Am I just not ovulating?

[PlateSpinner23]

Hi all - I'm 38, nearly 39. DS will be 4 next week. Been ttc #2 for just over a year. Early losses in March (chemical) and July (mmc) last year. Husband doing initial sperm tests for fertility clinic in a couple of weeks before we start down that route in earnest...

I feel like the issue is I might not be ovulating properly. I'm cd21 today, and have had a few signs of EWCM over the past 10 days, but consistently negative OPKs. Any idea how this could be? What's causing ewcm if not the hormone that should show up on the pee sticks?

My cycle can be long, up to 42 days, so maybe I'll ovulate later this week or over the weekend. Just curious to know if anyone has the same experience, what fertility clinic might tell me, a general handhold...!

I had an ultrasound of my ovaries around a year ago, and they said there were cysts on one of them, but no other symptoms of PCOS.

Thanks. Xx

Image of this month's OPKs so far.

Hi Op, so sorry for your losses.

I wonder if you surged on the afternoon/ evening of cd18? I am far from an expert but my surge happens really quickly, and is back to negative again within 12 hours. I know some people get gradually rising opk’s but that doesn’t happen to me, mine are low, then surge and back to low again all in less than 24 hours. Could be the case for you too?

Hey OP!

I agree with pp that you could have perhaps had your surge there on CD18 but just not got it on the test. I read up that it doesn't necessarily have to be positive you catch, you just need to track and find your peaks

However if you do feel you don't ovulate I'd be contacting GP and getting some 'day 21' bloods taken and they can give a more accurate result of if ovulation has occurred
You could also try basal temping which could help as well

I tried these test strips before and I found them to be massively inaccurate. I would get the easy at home strips instead. I was getting such faint lines on those green ones I couldn't read them. Plus you can use the easy at home ones on the premom app so it's a lot easier to track. Either that or maybe try tracking with your BBT?

Just to add I also agree with @hayfield , I know these strips work for some but I think I had a dodgy batch and didn’t get readable lines at all. I also got the easy@home ones and found these much more reliable

I'd continue tracking for ovulation.
I have quite long cycles and ovulation always varies.
You could ask for a progesterone blood test to confirm ovulation. This would be more reliable than the tests. It needs to be taken 7 days before period