Periods but not ovulating!

[winrol]

Hi all, I was looking for some advice.

I am having regular periods now after coming off of my pill a year ago. However I don't seem to be ovulating?

I have been doing ovulation strips, and every single one is negative. According to my flo app today is the last day of my fertile window but I have not ovulated and have been doing the strips since the day I finished my period.

I have had faint lines but no where near as dark as the control line, and today there is no line at all.

I am at my wits end and don't understand how I could not be ovulating? Are the strips reliable? I have done one every day for the last 2 weeks or so.

Any advice or experiences welcome x

These strips aren’t accurate at all. I never had a positive ovulation test while we were TTC and I was at my wits end but my 1 year old DD shows that I clearly did ovulate it just didn’t show up! Have you looked for other symptoms of ovulation other than the strips?

I am using the clear blue digitals which are brilliant. Much easier than judging a line. Also you could try bbt, can seem daunting if you’ve not done it before but it really is so simple. There is a clear rise in temperature the day after ovulation. Will attach my chart for reference.

Hey, if you think you are having anovulatory cycles there is testing you can get done to confirm. Your GP should be able to run "Day 21" progesterone test. I would also second BBT as temp can give you an indication to overall health as well as ovulation eg could be hypothyroid or something. Some people get a really rapid peak with the strips so it could be that you do ovulate but you miss your peak if you only test once per day in the morning -- maybe try testing twice a day around the time ovulation should be.... wishing you all the best - such a hard journey! If you aren't ovulating you could have PCOS and there are lots of supplements and medications that can help with this!

Aww thank you so much for the helpful advice everyone!

I have tried bbt which did show a spike a few days ago, and I have noticed other symptoms of ovulation. It's just the ovulation strips that are always negative. I have been doing one a day at around 3pm so maybe I have missed it

There are other factors such as the sensitivity of the tests and the timing of your test.

Generally best to test with your 2nd pee of the day - say around 10am-2pm.

Mine always works best with 1st mornings urine x

How old are you? Only reason I ask is I saw a gynaecologist after 40 who explained at this age is normal to have a period and not ovulate as it's normal to 'over' ovulate where multiple eggs are released.

She prescribed medication to stimulate ovulation and I got pregnant! So even if you are not ovulating - there is hope!

However as others have said - there is a simple blood test that doctors can arrange to check. And is a normal first step when checking if you have been trying for a while

I found temping much more reliable than opks. It took over 6 months for my cycle to become something akin to normal (after having been on the pill for over a decade) and the month that I got pregnant I knew/had a feeling that I was before I could pick it up on a test as my body temp had stayed high whereas it normally dropped down after I'd ovulated. Like you I didn't really get a REAL positive with the strips and I wasn't prepared to pour money down the drain buying Clear Blue ones. I was given some left over ones from a friend and never got a positive on those either.

Sorry I should have mentioned I'm 26.

I was on the pill for 10 years, came off a year ago. But this is my first month using ovulation strips x

It would be worth asking to be referred for tests with a gynaecologist. I was mid-30s when I discovered I had virtually no ovarian reserve left. If I hadn't had tests I wouldn't have known as I still had regular periods - and still do 10 years later!

@HoHoHoliday that's really scared me! What happened afterwards if you don't mind sharing? Is there something that they can help with? X

@winrol i went to a private clinic to get a fertility mot done, put my mind at ease that everything was as it should be

Nothing happened afterwards, sadly. I had the tests done because I was trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant. The tests showed I was not ovulating because I had no eggs left. I went on to try IVF using donor eggs but that didn't work either unfortunately.
It was sad and scary but at least I knew what I was dealing with. You may have the same or may be completely fine. At least if you get yourself checked properly then you'll know.

@4LeafCloverBaby thank you, I might do the same just to check x

@HoHoHoliday I'm so sorry to hear that you went through that, it must have been very hard. Im only 26 and came off my pill a year ago but my periods have only regulated properly in the last few months so I'm gonna hope that everything is ok, but I agree probably best to get checked in case

What day in your cycle are you? You might just ovulate later in your cycle than the average person, and if this is your first cycle tracking you might not have realised this yet?

When I first tracked I was shocked to find out that I ovulate day 19-21 of a 30-31 day cycle. I have successfully conceived 3 times, regardless of the short luteal phase.

I used the clear blue digital ovulation tests, yes they are more pricey but for me they were worth it to gain an understanding of my cycle. I had plans to then move to the cheaper strips once I had that understanding, but didn't need to as I had already conceived.