Help needed re interpreting cycle.....

[Eleveld]

Please help, I don't know what is going on with my cycle.

Have always been pretty regular until last couple of months. Month before last I had a 35 day cycle.

Last month I had a 26 day cycle, with a positive OPK on CD 12.

This month I didn't get a positive OPK until CD 21 (it was also positive on CD 22).

I had a scan (to check on endometriosis) on CD 16 and he saw a follicle that was about 1 1/2 cm, he said this would probably burst and release egg shortly (but I didn't get a positive OPK until CD 21???).

I am now on CD 24 and have woken up with stomach cramps, 2 days after getting a positive OPK??

What is going on?

Thanks

BUMP

Ovulation could have been delayed for any number of reasons - not least the stress of investigations!

Going by your 26day cycle, you could probably assume a 13/14 day LP so I would keep having sex just in case but count your next AF due around CD35.

This is all based on assumptions!! BUt it gives you something to aim for in the meantime.

It sounds to me that AF will unfortunately show up soon.

Have you had any recent blood tests done to check hormone levels?. These unlike OPK's will give you an accurate picture re ovulation. Your recent u/s scan showed a very small follicle; ideally such follicles need to be 20 mm in order to ovulate.

OPK's are actually beset with problems particualarly if the menstrual cycle is irregualr in nature. These kits measure LH; they are misleading in that these assume that women only have one rise in LH every month - not true (as you have yourself seen), and that such a LH surge is followed by ovulation - again not true.

Ultrasound scans are no good at detecting any endometriosis deposits. This is often only diagnosed through laparoscopic surgery.

If you are not already under the care of a cons gynae I would suggest you see such a person asap. You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

Hi Atilla and Teuch

Thanks for that, it's helpful.

Atilla - The follicle he saw on CD16 was actually 1.75cm could it be that perhaps it will have grown to 20mm by time ovulation occurred 6/7 days later?? (if OPK was correct?).

I am under a gynae - the scan was a routine check up. I get endometriosis cysts. Had laparoscopy 3 years ago and laparotomy 2 years ago. Have scans every 6 months to check for new cysts. There is a 4cm one on right ovary at the moment (the follicle was on the other ovary) but apparently my consultant said it looks like a 'thin walled fluid filled' cyst rather than another endometria (which he seemed very pleased about). When he did the laparotomy 2 years ago to remove 2 cysts he said there weren't any other deposits or damage to the tubes. There was a fibroid but he left this because of it's position (at the top of the womb?)?

I had my first bloods taken yesterday which they are checking to confirm whether I have ovulated this month. One thing I was thinking is this - I got positive OPKs on CD 21 and CD22. They took bloods on CD23 (he said it's normally meant to be CD21 but I happened to have an appointment to see him and he said CD23 would still be OK rather than wiating till next month). So if the OPKs were right I may have ovulated at the time, or just after, the blood test. If this is the case I'm assuming the blood test won't pick it up? (does it only pick up ovulation AFTER the event?)

Thanks

BUMP