Problems with late ovulation???

[Tamashii]

We have been TTC for a while now and I have been using OPK getting results showing ov prob occurs on day 18 or sometimes day 21.

I have recently read on some website that late ovulation means it is really difficult to conceive and even if the egg meets sperm, it is unlikely to implant in the uterus?!?

I have 1 DS and am 34 but we never used OPK before so didn't know I was a "late ovulater"...

Just wondering if this is complete hocum or not...

Thanks

Hi Tamashii I am not an expert but have been TTC for a while too.

As I understand it, there can be a problem if your luteal phase (between ovulation and bleeding) is shorter than c.10 days because it doesn't give the embryo enough time to implant and start producing pregnancy hormones.

I think it's easy to treat though if you know you have it ... you can take progesterone (either as a cream or a pill) after you ovulate which will give the embryo more time.

Hope that helps and good luck

I have read as well that if you have a short luetal phase (from ovulation to AF) then it can be difficult to conceive. If its 10 days or more then you should be ok. I usually get 29 day cycles and ov on day 17 but this month and last i ov'ed on day 23 (not sure about last month actually as i didnt pick up a surge but definately on day 23 this month) going by the length of my cycle last month 32 days that isnt a long enough luetal phase so i am keeping my fingers crossed that i get an extra long cycle this month to give time for implantation (if i was lucky enough to concieve).

I have also heard on here from alot of women who ovulate late and their AF adjusts accordingly and they just get an extra long cycle. You havent said how long your cycle is because if it is 28/29 you will probably be fine oving on day 18 any later and you might find that you cycles are longer by a few days too. I didnt know i was such a late ovulater either as for my previous DC's never used OPKS but due to my age (39 in Jan) thought i had better get a move on.

Cycle is on average 33 days.
I had major problems when I was younger - about 19-23 - with my periods. I was sent to see Gyn about it and they told me I had to pick between getting treated for the irregular periods or fertility issues. They basically put me on the pill to regulate things. It was only when I reached 29 with my DP that we decided to try for a baby as before that I had not met the right person and we had no money as we were both students. Anyway, it was only when I came off the pill I realised I have a really long cycle but. I had MC very very early and then fell PG and have my amazing DS who is 2.

Anyways, it is only now that we are struggling to conceive and I am using OPK that I found out when I ovulate and again it was just recently I read that most "normal" women ovulate day 10-14 of their cycle... Well TMI but I am still on AF on day 11 of my cycle and the last time we SWI I was really sure we had nailed it (sorry) but LP lasted 7 days so there would have been no chance.

Ahhhh it is as they say, you spend so much time trying not to get PG then when you really want to and time is ticking on, it is nigh impossible...

I didnt realise till i joined the conception threads 8 months ago that a 'normal' ovulation of around day 10-14 is hokey - there are quite a few women who are on 'normal' 28 day cycles but dont ovulate till later than that. Take heart from the fact that you have conceived twice (that you know of) and if you have any problems conceiving after a year you should probably consult your doctor. Personally i would go before then as there is plenty that they can do to extend your LP.

What about Vitex Agnus Cactus to extend the LP? Thinking about giving it a try since it is herbal...

Ive heard that works in quite a few instances and also vitamin B6 is supposed to be good.

might be worth bearing in mind that opks don't necessarily pinpoint ovulation.

True LittleSilver, sometimes your body gears up for ovulation, produces the LH and then doesnt ovulate - its a bit of a tricky thing but i tend to just assume i am ovulationg if i see a surge (might be worth doing a month long opk test though to see if i sometimes get two surges)

It may not necessarily be a problem if you know about it and can, ahem, plan accordingly. In the month I conceived my DS, I'd been quite ill at the start and so we only DTD twice, both times very late in the month - I had actually already written off that month in my head. The conception date must have been at earliest day 18 and more likely day 21. I should say that at that point, my cycles were very regular - 28 or occasionally 29 days - but using OPKs had been showing me ovulating 'late', day 17/18 or so. As a result, I think we had been halting our monthly efforts too early as I suspect even the OPKs were sometimes a bit trigger happy. My advice would be to make sure you are doing it regularly all the way to the end of your cycle and see what results you get with that (sorry, don't know your backstory so no idea whether you are aware of any fertility issues already). Good luck!

I always ovulated late-ish - similar to you pretty much - but length would vary by maybe a week from cycle to cycle. It did take over a year to conceive with my DS1 and DS2. And eventually what worked both times was taking Clomid with an HCG trigger. I went privately for DS1 and the consultant said that with irregular periods where there is a late ovulation (my LP was always consistently 13 days) sometimes the egg is aged and not good for conception - so the Clomid aimed to get a better quality egg and stronger ovulation (making sure it released with the HCG). I always got +ve OPKs and took my temp/cervical position etc/DH's swimmers were pretty much fine. Both times 1x of Clomid +trigger and I got pg first time. Do you monitor your cycle by temping or anything else? I used to take evening primrose oil and Vit B6 - but can't remember so much why that was now!

Thanks again for the replies - lots to think about here. I have only recently realised that I ovulate late and the significance of the short LP. I am blessed to have DS and would be happy with just one LO but OH would really love us to have another and so would I but I don't want TTC to take over our lives.

I also have slight b12 deficiency which I was put on vitamin supplements for. Not that I think this is linked to the late ov or short LP. Also, GP never mentioned low b12 being related to conceiving etc but it was only after I started taking the vitamin complex that I fell PG with DS and now I am using OPK, I have realised just how lucky we might have been to even have him.

Thanks again everyone