Irregular Ovulation

[Plumchumm]

Hi,

I'm not sure exactly why I'm making this thread other than just looking for other girls who either have PCOS like me or just don't ovulate at a regular time. Partner and I are TTC and I'm currently waiting to ovulate (CD16) I usually ovulate CD20-22 (if I do!).

How do you ladies track and can you usually tell if you will ovulate this month or does it just happen/not happen randomly?

My LH tests are currently sometimes stronger, sometimes lighter. Waiting for the dark line to stay dark and get darker.

It can be so frustrating when you don't know when or how it'll happen. Partner and I do have sex regularly, but my last cycle was 100 days, so it's just annoying never knowing if it's going to happen.

Are you taking myo-inositol? It can support in regulating cycles for those with PCOS. I have PCOS and it has shortened my cycles since taking it. You can also measure your BBT as a more accurate indication of ovulation. PCOS ladies usually need to use more than one method to track ovulation due to its irregularity. Have you visited GP at all? They could suggest metformin. I was prescribed that but didn’t take it as I was worried about the side effects, but I’ve heard it is effective in regulating cycles and inducing ovulation. Hope this helps x

@CardiVee Thanks for your response. The doctor said I won't need metformin or myo-inositol. But I am currently attending the fertility clinic and will start letrozole soon, with period induction and ovulation trigger. But still need to wait a bit before treatment starts.
Since I am close to possibly ovulating, I was hoping I'll be able to catch it before our appointment.
Weird though because I hear that PCOS girls always test quite dark on LH, but mine are sooo light always.

That’s really interesting your doctor didn’t think you needed those. My doctor said they would be beneficial to regulate my sugars and reduce testosterone, which are what make ovulation irregular in PCOS. I did actually conceive, but it ended in loss. I’m doing ovulation induction, presently-on my second cycle. Best of luck with yours- baby dust to you ✨ x

@Plumchumm i have irregular ovulation. I’ve not had a diagnosis of PCOS, so I don’t know if it could be that, or if it’s to do with 2 miscarriages I’ve had in the last year.
When I first came off the pill, we were just DTD regularly and luckily fell pregnant (didn’t work out) I have just ovulated on cd34, and I wasn’t going to do LH test strips as I was feeling fed up, but I had very noticeable ewcm, so started the tests & found my peak 2 days later.

I know how frustrating it is to have long cycles, it makes it so challenging being able to give it your all over the fertile period and just ruins the romance of a relationship!

@CardiVee Thank you <3 what are you using for ovulation induction? it's actually so reassuring to know others are doing it too, as I feel like something is wrong with me sometimes for needing that. So many girls on here who just predictably ovulate day 13-14, I've never had that even from when I first started menstruating. baby dust to you too ✨

@Figtree11 that's reassuring! thanks for responding <3 I am usually a bit more optimistic, but partner and I had an ectopic back in April, which took months to resolve. And then that was when I had a 100 day cycle after which I recently had to just reset with pills. Haven't needed to do that for years, as my period was finally becoming a bit more regular at 36-40 days. So I'm just eager to get back to 'some' semblance of stability. wishing you luck on this cycle

@Plumchumm no problem. It’s hard to keep optimistic when your body isn’t doing what is ‘normal’. I’ve been feeling pretty fed up about it recently! My last cycle was 55 days long, and based on recent ovulation this next one will still be nearly 50 days! It’s disheartening.
Sorry about the ectopic, I had a 70 day cycle after my most recent loss in May, each week waiting felt like a month

I’m on Letrozole & ovitrelle (trigger shot). I’m having 2 scans per cycle. I have one on day 10 and one on day 12. My follicle is usually ready to trigger by then. Feel free to DM if you ever wanna chat about it. If you search “letrozole” on here, there was an active letrozole thread with quite a few successes 🤞

@CardiVee amazing that's what I'm about to start! letrozole with the trigger shot and the two scans. We are doing it privately. Yes I'm on that thread I think, I have never done ovulation induction before so hope I can see some results soon. My partner and I are actually willing to do IVF so trying to decide how long to give this a try first before going to IVF. And thank you for your offer, that's very kind

@Figtree11 Sorry to hear of your loss too, it's hard isn't it. Not just dealing with what happened, but feeling less confident with your body and whether it'll work. Do you have kids or is this your first?

@Plumchumm thank you, yes it’s really hard. This would be my first, I’ve not got any kids. Had 2 losses now so have very much lost trust in my body. My most recent one was a partial molar so I’m particularly worried of that happening again.
It takes away all the joy & excitement from from pregnancy now doesn’t it. Are you TTC your first?

Hi - just wanted to (hopefully provide a bit of reassurance). I've always had irregular cycles, as a teenager periods were every 8 weeks or so. Then went on pill in my 20s. Weirdly I dont have the hormone profile for PCOS (so not high LH or testosterone) but still had really long cycles when I came off the pill aged 31 ranging between 31 and 55 days. However, I conceived quickly! The first time was unfortunately an early loss, but the second time (which was the very next cycle) is now a healthy 1 year old DS! Each of these cycles would have been over 40 days, not ovulating until around CD30. I never bothered with the ovulation tests but for me I got lots of EWCM around ovulation time. I was also taking inositol for a year before TTC (OP I don't believe there's any harm taking to try and get your cycles down).

I have conceived two babies whilst having PCOS. I used to have only 3-4 periods a year.

For tracking, my endocrinologist said not to bother with expensive OPKs as PCOS causes them to be so unreliable. I had some cheap ones but found tracking cervical mucus to be the most reliable sign of ovulation.

For DD1, I was taking 2000mg metformin. I had the extended release version, which has fewer side effects. It needs a few months to kick in to be most effective. Then I did three cycles of letrozole (no trigger shot). In our trust, you can only do 6 cycles total of ovulation induction due to some thinking that it causes increased risk later in life.

For DD2, I went back onto the metformin and I also lost 12kg. She was a natural conception.

I wanted to update in case anyone else found this thread - I did ovulate (on day 19) and I conceived that cycle. :) this happened naturally right before our first Letrozole cycle was set to start. Thanks for your help everyone.