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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Cervical Mucus and Ovulation

13 replies

InMyPrime · 27/01/2010 23:08

We're trying for the fourth month running to conceive (first-timers) and I have a completely irregular cycle so it's proving difficult to figure out when I'm ovulating, if at all. Thanks to some of the advice on here, I've found the fertility friend website and have now put in all my data for the last 8 months since I started tracking my periods once I stopped taking the pill. It says I have an average cycle length of 37 days, with a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 55 days but doesn't point out when I might have been ovulating as I don't have any data on temperature or CM.

The problem is that all the fertility guides, including fertility friend, tell you to track CM and I find it very difficult to do this because I don't tend to get much of it all. Also, maybe I'm strange and have some venus fly trap uterus or something but after DH and I have sex - !!!TMI ALERT!!! - the semen often stays inside me for a long time and can seep out the next day. This means I find it very hard to track any CM and tell what quality it is as for all I know what seems like a rush of EWCM could just be the aftermath from last night's round of BD . The Fertility Friend charts differentiate between egg-white, watery, creamy, sticky etc but I'd be lucky to tell when I get any CM at all, let alone what quality / quantity it is.

I have tried checking BBT but my GP has said it's not that helpful and will just stress me out so I shouldn't bother. We're trying the 'BD every two days" at the moment but that has proved frustrating this month as I got another bout of cystitis so couldn't have sex for a few days. Could the lack of EWCM be a sign that I'm not ovulating at all?

OP posts:

hellymelly · 27/01/2010 23:13

You could try reading "taking charge of your fertility" which goes into cervical mucus/temps etc in detail.It is normal for semen to trickle out the next day,happens to everyone I think so don't worry about that. Fertile mucus is somewhat slimey,and snotty,like snot when you cry,or eggwhite .It is clear or slightly cloudy,but you can conceive on days without this as semen can wait for a bit! I would consider having some accupuncture to help regulate your cycle and improve your mucus.That and plenty of sex! best of luck.

tiredfeet · 28/01/2010 23:22

I also recommend taking charge of you fertility. The photos intheir finally made be cobfident about what type of cervical mucus was what

agree with you though that the next day after sex semen often seeps out, was a real shock when first started having sex without condoms!!

MyMyFruityPie · 29/01/2010 00:28

Hi InMyPrime I third the motion on 'Taking Charge of Your Fertility'. The author, Toni Weschler covers a lot of ground and the book is quite enlightening. I know that 4 months is not a long time but if it continues to worry you, I would see your GP. In the meantime, you may want to try 'Preseed' which is a sperm friendly lubricant/moisturiser that is supposed to mirror your CM. THe most recommended that I have seen is the tube that comes with applicators (a bit like a needless syringe). The idea is to apply Preseed about 15 minutes before bd'g. You can purchase it through several vendors on Amazon or just Google Preseed and there are a few places that come up including www.preseed.co.uk.

Good luck

Molly79 · 31/01/2010 17:08

Hi,
I came off the pill a few months ago and haven't even had a period yet! My sister in law recommended I get an 'ovulation microscope' not that expensive and really easy to use (you just have to put a but of saliva on 1st thing in the morning) when your saliva pattern changes this apparently means you are ovulating. I have been checking everyday and it did start to change yesterday so I am hopefully going to get either a BFP in a about 2 weeks or at the very least my period ... to be honest anything would be nice!! If you are finding it hard to monitor CM this would be a really easy way of tracking ovulation my sister inlaw swears by it.
Good luck x

AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/01/2010 18:11

InMyPrime,

If your periods are irregular in nature this is often caused by hormonal imbalances. In this regard there could be problems with the thyroid gland or a condition called polycystic ovaries. Both are very common and can be treated.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

With a cycle of between 30 and 55 days there is no real point in temp charting either. Its just wasting time and effort.

I'd be looking to have blood tests done as these can give an accurate picture of what your hormone levels are actually like. My guess is there is an underlying hormonal problem. BTW there is no evidence to suggest that the pill is responsible for failure to ovulate but what it can do is mask symptoms of any hormonal imbalance (that has always been present).

I'd also be writing the same to Molly

Molly79 · 31/01/2010 18:50

Thank you, but I have been to the doctors and been told not to worry it is VERY VERY common for your body to take 6mths to a year to get back to normal after coming off of the pill so I am not and would advise anyone else not to worry until they need to.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/01/2010 19:20

Hi Molly,

Actually that is not true re the pill, this leaves your system very quickly after taking the last tablet. It should not be taking this long for periods to return.

If you're not having periods at all this should be investigated properly. It is all too easy to be fobbed off and I would say you were given duff information.

hester · 31/01/2010 19:28

I ttced for ever and ever, and not once did I find CM, so sympathies. I ended up spending a fortune on ovulation sticks...

It worked in the end, though. Good luck

Molly79 · 31/01/2010 20:07

Are you a doctor Atilla?
I have spoken to many women and yes the pill comes out very quickly but it can take a while for your body to kick start esp after being on the pill for 15 years. The reason being that when you stop taking the pill , the constant hormone level that suppresses ovulation stops and your body has to start its own hormone production and some bodies need time to regain their normal rhythm. The ovary itself has to get ready so that an egg can mature and can be released. It is called post-pill amenorrhea. Some women get their period back straight away, some within 3 months and for others it can take longer. The longest I have see is 18mths and then all was fine.
I trust my doctor and have agreed to go back to investigate if there is still nothing after 6mths. I do know that getting very stressed about it all does not help at all and can in fact delay things. I would therefore just want to tell women about this and reassure them that it is not unheard of.

Effjay · 31/01/2010 20:15

I too have very irregular periods and it was nothing to do with any underlying cause - that is just how I am. I have 2 DCs now. I got pregnant when I eventually found out about how the CV changes (don't buy those ovulation kits, they are very expensive and they don't work). I looked for the 'raw egg-white' mucus every month - it took me a while to tune into it and some months there was more of it than others. When I'd tuned into my body, I knew when I would ovulate.

Mind you, if you are having sex every second day, you should have it covered ...!

AttilaTheMeerkat · 31/01/2010 20:29

No I am not but I knew you were going to ask me that question!. At least you do agree that the pill can leave the body very quickly.

I have also had post pill amenorrhea as my periods took an age to return after using it, well infact they never really did. However, in my case at least there was an underlying reason for this which had nothing to do with taking the pill at all. This is why I mention what I did; there can be other causes for periods not returning after pill usage. The pill can mask such problems.

Underlying hormonal imbalances like polycystic ovaries can be to blame; it is important therefore that the possibility of this should be investigated. Another possible cause is problems with the thyroid gland.

I would hate a woman to be told what you have only to finally be told by the gynae that the actual reason for irregularity or no periods was actually PCOS.

I sincerely hope you do not have to go back after six months.

Molly79 · 31/01/2010 20:43

Thank you, and of course there can be underlying reasons which I am very aware of as one of my sisters has polycystic overies and has thyroid problems (I have been tested for thyroid and had a scan a couple of years ago for another reason and all was fine)

Women do need to have these things investigated however I do think it is also risky to make women worry when there may not be a problem and tell them it is not normal when infact it is quite common.

I am very sorry that you found you did have a problem and I wish you the best of luck.

mawbroon · 31/01/2010 20:43

I would also second (or is it fourth!!) the suggestion that you get Toni Weschler's taking charge of your fertility book.

Not sure why your doc dismissed taking your basal body temp. True, it won't tell you in advance that you are about to ovulate, but it will show when you have ovulated (if indeed you are ovulating) which is useful information to have.

Also, checking the position of your cervix is a useful tool. Doesn't tell you a lot on it's own, but it can add another piece to the puzzle.

Good luck.

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