Ovulation Q's

[Hayeser]

We've dealt with infertility for years.   Last month I had my first period (without medication help) in 10 yrs.  I could tell something was different last month and then I got my period.  we're happy about this since we're TTC. So this month I've been taking OPK tests twice a day since day9.  Now I'm on cycle day 14 and still nothing.  here are some questions I have:

- can OPK tests be wrong....even if I'm taking them twice a day?

- can I have the EW mucous that usually accompanies ovulation and not be ovulating??

- should I keep testing twice a day?

thanks

[RosieL]

Ovulation happens at the end of your ewcm, so if you have ewcm now, I'd expect you to ovulate in the next few days. OPKs can be wrong, but you are upping your chances or catching the LH surge by testing twice a day. I usually ovulate around CD19, so it's not very late. Are you temping? I didn't at first, but it's nice to have two good measures of ovulation (I'm not good at CM tracking).

[JMJ]

Yes, OPK tests can be wrong and are wrong very often, especially for people who do not have textbook cycles.

Yes, you can have EWCM and not ovulate, but if you are TTC, the best time to try is when you have EWCM.  It keeps the sperm alive longer to help you to conceive.

As to whether or not you should continue using OPK's every day, that is up to you, but if your body has not been cycling naturally, it could get quite expensive without helping.

Do you know what is causing you to not have natural periods?  When you ovulate, that is always followed by a period  (if you are not pregnant), so if you are not having periods, that means you have not been ovulating.  If you finally ovulated and had a period, that is a very good sign that things are getting better, but I would be surprised if you went straight from not ovulating at all to normal, textbook cycles.  It could happen, but normally your cycles would get progressively better over time.

It might be helpful for you to chart your temperature and CM (and anything else you want to chart).  Assuming that you may be about to ovulate any time you have EWCM is a good way to go for TTC.  If you notice a temperature rise around the same time as your EWCM dries up suddenly, you can pinpoint ovulation pretty well and establish a due date based on that information.  This will be much more accurate than using your LMP if you do not have a textbook cycle when you get pregnant and prevent the need for early ultrasounds to date your pregnancy or pressure to induce if you conceived later than your care provider thinks.  There's a lot of people here pretty adept at helping with charting and interpreting your chart, so holler if you ever need help.

[RosieL]

Just in case you're not familiar with charting, FertilityFriend (http://www.fertilityfriend.com/) has an email "course" to get you started. The book Taking Charge of Your Fertility is the next level, and has a lot more useful information.

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by Hayeser 
- can OPK tests be wrong....even if I'm taking them twice a day?

- can I have the EW mucous that usually accompanies ovulation and not be ovulating??

- should I keep testing twice a day?

OPK's can definitely be "wrong" and confusing, especially if you're using the straight +/- kind (or smiley face kind) as opposed to strips that get gradually darker as your LH surge builds.  The strips get darker and darker as your approach your peak surge and then lighten again.  They are only considered "positive" if the test line is darker than the result line.  If they are working properly for you then you can see your surge building and peaking.  Generally you ovulate 24-36 hours after the peak.  Testing twice a day once the test line is darkening will increase your chances of catching that peak.  But, personally I would not rely on OPK's b/c they are so expensive, difficult to interpret (especially if you get half dark lines and other ambiguities), and don't actually tell you if you're ovulating.  They can be a handy secondary tool when charting IF they line up with your other fertility signs, but it would not be my advice to solely rely on OPK's while TTC with irregular cycles. 
 

You can absolutely have an LH surge and get creamy and eggwhite CF and not actually ovulate.  This is particularly common in women that have irregular cycles and even more common in women that have PCOS (I am wondering if you have any other symptoms of PCOS since you mentioned you haven't had AF in 10 years?).  But it can also happen anytime your ovulation is delayed.  Many ordinary things (vs. a chronic fertility condition) can delay ovulation: illness, injury, travel, stress, strenuous exercise, poor diet, etc.  Your body can gear up to ovulate, showing the typical signs, not succeed and then try again in a few days or weeks.

It would be my advice to chart your temperature and cervical fluid.  Temping is the only way to know for sure if you are ovulating.  A temp spike will indicate ovulation and if it's nicely lined up with fertile cervical fluid and when you DTD then you know you have a chance that you conceived.  If you're interested in charting, I highly recommend reading Taking Charge of Your Fertility and logging your data on a free site like fertility friend so you can share your charts on this forum and we can help you decipher anything that is confusing.  

Good luck!

[Hayeser]

you guys are awesome.  thanks for all the thorough answers....so kind.

today is day16 for me and I'm starting to see a faint second line.  I thought my eyes were tricking me yesterday when I thought I saw a 2nd line, but today it's obvious that there's a 2nd line coming up.  Is it going to take another whole day to be positive?  or does it happen in a matter of HOURS??   this is all so new to me....I can't believe my body is actually WORKING. hahaha

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by Hayeser 

Is it going to take another whole day to be positive?  or does it happen in a matter of HOURS?? 

It really depends.  It could be positive this evening, it could take another few days, or it might not turn positive at all at this time.   If it were me, I'd run out and get a basal body thermometer at your local drug store and start temping tomorrow morning.  You might be able to catch your O spike along with your OPK's and that would be great information to have.  Take your temp first thing in the morning, try to take it at the same time each day (within half an hour or so), and try to take it after having at least 3 hours of solid sleep.   Some women are more sensitive than others to changes in time and sleep so when you're starting out it's best to try and keep things as consistent as possible.

[JMJ]

It varies by person.  It could be that you're getting ready to ovulate, and the LH is building, and you could have a positive OPK in the next few hours or days, or it could be that your body is doing something that is causing it to have enough LH to show up on the test, but it may not be related to ovulation.  Only time will tell.  Do you have EWCM?  It can't hurt to try just in case.

[mandyjp]

Ok- you sound  JUST like me! I took three tests a day, b/c you CAN miss the surge very easily.. it wasnt until 17 that I got a faint line, and day 18 that i had a surge, around 2p.m.  SO don't wuit testing ;)

[Hayeser]

ACK!!  I'm back....hopefully with my final question on this.

I'm having a dull ache in both ovaries right now....but mainly in the right one.   I got a positive OPK test at 1pm today.   DH is already asleep.  Ugh!   Should I wake him to DTD or do you think we could wait until 6am to DTD and still be ok????

Help!!!  I don't wanna miss my window.

thanks a bunch, ladies!!!

[Jaimee]

If the OPK is working for you, you will likely O with the 24-36 hours after the OPK+.  The egg then lasts 12-24 hours after O.  So you should be fine tomorrow morning.  But I just have to say, I don't think your dh would be one bit upset to be woken up for DTD tonight!