Can anyone answer this question?

Pajama Mama · #1 August 26th, 2011, 11:19 AM

OK, so this is probably a silly question but something I am wondering about. How does one know if they are for certain ovulating, if they are not working with a doctor closely and currently just trying to go the natural route.....like I am!!

As a reminder, I am 43. I do get my period regularly - usually anywhere from 25-28 days. It always lasts for 5 days and the flow is always consistently the same for the most part. Ever since my miscarriage 3 years ago, I have used progesterone cream starting from approximately day 16 thru until my next period starts. I believe I may have been deficient in progesterone and it may have contributed possibly to the miscarriage. Just a guess. Prior to starting the progesterone, my periods were sometimes irregular....as short as 19 days and other times as long as 32 days. Since being on the progesterone cream, it never fluctuates more than 3 days or so.

Anyway, all that so ask, if my periods have been regular for 3 1/2 years, always last my normal 5 days and are always uneventful and "normal", am I do conclude that I am ovulating?? Can someone my age be having normal periods and never ovulate?? OK, now this is gonna really sound dumb but why would you keep having periods if you are NOT ovulating? Don't you ovulate because an egg has been released? Isn't that ovulation? Why don't I know this!! Someone save me from my stupidity!!

I feel like I should know this!!

Thanks to anyone that can "un-confuse" me!! Good luck on that one!!! LOL

BeckyM · #2 August 26th, 2011, 12:52 PM

Ok, I'm going to try not to confuse you.

There are a few ways to find this out. Some ladies have luck using OPKs (Ovulation Prediction Kits) that you can buy, you pee on them like you would a HPT (home pg test), but they're done early in your cycle and you pee on them daily until you get a positive. You should expect to ovulate a day or so after your positive. This unfortunately doesn't work for every lady (myself included), but it seems to work for alot of them.

Another way is to simply track your cycles, using a BBT thermometer and manually or using a software track your systems. I used Ovulation Calendar and Ovulation Chart - Fertility Charting for this and they have tons of great info on how to do it. You can buy the thermometer at pharmacies, walmarts, etc., most important is that it reads out to 2 decimals points for the temperature reading. You also track your cervical mucus and position, go to the website fertility friend can explain this much much better then I can.

I personally used FF (fertility friend) and my BBT thermometer and was able to finally make sense of my wonky cycles. Mine were not as regular as yours and drove me nuts. I took my temp every morning and monitored the CM & CP. After a couple of cycles, I could see the pattern.

I hope this helps. Hang in there sweetie, it is overwhelming but we're here to answer any & all questions.

Lisap2008 · #3 August 26th, 2011, 01:02 PM

I use OPKs to determine when I am getting ready to ovulate , the only way I know of to confirm ovulation did happen is though basal body temperature shift after ovulation , or a progesterone test on cd 21 which has to be done by a doctor. there are certain signs I have in the 2ww though like breast soreness/ more fatigued then usual ,moody, which are symptoms of increased progesterone.

Pajama Mama · #4 August 26th, 2011, 02:24 PM

Hi BeckyM and Lisap2008 -

Thanks so much for all of your great suggestions and detailed information. Thanks for taking the time to explain all of that. I have tried a few of those things in the past, such as checking the cervical position and CM. I was never great at the BBT thing but it seems like that is pretty important in the fertility world. So, basically what you are saying, is if you do all of these things and have many of these indicators, chances are that you have ovulated that cycle? Another words, unless you do a test at a doctor's office or the BBT shift occurs, then the best you can do is ASSUME you have ovulated (or not)?? Is that right? Everything is based on symptoms, BBT, etc. and it becomes more detective work than an exact YES I did ovulate or NO I did not ovulate?

Since I have a very regular cycle, can I assume that I at least do ovulate but it's just a matter of when within the cylce? Or can you have a regular cycle and never ovulate?

Thanks for your help and encouragement!!!

pepper73 · #5 August 26th, 2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pajama Mama

Hi BeckyM and Lisap2008 -

Thanks so much for all of your great suggestions and detailed information. Thanks for taking the time to explain all of that. I have tried a few of those things in the past, such as checking the cervical position and CM. I was never great at the BBT thing but it seems like that is pretty important in the fertility world. So, basically what you are saying, is if you do all of these things and have many of these indicators, chances are that you have ovulated that cycle? Another words, unless you do a test at a doctor's office or the BBT shift occurs, then the best you can do is ASSUME you have ovulated (or not)?? Is that right? Everything is based on symptoms, BBT, etc. and it becomes more detective work than an exact YES I did ovulate or NO I did not ovulate?

Since I have a very regular cycle, can I assume that I at least do ovulate but it's just a matter of when within the cylce? Or can you have a regular cycle and never ovulate?

Thanks for your help and encouragement!!!

TTC is definitely a very frustrating and confusing thing, and yes sometimes it definitely feels like detective work. I agree with everything the others said. To answer your question, yes, the only ways to determine that you have definitely ovulated are charting your BBT or getting your progesterone checked and/or of course, getting pregnant. For me, personally, I use a combo of the OPKs, checking my CM, and charting my BBT. I am worthless at checking CP so I stopped bothering with that. OPK's are great because they tell you when you are about to ovulate so you can get busy DTD. The problem is that you can get a positive OPK but not ovulate. You can also have fertile CM and not ovulate. And with BBT, that only confirms that you already have ovulated, so it can't be used to predict it...if that makes any sense. Feel free to click on my chart link in my siggy so that you can see the patterns of temperatures over the last few months.

It can be hard to get into the routine at first, but after a while it just becomes another part of your life. I would highly recommend at least temping so that you can see the usual length of your luteal phase. If it is too short, then you can go to your doctor and try to figure out a way to fix it. Temping will also show you if you are ovulating and if you aren't, then that's another reason to go to your doctor. From what I understand, most times these would be easy fixes for you and both are very important when TTC.

I wish I knew more about annovulatory cycles but I would imagine that they would not normally be so regular. So, chances are...you are ovulating. But please don't just take my word for it. It's worth finding out for sure.

We will all be here to help you out if you have anymore questions. Getting started is the hardest part, but you will find that you learn more about your body than you ever imagined!

BeckyM · #6 August 26th, 2011, 06:42 PM

With you having normal length cycles, I would "assume" you are ovulating. The cycles where I never ovulated were super long.

Pajama Mama · #7 September 7th, 2011, 12:25 PM

Sorry I have been away for a little bit....thanks everyone for all of your suggestions and input......so much that goes into making a baby!!

Mom 2 Avery · #8 September 7th, 2011, 02:01 PM

I use the saliva scope OPK. I've used it for years and just LOVE it!
(It did take some getting used to, but since I can't get the temp thing together...)

I have to agree with a previous poster...my annovulatory cycles are drastically different from a "regular" cycle.

Good luck and keep us posted!
Dawna