Worried about anovulation

[Teapig]

Hi All,

Does anyone have any experience of anovulation, i.e. lack of ovulation? For the past four cycles my periods have been extremely heavy (almost the full cycle's blood passed in 24-48 hours with lots of clotting).

I went to the doctors today and have been booked in for blood tests and a scan. After lots of googling I've found that the changes to my cycle could be anovulation. DH and I have been TTC for 6 months now, I know that's not a long time but with the recent cycle changes I'm very worried I've stopped ovulating.

I fell pregnant very quickly last year (first pregnancy) but had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. We started trying again in January this year and cycle changes happened in March/April.

Does anovulation mean infertility? Anyone have any advice of experience?

Watching and bumping - similar anxiety for me - TTC#1 for 2.5yrs now :(
Have fertility appt. in Oct. I think this is what they use Clomid etc. for - but somebody far more knowledgeable than myself should be along soon!

Hi Better, Sorry you're in a similarly anxious boat. The not knowing if there's a problem or what that might be is horrible.
I read about Clomid, I think that can kick start ovulation in some cases. Have you had any fertility consultations before or will it be your first one in October?

I've never heard of those symptoms being related to anovulation. The only person I know in RL who doesn't or rarely ovulates has just a couple of periods a year. I'd stop googling if I were you!

If you want to, you could try temperature charting like this. This should give you a fairly good idea of whether or not you are ovulating, but the only real way is to have a "day 21" progesterone test done at the drs.

Track your temperatures throughout the month. You should see a marked shift and raise in temperature in the second half of your cycle (after you have ovulated approx. mid cycle). This is the best way you can determine if you ovulate. You can also try OV sticks as well which measure the amount of LH is your system, they are not as reliable in determining ovulation as temping though.

Anovulation shouldn't mean infertility in most cases, there are many things they can do depending on what the problem is. That's the good thing about female-factor infertility, there are a lot more solutions.

Thanks Eurochick and MissMedusa. I have my 21-day test on 13th July, trying to ignore the fact it's on Friday 13th! In the mean time I'll chart my temperature, I know the 21-day test will be definitive but at least I'll feel like I'm doing something in the mean time. I never knew TTC would be this hard.

I'll keep in mind there are lots of solutions even if I'm not OV.

We've met with the nurse, that was last month - she just did a history for both of us, we'd already done a couple of SAs, some swabs and a 21-day test through our GP. Did the 3 day one as prescribed by nurse - but appointment isn't till October so just sitting around waiting really.

The day 21 which the GP suggested found no ovulation, but my AF is highly irregular (30-46 days) so that could mean nothing - the irregularity may also be a sign of anovulation. From what I've understood by lurking on these forums is that charting and OPKs will not be of much use to me because of the cycle, so really feeling quite lost at the moment.

The waiting bit is horrible, I hate being in limbo. Hope you get some answers soon. Maybe enjoy the summer and hopefully there will be good news on the way in the autumn.

Are your cycles regular? And are they 28 days? Just checking you're booked in on the right day! 'day 21' can be a bit of a misnomer. As better says it depends on your cycle length and should be done as close to 7 days before you period is due as possible.
I was worried I was ovulating regularly - my cycle length was pretty variable and my initial bloods were inconclusive (turns out they were taken too late in my cycle).
I started charting like eurochick suggested and within a few cycles I realised I was ovulating after all. It massively reassured me. Further down the line we've identified the cause of our fertility issues male factor but charting gave me the reassurance I needed that I was ovulating regularly.