TTC #2, BF twice a day, get EWCM, used OPK's but always negative, am I ovulating??

[fairysnuff]

Help?
If the OPK's come back negative, how do you know?
We tried BD when EWCM appeared but AF arrive after cd40! (and a lot if BFN's!)
Don't want to spend a fortune, OPK's were from ebay, also don't want to stress to much but Do want a BFP!!

[fairysnuff]

bump?

[PiggyPenguin]

Wish I could help but unfortunately I just popped in to say I wish I knew the answer to this too. I haven't seen any positive ov results this month but have had a few days of ewcm, does this mean I ov'd or not?

I will sit here with you until someone can come and put us both out of our misery.

[fairysnuff]

Can anybody help us??

[tori32]

Are you having periods? As in reasonable length etc?

[tori32]

PS can you explain the abreviations to me!

[fairysnuff]

I was trying to talk the talk!

EWCM, sticky stuff that is good for the wee boys to swim in
OPK Ovulation prediction kits, to tell you when an egg is ready to hatch.
and BF Breast Feeding.

The shortened versions are everywhere, I was trying to be down with the kids. haha

Yeah, I was on the pill for 6 months, came off 3 or 4 months ago and have had irractic periods. Between 28 to 40 days that was the last one and I really thought I was preggers for about 10 days then AF arrived (they call it AF, for Aunty Flow) my period really.

[fairysnuff]

oh, TTC#2
Trying to concieve number 2

[fairysnuff]

Can anyone help?
I guess, maybe, I will just have to trust the EWCM??

[PiggyPenguin]

We're not doing very well with this really are we? Still, I'll try and bump it a couple of times today and see if we get anything.

[belgo]

has your period always been so irregular?

Or do you think it's irregular just down to bfing? My period was irregular when I was bfing, every 5-6 weeks iirc (also 'trying to be down with the kids. haha').

Did you have problems ttc your first?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

fairysnuff

If your cycles are erratic in nature then you're better off not using opk's at all.

A common cause of irregular periods is a condition called polycystic ovaries, it can be treated but you may need to see a gynae.

I would suggest you have a blood test done to see what your hormone levels are like because if these are out of sync ovulation will be affected. In this regard the GP must compare the level of LH (luteinising hormone) against that of FSH (follicle stimulation hormone). Ideally these two should be the same. LH and FSH are two very important hormones because they kcikstart the whole process of ovulation.

It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating. A cycle of 40 days plus is more likely than not to be anovulatory.

A "normal" cycle is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days OR with less than 4 days of variation from month to month.

[StrawberryMartini]

The best way to see if you're ovulating is to track your temperature - fertilityfriend.com is by far the best site for this. You don't have to pay anything for basic charting. Basically your temp drops just before ovulation and rises sharply after it - and stays high until af.

Other than than you can see your gp and get a blood test.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Temp charting is not of much benefit if the menstrual cycle is irregular. Another problem with it is that you can also have a rise in temp in the second half of a cycle when an egg has not been shed.

[StrawberryMartini]

I didn't know this Atilla, can you give me a link for this infomation? I've been off depo for a year and thought I was back to normal as had + OPKs and temp rise. If there's a chance I'm still not ovulating I'd like the info about it. (Sorry for thread hijack)

[tori32]

fairystuff I would try the following.

1. take agnus castus to help regulate your cycle (health food shop)
   
2. calculate your longest cycle and make sure you make love every second day from day 12 until day 28 if your longest cycle is 40 days. (not every day as sperm quality may not be as good)
   
3. Take your supplements. pro natal.
   
4. Eat lots of vitamin rich fruit and veg.
   Doing this it took me 6 wks and my longest cycle was 48 days! The month before I fell pg. Am now 15wks

[fairysnuff]

Tori, I have heard about this angus stuff on another hread, but they said to only take it if you got advice first cos it could make it worse??

Belgo, Periods were always regular before DD, but been irregular since coming of the pill. I didn't get any for about 9 months after DD was born either, so these are my first 4-5 periods since DD.

Conceived Dd on first go.

Attila, A cycle of 40 days plus is more likely than not to be anovulatory.
A what??

[mawbroon]

fairysnuff - I am ttc and still breastfeeding too. I was in some doubt as to whether I was ovulating or not. My friend bought me this book and I have started charting and checking cervical fluid.

The methods in this book will give you a wealth of information about what is going on with your cycle. It confirmed for me that I am ovulating, when I really was in doubt about it before. But, I am ovulating at a completely different time of the month as I was pre ds even though my cycles are the same length as before.

I really recommend it, and although I'm not pregnant yet (only been charting 6 weeks) I am much more confident that things will happen soon now that I know what's going on.