Day 21 blood test

[Swan15]

Hi everyone, been ttc for 7 months, I have a 2.5 year old and fell pregnant first try (appreciate how lucky that is!) I have been using opks, bbt so have a pretty good idea of when I ovulate (day 16), and my cycles are very regular 25-27 days. Got my day 21 results (done on day 20 as 21 was a Sunday) and they were 20. My gp has said this is not high enough to ovulate so has said I didn’t ovulate this month and to keep trying, and I can have further tests after 18months. Is this normal??? I feel so anxious about it now and don’t really want to wait 11 months to find there are issues, but obviously private is a very expensive option if it is just a one off and totally normal that I didn’t ovulate this month. It’s also worth adding that I get ovulation cramps on day 16 each month . Thanks so much in advance for any advice x

How old are you?? And yes, it's normal.

I was turned away after 13 months ttc as I'd had two chemicals in that time.

80% will conceive in a year. I think 50% will conceive in a n 5 months - so you're just beyond that.

I am surprised they won't do another day 21 next month. But it is pretty normal to skip ovulation once or twice a year.

Thanks for the reply, I’m 31. I think I would be so much more relaxed about it all if they just did another blood test. I suppose I will have to just keep trying as my doctor helpfully suggested! Sorry to hear you got turned away

7 months is not long, though it can feel like it. It's normal not to ovulate each month, but it's strange to offer the test and not repeat it when results are negative.

The day 21 tests should be 7 days after ovulation, 21 is an average. So 20 is about right based on your cycle length but maybe a little early based on when you believe you ovulate (in which case your luteal phase may be a bit short). Cramping can occur post ovulation though, not necessarily on the day itself.

Have you tried tracking your temperature? It's supposed to be more accurate than opks which can't confirm whether you actually ovulated. The fertility friend app is good for this. Remember 7 months unsuccessful ttc is perfectly normal though.

Hi OP, we hope you don't mind but we're going to move your thread over to our Conception topic.

Sending good wishes

Hi I got a reading of 20, and they said it was indicative of me not ovulating, but I was sure I was ovulating (like you, tracking BBT and using OPKs). They wanted to put me on clomid but I insisted on another blood test first and it was 30 the second time (I'm 39 so things move faster when you're old).

I think if your BBT is slowing a clear rise and it's matching up with OPKs and other signs, then you are ovulating and you should just keep trying. Sometimes it just takes a while!

Once you've been trying for a year the next steps would be to check your tubes with an HSG and have an ultrasound to check your ovaries. Hopefully you conceive before then, good luck!

Thanks for your responses everyone. I was due on my period yesterday but nothing yet. 2 BFNs down the line, I am never late, always on time or maybe a day early on one occasion since I’ve been tracking. Can not ovulating delay your period? I’ve tried googling but Can’t seem to find a definitive answer!

Yes. It's called an anovulatory cycle and they are very normal once or twice a year. Might explain your day 21 result this cycle!

Ahhhh okay so does that mean I won’t have a period? I’ve had sore boobs for about a week now, the dread of it coming is horrible! But that does help explain things after reading up on it, thank you

You will probably get a period. If it's an anovulatory cycle, no one can tell you when. You may have just ovulated later than you usually do, which will cause a late period too. Sore boobs makes me think you ovulated late potentially (which wouldn't have been picked up when you had the bloods).