may have not ovulated- advice.....

[hettie]

I have been keeping an eye on my cycle since an ectopic in December (I have to as I need to know if I could be pregnant and previously had v erratic cycles). The good news is that for some reason after the pregnancy my cycles became very regular. I have gotten quite good at reading the ‘signs’ (cm etc, temp etc) and have been impressed that I seem to be ovulating at the same time each month (day 18-19) and have a regular cycle of 31-32 days.
But this month has been weird. I got signs of raised oestrogen CD14-18 (ferns on isis scope which has been v reliable for me) but no real cm PLUS no shift in temps (well there was one day of rise on the CD18, but I had been up late and had had a drink the night before). Temps did not change CD20-27.
I think I probably haven’t ovulated as no sign of thermal shift. My question is has anyone who temps had this? Did you return to normal next cycle? I know its not that uncommon to have the odd cycle where you don’t ovulate, but just wondered when I should think about talking to docs if it continues? Any help reassurance greatly appreciated………

I'm afraid the simple answer is that for some reason some cycles are anovulatory. You'll probably ovulate next month but sometimes the body just decides not to produce for one reason or another. I hope that helps. If it's any consolation I don't think I ovulated this cycle either and my cycles are 45 days long!

Hi Hettie, agree with what Decaf said. Seeing as how you have luck with the Isis scope just thought I'd ask if you might know what it means to have transitional ferns alot. I seem to have had them most days since the time I was sure I ovulated (around cd21) now on cd32 and they are still here! Does this mean I didn't ovulate?

Hi Decaf,
Think you are probably right…… Swore blind to myself that I would try and ignore all this stuff and just relax. Trouble is I have to know if I could be preggo very early on (because of risk of another ectopic) and because I had such erratic cycles used scope and temps to try and keep track of when I might expect AF……….
I KNOW focusing on it will result in stress and no conception (I once interviewed a very prominent infertility expert and he commented that the number of couples he helped conceive who had unexplained infertility who then went on the conceive 2nd naturally was significant- he placed the want/worry over having a child as an effective contraceptive measure!). Funny thing is I swing between wanting a family and thinking it complete madness, so I wouldn’t have put myself down as obsessive! But to much focusing on it does seem to be having an effect.
Bobble- not sure if I can be of help. I get ferns that build for 4-5 days (you see more and more in scope) of these the last 2 days of ferning I get cm then temp rise. Ferns are because your saliva becomes more acidic (and crystalises) in presence of oestrogen (the hormone that kicks in at first half of cycle) so it could just mean that you have slightly elevated oestrogen in that part of cycle- I’ve no real idea, but wouldn't worry too much. You could try and see if you can be bother to take temp as the hormone that kicks in after ovulation (progesterone) is thermogenic and causes your basal body temp to rise. A combination of two methods should be more definitive. BUT- bearing in mind what I’ve said above if you have regular cycles and you could bare the waiting you could bin the scope and just concentrate on having sex when you feel like it (natures way of telling you when you’ve oving) I don’t know you’re personal circumstances (age other kids etc, wanting to have baby in certain time because of personal reasons, history of problems…..) but even ‘normal’ fertile women can 6 months to a year, so perhaps if you’re not in a rush……

Thanks Hettie, that is really interesting, everything you said. I am definately guilty of obsessing too much and really for no good reason as I have a beautiful 13m dd and the reason my hormones are a bit iffy is because I just finished breastfeeding. I am just focussing too much on the age gap I want and forgetting it'll happen when it happens.
Wish you lots of luck with conceiving and I'm sure not ov this cycle was a one off or indeed perhaps you did and temps are just funny for no reason!
Good luck!

thanks very much for your good wishes bobble- now I should just take some of my own advice and relax! (i'm sure I would know if I fell, even wihout keeping track of ov as last time symptoms were obvious even with ectopic)

I know, when I think about it it always seems slightly ridiculous to even do a pg test as it will certainly be obvious if you wait long enough! There just seems to be something so irresistable about peeing on a stick....