how long after ov is AF?

[sparklyshoos]

hi all, sorry if this is a ridiculous question (yes, biology lessons obviously went over my head!).

I know that not every woman ovulates 14 days into their cycle, but does every woman get their period 14 days after they've ovulated?

I'm trying to track my cycle and think I'm ovulating around day 18 at the moment (well, with only 2 periods after a year of BF, it's hard to track a pattern yet) so does it stand that I'll get my period 14 days after I've had my period?

TIA!

[Tangle]

No.

Once you ovulate you enter the luteal phase of your cycle. If you have a 28 day cycle and if you ovulate on day 14 then your luteal phase will also be 14 days long and AF will appear 14 days after ovulation. But that's the "theoretical normal".

When I was TTC DD I temped for about 9 months. I think I usually ovulated on about day 16 and so had a slightly shorter luteal phase as my cycle was still 28 days long. It's not uncommon to have a luteal phase < 14 days, but it can cause problems with conception if it gets too short (insufficient time for the pregnancy to get established). I don't think it's so common for the luteal phase to be much longer than 14 days and I'm not aware of what problems that might cause.

Best thing to do is to keep an eye on your body for a few cycles and try to build up a picture of what's going on. Once you know then you can start looking at diet, etc, to try and tweak the different stages of your cycle.

Good luck

[sparklyshoos]

oh thanks, that's interesting, really useful to know!

[sarah76]

Just to add to what Tangle's already said, ovulation day can vary, but luteal phases are usually the same cycle to cycle. If you notice that your cycles aren't the same length, it's more likely that your ovulation day is varying.

However, LPs can change....I know mine has been 10-13 days over the last 22 cycles, but most frequently it is 11.

[meggles]

12-16 is the "norm". anything 10 or below could be a problem as it doesn't leave enough time for implantation.

[herbaceous]

Ooh ooh I've got a question.

I've generally been keeping track of when I ovulate by watching out for jolly old EWCM, which usually appears around day 12-13 for a couple of days. I have a 28-day cycle.

This month, however, I got absolutely gallons of the stuff on days 8 and 9. Does this defo mean I ovulated around then?

I guess if my luteal phase is to remain the same - ie around 14 days - aunt flo should appear a few days early. Or, I'll be up the duff. As if that's going to happen...

[Tangle]

Possibly. Was that the only EWCM you had this cycle? Do your cycles normaly vary in length?

IIRC, CM can be influenced/hidden by a variety of other things including your diet and so it's not the most reliable indicator of ovulation if taken in isolation.

[herbaceous]

My cycles are always 28-29 days. I had just started taking EPO at the beginning of this cycle, which could have brought on early egg white, perhaps.

I've had a smidge of EWCM since (day 13), but nothing like the gallons of a week ago.

[Tangle]

The EPO might have done it, then. Have to wait and see if/when AF makes an appearance. Weird, though, as I had it mind EPO gave you more, fertile CM (ie EWCM) rather than tweaking ovulation point. When did you stop taking it?

[herbaceous]

I've stopped around now, as it's mid-cycle, so I reckon I either ov'd with the EWCM gush, or about now. Though there's bugger all EWCM to speak of.

Thanks Tangle - you're very knowledgeable about such matters. Yet another who's been through the mill, I'd imagine...

[NatalieJane]

Ooooh I got another question, if your LP is a lot longer than usual, could it mean pregnancy? Even if test after test (after test.....) is saying BFN?

[sarah76]

Natalie, it certainly could mean that, esp if your temperatures are staying high. Are you certain you ovulated when you think you did? Is there anything else you've done differently this month that could be the cause of a longer LP?

[NatalieJane]

I don't temp. Wish I did now! I am 99% sure I OV'ed when I think I did. I don't know what else could lengthen your LP?

[PrePG]

vitamin B6 could lengthen your LP.

Herbaceous - I find that I'll often have 2 to 3 days of EWCM, but the day I have the most isn't necessarily the day I ovulate. The cycle I got PG in I had the most EWCM on CD16, but didn't ovulate until CD18