Just found out I'm not ovulating.

[INeedANameChange]

Got my day 21 bloods back and it doesn't look good. Next stage is a fertility specialist.

I've had scans so I know it's not PCOS. I have a regular cycle. Any idea why this would be the case?

[eskimoflo]

Hi INeed First of all, don't panic. Lack of ovulation is actually one of the most straightforward fertility problems to solve. I came off the pill and had no periods or ovulation for over a year (I was TTC for 15 months in total). I was never actually given a diagnosis but they didn't think it was PCOS. I just think I have very lazy ovaries.

The most common medication for this problem is clomid, which is a really cheap and quite successful way of tricking the body into ovulation. I had to have the highest dose, but they will start you off on 50mg. Neither 50mg or 100mg worked for me, but 150 made me ovulate 2 out of 3 times and I finally got pregnant on the 3rd time I took it (I'm now 37 weeks and booked in for a C-section on 8th September!)

They may also prescribe you some progesterone pills to take before the clomid, which will help you time when to take it, as you have to take clomid on or around Day 3 of your cycle. The prog pills will make you have a period after you stop taking them, which was obviously important in my case, but may not be necessary for you if you have regular cycles.

A fertility specialist may sound scary, but really, it's only because a GP cannot prescribe clomid, so the referral is routine so that you can get the pills. Good luck and let us know how you get on! (Oh, and don't rely on OPKs at all- they used to lie to me all the time and tell me I was ovulating and then CD21 tests would show otherwise. Also, they are not reliable on clomid either). x x

[INeedANameChange]

Thank you!

The stupid thing is I was sort of hoping it was something that could just be fixed with Clomid. But now it's happened it seems scary. Just wish I could get the drug without all the invasive tests!!

I've always had positive OPKs so it's still a bit of a shock. My boobs are KILLING me as well which given the timing Id always assumed was ovulation.

Meh. I'm jealous of the people who manage this TTC lark so easily!

Thanks so much for your detailed response

[SparklySlippers]

Eskimo you've given me hope. I feel hopeless because 50 or 100mg hasn't worked for me. I'm actually on 150 mg now and hoping. I actually feel like giving up as I've found I've got ? Thyroid issues too. Best of luck with your lo x

[eskimoflo]

Glad I could offer some words of hope ladies- I know the frustration and despair involved in this journey and it's just horrible

Sparkly, I'm afraid I don't know anything about thyroid issues. What round of 150mg clomid are you on now?

INeed The tests are annoying, especially as there seems to be a huge wait in between them all (in reality, I was lucky and there was only about a month between mine. However, they really have to do them to rule out any other issues before they can press on with the clomid. If there are problems with tubes, the clomid might work but then not work (I'm sure you realise this- sorry!)

If you want to join a lovely group of ladies who will be very supportive, pop in and say hello on this thread...

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/conception/2685865-pcos-periods-or-lack-of-and-a-lovely-bunch-of-ladies

I've been part of the thread for most of my journey and it's not just for ladies with PCOS. I don't know what I'd have done without them sometimes- whether it was advice or just a moan, they were always there to listen and talk to. x x

[SparklySlippers]

Im on my 3rd round of clomid but 1st of 150mg. If this fails its IVF

[ElspethFlashman]

I actually conceived without Clomid. I had the same thing, no ovulation and no PCOS and waiting on a specialist appt for Clomid. To stop myself going mad in the meantime I researched and took biiiiiig daily doses of Vitamin B6 cos I read it increases progesterone.

Tbh I did not expect it to work AT ALL as it would have had to double the progesterone. But I conceived that month. I was using OPks and my + came Much much earlier too so it was a good job I was using them. So I never did see the fertility specialist.

Not saying it'll work for you of course, but nothing to lose I suppose?

[eskimoflo]

If I was completely honest with you, Sparkly I was thinking the same but also thinking that it would be a kind of relief for someone to take the weight off after 15 months of very little success! I was just so sick of getting my hopes up time and time again, having regimented, sometimes thoroughly awful sex and then finding out it had all been for nothing after my progesterone scores came back as 0 or 3 at the most! I was ready to move onto the next thing, which I thought might be IVF (or the injections of menopur at the very least) as it seemed like someone else would take some of the responsibility away from me but then it actually happened. Try not to lose faith (I know it's easy for me to say now)

[ElspethFlashman]

Have toquickly add in interests of clarity that my progesterone score was 11. So it had to more than double but wasnt starting from nothing as many unfortunately are.

[SparklySlippers]

Thanks i think my dh will be too old for all this soon so best to think about just moving on with life

[INeedANameChange]

Sparkly I'm there with you. DH is 42.

[SparklySlippers]

Name change dh is 38 so i feel like we only have a couple of years really

[namechangedtoday15]

I was told (and I stand to be corrected) that 1 result is not indicative of the reality. I was told that barely anyone ovulates every cycle. Although I was also referred to an infertility specialist, their first step was to order Day 21 tests for 6 months - and my results varied quite a lot. I think my first result (which was done via the GO before I was referred) was 8, then my next results were 11, 26, 19, 37, 17 I think. I actually conceived (without any intervention) on cycle 8. Just to confuse matters more, I conceived non identical twins so got 2 eggs when I thought I wasn't ovulating at all.

Like others have suggested, I do think diet etc makes a massive difference. There was a book that was really helpful to me called Natural Solutions to Infertility by Marilyn Glenville (I think) - I followed her advice re diet and took vitamin supplements.

[namechangedtoday15]

I should also have said that I had "like clockwork" cycles so was gobsmacked when the initial result came back.

[SparklySlippers]

I am diagnosed pcos but slim no spots or hairiness! Sometimes i wonder who im really doing this for