Does anyone know the answer to this?

[mum2jay]

Do you still ovulate if you don't have AF's? I'm trying to work out my cycle but don't have AF's (last one was October 2003). I want to try for a baby girl and have read on here that you have to BD before ovulation. I have also found that different books/websites are contradictory, some say that you should BD before ovulation, some say on the day. I've purchased some OPKs that have the two blue lines on, when the first line is stronger that the second it means what?? This is the right time to try for a girl OR this is the time that you are likely to be ovulating and likely to get a boy. Have DS 1 already and have no idea whether he was conceived on O day or not. (was told that I probably couldn't conceive)! Hope someone can help.

The general wisdom is to BD a few days before ovulation for a girl - the logic being that male sperm swim faster but die quicker, whereas female sperm are slower but longer living. I'm not familiar with two-line OPKs; however, it sounds like the strong second line indicates that ovulation will happen within the next 24 hours. According to the boy/girl theory above that means BDing should be a couple of days before the OPK indicates ovulation. It is a good idea to use OPKs for a few months and maybe temping as well to get an idea of your cycle, in particular if / when you ovulate. I'm afraid I have no advice about your lack of AFs - I presume you've seen a doctor about this? Best of luck - and remember, trying for a particular sex is not foolproof.

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Hi, went to hospital yesterday and was diagnosed with having PCOS. I have to wait a week or so for the consultant to get a report together and include blood test results.
Twiglett - I read on another thread that you had PCOS and it went away after the birth? I was told years ago that I may have it, when I was 18 and at the time never took it very seriously, I had DS1 in 2001 and it was never mentioned, I got pg by accident. Because of the absence of periods I have no idea how long it took to conceive. I don't know anything really about PCOS so any information/experiences are very gratefully received.x

it is still possible to conceive with PCOS - I have 2 boys as a result after taking Clomid which stimulates ovulation - some Drs prescribe this and others refer you on to a gynae clinic. I think I took it for 12 months and then 6 months - memory a bit hazy on this now, but my cycle was still quite long at around 30-35 days and I suspect I was ovulating a few days later than the textbook 14 days before AF which did not help our initial planning.

There are lots of discussions on this on MN - try to search on PCOS or Clomid - here's one for starters that I found helpful
Strange cycles/late ovulation..opinions required!

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Thanks both. I have been searching on google for PCOS and I'm confused...I didn't realise that Polycystic Ovaries and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome were different? I'm sure that the sonographer said that I had Polycystic Ovaries, is one worse than the other? I can't find anything that explains the differences or even if I have just interpreted wrong and they are both the same??? I keep seeing this endometrial cancer popping up and its really scaring me. I'm probably better off waiting until I've seen my cons but not knowing the facts is driving me mad!! I've seen some info on clomid on other threads, cons did say that he would start me off on something but didn't say what.x

According my doctor PCOS is an umbrella term and women can have it but with different symptoms having it can mean auto immune hormones are easilly iunbalance hence increased risk of ttype 2 diabeties and throid problems. It can mean that you do n ot ovulate ior body does sometimes The cysts on the ovaries are caused by excess stimulation and these can affect the natural hormone levels and can make your body reject and foetus although if you get to 14 weeks (12 weeks from conception) should be Ok Metformin can be prescribed to help regulate hormones if ttc.
I had a dd by miracle but bd everyday that month (last desperate hope before IVF

From what I remember, using OPKS isnt advisable for PCOS. I had a book which detailed why but I lent it to a friend. Anyway, rahter than OPKs have you tried temping/charting? For a girl its bding 3 days before ov I think, also DONT orgasm before dh.

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To Applepie
What mg of Clomid were you on when you concieved, I have been taking 50mg without success, but am really confused as about 10 days ago, I had a very thick mucous substance for about 4 days, then it went away. My Gynie said that she didn't think it had worked for me this month and has upped my dosage to 100 mg, on days 2-6, can you remeber which days you took it on.

I went to the see consultant again yesterday and was prescribed Norethisterone to take for 10 days, then told to expect AF two days later, on day 2 (does this become day 1 of cycle)of AF start taking prescribed Clomifene (is this Clomid) for 6 days, on days 21 go back for a blood test. I'm confused about the day after day 28, i.e. is this the day I would start taking the norethisterone again and is this day of new cycle or do I repeat last month's process and day 1 of cycle is actually day 2 of AF when I start taking Clomifene again??? The way I understand ot at the minute I have a 28 day cycle with 10 days of norithisterone in between? I'm so confused, any queries I have to see my GP but I don't have much faith in them and you can wait up to a week for an appointment. Sorry if I'm rambling a bit its just that I felt really positive last night after my appointment but today I'm full of questions??? I really hope someone can help or share their experiences. x

mumtojay - I didn't have AF's for over eighteen months and I was told I'd gone through the menopause at 22. I had PCOS and had to have a laparoscopy to burn off all the cysts. I tried everything including metrodin injections into my stomach to boost my hormones. The problem was that my hormones were already raging out of control and producing to much which is why I had the cyst problem. I eventually gave up as far as dh knew. But a consultant had told me that my body was over producing and needed to shut down for a little while. He said it probably wouldn't work but there was nothing to lose. He prescribed the pill for six months with just a break after three months and they stopping after the six. I had a period and then 20 days later felt the seering pain of what I could only imagine was ovulation. That combined with the thick mucus discharge that one of the Gynaecologists had told me about, I knew it was a chance. I never told dh and he just thought his luck was in. I now have a gorgeous six month old ds who's the light of our lives.

Good luck!