Question about fertilization

caseyb · #1 July 8th, 2008, 11:45 AM

I'm having a hard time finding the answer to my question here- maybe you girls have an answer for me.

Let say it's ovulation day for a woman. She has EWCF, and her cervix is high, soft, open. If she has sex and the egg is just being released, or is there waiting, how long will it take for sperm to travel up the cervix to meet the egg. I guess what I'm asking is...can you have sex, and then sperm and egg meet as a result of that sex like an hour later? Or do sperm already need the be there waiting from a day or so before. How quickly can they traverse that distance if all conditions are favorable?
Just curious...trying to envision the whole process.

Anyone? Anyone?

Chatterbox · #2 July 8th, 2008, 11:56 AM

Okay, I don't know how long it actually takes, but I can share my experience. My IUI was scheduled for 48 hours after my trigger, which concerned me because I would have already ovulated. I did, I ovulated really early the morning of my IUI or super late that night before. I was convinced it didn't work and I was just devastated. Go back and read my super emotional posts...lol. It worked. Apparently, the swimmers didn't get lost this time and found their way. Good luck to you.

Tami

caseyb · #3 July 8th, 2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Okay, I don't know how long it actually takes, but I can share my experience. My IUI was scheduled for 48 hours after my trigger, which concerned me because I would have already ovulated. I did, I ovulated really early the morning of my IUI or super late that night before. I was convinced it didn't work and I was just devastated. Go back and read my super emotional posts...lol. It worked. Apparently, the swimmers didn't get lost this time and found their way. Good luck to you.

Tami[/b]

i do remember those posts! LOL! So I guess the little guys can high tail it when they need to. Now if I could just get a positive OPK, I could give them somethign to aim for! Grrr.

Chatterbox · #4 July 8th, 2008, 12:04 PM

Yeah, I'm pretty embarrassed by my super emotionally charged posts. However, if the IUI hadn't worked, we were out indefinitely and the thought of it hurt like you know what. I did a LOT of reading in that time and some REs feel that the timing I had was better. So, I don't know. I guess if you are close to getting a positive OPK, then BD like crazy.

caseyb · #5 July 8th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Don't be embarassed- I think all of us have done some ranting and raving lately

Glad yours had a happy ending though!! You earned it- that's for sure! You had your fair share of odds stacked against you- so it gives me hope, especially to see someone else with thyroid issues having success.

*edited for spelling

Chatterbox · #6 July 8th, 2008, 12:18 PM

Aww, thanks. I'm the type of person that needs to be able to vent, so since my family didn't know and most of our friends had no idea we were TTC, this is where I did it. Don't get me wrong, a couple of my close friends got to experience my meltdowns IRL, complete with crying ...lol.

I was concerned because of the thyroid issue. So far so good with the pg, but I go back next week for testing again. We have to stay on top of it during pg, so I'm expecting some med changes. Woohoo!

I wish you the best. I hope you get your BFP soon, just know that when you do, to stay on top of your thyroid. It's a must during pregnancy.

caseyb · #7 July 8th, 2008, 12:30 PM

Thanks.
I had my thyroid issues prior to getting pregant with my DS. My steady synthroid dose pre-pregnancy was 125mcg- by the end of pregnancy I was up around 275mcg. There wasn't one month that I went and had my monthly test that I wasn't undermedicated- I just kept needing more and more every month- so yes- I can testify to the need of having it monitored closely!!

Chatterbox · #8 July 8th, 2008, 12:41 PM

Wow girl! You sure did need a bunch of meds. I'm currently on 150mcg and it took us 6 months to get to that dose. So, I know it will go up next week. So exciting...lol.

*becky* · #9 July 8th, 2008, 12:51 PM

Yes, sperm can live up to 72 hours in optimal conditions. That is why the EWCM is important, it helps them stay alive longer and helps get them to the egg faster.

Alisa78 · #10 July 8th, 2008, 07:51 PM

This may or may not work, but I heard from a friend recently, that if you take a dose of Robutussin when you're most fertile, it will thin out CM, making it easier for the sperm to swim through it. I think I'll try it! Although I don't like the idea of taking med that I don't need, but it's worth a try and I'm desperate!! I'll try anything!

Lo_and_Behold · #11 July 11th, 2008, 10:54 AM

I've heard that the swimmers get to the cervix very quickly..minutes or less. What leaks out are the ones who were too slow or otherwise not good for fertilization along with the rest of the seminal fluid (apparently it separates). I guess that's why motility is so important.

Someone posted something about what ovulation looks like. A woman was undergoing a hysterectomy and actually ovulated during the operation. It was the first time ever that it was photographed. Apparently, actual ovulation (where the egg bursts thru the follicle & is released) takes just 15 minutes!

Quote:

This may or may not work, but I heard from a friend recently, that if you take a dose of Robutussin when you're most fertile, it will thin out CM, making it easier for the sperm to swim through it. I think I'll try it! Although I don't like the idea of taking med that I don't need, but it's worth a try and I'm desperate!! I'll try anything![/b]

That is true. If you don't want to take the medicine though, you could try Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) which is also helpful. Only things is that the Mucinex offers much quicker results (I've had ewcm the same or next day!) whereas EPO should be taken starting cd 1 and can sometimes take a cycle or two to fully work. Also, you have to stop taking it once you've O'd because it can cause uterine contractions and hinder implantation.