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Don't think I'm ovulating - when to ask for investigations?

16 replies

isisisis · 16/11/2012 14:24

Hello everyone,
This is my first time on any kind of forum and I hope that its OK to ask this.
Hubby & I have only been TTC for 4 months but I've been doing opk tests daily with no positive results at all in that time. I've started doing basal body temp this cycle as well as opks to 'double check'. It looks like I'm not ovulating at all so far.

I'm fairly suspicious I may have PCOS (have acne, excess hair, overweight etc etc)
Is it worth going to see my GP or should I wait a bit longer?
I know 4months is no time at all, but keep thinking if there is a problem I'd rather know and be getting on with tests etc. Hubby thinks to wait a bit longer and see what happens but I'm not as good at being patient as he is!
Any advice/experience would be very welcome or any links to previous threads on this kind of thing - I had a look but couldn't see anything similar. Many thanks xxx

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bluebird68 · 16/11/2012 15:03

how old are you? i'd personally wait at least 1 more month whilst doing basal body temps. That way you will have at least 2 months of good data to give to the GP. Your temps failing to rise for 2 consecutive months is suspicious. It is quite easy to miss LH surge, also OPKs don't work very well for all women, especially if they have something like PCOS.

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isisisis · 16/11/2012 15:53

Hi bluebird68,

Thanks for such a quick and usefull response. Your suggestion sounds really sensible. Will keep doing the opks and temp charting for another cycle and if nothing happens book an appointment.
Thanks again x

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isisisis · 16/11/2012 15:55

Sorry - didn't actually answer your question. I'm 31 ( nearly 32). Hubby is 32 and this is first time TTC for both of us. X

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Charlotte321 · 16/11/2012 16:55

Hi isisis I have PCOS but not all the symptoms (i.e. slim but have a bit of acne and don't ovulate as far as I know) - and I am just about to start fertility treatment. I was where you are now months ago and kept thinking it would happen naturally but it's been a year now. Don't lose hope though, it does happen for some PCOS'ers naturally from what I've heard. If you are overweight, try doing lots of exercise, eating a low GI diet and other lifestyle changes - I heard it works for some PCOS'ers with the weight issue. There are books about this and other threads. Are you periods irregular? If they are, that's a bigger issue than if they aren't. I can remember how frustrating it is when the temping and OPK's don't work. Good luck, I really hope it happens for us both soon x

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isisisis · 16/11/2012 17:17

Hi Charlotte, thank you for finding the time to reply. My periods are fairly regular with cycles ranging from 24 to 31 days in the last 6 months. I'm working on the exercise/ diet and have been reading up on PCOS ( which seems ridiculous in a way as I don't even know if I have it)
Showed hubby the list if symptoms on nhs website, bless him said he'd never noticed the excess hair or acne. Think he's just being nice, if he knew how much I spend on skin care and laser hair removal he might say something different!
Good luck with your treatment, I hope everything works well for you x

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MyLastDuchess · 16/11/2012 17:24

I agree with bluebird. The OPKs don't mean that much (the surge can be really quick), but 2 months of charting is a good start. Just be aware that some doctors really have no idea, so don't be put off if your GP stares at your chsrt cluelessly, just see another doctor.

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MyLastDuchess · 16/11/2012 17:24

Chsrt= chart

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isisisis · 16/11/2012 17:30

Thanks mylastduchess,
I didn't realise the opks were so unreliable. Will keep doing the temperature charts and see what happens. Maybe I'm stressing about nothing.
Thank you xx

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Charlotte321 · 16/11/2012 17:33

I think it's good your periods are regular-ish and not tooo long (mine can be crazy). Yes keep going with temping and no doctor will talk to you about it yet really (other than listening sympathetically) however after 6 some GP's will transfer you to look into PCOS if you have enough symptoms. Like I said you could get your BFP naturally as lots of people with PCOS do from what I've heard and I hope you do x

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Petershadow · 16/11/2012 21:03

it took me months to get to grips with the opks.
I only found the LH surge when I tested about 10am
Get loads of cheapie tests on amazon and test every time!!

I think you should go to the GP about the PCOS, best to get whatever obstacles out of the way, but not necessarily because you can't find the LH surge

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isisisis · 17/11/2012 08:50

Thank you all so much. I can't believe that you've all taken the time to help me - what a wonderful bunch you all are. I feel better already getting things 'out'. I'm going to carry on with the opks and temp charting and make some lifestyle changes and if I still can't find signs of ovulation will go to drs after Xmas. Thank you all so much xx

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MissingDietCoke · 17/11/2012 10:16

I NEVER got a positive OPK despite trying for months and was convinced I had pcos and wasn't ovulating. I switched to trying temping and after a month or so not knowing what I was doing I had a very clear rise one month that looked just like the textbooks (google!) show. After that I felt such an enormous sense of relief I calmed down a lot. I carried on temping and although I didn't ovulate every month I did some months. And as we all know it only takes 1 egg and 1 sperm to make that baby. Currently 6 months pregnant after no medical intervention, just patience and lots of shagging! All the best.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/11/2012 11:01

isisisis,

OPKs and temp charting are not wise to use at all if PCOS is suspected.

I would seek medical advice sooner rather than later.

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MyLastDuchess · 17/11/2012 12:18

Ah that's interesting Attila, I didn't know that about temping & PCOS. But good point that the OP should see her doctor about her suspicions, whether TTC or not.

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HavingALittleFaithBaby · 17/11/2012 22:47

I never got positives on cheap OPKs (amazon/tesco ones) but did on the clearblue smiley ones. It's definitely true that both these and charting can be unreliable in PCOS.
I wouldn't actually describe your periods as 'fairly regular'! I've heard of longer cycles but really that's pretty irregular! Mine took a while to settle after coming off the pill but I knew pretty much to the day when AF was due after about 10 months.
Are you seeing fertile cervical mucous? (Looks like egg white?)

I agree, if you think you've got PCOS - you've certainly got a fair few symptoms - I think you should see your GP now.

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Rachel184 · 18/11/2012 14:11

Hey chick,

I've been trying to conceive for 2 years following a MC, I thought I had pcos, the doctors put me on a waiting list for 8 months to see the fertility doctor at my local hospital. 8 months of trying and disappointment to be told at the doctors that I don't have pcos but I'm just not ovulating. My average period cycle is 40-59 days, something's not right but they can't put their finger on it.

I have my appointment to get my first batch of clomid next week, but just found out that I'm pregnant (this morning), very early but it's happened, I had it confirmed that I wasn't ovulating and boom I'm pregnant. Sounds awful but I'm not telling anyone yet, the first MC broke everyone's heart but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this goes OK.

A question for all you ladies, do I still go and get the clomid off the docs just incase? It's taken me over 2 years to get pregnant and if the worst happens it could be 2 years again and I don't think my heart can take it .

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