10 months in...time to give OPK a go...advice please?

[GoTheDistance]

Me and dp have been TTC for 10 months now...since coming off the pill my periods have been very irregular and can be for up to 2wks of bleeding out of every 6wks or having 3 2-day periods a month. I have tried to see my doctor but she refuses to make an appointment until we have been trying for a year and has just advised me to lose weight as I am overweight...Over the last 3months I have lost 23lbs but am still in the "overweight" category on the BMI scale.

Since I started losing weight, my periods have pretty much stopped- I have been eating sensibly and am not in any "crash diets" so don't think this is anything to do with it- and I have 1-2 days spotting every few weeks but there is no pattern to it so we've decided to try the ovulation tests (I got cheap ones from amazon rather than clear blue as the reviews seemed to suggest that they are exactly the same) and basal body temperature (in case one or the other doesn't work). The tests say to start on day 11 of the cycle but because I haven't been having proper periods, I haven't got a clue when this is...has anyone else experienced this and should I just start doing the tests straight away?

I'm hoping that, even if we don't manage to conceive while using this, as least we will have something to show the doctor if/when we go to see her in a couple of months time

[Beansprout30]

I would start around cd9 and keep testing twice a day till you get a positive, good luck!

[Sparrowlegs248]

Hello, firstly bloidy huge well done for losing weight! My fat mother suggested i should lose weight as it might be affecting my fertility. I don't think i'mm all that fat (size 14, 5'7) so ignored her......

Anyway, I am on cycle 11 and started opk this cycle. I do though have very regular, if short, cycles. 24/25 days, 4 day af. I bought cheapo opks a few months ago but never used them. I read on here stories of people testing 2 - 3 times a day, not getting a + or not really knowing if its a +. So this time i bought CB digi, not the advanced.

Started cd7 and got a + cd 8!! A whole 6 - 7 days before my app was telling me!

Maybe you could start with you ic opks now and when you think the lines ar getting darker, use a cb to check?

[blamber]

It's ridiculous that the GP doesn't even want to see you! You would expect your cycles to show some kind of regularity by now. Mine were irregular after stopping, but I was able to see a specialist after 10 months, after the GP had done some blood tests. Can you see a different GP? Some do refer you before the 12 months if something is not right. It's not just about TTC, it's also about your periods.

You could also make a private appointment, and then this doctor can refer you back to your GP if needed. Push for further investigations though!

I wouldn't recommend OPKs for now. Your cycles are off and OPKS can just stress you out if you're not getting a positive.