How normal is it to not ovulate some cycles?

[SunFleck]

Hi ladies. I've been using OPK sticks (both wilko and boots brands) for two cycles now. I had two consecutive days with a positive OPK result last cycle but this cycle I've had no positive OPK days despite now being on CD18 and my OPK control/test lines are both getting fainter now. I've taken this to mean I haven't ovulated this month. For those tracking/with experience tracking, do you have months ever where you don't ovulate? I guess I'm just wondering how normal this is.

How regular is your period? If its spot on then you are ovulating, you're just missing the surge which is picked up by the opk.

You can still have a period and not ovulate.
Best way to tell if you are ovulating, apart from OPKs is a Basel body thermometer.
Then you can tell if you have ovulated
It can happen tho

@SunFleck - I'm so glad you posted this as I'm in the same boat! For past 3-4 months ovulated (according to OPKs only) like clockwork but this month lines aren't getting darker and I'm on my 5th day of flashing smiley on the Clearblue one (I know for some that's fine, for me that's more than usual) so have been starting to question.

Not sure if there are reasons for delayed ovulation, or skipping altogether. Haven't been particularly stressed but was unwell last week so did wonder if that's a factor - complete guessing game at the moment!

You can ovulate but never get a positive OPK.

Thanks for replying. Unfortunately I've never been regular - I vary anywhere between 28 to 35 days each cycle which complicates timings. I'll have a look into temp monitoring. Perhaps given my cycle range I should be considering more methods.

It is normal to have occasional anovulatory cycles. I used BBT to track my cycles and I had maybe one a year. Maybe you just having picked the surge up but if it is an anovulatory cycle then don’t worry it is common!

It can be completely normal to not ovulate some months, but in my case I had high prolactin levels so although I was getting regular cycles I wasn't always ovulating and was diagnosed with a prolactinoma. I had some medication to reduce it and fell pregnant 2 months later. Most women with this condition have irregular periods or no periods, along with other symptoms. As I mentioned though in most cases skipping ovulation can be normal. We knew there must have been a problem as we were TTC for about 4 years. As pp have said the odd anovulatory cycle is nothing to worry about. I just thought I would mention it as I wish I was aware this condition existed as the treatment was straightforward and if it helps anyone then great xx

@Em4815 I also wonder if stress affects ovulation as my cycle length tends to be longer when I'm run down or stressed about anything.

It's reassuring to know what might be the reason. Fingers crossed I've ovulated anyway or this is my occasional anovulatory cycle. I'm learning so much. Thanks @LisaS88. We've been trying three cycles now and I'll be monitoring how often this happens!

Having resigned myself to thinking I won't ovulate this month (due to a 9th flashing smiley and nothing much on cheapy OPK) this morning I had a lot of EWCM. Does anyone know if this is likely to lead to ovulation despite OPKs saying otherwise? Have been DTD every other day just in case but I'm just so confused with my body this cycle!

"You can still have a period and not ovulate."

It's not a period, it's a breakthrough bleed which can be mistaken for a period. The hormone that occurs after ovulation drops off and causes your period, if you don't ovulate it doesn't tell your body to have a period and can lead to longer cycles and heavier bleeds.

Might be worth asking for a progesterone test to confirm ovulation.

However more likely you are missing the surge.

You'd have to have severe stress before it affected ovulation and in turn there'd be no periods.

Did one final test when I got back from work and it's finally static! So delayed this month ... this is all very stressful!