Period late, weird symptoms but negative test - could it be false?

[CC81]

Hello, I'm 38 and been TTC for a few months (after first child born in 2017).

I use an app to track my cycle and it's usually roughly 26 days, although often varies by a day or two. Now on day 30 and no sign of AF at all. This is different to recent months, as I usually get spotting a few days before. However, I've had some digestive weirdness and generally feel a bit strange... could be hormone-related?

Took a test yesterday (cheap strip type - don't want to waste the posh ones yet!) and it was DEFINITELY negative - no sign at all of a second line.

So... do you think it's just my cycle being weird? Or is there any possibility of pregnancy, but HCG levels aren't high enough yet?

I've been quite stressed this month, so I didn't think there was any chance of success (and it's another reason my period could be late). Because of my age, I'm super-paranoid about fertility :(

However, I had an LH surge around the expected time (positive OPK).

If anyone can offer any advice/opinions, I'd be very grateful.

Stress can definitely affect your cycles, so if you've been having a particularly stressful month (especially in the follicular phase) then I'd expect your cycle to be longer. You said you don't think there's any chance of success, did you DTD around the time of your OPK peak? Or had you missed it this month?

How long have you been off contraception? That can also take some time for cycles to settle out which can throw odd cycles in around the 3 month mark.

@PlanBea - Thanks for your reply :)

I got a positive OPK (dark line!), the day before ovulation was due (according to my app), so things seemed to be on schedule there.

Is it still possible to ovulate 'late' after that, and thus delay everything else?

We've been following the SMEP routine, so DTD three nights in a row upon getting the positive OPK, then had a night off, then one more time. Before the OPK we'd been DTD every other night.

I haven't used the pill for years - we just used condoms before TTC!

I don't have a lot of experience on OPKs but it sounds like that was the ovulation date. I'd say you're not out for this month until you get your BFP or AF.

It could be that the cheapie isn't sensitive enough to pick up HCG levels yet. Wait as long as you can and try again with a FRER. I've also heard second morning urine is actually more sensitive than first morning, or a 4 hour hold without drinking.

Spotting can be a sign of lower progesterone which is something to bare in mind if you also have short cycles. Do your periods last 3+ days?

The waiting is the worst, you have my sympathies!

My advice is to wait a few days, ideally a week - testing won't change the outcome. I found my cycle began to change in length around that age, occasionally I would have a 5 week cycle, other times 20 days. I didn't actually do a pregnancy test, I just waited until 6 weeks and called the dr, the midwife did tests anyway.

@PlanBea - That's helpful, thank you.

I've wondered about low progesterone, but don't really understand what it means for fertility! My periods usually last 4-5 days. My cycles are around 26 days, with some variation. This month I've had no spotting at all, so I wonder whether that's significant.

I had a day-21 test for progesterone last summer, because my cycles had been a bit irregular (after stopping breastfeeding) - and the doctor said the results were "consistent with ovulation".

I breastfed my first until she was 13 months (Dec 2018) and then had irregular cycles for several months. They then seemed to settle down.

@okiedokieme - Thanks - I'm thinking about waiting until Saturday (day 33) to test again, if AF hasn't started by then.

I guess it's difficult because I lack confidence about success this month, so getting the negative on day 28 'confirmed' my pessimism!

@CC81 I'd worry if you said you only had a 1 or 2 day period but 4/5 sounds standard. I take it they aren't overly light either?

Progesterone is the hormone that keeps the endometrial lining of your womb all plump and fluffy. Low progesterone makes it harder for the egg to implant or can increase risks of chemical pregnancies. Spotting happens because the lining starts breaking down early because the progesterone isn't keeping it all plumped up. If your CD21 came back positive it's a great sign! You can help it along a bit with plenty of leafy greens, oily fish, eggs, almonds, and dark chocolate to give it a bit more of a boost but it doesn't sound like it's essential. Look up "progesterone boosting foods" for some more examples.

@PlanBea - Thank you! Your knowledge is so much better than mine!

The test was a year ago, so of course I worry things might have changed since.

My periods aren't light at all. And I think I've always had occasional spotting pre-period (even before we conceived first time).

It's just I'm now super-vigilant about everything and probably reading into every detail way too much!

Hi, what was the outcome as i am in the same boat?

Thanks

@S2695

Hi, what was the outcome as i am in the same boat?

Thanks

@S2695 - This thread only started today, so the outcome isn't yet known!

@cc81 ooops sorry!! I’m new to all this lol

Hello! I’m feeling exactly the same. I’m now 7 days late and my doctor did a blood test today. I definitely ‘feel’ pregnant, just want to know one way or another!

@S2695 - No probs! I'm quite new to it, too It's frustrating not knowing what's going on.

@Fishcakes81 - Is the blood test for pregnancy, or checking other things? Hope you get a good result, either way.

Were you born in 1981? I was! That's why I'm worried about fertility, on top of this wonky period issue. I wish there was a quick way to find out if anything is wrong!

@CC81 good morning! Yes it was for pregnancy and he said he will check a few other markers too... fingers crossed as I did a home one this morning again and it was negative.
1981 yes! A great year to be born. I totally share your worries and frustrations, I guess that’s why I’m trying again 7 months after having my DD by c-section. My OH really wants a big family so we are hoping....

I really wish you so much luck!

@FISHCAKES81 - Good luck to you, too! I'd be interested to hear the outcome of your tests - I'm wondering if I should request some. My progesterone test was a year ago; and other things may have changed since.

We conceived our first straight away (in 2017), so I didn't go through any of this dithering about. I think that's why I'm panicking a little.

Curiosity got the better of me and I tried another cheap strip test this morning (day 31)... still definitely negative.

If AF hasn't appeared by Saturday I'll try a ClearBlue digital test. Then if nothing has happened by next week, probably time to book a GP appointment.

Update! I took a digital test - also negative. So that's that.

Still no period (day 34)... which makes no sense, as I had a positive OPK on day 14... which would mean a luteal phase of at least 20 days... which I didn't think was possible?

Worried now that I didn't ovulate (despite positive OPK) - hence fertility worries :( Why now, after a year of pretty regular cycles???! :(

Update from me - my period arrived 6 days late and has been the moat painful and heavy with clots i have ever experienced. I have never suffered period pains and have a generally normal flow (tmi). They usually last 3 days but im on day 4 of bright red loads of blood still. All my “pregnancy” symptoms disappeared and throughout all this my temp has been high. Very strange and not normal. Part of me thinks chemical, early miscarriage? I dont know much as wasn't planning a baby yet!
I have been really ill this month with im not sure what (negative covid, neg strep throat and neg goandular fever) so im thinking maybe my immune system is down and my body is reacting like this but honestly it is all very strange!

I got negative pregnancy tests until day 42 with my first child! I kept doing tests and they kept coming back negative so I went to a wedding and drank way too much wine. Then finally got a positive on day 42. I hadn’t done any OPKs or anything so I assume I had just ovulated late.

Fingers crossed for you OP and sorry to hear your situation S2695.

@CC81 it's more likely that you ovulated 'late'. Your body was probably gearing up to ov when you tested, but didn't complete. You probably then ov'd the following week.

It's annoying but completely normal.

How many days late are you now?

@S2695 sorry to hear about your AF being rubbish. With chemical or early mc you generally would get a positive test followed by negative. If you didn't get a positive pregnancy test then It's unlikely you have been pregnant this time.

Try and think of it as your body having a good clear out ready to start again this month!

@YoBeaches - Thank you. I'm now 9 days late based on my average cycle (26 days - it's now day 35).

That's what I'm unsure about, with ovulation - I hope ovulation was delayed, rather than missing! I know the LH surge is just an indicator, but can it happen twice in one month? Or can ovulation happen more than 36 hours after an LH surge?

@Egg - That's really interesting, thank you! If my period doesn't start soon I'll definitely test again (will also make a doc apt).

@S2695 - Sorry to hear things have been difficult. I wish our bodies would act normally!

@CC81 yes it can, even one or two weeks later as you simply get a second surge, but you don't test for it as you didn't know to expect it (!).

My longest cycle when ttc was 38 days, I normally had a bang on 28 day clockwork cycle - but weird stuff happens for no reason when ttc....

@YoBeaches - Thank you - that's very helpful :) I'm quite naive about a lot of TTC issues!

I now feel a little better about the situation. I did actually have some EWCM around day 25, which seemed random - so perhaps that was it!

It's frustrating that we weren't DTD at that time, assuming the second surge happened. I'd decided not to, because in previous months I'd had spotting before my period - and wasn't sure if it was related to slight bleeding after sex (which I've sometimes had), or alternatively a symptom of something else - so I didn't want to confuse matters.

It's taught me a lesson about not sticking too rigidly to TTC 'plans'. I've been following SMEP... which I still intend to do, but maybe won't stop so soon after I think I've ovulated. If my cycles continue, that is.