Not ovulating - am devastated. Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm 39 and have been trying to conceive my second baby for 5 months; first child is one and a half. We conceived right away the first 2 times (first was a miscarriage). This time is just not happening. Also, my cycles are very regular (every 26 days) but have noticed that period has gotten shorter. Anyway, went to my OB/GYN for the annual exam and to talk about fertility issues. He recommended that I use the ovulation test kits, which I did right away on what I thought was my peak day to cenceive (yesterday). But the test shows no ovulation; tested again today and no ovulation. I'm devastated since never had any issues getting pregnant before and the thought that I might not be ovulating never crossed my mind.

Anyone out there got pregant when they had similar issues?

BTW, doctor recommended that I do chlomid challenge test during next cycle (if we don't get pregnant this time around).

Thanks guys!

[Anonymous]

Those tests do not work for everyone and it does not mean that you are not ovulating. They are less likely to pick up the LH as a woman matures.
The only way to know for sure if you are ovulating is to take your temperature everyday. It will start to rise slightly right before ovulation and then a bit more until the end of your luteal phase.
Check out the guidelines for temping at www.fertilityfriend.com

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add that you may also want to check out Taking Charge of Your Fertility (book).

[Anonymous]

I'd say go ahead and take the clomid challenge test. If you really are not ovulating there are other tests they might try to see if they can find the reason. Even if they cannot find the cause and address it, there are lots of drugs they can use to make you ovulate and many women have been successful going down this path.

[Anonymous]

ITA with the recommendation for the Taking Charge of Your Fertility book (also TCOYF.com).

Had my first db at 41 with a very high FSH (was not even a candidate for IVF due to poor med response). Adding acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM - herbal formulas) is what pushed us into success.

[Anonymous]

I echo what the pps have said. Just because you the ovulation sticks didn't show an LH surge, doesn't mean you didn't ovulate. You may have ovulated earlier, and with some women with very short LH surges, peeing on the sticks 24 hours apart isn't enough. I second the recommendation to get the book and start temping. Also, I've had great luck with my fertility monitor and temping.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all for your support, have been freaking out and feeling out of sorts but the above posts are very ecouraging. Taking the temperature every morning felt a bit like a chore (my doc also recommened it); I bought the thermometer but haven't started yet. I guess I should right away.

Cheers.

[Anonymous]

OP here again; did some more reading online and many women indicate that the ovulation test strips may not always work. The Clearblue Fertlily Monitor came highly recommended by many people. Any experiecne with it?

Thanks again.

[Anonymous]

I used ClearBlue - it worked like a charm, had DD2 3 months before I turned the big 4-0! Best of luck to you - try not to stress -- there are SO many moms out there having babies at our age.

[Anonymous]

I have had problems with not ovulating for the past few years. I ended up on clomid and got pregnant on the second cycle for baby #1 and the first cycle with baby #2. So, even if the tests are right and you aren't ovulating, it doesn't mean you can't get pregnant!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again; did some more reading online and many women indicate that the ovulation test strips may not always work. The Clearblue Fertlily Monitor came highly recommended by many people. Any experiecne with it?

Thanks again.

I am the pp who had my child at 41. I did full charting a la TCOYF - which is more than just temp charting, you also monitor a variety of bodily signs. My most reliable sign of pending ovulation was cervical position. My cervix would rise up and be completely out of reach the day before ovulation. The day after, it would descend and my temperature would rise.

I also had the expensive OTC ovulation monitor (the one with the "egg" when you ovulate) and never found it to be reliable.

P.S. My ovulation was monitored and confirmed by sonogram as well.

[Anonymous]

Cervical mucous is another key indicator of pending ovulation. When you use the bathroom, check this. If you see that its really strechy and almost egg-white that usually means that ovulation is coming soon.

[Anonymous]

8:38 again. I used the clear blue fertility monitor in addition to temping and watching cervical fluid. The monitor was very helpful for us.

[Anonymous]

I had similar problems with the second. Sought fertility advice. Actually, my doc recommended I have an HSG before going the clomid route. Thank goodness he recommended that b/c I had some blockage that was corrected with the procedure and conceived the next month. Worth trying....