QUESTION
Dear Ask the Midwife,
ANSWER
The first suggestion I have is to have your husband's sperm tested, if that has not been done. Often there are inexpensive ways to increase your chances by "boosting" the effectiveness of his sperm if there are difficulties there. If not, sperm donation is much less expensive than IVF.
Second, on your chart it is not really a spike you are looking for, but rather a sustained increase in your temperature for the second half of your cycle that lasts at least 11 days. Are you getting other signs, such as stretchy cervical mucus? If it truly looks like you are ovulating (a blood test can tell, as can home ovulation predictor kits), you are healthy yourself, and your husband's sperm is normal, then for a 28-day cycle you can try abstaining for the first week (when you have your period), then having intercourse every other day for the next 10 days or so. Sometimes, that's all it takes.
Good luck!
~Cynthia
