Question About Ovulation

I agree about the ovulation kit. My periods have always been extremely erratic so I tried out a kit (you can get a 30 day kit pretty cheap from CVS..I used the CVS brand) and it worked. good luck!

I've never used one, but is sounds like you'd benefit from using an ovulation prediction kit. I hear they work extremely well to alert you to when you will most likely ovulate. They can be bought at any drug store, Walmart, etc.

get a copy of taking charge of your fertility by toni weschler and a $5 basal body thermometer--it will explain everything to you! All the best.

Edited to Add: By the way, according to the dates you gave your last 3 cycles were 34, 31, and 37 days which is totally normal. If you read the book I suggested you will see that although the length of your cycle varies, the length of your Luteal Phase most likely does not. Your luteal phase is the phase at the end of your cycle from the time you ovulate until you start your period again. If you chart with temps, check cervical mucous and/or cervical position you will be able to pinpoint ovulation. It is actually much easier than it sounds and you don't get the crappy side effects of birth control. It is alot cheaper than ovulation kits, you can use the method to prevent pregnancy in the future instead of using hormonal birth control, and you get to know your body alot better---Its a win, win, win. =)

I'm just curious as to why you never found the temperature taking to be helpful? Have you read Taking Charge of Your Fertility? That explains it all, as well as what kinds of problems are typical. I'm not sure how expensive ovulation prediction kits are, but a thermometer is super cheap and for me it became very clear after tracking a few cycles that I was almost always ovulating at day 18, even though my cycles ranged from 28-34 days. How long have you tried taking/tracking your temps? Over the course of a few months, have you not seen a pattern of lows & highs? I'm only asking as if they reason you're saying it's not that helpful is because there is no pattern in your temps after tracking several temps, that could indicate a problem -- and it could help a doc. pinpoint what the problem is. Ie, if you are not ovulating for some reason, or your temps are not rising/staying high enough to sustain a pregnancy.

In short, I would definitely read the book if you have not, as it shows other signs to help tell. And if you can get a rough guess as to when you're ovulating, that could help you narrow down when to start trying - ie, just start at Day 10, for example, and have sex every other day until Day 18 to have the likely range covered. For me knowing it has almost always been Day 18, but no earlier than Day 17, we would try to have sex on Days 13, 15, 17, 18 & 19, and then 21, etc.

Oh, one other thing I could add about taking temps - we have been trying for #2 since June, I just got my period back in April after nursing for a year. Taking my temps has made it pretty obvious to me why we haven't gotten pregnant yet - my temps were all over the place, as if my hormones were trying to get back on track. They have gotten a little more regular (a range of lows, then a range of highs) as each month has passed. Finally they look "normal" again - and bingo, we just found out we were pregnant! So it can be very helpful! Good luck, I hope it happens for you soon!

Sign up for www.mymonthlycycles.com

You enter your dates of your periods every month and based on the lenght of your cycle the system will figure out when you're ovulating.
You can set up email alerts, so it emails you when you're ovulating, when you're going to get your period.
I've been doing it for a while and it's got my period schedule right to the day!
I'm guessing the ovulation also, because I see symptoms right around the time when it says I'm ovulating...

Also, what worked for us, we did it every day or every other day for 1 month and got pregnant that month...

Fair warning OPKs don't always work for everyone. I found out that myself and thankfully was temping along with using OPKs. The OPK missed my O but the temping didn't. That same month I got pregnant with my second son. So I know the OPKs failed me. I have had a couple of infertility drs explain that for some women OPKs don't work and they aren't sure why.
I can't stress enough that you should read the book that has already been suggested. Give temping another try...it takes about 3 cycles to get the hang of it and understand it.
Also your period is not going to hit on the same day every month which the book will explain. Cycles don't follow calender days like we do. Like me for example. My cycle is 34 days long so if I were to start on the 1st of say November then I can reasonably expect my next period to start on Dec 4th. That would mean the one following that would start on Jan 6th. And so on and so on.

I have not read any of the other replies, so I apologize if I am being redundant, but here is my experience...

I tried the basal body temp thing and my doctor told me not to torture myself. The variations you are looking for are so minute, any slight change in your body (illness, alcohol consumption, or even a restless night's sleep) can cause false readings. He also said it is useless unless you take your temp at exactly the same time every morning as soon as you wake up, which is next to impossible for most humans because who wakes up at exactly the same time every single morning? Craziness.

Instead, I used good ole technology. Get yourself an ovulation monitor. I'm not talking about the POAS type ovulation kits, I mean a computerized monitor. Clear Blue sells the one I used. You program it according to the first day of your period, then you turn it on every morning before you go to the bathroom. At a certain point in your cycle, it will prompt you to begin testing. You pee on the wand and insert it into the machine, which then reads your various hormone levels. You will be notified when you are in low fertility, high fertility and peak fertility (ovulation). This gives you a window of up to 5 days to conceive. Over time, the machine gets to know you and your cycle, so the results become more and more accurate. It is a bit expensive, somewhere around $175 plus $$ for the sticks, but it is well worth the investment when you consider it will help you achieve pregnancy.

Hope this helps! Best of luck as you continue the quest!

First I would go to an OB/GYNE that has alot of infertility experience without it being and infertility specialist. Get a complete exam, tell them you are planning on conceiving...have thyroid panel, cbc, Chem 12, and hormone levels done. Have them prescribe you a prenatal vitamin. Discuss your periods. Once you have done this, on your own please make sure if you are over or under weight get 10lbs closer to the weight you should be if at all possible, if you don't exercise daily, take a walk every day for about 20-30 minutes. There is a kit out there that the last time I bought it was about 22.00 and contained 30 strips. You take the test every morning until you get a positive and then do the baby dance over the next few days. Once you get a positive save the rest for after your period the next month. If you don't conceive within a few months return to the OB/Gyne and start talking clomid.But bring yourself to the healthiest you can be so your body can start working for you.

Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor. Not just the ovulation kits--that didn't help me, and neither did the temp charts. The monitor is a small white machine about the size of your hand, costs about $200, and then there's a box of 50 test strips that costs something like $50. You might be able to get everything cheaper on-line now. I bought mine at Walgreen's. The first month you take a lot more tests, but as the machine gets to know your body, it asks you take fewer tests per month. It tells you when you're having high fertility days, but more importantly, precisely when you ovulate. Our reproductive endocrinologist recommended it, and it's been the best. It's worth every penny. Works great and I have the daughter to prove it.

anne a. was right on. the best way to help you figure out when you are ovulating is to figure out about how long your cycles are (counting the day you get your period as day 1)You always ovulate 14 days before you get your period. by figuring out how long your cycles are (even if they vary a bit from month to month) you can get a sense of a range that you may ovulate so you can plan accordingly. good luck. i know it can be hard and emotionally exhausting to "try". i also think the predictor kits and taking charge of your fertility book can be helpful.

Kinda surprised there was only one other comment that mentioned it but becoming aware of your "secretion" patterns it becomes fairly apparent. I too fluctuate a bit but once I knew about that I conceived fairly quickly (also in TCOYF which I agree is VERY helpful) I conceived at 38, on my honeymoon, like I said....it was fast! much luck to you!

Chart your temps using www.fertilityfriend.com as it will give you a visual indication as to when you may be most fertile.

Also read Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.

For what it is worth, I have PCOS and rarely have a regular cycle. I charted for 4 months and conceived on day 41 of my final cycle.

Start with either the website or the book to learn more about ovulation and timing intercourse.

I suggest an ovulation prediction kit. They are pretty accurate and will give you more of a "heads up" then mother nature seems to! Good luck...we are in the same boat, so I understand your frustration!

You should give the ovulation kit a try. I have never personally used it, but I don't think it will hurt to try it out.

What worked for me was to pay attention to my vaginal secretions. Not the most appealing thing. But it worked. Usually, when you ovulate your secretions are different. It is stickier, it stretches more. Just pay attention to any change and soon you will see what I am talking about.

Good Luck!!

I was off the pill for a few month before we starting trying again, and my cycle was like clockwork...until we started trying. Then, it was all over the place -- as low as 24 days up to 31 days -- and different every month. I bought Target ovulation kits but never got a positive response and started forking out $30 for the Clear Blue Easy digital ovulation kits with the smiley face in the window when you have an LH surge. It was extremely frustrating and emotionally exhausting, esp because I was lucky enough to get pregnant pretty quickly with my first two kids. My OB said to come in after 6mos of trying, mainly because of my age (40). She said ovulation kits detect a surge in LH hormone, but it may not have been enough to actually ovulate. She took 3 blood tests (thyroid, prolactin, progesterone) which are indicators of 1) if you actually ovulated or 2) if ovulation is being suppressed. My tests were normal, and it turned out I had already conceived when I went in for the appt, but none of the tests she took could indicate conception or pregnancy, so I ended up getting a positive pregnancy test result when I missed my period.

Try an OTC ovulation kit and if you're still not having luck, consider seeing your OB to find out if there's an underlying hormonal issue before you drive yourself too crazy. Best of luck!!!!

the book "taking charge of your fertility" is excellent and if you chart your cycle using their method you should have no problem determining when you are ovulating.

Your best bet is to use an online charting website like fertilityfriend.com. It is free and has tutorials to show you how to chart your basal body temperture. This and tracking your fertility symptoms (mucus, cervical position, etc) will be the most accurate way to know when you are ovulating.
You can ovulate anytime in your cycle. You may or may not ovulate on cycle day 14 as many people suggest. That is just an average. You many be having 30-35 day cycles, meaning you ovulate later.

My Reproductive Endocrinologist (aka RE, aka Infertility Dr) suggests to throw out your basal body thermometer, as it only adds stress to the situation. I have read the TCOYF book and I do agree it is good information, but don't stress yourself with the doing your BBT. It is just not worth it. It doesn't tell you anything, until AFTER you have O'd.

And that is if everything works right. No sick or otherwise non-sleeping child keeping you up at night, no dog bother you to go outside. No snoring husband.

You see my point. ;)

I strongly recommned the Ovulation Predictor Kits. I would use first morning urine & go from there. My problem is now, I have IR PCOS which is affecting the accuracy of OPKs... So I am hooked up with a awesome RE who is starting testing to move forward with IF treatments.

I used the Walgreens brand that ran around $20 for 7 sticks. Once I learned my body, CM signs I could get away with using only 1 to 2 sticks a month. When my IR got out of control, my CM stopped allowing me to use it as an indicator & then it did get more pricey, but still much cheaper than the lawyer if I continued to beep in my DHs ear waking him up every day at 4 like I was...

I did the pee ovulation kits and the temp method while trying to conceive my first. The temp really DID raise when you graphed it, and when it was rising I did the pee test to see. Turns out I ovulate in the first 3 days after my period. Both kids were conceived on day 2 after I was done with that month's bleeding.

I have the same problem...you are irregular.