What on earth happened here?

[Weegle]

We are TTC no 2. Not easy as my cycles are all over the place ranging from 26-46 days. This cycle I have been doing an OPK at least once a day since day 9 and no positive result, yet today (day 31) my AF started. So how the heck can I be having a period when according to the OPK's I haven't even ovulated??? I am seriously confused, not to mention frustrated given that I have not been well and in a lot of pain the last two weeks but have been doing the deed regularly just in case I ovulated, yet it's been futile.

[lou031205]

Weegle, sorry to hear you are being given the runaround. You can have an anovulatory cycle, with a period. You can also ovulate and miss the surge on the OPK. Have you tried temping? You can see if you ovulated by seeing a temperature surge. It doesn't predict ovulation, but will confirm it.

[Weegle]

I have yes, but couldn't fathom a pattern - I tried for 6 months and I got several "peaks" per month? Also been using CM method, again not very clear cut, and according to that I haven't ovulated this month. Quite frequently by the CM method I will be thinking I'm coming up to ovulation only for it to tail off and then maybe a week later get thinner etc - that can happen several times a cycle. I didn't realise it was possible to have a cycle without ovulating. I'm really worried something's wrong. I've taken a lot of medication since DS as I've been diagnosed with a chronic arthritic condition, and my cycles are haywire. What if I'm just not ovulating - how would I know?

[eleveld]

I would go to doctors and ask them to do day 21 blood tests - this will confirm whether you are ovultaing or not.

It is very common to have a few anovulatory cycles each year

[Weegle]

ok thank you. I am "under" an obs/gynae because of managing my medication whilst TTC but she said she wouldn't do an investigations until we have been trying a year. Would the GP still do the 21 day blood test? What does that involve?

[eleveld]

Oh right, if you're already under a gynae then they'll obviously do the necessary tests when appropriate. I'm sure you'll be discussing it with them.

day 21 blood test merely involves having a blood test. Progesterone levels are tested which indicate whether you have ovulated

[mawbroon]

Weegle - have you read this book?

I really recommend it. It should give you a real insight into what is going on.

It sounds like your longer cycles could well be anovulatory. Re the CM, your body can be trying to ovulate, but the hormone levels don't get high enough to actually release an egg. This is also a drawback of OPK sticks. They can detect a surge in the hormones, but they don't actually confirm if you ovulated or not.

[Weegle]

Great I have just ordered that book from the library.

But doesn't that mean, if I'm not ovulating on the longer cycles (which are more frequent than short/normal length ones), that my chances of conceiving are drastically reduced? Why would that be happening?

I'm really worried now

[mawbroon]

Aw, Weegle, please don't worry about what I have said. Wait until you have some facts - I am purely guessing.

I hope the book can shed some light on it for you. I have been ttc no2 for 20 months now and would have been really worried had I not read this book and found out exactly what was going on.

[Weegle]

wow, 20 months! I feel terrible for whinging now. You're right I need to get myself clued up on my fertility. How old is your DC1?

[mawbroon]

Oh well, that makes it sound worse that it really is! DS is 3 in october, and I am still breastfeeding him.

I am ovulating much later in the month now (presumably because of the breastfeeding) and my luteal phase (time between ov and period) is too short for implantation. I figured this out all by myself and haven't bothered going to the doc as I know they would just laugh and tell me to stop feeding. Easier said than done though!

Like i said earlier, if I hadn't figured this out, I would be worried that something was wrong. I know that it should revert once ds cuts down or stops feeding altogether.