Can you help me work out my cycle?

[MrsHende]

TTC #2 and have forgotten a lot that I read when ttc DD!

My cycle length, since I've been tracking it, has averaged out at 25 days.

My period started today and when I then count back 14 days to when I should have ovulated it is 4 days before my OPK sticks showed an LH surge.

Now, my questions!

Am I right in thinking that the vast majority of women ovulate 14 days before their period starts?

And so, as my cycle length varies a lot then is it the length of time before I ovulate that is changing?

(Is that called the luteal phase?)

Are OPK packs reliable?

Thank you for any and all advice!

[CarrotWithaTwist]

Didn't want to leave you hanging with no reply.

I'm not that experienced with these things but out of the two 'normal' cycles that I've had pos ov tests, one had a luteal phase of 14 and the other of 15. As far as I'm aware both ov and luteal timings can vary. But in my very limited experience so far,ov time has varied wildly (17 to 19 to 24) while Luteal has remained more or less constant.

OPK tests are known for messing with your head but I've found them useful. I don't know how accurate they are but got preg the first time I used one (mc'd at 7wks), after 18 months of trying I did wonder why I hadn't tried them before.

Good luck to you !

C

[MrsHende]

Thanks Carrot, I think you're right about the messing with your head!

[RaRaZ]

I believe the luteal phase should vary very little for each woman: ie if you know you've had a luteal phase of 14 days, it would be unusual for you to have another that was outside of the 13-15 day range. Normal, I believe, is 10-16 days, though less than 12 makes pg less likely.

Ovulation kits have their faults...but as far as I am aware, it's impossible for them to confuse the LH surge (as long as you're not already pg, which can apparently muddle them), so that should be accurate. Are you using a digital one with High and Peak? High is less reliable according to the careline, and if there's confusion over your cycles, you should use the one that only looks for Peak as this is almost never wrong.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Do not put undue pressure on yourselves to conceive.

It is not correct to assume that women ovulate 14 days before the start of their next period. Ovulation is not an exact science and a woman can ovulate earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle.

OPKs are not completely infallible and can mislead. A woman can easily have more than one LH surge in the month and that such surges are not always followed by ovulation.

[MrsHende]

Thanks Rara, that makes it a bit clearer.

Attila, I know you're right, we shouldn't put pressure on ourselves...I'm finding it hard to chill out about it though!! DD was hard to come by and I got pregnant the month after I stopped bfeeding her, but miscarried at Christmas. I'm very aware of my age (37) too.

[MrsHende]

Never said thank you to Attila!

Thank you all

[larlemucker]

I had a book, think it was getting to know your fertility. It helps you identify when you're ovulating by checking vaginal fluid/secretions. If I remember right your fertile stage is when the secretions are like egg white. (I could tell this as pants are quite wet, sorry if TMI!!). You should then have a period 11-15 days afterwards.
Hope that helps. We had been trying for a year, I was v irregular so read that book and conceived within 3 months

[wrighty2010]

Hi, not sure if it will help but I read a post on another site about how to tell when you are fertile its from a natural fertility expert and all about recognising our bodies signs, thought it might shed some light on what is happening for you/ \hope it helps, the link to the post is forum.prideangel.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=537 Good luck xxx