1. I always wondered what Intimate Feminine Wipes were for. Now I know: there for effecting an emergency mop-down in the loos of Waitrose, while you heartily curse starting your period in the middle of a shopping centre 90 miles from home, an event which has just necessitated the emergency purchase of new knickers and trousers.
2. That despite this being a royal pain in the arse, I am delighted to note that I seem to be operating a 26-day cycle, which – whisper it – is almost normal.
[Goodness, this post is exactly what people fear, isn’t it, when they say they don’t use social media because it’s full of people sharing way too much.]
3. Ovulation sticks are fun, I don’t care what anyone says. I realise I may not always feel this way about them, but I might as well enjoy the novelty while it lasts. There is a ten-second moment of excitement, after you’ve peed and while you’re waiting for the line(s) to appear, when you feel genuine suspense. Have I ovulated? Haven’t I? It’s so exciting.
I am delighted to report that I haven’t ovulated yet. This is quite appropriate, given that I’m only a few days into my cycle. Whether those two lines will ever appear remains to be seen.
4. Semen samples may require near-impossible feats of dexterity in order to be fresh enough to test, but the NHS will still make you wait over a week for the results.
5. It appears that nobody conceives a child without medical help anymore. We are far from alone.
6. Perhaps following on from point 6, people are extraordinarily kind and sympathetic when they find out you’re embarking on fertility treatment. Witness this lovely care package from my friend K, which arrived in the post this morning:
The 52 Seductions 
Thanks Claudia!
Thanks for sharing…and being so funny while you do it. I owe many smiles :)
Oh goodness, I have all that to look forward to – hopefully. Good luck! x
We have to find small pleasures somewhere I suppose!
Ovulation sticks = fun
Ovulation sticks when you should have ovulated 4 days ago = blah
Waiting 2 weeks to do a pregnancy test + examining self for every possible early pregnancy symptom = torture
Getting a positive pregnancy test = hope I find out soon!
Glad your cycle is within the realms of normal, hope that egg appears soon!
I agree – ovulation sticks are still lots of fun – fact
I had to ask on Twitter about the name of the science experiment we did at school that was like an ovulation stick – chromotography! Do you remember? I think we did it with different kinds of black felt tip?
A 26-day cycle is well in the realms of normal! I was on 42 days when I fell for Daisy. And yes peeing on sticks is fun, although technically I always peed in a cup and dipped for 10 seconds. Love watching the wet bit creep up the stick to wait for the lines – it’s just torture, pure and simple.
Do you need pregnancy tests, J? I thought you were insanely fertile and would just KNOW
I’m on my third consecutive pregnancy test this week. Fun? They are MORE FUN THAN ACTUAL SEX! Ahem. Buy one, get one free this week in Boots. That way, you can keep testing even before your period is due. Slightly mental, yes, but it prolongs the ‘ohhhh, maybe…’s. Anyway, will keep you posted. Good luck with your sticks, m’dear!
But you get to play with fun sticks!
ovulation sticks are fun; pregnancy tests are a whole new level of terrifying!
God, it’s fun being a woman sometimes. Not. My sympathies in return!
By the same token, I find pregnancy tests even more fun. There’s a real sense of jeopardy each time…
Re 1 – been there, with husband blindly rushing around the shop seeking jeans, knickers and sanitary wear whilst I stand completely still looking like an Easter Island statue trying not to leak even more, then mince sideways towards the public loos. Sympathies.
Ovulation sticks are fun. Fact ;)