Early pregnancy signs- are we testing too early?

[Raindrop25]

For context, my girlfriend and I have been trying to conceive for around two years now. We had a miscarriage 18 months ago and since then found out my girlfriend had a few health issues like a high thyroid level (which has now been sorted) but perhaps more importantly she didn't ovulate regularly. She also has PCOS.

As of March this year, she has been taking Clomid. It worked in March, but not April. But then she ovulated in June and July after the dose was upped to 100mg. This month, however, she has been getting what could be described as pregnancy symptoms.

She's due to have her period tomorrow, but six days ago she began having cramps, pain on her right side near the belly, back ache and pain at the back of her thighs, as well as a hot flushes, sickness (though just feeling queezy, no vomiting) and loss of appetite. Her boobs also feel bruised.

When she does get her period, she often gets cramps a day or two prior, so for these cramps to crop up this early and linger is definitely not normal for her.

She ovulated 12 days ago for context and we have tested a couple of times this week included an early detection one this morning which was negative.

Are we testing too early? Does anyone else here have a story similar to this?

Hi @Raindrop25

I would recommend not testing anything before 12DPO. At 12DPO+ use a sensitive test (Clearblue Early Detection or First Response Early Response) with first morning urine.

I would also get in touch with whoever prescribed Clomid, especially as her dose was increased. Some of what you're describing could be ovarian overstimulation and that can be serious.

Lastly, in general it can be very hard to differentiate pregnancy 'symptoms' from premenstrual symptoms. The general rule is if you are pregnant enough to have symptoms from it, you're pregnant enough to test positive.

Thanks for the reply.

Yeah she has done the FRER and clear blue and still negative, could there be a chance that she still could be pregnant though or would it be positive by now?

Can you also explain what ovarian overstimulation is? She has day 21 bloods taken each month which has come back that she has ovulated at a good level.

Thanks again!

Overstimulation can basically happen if fertility drugs upregulate the hormones too much. See here for info www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome-ohss/symptoms-causes/syc-20354697 more common with IVF meds but possible on clomid and it does say that leg pain should be checked out.

There are 2 possibilities regarding pregnancy: She is or she isnt. Some people wont test positive at 12dpo so there is hope. If at 15dpo she still has no positive test or a period appears, then Id consider you out this month