For the Ladies~Ovulation Question - I need help!!!

[lecach]

Another website I would highly recommend - www.fertilityfriend.com. You can chart everything online and it will "tell" you when you're fertile and will read your signs and tell you when you should take a pregnancy test. They have great message boards too.

Someone mentioned that everyone doesnt ovulate at the "standard" time. With this last pregancy which gave me my son, I ovulated on day 21 of my cycle.

 

[BavarianPrincess]

I am so glad that you ordered Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It will really empower you to make decisions about this whole process. I will give you one piece of advice about the doctors- listen to your gut. My husband and I had a bad experience with one practice. We felt uncomfortable with them from the start, and we should have listened to our instincts. We wasted time and stress. It is really worth searching out someone that you trust. Good luck!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Have sex everyday, 3x's a day for 3 months. If you're not pregnant after that, you probably are not ovulating.

Sorry to make light of a serious subject, but I said that to my friend, who is now being treated for infertility, back when she first started trying, and she said it really lightened up the stress a bit, not to mention, how happy her DH would be!

 

[Jennifer S]

Chart, Chart, Chart- I swear by it. When you buy the thermometer it will have a chart in it - -you can also use graph paper. I doubt your dr. or a specialist will do anything until they see your chart. Yes it's a pain but if you really want that baby you really need to do it.

Chart and use the kits. Charting I think is more reliable and cheaper. Good luck to you. Oh and relax a little - stressing out won't help.

 

[Jennifer S]

Have sex everyday, 3x's a day for 3 months. If you're not pregnant after that, you probably are not ovulating.

That's too much. The sperm need to build up a little. My dr said every other day is best - plus sperm live a couple days. Also stay laying down for 20 min. after sex.

 

[Tracey1974]

I read the Take Charge book and used the sticks. I started charting the mucus after I went off the pill. I was off the pill for 6 months before we started. Used the sticks, did the deed when it was a dark line and found out 2 weeks after that we were pg. It worked on the first try- I'd use the sticks and RELAX! It will happen when you are not stressing. It happened that the conception date was a day that the mucus was at its highest and I had a pain in my side. TMI, I know!

Had I known how to read the pg test correctly, we would have found out the first day we tested instead of the 3rd because I didn't think the positive line was dark enough!


Good luck!

 

[mtemm]

you might try parentsplace/ivillage for support, too. I was on the ttc (trying to conceive board) for a very short time and there were lots of women there that chart, try to predict ovulation, etc. They were a wealth of information.

http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pptrying

 

[jel0511]

You probably ovulating, just not having a "good one". You could have luteal phase defect where you're not producing enough progesterone to sustain a pregnancy. Don't expect the RE to work miracles your first cycle. They'll probably want to run tests 3 days after you get your period, then during your cycle, to check how good your ovulation is. I went through this for my first child, going all the time early in the AM before work for bloodwork, wasn't easy. But it worked and I now have two children all from Clomid!!!

Edited to add: have your DH prepared that the RE probably will test him too. They always check out both potential parents to make sure where the problem lies.

 

[mrsltg]

Without a doubt, read Taking Charge of your Fertility. There can be a million things going on here and you are going to need to chart regardless. Chlomid isn't always the answer because it dries out cervical mucous which is needed to achieve a pregnancy. Also, 6 months of trying the AVERAGE. That means that out of every woman in the world, 1/2 take less time, 1/2 take more time. You're on the right track - good luck!

Erin

 

[my3kids]

Buy the basal themometer and chart the temperature every morning, before your feet hit the floor. The chart will show for sure what is going on.

 

[Minnesota!]

I'd do temperature charting. VERY cheap and pretty reliable. AND I'd go to a specialist.
I don't think you are ovulating.

I agree 100%. Your cycles can vary by a day or two, but it looks like you are TRULY all over the place. I think you should ask for some bloodwork - they can test for ovulation, as well as MANY other things.

Temping, I find, is most reliable. And SUPER cheap. It cost me $11 for the thermometer (and you can get them cheaper - just make sure they are the Basal Body Therms), and it shows a DEFINITE shift in your body when ovulation occurs.

You could have cysts, which would give you positives. You might have a progesterone deficiency (which I do), which causes short luteal phases....the time from ovulation to AF. That hinders pregnancy right there. A quick fix if that is the case - pills or suppositories (they got my son here!).

I don't believe the "stop trying and it will happen". Sometimes it does (it did for me). But, I think that when you are in the shoes you are in (and MILLIONS of other women are in, too, so don't feel alone), it is almost hurtful for someone to say that. We tried for 3 years to have my son, with 5 m/c in between. Everytime someone (I am sure they were well meaning) said "Stop trying and relax", I wanted to kick their teeth in. It's so much easier said than done.

In short - get a referral to a specialist. Either a Reproductive Endocrinologist or an OB. Ask them to run some tests. But, in the meantime, I suggest you invest in a BBT and get to temp tracking. Free tracking software at www.fertilityfriend.com

Best of luck!! PM me if you need to..

 

[7beasley]

Thanks again for all of the responses.

I have made an appointment with a specialist for Feb. 9th. I am nervous!!

I have another question re BBT - let's say I get up in the middle of the night at midnight or 2am or 3am to pee or let my dog out -- do I take my BBT then or only in the morning when my alarm goes off and I get out of bed?

I am going to buy the clear blue easy monitor as well - Amazon sells it for $150.

My specialist appointment is only for a consult - sounds like this is going to be a long road any way you look at it.

I don't need a referral with my insurance for the specialist (have a PPO) so therefore I just made the appointment without ever calling my ob/gyn. My husband thinks I should call her and tell her my concerns and fill her in on the other appointment.

I like by obgyn but I feel she has been unresponsive in the past (it takes time, wait and see, do the bbt, buy the ovulation kit, it hasn't been that long, you are still young...) and therefore I don't really feel like telling her because I think she will think I am overreacting - although I know I am not!!

Also, if I do need treatment from the specialist - what kinds of things will he do - people have mentioned blood work and a sperm count for my husband - any other invasive tests or internal tests at this stage?

 

[BavarianPrincess]

First, you will probably give a very extensive health history. We were asked to fill out an enormous packet, detailing our own health/sexual histories, and the health histories of our parents, grandparents, and siblings. The doctor will review your history, ask questions, etc. Most people are started with a sperm analysis for the husband, and a Clomid Challenge Test for the wife. The CCT is essentially a way to assess the quality of your "ovaries." I'll never forget when the nurse told me that I had the ovaries of a "MUCH older woman." If you want to learn more about the test itself, there's tons of information online. Depending on your histories, the doctor may start with other things, those are just the most typical.

As for your OB, her office is going to know, because the RE will probably want the records. I know it's awkward, but remember, it's your body, your choice to make a family, and you are the one who has to live with the consequences of whatever path you pursue.

I was just a year older than you, and also went after 6 months. Even if your OB doesn't think it's "necessary" to go now, I really can't see what it will hurt.

 

[jel0511]

Depending on your health history, probably not. I had an extensive history of irregular periods, which led the dr to think hormonal problems. After a few bloodtest confirmed it, clomid it was. If your bloodtests don't confirm hormonal problems, then you'll probaly have a hysteripologram (probably spelled that wrong), this is where a dye is injected into you and they check if your tubes are opened.

Edited to add: I went to an RE when I was 28 and we really wanted to try. I didn't wait the 6 months of 1 year either, knowing my prior history, I felt waiting would be wasting time.