Encouraging ovulation

[Loopster]

I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and would now like another child. I was on the pill for many years before we had our little girl and it took a year to conceive with her. I took the pill again after having her but only for 2 - 3 months. I did not have a period at all for almost a year but did ovulate and had a period in January. I haven't had one since! Biggest problem is that I don't know if I am ovulating and therefore if I am pregnant. I currently have several pregnancy symptoms but tests are negative. Does anyone have any ideas re encouraging ovulation? I am about to try reflexology and have been told there might be homeopathic remedies - any advice?

Pre-menstrual symptoms can resemble what you feel when pregnant, maybe you're gearing up for another period? Don't know anything about encouraging ovulation, but have you had blood tested for hormone levels? A long time ago a friend of mine had really irregular periods and she was given a course of progesterone by her GP which successfully kickstarted things into a more regular cycle. Also there are those ovulation predictor kits at the chemists, don't know much about those either but worth a look! All the best - let us know how you get on.

Also have a look at the 'ovulation kits' thread, more info there.

Loopster, if your last period was January and you have symptoms of pregnancy, it is possible you are pregnant, despite the lack of a positive test result. I would suggest you talk to your GP. I don't think surgery tests are any more reliable than the shop-bought ones, but a referral for an early scan would tell you if you are pregnant. And you could also get referred for the sorts of tests described by sniksnak, if you are not. I recently had blood tests and a scan and these were able to tell me that I was definitely ovulating/ovaries working OK. The ovulation tests sniksnak mentions are pricy and although I have not tried them, I would guess that they are much more helpful (and economical) for women with regular-ish cycles. Good luck.

Thanks for the ideas. I have an appointment with the doc tomorrow so I'll keep you posted. Ovulation kits are for women with a regular cycle - I've looked into them! And I have have blood tests for hormone levels - all O.K.

Hi Loopster
I know all about irregular ovulation - my cycle used to vary between 30 and 55 ish days. I talked this thru with my acupuncture/homeopathy/chinese medcine practitioner ( who is also medically trained) and she suggested a homeopathic treatment which worked like a dream within a couple of months I was 30-32 day cycle every month.
You can get the medication from the nuticentre.com and they do mailorder - it's about £10 and its called Dr Reckeweg R20.
I have recently read that one cause of irregular ovulation/periods - PCOS - can be sucessfully treated by avoiding foods with a high glycemic index - someone on mumsnet gave me an address - mendosa.com which gives a full list.
Good luck!

HI Loopster,

I would also recommend alternative (or are they called complimentary these days?) treatments. I had irregular period for most of my adult life and then I started accupuncture and chinese herbal medicine and after 3-4 months, my cycle went totally regular. That was in China so I can't recommend any practitioners in the UK, but perhaps some other mumsnetters can?
As for super doses of progesterone, my accupuncturist said that would only work if your cycle was basically there but needed a jump start. If you have a fundamentally irregular cycle (and taking the contraceptive pill can cause that) then you need to address the reasons for that irregularity.
Hope that helps,
Lorien

Depending on where you are - a friend sucessfully used the Chi Health centre in London - she had NO periods when she started treatment and now has a baby girl.
Tel 0207233 5566
I think they also do outreach clinics in Birmingham

Thanks to everyone for the advice. Been to the doc today and have been referred to the Fertility Clinic, 8 week waiting list. They are now thinking along the lines of PCOS - has anyone experience of this specifically and are there any remedies - it all seems so bleak from what I've read on the net so far. As for the other remedies, thanks, I'm still aiming to get in touch with some of the contacts you mentioned for herbal remedies - even though my doc wasn't keen until I'd been to the clinic.

Hi Loopster
Ignore your GP - the consultant I saw was absolutely fine about me using homeopathic stuff as well as or instead of conventional medicine - and as I said the woman who suggested it is dual trained. Look on soulcysters.com (PCOS support site) and also on tcoyf.com the latter has SO many hits that it's a bit bewildering but there is LOTS of info on there - and you will definitely find people with PCOS on there who can give you more advice - that's where I originally found out about avoiding high glycemic index food.
I'm off to see my GP tomorrow to ask about various things - PCOS being one of them - as tho the consultant I originally saw thought I MIGHT have it it was never confirmed as I then got pregnant. We can compare notes!

Hi Loopster,

I have PCOS, started around 10 years ago and was advised then that I would probably need fertility treatment to conceive.

I don't have too many of the symptoms such as weight gain but do have few rather attractive hairs! that pop out on my chin so have electrolosys to keep them at bay.

Knowing in advance about the PCOS was useful as when dp and I decided the time had come to try for children our gp referred us straight to the clinic.

By this time I was down to about 3 periods a year, and the tests at the hospital showed dp also had low sperm motility though that did vary a lot.

However, had clomid which did nothing for me and in the end we had IVF/ICSI. We were very fortunate and now have 2 wonderful children though it has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride to get there.

I wish I had known about sites like this when I was going through the treatments and pregnancies, I'm afraid I don't have much info apart from my own experiences though I will look up the websites mentioned. I have read reports though that homeopathic remedies can help.

(Incidentally, since the birth of my 2nd child my periods have become much more regular)

Good luck.

Thanks again everyone. I will follow up all the links suggested. I have since spoken to a few people and I really feel homeopathy is worth a try. Am about to start with sepia 6c as a start. It is very general but until I have a diagnosis I thought I'd try something like this.

Bayleaf - let me know how you get on. Good Luck