TTC after miscarriage - ovulation all over the place...

[Cordy]

Hello, I am new on these boards though I have been looking at all the useful info that everyone has been writing, so thank you!

I'm in my late 30s. I have one DS who took 4 months to conceive. In July 2006 I got pg again in 4 months, then mc at 15 weeks (Oct 2006) for no apparent reason (according to the consultant). I have now been desperately trying to get pg for a year but nothing has happened. Since the mc my periods have been all over the place (24 days one month, 41 the next, and anything inbetween). My DH tested okay, I have had some ok tests and a couple of day 21 progesterone tests that showed I didn't ov. Last month I repeated the prog test on day 29 (levels still low) and again day 33. On day 33 the prog levels were high enough for ov, but I started spotting/discharge the same day, which continued until my period started on day 38. Is it normal to ov then spot straightaway and have a period within a week? Going by my age and the wildness of my periods after mc, should I be battering the gp's door down asking for Clomid? I don't have PCOS or any other condition as far as anyone can tell.

Sorry about giving my whole life history but would appreciate hearing from someone who has been in a similar situation or can help me make some sense out of it. Thanks!

Hi Cordy, sorry about the MC. I had a MMC in August - had just come off the pill and fell pregnant within 3 months, this was my first pregnancy. Did scan at 8 weeks showing MMC, then had ERPC. Since then, my cycles have gone beserk. Went down from normal 27-30 days before MC, to 24 days. Had been temping and taking OPKs, and looked like I was ovulating but my luteal phase is only 8 days. Went to see a gynae who put me on Clomid immediately. He says it should help lengthen luteal phase and get ovaries functioning normally again. So started taking that 3 days ago. Have heard about the possible side effects, but feeling ok so far, and figured as I am 35 now don't want to spend months waiting for cycles to go back to normal naturally. I preferred to see a gynaecologist directly rather than seeing a GP, then waiting for a referral, so I wouldn't spend months waiting as well. Would be worth seeing a gynae, either through a referral or privately if you can.

Sorry to hear you have had a m/c Cordy. Unfortunately it is often the case that your cycles go a bit haywire afterwards. My cycles went to 70+ days long after mine last year and took about 9 months to really settle down again (as soon as they did I fell pg again and am now 31 weeks).

I would definitely go to see your GP and ask about Clomid - I did after about 6 months of erratic bleeding. I had to wait for referral to a specialist (which took a couple of months) and then they wanted me to go away and 'see what happens' for another couple of months. I fell pg while waiting for the second appt.

As you have been trying for over a year your GP should help you even without taking your age into account - please go and good luck.

I'd been wondering about this. After my last mmc in March, my cycle's have settled down into a pretty regular 28-day-ish pattern. But I don't know if I'm ovulating. A pretty dismissive consultant at the hospital said 'if you have periods then you're ovulating, but thanks to mumsnet I know this isn't always the case!

The thought of waiting two weeks to see the GP, going through the whole four-mc story (they never put it in my notes), convincing him there might be a problem, waiting for a referral, then eventually seeing a gynae is too much to bear, especially as I"m 41 and time isn't on my side. PinkP - how did you get a referral, or did you go private?

I went private (I have a generous insurance package through my employer), to an ob-gyn that a friend recommended. Could not face the thought of being told to wait some more, esp as have been charting and temping and OPKing etc since my mmc. I know I was ovulating though, because I did that.
Have also heard that reflexology and acupuncture can also help with irregular periods or lack of ov, but have no first-hand experience with that.

Thank you SO much for the advice. I was thinking of waiting for my third month's progesterone test before approaching the gp about moving things on with Clomid or getting a referral etc., but after what you said I think I'll go and see her when she's back from leave next week.

I'm so sorry about your miscarriages as well - hearbaceous, you must be so strong to cope with four and you didn't even strangle your insensitive (and misleading!) consultant! I can't believe he/she said that about periods and ovulating!

A friend who's been trying IVF has also recommended acupuncture, so I'm thinking about that though I'm terrified of needles.

Part of me thinks I should leave things to fate and be thankful for my beautiful DS - having lurked on many TTC posts I see it's so much more heartbreaking for all those women out there who are TTC for the first time! On the other hand, it's something I really want so I think I should pursue it. I don't think I've ever wanted something as strongly before!

PS: Emboldened by your messages and support, I have now made an appointment with my gp for next Tuesday.