Help understanding ovulation-short window ttc

[AstroKate]

Hello all,

Firstly, this is my second post so still not used to acronyms etc. I need some advice and although I think I know the answer, I just need a bit of comforting agreement!

My hubby and I were ttc in the summer when I found out I have kidney disease stage 4 and will need a transplant at some point in the next 5-6 years. We were still to stop trying until I was assessed. The good news is after seeing renal pregnancy specialists we've been told, although there are some risks, they are relatively low and if I want children I need to have them NOW....LIKE RIGHT NOW...before my kidneys inevitably deteriorate. So, hubby and I got back on the wagon in November.

I bought some cheap ovulation test sticks from Amazon and started testing on day 11 (I have a 28 day cycle). I did this every morning and did not get a single positive. I was bummed but had read that these cheap sticks don't work for everyone so upgraded to clear blue sticks. I then had the longest period I've ever had...12 days (I'm usually 5-7 and you can set a watch by it). No idea why it was so long (wondered if it was because I'd taken folic acid???). Anyway as I was on my period, I didn't start using the clear blue tests until I'd finished and this was day 13 of my cycle. I'm now on day 19 and haven't had any smiley faces.

I'm panicking that something is wrong and I'm not ovulating.... I talked through the logic with hubby who suggested maybe I was testing too late and I was actually ovulating earlier than I thought I was.. But could this have happened while I was having my long period??

What are your experiences with ovulated when ttc? What day of their cycle do most women ovulate.

I'm trying not to panic and just hope I've missed it. But bummed I have to wait until the new year for another fertile opportunity!

Kate

The best time of day to use an ovulation test is midday to early afternoon unlike a pregnancy test which is recommended to be used in the morning.

Thanks! I did try some days both morning and mid afternoon but still nothing. Clear blue says first thing in the morning? Should I be doing it mid afternoon then?

Sorry my last post was a bit rushed www.babycentre.co.uk/a561822/how-to-use-ovulation-predictor-kits There is some information here which might help.

I didn't use ovulation kits for long as we found out we had sperm problems and needed IVF but before that we were advised to have sex every 2-3 days throughout my cycle so that there would be sperm available whenever ovulation occurred.

Good luck

Hi there, the cheap ones from Amazon should be used in afternoon, clearblue first thing in morning.
I would start testing earlier, I have a 25-30 day cycle and ovulate any day between day 10 and 15.

Do you track your cervical mucas? That should give you a clue.

In your position though I would go to the doctors and ask them to do some basic blood tests, day 3 and day 21.

The other thing you could do is start temping, take temp every day as soon as you wake up and chart it on fertility friend of a similar app and that will tell you if you ovulate as you will have 3 days of higher temperatures after. Obviously this only tells you after so you can't time dtd.

Good luck, ask if you want to know anything.

Thanks for the responses...the thread was actually very helpful to read.

Justtheonethen-I know I should be hyper sensitive in my position but am worried the doctor will shrug his shoulders as we've been trying for such a short time.

I've had a read of other threads and it does appear that ovulating 8-12 is normal so I might try one more cycle and test earlier and see how I get on.

Fingers crossed!

I.would think in your situation they would be sympathetic but you could go private for tests.

If I were you I would start using ovulation kit earlier and temp. Then you will know for sure if you ovulate.

Good luck

I have used both types of ovulation tests and agree that the Internet cheapies need to be the afternoon or even the evening (and you need to make sure you hold in your wee for at least four hours beforehand). In my experience, the IC show a positive the day before the Clearblue has a smiley face and I then ovulate the day after the second smiley.

This might be a silly question, but have you tried taking your temperature for a month to check you are ovulating? The OPKs will only say when you get the surge but not confirm you are ovulating. It could be that your surge is really short - I know of women who test a few times a day and if they are a bit late, they have missed the positive altogether.

I have got nine consecutive flashing smiley faces before from Clearblue tests but in the back of my mind I am sure you are supposed to start quite early in the cycle so they can tell what is normal and what is an imminent surge for each individual. Do you have the paperwork to check?

My ovulation day is 21 or 22 of a 31 day cycle, but I start testing from about day 10 to be on the safe side. Just because you have been bleeding, it doesn't mean that you won't get your surge during that time. And your long period could be do to with coming off contraception.