Regular periods - am I probably ovulating?

[AmyD54321]

Hi everyone.
I’ve been TTC for 8 months. Using ovulation tests for the last 3 months (cheap to start with, then digital this month).

I’ve been using the digital tests every morning following the instructions. I sometimes test again later in the day with the cheap stick. I’ve never seen a positive over the 3 months I’ve been testing. Obviously haven’t got pregnant yet either. My periods are regular 31-33 days, every month.

I really don’t know what to do. The tests suggest I’m not ovulating, but I thought regular periods mean I probably am? I do get all the usual signs, cramps, cm, etc, but never a positive opk. I have pcos, which is probably relevant… Any advice? Thank you !

Do you you still have to try for 12 months before going to the GP ?

@GeneLovesJezebel

Do you you still have to try for 12 months before going to the GP ?

I saw my GP six months ago which is when they diagnosed pcos. They told me to come back after a year. I think I will call next week and explain that I’m not ovulating…I know there’s something wrong, so aimlessly trying feels frustrating!

I only used them once for one month while trying to get pregnant and never got the static smiley face and that month I fell pregnant so I did ovulate. I think it's easy to miss the surge.

@JellybabyGina87

I only used them once for one month while trying to get pregnant and never got the static smiley face and that month I fell pregnant so I did ovulate. I think it's easy to miss the surge.

That is reassuring! All I get is the flashing face for weeks until my period arrives - a very frustrating waste of money!

I have PCOS too, and I was the same. I kept up using the tests and discovered that on average I was ovulating one month out of four.

It took 18months but we did eventually conceive 😊

We didn't use any medical help, but we might have done had it gone on much longer. I'm 34.

I made a big effort to eat well and exercise. I hate the gym so that was just running, walking every day, and tennis. I also saw an Ayurvedic practitioner who I thought was great, started acupuncture, and I know this sounds weird but if you haven't been to the hygienist for awhile, go and get your teeth deep cleaned and then keep on top of it (privately if poss, the NHS dentists don't quite do the same job).

That's my two bob!

I actually also think the cheap tests are better as PP said it's easy to miss the surge with digital, whereas with cheap tests you can really start to see a pattern emerge.

I thought Fertility Friend was absolutely bloody amazing as well.

@SamuraiPizzaCats

I have PCOS too, and I was the same. I kept up using the tests and discovered that on average I was ovulating one month out of four.

It took 18months but we did eventually conceive 😊

We didn't use any medical help, but we might have done had it gone on much longer. I'm 34.

I made a big effort to eat well and exercise. I hate the gym so that was just running, walking every day, and tennis. I also saw an Ayurvedic practitioner who I thought was great, started acupuncture, and I know this sounds weird but if you haven't been to the hygienist for awhile, go and get your teeth deep cleaned and then keep on top of it (privately if poss, the NHS dentists don't quite do the same job).

That's my two bob!

That’s really interesting! Especially the hygienist…I’m ashamed to say I haven’t been to the dentist in 4 years (blaming the pandemic..) so that’s something to sort next week.

On the months you weren’t ovulating, did you get any normal ovulation symptoms? What’s confusing me is that every month, I get all the usual symptoms to suggest that I am ovulating, but it’s just the tests are always negative.

I also have pcos and cycles around 33days, I used the cheap one step Opks and tested twice a day with them from the day my period ended. I never ovulated on cd 14 it was always random when I ovulated which is why I tested so much. And with the cheaper ones I could see when I was about to ovulate as the lines would get darker until it was really dark and I knew I was ovulating. I always did the deed when I knew I was leading up to ovulation as well xx

Yes I did get symptoms! I could see from using the cheap tests that my body was attempting ovulation but it wasn't achieving lift off. So the lines would get a bit darker but not dark enough and it would sort of drag on. Months I ovulated I got a definite peak so could see the difference. I don't think it's uncommon actually!

There's fabulous episode of this podcast to explain the dental thing better than I can!

open.spotify.com/episode/2dQnIhwcZTRx0f90kpsnXf?si=jFXa9vuZRJqXlBJrjz8tHA&utm_source=copy-link

I do love all the alternative stuff, I know it's not for everyone, I just think it's really nice to be able to focus on things you can control before or while you are waiting for medical help if that's what you want.