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Conception

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.

Original poster

Period late, weird symptoms but negative test - could it be false?

28 replies

CC81 · 08/07/2020 09:46

Hello, I'm 38 and been TTC for a few months (after first child born in 2017).

I use an app to track my cycle and it's usually roughly 26 days, although often varies by a day or two. Now on day 30 and no sign of AF at all. This is different to recent months, as I usually get spotting a few days before. However, I've had some digestive weirdness and generally feel a bit strange... could be hormone-related?

Took a test yesterday (cheap strip type - don't want to waste the posh ones yet!) and it was DEFINITELY negative - no sign at all of a second line.

So... do you think it's just my cycle being weird? Or is there any possibility of pregnancy, but HCG levels aren't high enough yet?

I've been quite stressed this month, so I didn't think there was any chance of success (and it's another reason my period could be late). Because of my age, I'm super-paranoid about fertility :(

However, I had an LH surge around the expected time (positive OPK).

If anyone can offer any advice/opinions, I'd be very grateful.

OP posts:
PlanBea · 08/07/2020 14:07

I don't have a lot of experience on OPKs but it sounds like that was the ovulation date. I'd say you're not out for this month until you get your BFP or AF.

It could be that the cheapie isn't sensitive enough to pick up HCG levels yet. Wait as long as you can and try again with a FRER. I've also heard second morning urine is actually more sensitive than first morning, or a 4 hour hold without drinking.

Spotting can be a sign of lower progesterone which is something to bare in mind if you also have short cycles. Do your periods last 3+ days?

The waiting is the worst, you have my sympathies!

Original poster
CC81 · 08/07/2020 13:57

@PlanBea - Thanks for your reply :)

I got a positive OPK (dark line!), the day before ovulation was due (according to my app), so things seemed to be on schedule there.

Is it still possible to ovulate 'late' after that, and thus delay everything else?

We've been following the SMEP routine, so DTD three nights in a row upon getting the positive OPK, then had a night off, then one more time. Before the OPK we'd been DTD every other night.

I haven't used the pill for years - we just used condoms before TTC!

OP posts:
PlanBea · 08/07/2020 12:23

Stress can definitely affect your cycles, so if you've been having a particularly stressful month (especially in the follicular phase) then I'd expect your cycle to be longer. You said you don't think there's any chance of success, did you DTD around the time of your OPK peak? Or had you missed it this month?

How long have you been off contraception? That can also take some time for cycles to settle out which can throw odd cycles in around the 3 month mark.

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