Would it be worth me trying opks ??

[Gelfling]

Trouble is that during the last couple of years my cycles have been between 10 and 40 days long. They are usually between 26-31, but every now and then I'll throw a strange one. Just wondered when would be the best times to test or whether I should write it off as too haphazard with such irregular cycles?
ps. am kicking myself as today did a hpt even though only on cd20of course was BFN.

[Nemo1977]

might help for a couple of months just to work out where you are oving. Mine were always from 28-37 days long but found out I ov around day 19-20 regardless of cycle length. Helped me concieving my dd and this db. DS was just luck..lol

[Gelfling]

Thanks Nemo. Any idea as to when would be the best cd to start testing from ? and are the cheap tests on ebay any good ?
Going to sound really ignorant here, but is db, darling baby? if so what is your edd? Congrats.
We have one dd (6) and it took us years and years to conceive her. Been trying for another since we had her, but other than a m/c in 2004 we've had no result. Am on cycle 3 of clomid and keeping everything crossed for luck.
xx

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

TBH with such irregular cycles I would not use opk's at all because it will not be beneficial. Don't waste your money!!.

OPK's actually work on two misleading principles; namely that a rise in LH is immediately followed by ovulation and that women have one rise in LH every month. Both of these statements are certainly not true.

I see you're on clomid (this can also affect hormone levels) so this is yet another reason not to use the opk. Presumably you were given this because of ovulation problems.

Are you under the care of a gynae? If not you really need to be seen by such a person given your irregular menstrual history. Sometimes such things are caused by hormonal imbalances (PCO or PCOS are common culprits in this regard).

DO you have a diagnosis of the problem?.

[Gelfling]

Attila, thanks for the advice. I don't think I'll bother with the opks and just continue to monitor cm.
Dh and I first went for various tests about10-11 yrs ago and were told no problems just relax and try not to worry too much. I went for more tests a year or so before falling with dd, and again they said no probs just carry on trying.
Dd was born in Feb 2000. Suffice to say 6am loads of blood, huge clot passed,car wouldn't start, dh ran to nearest neighbour 3/4 mile away to borrow van, frantic rush to hospital (2 hrs away), diagnosed with placenta praevia which had been missed at all my scans, emergency caesarean under full anaesthetic due to urgency, resulting in a beautiful daughter.
I had a scan when I m/c in Jan 2004 and they found a cyst(6.5cm) on right ovary and a 2cm one on left, but said they were most prob simple cysts and not to worry. In Nov 05 after getting a lot of pain I went to dr to ask if I could be scanned to check what was going on, and he found a letter in my file requesting a follow up scan that had been mislaid. Anyway to cut long story short I got my scan and the cysts were still there slightly bigger and appearing blood filled. Had bloods done to test for ovarian cancer - negative.Was booked in Aug 05 to have a laparoscopy to have them removed and told as was small op I could be out the next day. Day before the op a nurse asked me for signed permission to remove the ovary if neccessary which shocked the hell out of me as no-one had mentioned that possibility. Anyway they did the op and the gynae agreed to flush dye through my tubes at the same time to check them out.After op was told my right tube was slightly flattened, left was okay and they'd flushed them out. One cyst had been clear filled, other filled with brownish fluid, they removed what they could but as they were pressing down and squashing my ovaries they had to leave some bits there. He referred me to fertility clinic.I had extensive bruising and other probs and ended up staying in hosp for a week.
Got appt at fertility clinic Jan 2006. Scanned, found 0.8 cm cyst on right, 3.5cm bllod filled cyst on left.Diagnosed with endometriosis.Told only options were ivf which we'd have to pay for as already had dd, or Clomid. Was given 6 months supply of Clomid there and then and told to come back for a scan on day 12 of 1st cycle. Went for scan, found a good ripe follicle on right, and what looked like a cyst on left. Was told to bd every 2 days and wished good luck. I've no further appt's and have been left to get on with it.
I'm now on my 3rd cycle of clomid, cd 21, and will be 40 on sat. If Clomid doesn't work we will apply to adopt, but can't be assessed while on fertility treatment so have to wait.
I so don't want dd to be an only child

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi gelfing

When I read "blood filled cysts" I thought chocolate cysts/endometriosis (I have endo). These are often linked to endometriosis and so it was in your case. They're commonly called "chocolate cysts"; their correct medical term I think is "ovarian endometrioma".

I would seek as much information as you can about both endo and the chocolate cysts re treatment options. The National Endometriosis Socisty have both a message board and a helpline and at the very least I would urge you to look at their website (www.endo.org.uk). A good publication from them is Endometriosis and Fibroids and this has a lot of info on both endometriosis and chocolate cysts.

Feel also that you should seek out a second opinion as a matter of course. You need to show him your notes to date. Some gynaes/clinics are far more able than others in this regard. You need to find a good specialist whose endo knowledge is second to none.

Think it is awful frankly you have been given 6 months of clomid (without seemingly checking beforehand whether you are suitable to take it or not) and then left.

Certainly do not use OPK's in such circumstances but seek out a decent gynae instead.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

I would think that in your case more surgery is an option that should be talked about at some length with your consultant.

[Gelfling]

Attila, again thanks for the advice. Will have a look at the endo website as I've never actually been given any information about it, just what I've picked up myself from surfing the net. It wasn't really discussed at my appt in Jan, and it was me who asked the cons if it could be endo and she agreed that it probably was.Don't know how to go about getting a 2nd opinion as that fertility clinic is the only one in the county and it took me six months to get the appt through, and it takes me 2 hours to get there.
Can endo affect your fertility then ?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Gelfling,

Endo can certainly affect your fertility, although to what extent depends on how severe the endo is and where it is sited.

I would speak to your GP about the possibility of getting a second opinion.