Worried about anovulation

[Teapig]

Hello,

Does anyone have any experience of anovulation, i.e. lack of ovulation? For the past four cycles my periods have been extremely heavy (almost the full cycle's blood passed in 24-48 hours with lots of clotting).

I went to the doctors today and have been booked in for blood tests and a scan. After lots of googling I've found that the changes to my cycle could be anovulation. DH and I have been TTC for 6 months now, I know that's not a long time but with the recent cycle changes I'm very worried I've stopped ovulating.

I fell pregnant very quickly last year (first pregnancy) but had a miscarriage at 11 weeks. We started trying again in January this year and cycle changes happened in March/April.

Does anovulation mean infertility? Anyone have any advice of experience?

Hello, didn't want you to go unanswered. I'm sorry I've not sure how much help I can be. How long are your cycles and are they reasonably regular? If so then, as a general rule, you probably are ovulating. You could try monitoring your temperature or using an ovulation predictor kit or you can ask your dr for a v simple blood test which should be done about 7 days before your next period is due. The blood test will tell you definitively if you've ovulated. Anovulatory cycles tend to be v long and irregular.

But...worst case scenario...anovulation is often one of the easiest and simplest things to treat, especially if you do have a history of ovulating. So please try not to worry, as hard as that is

Lots of luck to you x

Ps. To answer your question, yes anovulation does mean infertility - you can't get pg if you don't ovulate. But like I said, it really can be treated usually very effectively and very simply.

When ttc our first I had cycles where I wasn't ovulating.

Process of elimination was useful. I stopped taking mefanamic acid (which I took every month during my period for period pain) as some research suggests that it, and other non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen can interfere with ovulation. I fell pregnant soon after stopping taking them.

So basically I would say if you are taking anything at all in that family of painkiller for period pain to stop. Anovulation can be caused my lots of things please try not to worry.

Thanks ladies, that helps. My cycles are pretty steady between 24-27 days. I have the blood test in 2 weeks to see whether I'm ovulating and a scan to check other things too. The waiting is horrible, I desperately want to know and not be stuck in limbo.

I'm not taking any painkillers, but useful to know to avoid those. Thanks for the comments.

Everything that the very wise ladies have said above. Your doc may also prescribe Clomid to stimulate ovulation. I'm sitting here holding the week old result of a few rounds of Clomid. :)