Unexplained infertility and sometimes no ovulation symbol on monitor

[angelamep]

I just dont know where to turn next so thought I would ask the big wide world what you think. We have been trying to conceive our first child for the last 4 years - the first 2 we just thought it was timing and that it would be fine, I went the doctors and he said everything was fine give it 6 months. We did and nothing happened. Eventually referred onto the Infertility clinic and after number of tests they cant find anything wrong on hubbie's side or mine. We are on the list for IUI and for IVF.

I am getting very down about it all which I know isn't good.

Something that's praying on my mind is that I use one of these ovulation monitors and very occasionally it won't show a ovulation symbol for a month but it will for the next one. The 2 blue lines are there but obvioulsy not strong enough to show on the monitor and this month this happened and I also notice there's not really been a rise in my temperature either. But the things is that the doctors all say my hormones are fine, tubes are fine, everything.
Is this what they have missed? I have mentioned it to the nurses/doctors at the clinic but they say no your levels are ok.
I just wish I could understand the problem really. Maybe I'm over-analysing.
A friend used a monitor when she was trying to get pregnant - never had an issue with seeing the ovulation symbol and I cant find anyone who has had similar happen to them.

Thus far, all my stuff is meant to be normal but I've only had the happy face twice in the passed year of TTC

No idea. Just keep hoping it works out.

How old are you?

There is a book called taking charge of your fertility by toni weschler which is a mine of information and might give some answers. I learnt so much about my cycles by reading it. She is an advocate of charting to conceive as she believes that by charting you can find out so much about what your body is doing. Even if you dont decide to chart i think it is worth reading. If you do want to chart you have to take your temperature with a basal thermeter that goes up to two decimal places at a set time in the morning after at least 3 hours sleep. You have to take it at the same time every day even weekends and before you do anything. If you are ovulating you will find your temperature is lower before ovulation and rises afterwards. Your cm will increase as you approach ovulation and quickly dry up afterwards. You will see that the number of days after ovulation to af does not vary by more than a day or so . Cm is a good indicator of fertitility with the egg white being the most fertile. Lack of cm can mean that the sperm dies before the egg is released. Have a look at toni weschler site there is a lot of information on there, i hope it helps you . The site is tcoyf.com/

TBH at now 4 years of ttc you're well beyond the stage of using anything like taking temps now and it probably won't help any. You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

I would now consider seeking a second opinion from another fertility centre; it is fair to say that some of them are certainly better than others and some private treatment can be very poor as well as expensive.

Unexplained infertility is infact no diagnosis at all; this basically means that they have failed to find out what is wrong. It is a "diagnosis" sometimes given to couples when they have not been properly investigated.

What tests have both of you had done to date and particularly within the last 6 months?. What hormone tests were done re yourself and on which days?. Any test result older than that should be discounted. Do you feel as a couple you have been adequately investigated?.

Hi angelamep, I'm in a similar position. We have been trying for over 2 years. Been through hsg, cycle monitoring, hormone/blood tests etc and diagnosed with "unexplained infertility". We are now on the waiting list for IVF.
In this past year I've found that my clear blue monitor doesn't always show a peak ovulation sign. It's happened about 3 times. The previous year it showed a peak every cycle without fail so i began to panic i was getting an early menopause. My consultant at St Mary's says it's completely normal to have anovulatory cycles and that "we human not machines". It's also possible the monitor doesn't pick it up the surge every cycle. The important thing is that you do ovulate - proven by the peak sign showing some months and your consultants saying everything is normal. Fingers crossed the assisted conception works for you.

Hi Angelamep,

I have had unexplained fertility for 6 years now that was until I went to the Zita West Clinic. I decided that after 2 failed cycles that I wasn't prepared to go through a 3rd until I knew why it was failing.

Now we have an explanation and it is no longer unexplained we are in the process of our 3rd cycle.

If you can I would certainly look at trying to investigate why and push for more tests. Mine was a simple blood test, it was expensive but that is because we went to a private clinic. It was certainly worth the investment just in knowing the reason behind it. Not knowing I think is the worst part.

If you have the option I would certainly look at the Zita West Clinic. They work to the individual and not hospital protocol. The Hospital I used previously were happy for me to continue with a 3rd cycle without any further tests because I had only had 2 failed cycles.

sgibbo x

I agree that you need to push for answers after 4 years, but just to let you know that I was using a digital clearblue fertility monitor and the month I got pregnant I never got a 'peak' only high readings for around 12 days. So I guess my point is, these ovulation kits aren't infallible and can give you a false sense of security, or in my case, needless worry, frustration and expense.

Good luck and I hope you get your baby soon