until that positive OPK, and then try to BD every day for 3 days in a row (day before O, day of O, and day after O). Oh! And I mean every other day throughout your cycle, I think that helps lessen the "work" feeling of TTC and makes the BDing more what it should be (i.e. fun, and intimate).

[Chloe'sMama]

DH and I tried every other day for  2 years and it didn't work.  Both  months we conceived our DDs, we were doing  it every day.  DH has low quality and quantity bu our best bet is every day.

Also, i think sperm is created many weeks in advance, so the sperm he is making now will make an appearance in a few weeks depending on how much you DTD.

[LisaAdkins20]

I was wondering the same thing. I read that DTD every day should hurt the sperm count, however, if you do it more than once a day it may decrease the count/quality. 

[aprilshower]

Thanks everyone :)  My dh has no known sperm issues, and I think that having all boys (we have 3) is a soft indicator of good sperm quality/quantity.  At the same time, I think we will back down on the BD this cycle to def include day before ov (+opk day for me), day of ov, and day after ov - plus 2 days prior to the expected +opk day. 

Last cycle was so incredibly stressful with all the BD and my extreme need to conceive again right away.  I'm hoping to not be so freaked out about it this time :)