I don’t think I’m ovulating.... what happens next?

[GiraffeMomma]

Hello!

This is a first post for me, I got married last year and my husband and I are wanting to get pregnant. We would have done it straightaway but I had an accident that has left me on long term sick so money is an issue. I thought I’d try to get a head start and have my fertility stuff in order for when we did start trying and I think I’ve uncovered a major issue.

I had the implant in my arm for about 11 years and had that removed in December. I never had regular periods as a teenager so had no idea about my cycle etc, I have been keeping a close eye and using ovulation tests for the 3 cycles I’ve had and so far every one I’ve done (every 3 days) is negative.

So what happens now?! Could it be due to the contraception- although everyone says the implant is back to normal straightaway? If I’m not ovulating is there a way to get me to ovulate? I’m going to track one more month and then go to the doctors. It doesn’t help that my best friend has just got pregnant on the first time of trying... I’m so happy for her but I’ll confess to having a cry every time I talk to her, I’m so so scared that this isn’t going to happen for us :(

Any help/advice/reassuring words gratefully received :)

You haven't been using the opk correctly. The surge in hormone that it detects is short. Many women use cheap opks from amazon and test more than once a day.

You're three months in... give it at least a year before you start to worry. Easier said than done, I know. And stick to the conception board.

Hi OP, as Kate says you haven't been testing correctly, you use the opk strips from about day 8-10 depending on your cycle length, and not with first morning urine. Google how to use opks. There are other physical signs to look out for and tests available but as you've only been trying 3 months it's very early days, and yes get this thread moved to the conception board. Some people on infertility boards have been trying for many years or had multiple failed IVF cycles, or are in the process of waiting for or undergoing fertility treatments. Good luck.

IF you aren't ovulating it's quite likely to be the effect of the implant that will wear off in time. You can be fertile straight after having it out, but that's not the same as saying you will be - it takes many people months for their fertility to normalise after a long period on hormonal contraception.

But mostly, yes, you're using OPKs wrong so you don't actually know you aren't ovulating - and OPKs aren't proof either way anyway. You'd be better off temping and then you'd either see a rise or not.

Mostly you're just ttc. It doesn't happen instantly in general. Be patient.

A really cheap and easy way to check for ovulation is to use basal body temping - basically taking your temperature every morning at the moment you wake up, before moving. There are apps and websites you can use to plot the temp, and a consistent rise is generally shown a few days after ovulation. It can't help you predict ovulation, but can show that ovulation has happened.

I didn't use to ovulate / ovulate regularly and this helped me to identify when / if I had. I have had three pregnancies using 'ovulation induction' processes from fertility clinic. Ironically now I've had all of the children I want, I now ovulate regularly

You’ll never catch the surge if you check every 3 days - you need to do it every day, or even twice a day in the part of your cycle where ovulation is likely (I don’t know your cycle length but you can google when to test with OPKs). That said, I have no experience of the implant but I was on the injections - similar hormones - and I didn’t ovulate for well over a year after coming off. Good luck!

Even if you use opks properly they might not give you a good result. They are really temperamental.

Download an app called fertility friend and track your cycle. Ie, length of period, cervical mucus and Basel body temp. It's a bit of work but worth it to see what's going on.

That way you will be able to see when you ovulate (you are probably later in your cycle than you think) taking vitamin b6 can help regulate.

Remember to have sex every 2-3 days from day 10 in your cycle (10 days after the first day of your period) that way you won't miss ovulation. Sperm will live inside you for about 5 days but the egg will die off within 12-24h after release so it's important that there is sperm waiting to catch it, rather than having sex on the day you ovulate, the days before are more important.

Best of luck and don't stress. Chances are you are ovulating, your cycle is probably just regulating.

Hi OP, just letting you know that we're going to move this thread over to our Conception topic - we think you'll get plenty more good advice and support there.