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When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Conception

what day should you have the day 21 test if you have a long cycle?

15 replies

pointsmakeprizes · 20/10/2009 09:03

would appreciate some advice - my cycles are between 31 - 36 days and and am thinking about going to see the Dr. If I have a day 21 test what day should I have it to see if I am ovulating with my cycles? My last 3 cycles have been 36 days, 36 days, and 33 days respectively. I am currently on CD 18 and still only getting lows on the CBFM.

Many thanks

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 20/10/2009 13:15

Its not going to make much if any real difference to the result if you have the progesterone test done on or around day 21.

This is only part of the story though, what should also be done is a day 2 test to check and compare both your LH (luteinising hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulation hormone). These two hormones are important as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these two are awry then ovulation will be affected.

Would not be using the fertility monitor in these circumstances.

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FanjolinaJolie · 20/10/2009 18:59

Hello points at the time I was TTC No1 I had longish cycles like what you are experiencing (31 - 35 days) and I was also worried that the day 21 test might end up taking place before I had ovulated (I have ovulated as late as day 22 before)

Rest assured the test came back within normal ranges even though I had only ovulated on day 19 that month.

Some positive news: I have two lovely DD's conceived naturally even with my long cycles. I follow fertility awareness (noting changes in cervical mucus)and temp and chart as well as to determine ovulation. I've been doing this for over five years and have ovulated every month during this time with only one or two annovulatory cycles over that whole period.

Ask your GP's advice and good luck.

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pointsmakeprizes · 20/10/2009 22:42

Thanks for your answers, I remember having the test the last time we were TTC as it took so long but could not remember when I had it done. Going to make an appt with the GP tomorrow and try to get it all checked out. I am going to try temping again next month, keep forgetting to do it this month.

Attila, could you give me some help on why not to use the CBFM - it's just with my cycles, i never know when I'm going to ovulate and it's the only way I can predict it.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/10/2009 07:04

The fertility monitor is only really useful if cycle are consistently regular in nature and even then they can be mislead.

These kits work on two misleading principles; namely that a rise in LH is immediately followed by ovulation and that there is only one rise in LH every month. Both of these are simply not true.

If you are also one of many women who produce higher than average levels of LH the kit reads that excess.

Blood tests generally can give a far more accurate picture, if you do have the day 21 done consider having the day 2 test done also.

HTH

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pointsmakeprizes · 21/10/2009 08:33

thanks, still got a low this morning - can't even see a faint line on where the LH is supposed to be read, it's stressing me out too much so that in itself is enough to make me stop using it! Will definitely get those tests done.

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londonlottie · 21/10/2009 08:52

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FanjolinaJolie · 21/10/2009 09:29

What LL said. You might as well keep trying with the monitor for the rest of this cycle even if you stop using it after that.

I have never had much success with any sort of OPK, some times they work sometimes they don't but I know I still ovulate based on the cervical mucus changes and also a sustained rise in temperature.

Luteal phases can range from 12-16 days and can even be 10 or 11 days without presenting any issues. So, if you had a 36 day cycle in which you did ovulate it could be anywhere from 20 - 24 or even as late as day 25. Do you see the presence of fertile cervical mucus in each cycle? Presuming that you are approaching ovulation you should start seeing signs of this.

Try not to stress about it too much. Long cycles are a bit of a pain, I found as it always seems to take so long to have another crack at it the following month. Keep having regular sex with your man, every other day or at least three times a week and you'll stand the best chance of catching your eggie.

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pointsmakeprizes · 21/10/2009 21:52

I have an appt with the GP for Monday which would make me CD 24 - I will see what the Dr says but if I haven't ovulated yet then i prob shouldn't have the test until at least day 26 then. I usually get ovulation pains which I haven't done so far and I usually do get egg white mucus around the time i ovulate but not very much of it and of course because we are having sex it sort of gets mixed up with all the sperm so difficult to gauge how much I'm really having. Currently we are having sex every other day since about CD 13 so hopefully we will have covered all our bases.

i definitely intend to chart temps next month, i think that's the best approach.

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FanjolinaJolie · 22/10/2009 10:11

points good that you are seeing the GP.

I remember when I went and has my tests done they waited until the next cycle and did the day 2/3 tests then I went back three weeks later for the progesterone test. They wanted all tests within the same cycle, to tie-up the results. Just preparing you in case they say the same and you aren't disappointed that 'nothing is being done' this month.

I am a total temping and charting-a-holic and am happy to answer any questions you might have. I heart Fertility Friend!

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pointsmakeprizes · 23/10/2009 16:21

Thanks for letting me know, that would make sense to do it all in the one month. On the upside I got a high yesterday and peak (normally get about 3 highs) today on CBFM which has calmed me down a bit but still keeping the appointmnent with GP so at least i know what's going on with my body. It's very frustrating having the long cycles isn't it? I think you get about 3 cycles less in the year then someone with shorter cycles.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 23/10/2009 16:31

points

What did this kit actually measure?.

If this is measuring LH I'd be concerned about the three rises; such multiple positive LH results can be linked to long cycles. The kit could be misleading you here as it is reading the excess LH being produced.

Good luck with the GP - if they do blood tests make sure they do a day 2 and test both your LH and FSH levels. These should be compared against one another as they can look okay if only looked at separately.

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FanjolinaJolie · 23/10/2009 18:29

points great you have a 'high' and 'peak' I assume you mean three 'days' of high when you say three highs? Make the most of you high days (nudge nudge wink wink)!

Long cycles can be tough. But from the July bus you are TTC no2 (is that right? Hope so) so you've managed it before, think positively that you can do it again!!

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pointsmakeprizes · 23/10/2009 18:57

Hi, the CBFM measures estrogen and LH - I think it gives you highs when you're estrogen is rising but you only get the peak when you get a LH surge. On previous months I had about 3 high days - so estrogen rising on those days and then a peak day when the LH is surging but this month I had lots of lows where nothing is happening and then 1 day of high and then peak so the LH surge is just today.

DS took a year, am only on cycle 3 at the moment for this one but because it took a while last time I just have it in my head that it will be the same again and all the previous frustrations and heartache are resurfacing. Though I know it's nowhere near what some of the lovely ladies on these threads are going through.

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FanjolinaJolie · 23/10/2009 20:47

Points I know exactly how you feel. DD1 took 13 months, so when we were TTC No2 I was really worried it would be the same. Fortunately not.

But now that we're TTC no3 all the same feelings come back too. I don't have time on my side either as DH is off to Afghanistan next Oct and I don't want to be left with a newborn.

Hoping we get our BFP's this month.

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pointsmakeprizes · 27/10/2009 13:18

Hi, going to have the test done this Friday (CD 28) as think I ovulated either on Day 21 or 22. But annoyingly GP would not give me a Day 2 test as have not been trying for long enough this time, already have a DS and "time is on my side" (am 34). So we have to wait to see what the progesterone test says until we can do anymore testing. I mentioned that DS had taken a year and he just said that that was the average time so I have nothing to worry about. I think he was trying to make me feel better but came across quite dismissive. But anyway we'll see what happens.

fangolina are you testing soon? I see on the July bus thread that it's nearly your time! How are your temps doing? I really hope you get your BFP this month with your hubbie going away next year.