Help please! Lost logic, ability to reason and do basic mathematics (sorry for essay)

[SoMuchFruit]

Hello,

TTC No2 and have only started 'seriously' in June. Not on any kind of birth control since DS who is nearly 4. Have just been 'careful'. So careful that now it seems it's a body habit

I would appreciate some mathematical and logical help from you lovely ladies as I am having trouble with all the ovulation information.

I have a 31 day cycle. 98% of the time very regular. I am 38. I used an ovulation calendar to work out when I am fertile but - here is where I am confused. My AF is never the 5 days on the calendar things. It's usually 6 or 7. It's not overly heavy or anything, just lingering. Does this mean the fertile dates still follow as per the calendars ?

For clarity : The one I am using gives AF from 15/08 - 19/08 (in reality this was 15/08 to the 21/08) and the fertile days as 27/08 - 01/09.

My issue is if my AF lingers for those extra 2 days, does that not make everything else 2 days late ?

DS was a surprise conception, we were trying for 1 month then the next month OH was away and I missed 'the dates' but welcome home sex 3 days after the 'right' dates' resulted in DS.

Last month we DTD every day of my ovulation dates and nada and OH was away directly after. But it occurred to me (I might be a bit dim, now that I write this it seems a bit obvious) that I might be missing ovulation because AF stays longer and I am not allowing for that ?

Or am I just mental. This TTC business is not good for my head.

Hi! These calendars aren't very accurate at all I'm afraid. I don't think AF length influences when you ovulate, but many women don't ovulate exactly 14 days after day 1 of AF. Best way is to keep track of signs of fertility - have you done that before? For instance, do you notice egg white cervical mucus? You can also keep track of your cervical position.

Ovulation will usually happen 12-16 days before your AF, but you can't know a more precise date unless you are keeping an eye out for other symptoms.

I agree with blueamber. The length of your period won't change anything (the only thing that matters is the start day) and those calendars only work on averages. You are likely to ovulate 12-16 days before your next period. As you have a regular cycle, the dates should be pretty easy to work out.

As above. The length of your period shouldn't make any difference. If you have a 31 day cycle, you will probably ovulate around days 16-18 (day 1 being the first day of your period) - but please don't rely on this: if you have a short luteal phase (the second half of your cycle from the day after ovulation till the start of your next period), you may ovulate much later ie if your luteal phase is 10 days, you would ovulate around Day 20/21. You'd be best to start keeping checks such as CM, BBT, cervical positions, OPKs, or just having very regular sex.

Thanks all. Sorry for the stupid questions.

I keep an eye on CM and note changes, I also get quite sore/tender breasts on days 14-16 but not sure that's an indicator of anything.

We have a fairly active sex life anyway but have upped the ante over the week I am supposedly ovulating to once a day.

Sore breasts can be an indication of ovulation! I get sore nipples when my LH surge happens and ovulation is usually 1-2 days after that.