Ovulation confusion

[Hereiamguys123]

I'm not charting or using opks or anything. Around cd 14 I got ovulation pains but no ewcm. I was on the lookout but didn't see anything, but didn't mind as I wasn't able to DTD as DH was away anyway. Well, we dtd last night and this morning I noticed ewcm (it definitely was ewcm and not something else). I'm on cd22, but have noticed my cycle lengths do vary from 23-34 days now that I've hit my 40s.

Do we always ovulate 14 days before our next period? If I knew that, I'd know for sure that I've ovulated at this cycle day in the ppast. Im just not sure whether to write this month off or have a little hope that it worked.

I can only talk about my own experience but I did track for years as we were not succeeding in falling pregnant and I always ovulated 14 days before my periods started. There was a thread I saw recently where someone said about the stage before ovulation being longer but the stage after ovulation always being 14 days.

Extremely helpful, thank you!

Yep period arrives around 12-14 days after ovulation this can occasionally be a day shorter or longer it’s called luteal phase. The time after you finish af and ovulate is called follicular phase and this has a greater window of variation. I’ve experienced this phase being longer than usual by whole 2 weeks. (Mine was stress induced)
You might have ovulated when you felt the pains or you’re ovulating now, but stretchy cervical mucus is also common before a period.

Thank you. Makes sense that the ewcm could arrive just before my period (due in a week), its just that I've never had it before at that point. Day 14 was definitely the usual pinching and aching feeling on the left side, but then 2 days ago I had the deepest itch deep inside, like where my ovary was (and I couldn't get to it!). Anyway, that's two pieces of very useful information! Thank you!

Another question.
What happens with annovulatory cycles? When does the period arrive?

Hi OP, PP who said luteal phase is always 14 days- that’s not true. The statement about follicular phase varying is correct but many women have a short luteal phase. For example my luteal phase is usually 9-10. I think they meant to say your luteal phase is usually the same each cycle but it’s misleading to say it’s 14 days.
Is there any reason you’re avoiding using OPKs? Don’t mean to sound harsh but if you’re in your 40s, time isn’t on your side. If your cycle is irregular 23-34 days that’s a big variation you really have one idea one cycle to the next when you’re likely to ovulate?

Thanks for the info! I used to do opks etc and I'm pretty sure my luteal phase was around 14 days, when was cycle was 28/29 days. I'm not charting or using opks any more because I've already got small kids and we're just seeing what happens. If it doesn't happen that's totally fine but it's always fun to have that little glimmer of hope. If baby doesn't happen then that won't be the end of the world. I don't want to get too regimental about it when I'm open to it rather than against the clock, if that makes sense. I find it quite exciting to speculate but don't want to get too bogged down.

Wanted to add that my kids were conceived from ovulation on days 16, 12 and 13 respectively but that's when my periods were pretty regular, and I was in my 30s.