For those of you with irregular and long cycles:

Question

How do you suggest I predict ovulation?

My cycles range from 32-40 days. Sometimes I can tell when I am ovulating because it is obvious in my cervical mucus. But most of the time, I really have no idea.

I can't chart because I don't sleep well, and I don't want to encourage myself to obsess about conceiving more than I already am.

I bought some ovulation predictor kits. They are quite pricey and I don't want to waste them. At what time in my seemingly never-ending cycle do you think it best to use them? In the past, I used them at the wrong time because I never got a positive reading on them.

Answer 1

I know it can be pricey to get those test strips.  My doctor recommended the monitor type and to look on ebay for it.  Which I did and I got the test strips as well...and saved a ton of money!  I highly recommend it.  I got pregnant my first time using it but unfortunately miscarried. I am very irregular as well...more so than you...I have PCOS and use Provera to induce my period and Clomid to help me ovulate.  Good luck! Baby dust

Answer 2

I tracked my cycle for a year and a half while I was TTC. Although it varied quite a bit from month to month, my cycle averaged 42 days over that time period. I never used the ovulation kits because I really had no clue when I should or if they would work for me with my crazy cycle. I just hoped it would happen on its own at some point. I finally got pregnant when I stopped thinking about it. =)

My LMP was 12/21/2007 and my due date is 10/5/08 (determined by early trans-vag US and confirmed by 19 week US). This means I actually conceived around the 3rd week of January - 22 to 28 days after my LMP (which coincides with the activity that causes that kind of thing). =)

I don't know if any of that is helpful to you, but I wish you the best of luck. I think being healthy, taking your pre-natal vitamins, and trying not to worry about it are the best things you can do.

Answer 3

I have very irregular cycles, too, & have used OPK's to track ovulation with some success. My cycles averaged 45 days when I first stopped birth control last August & I conceived in December of '07 on our second month using OPK's. They are really handy, but DO get expensive for girls like us! My advice would be to buy the Answer brand tests because you can buy a box of 20 test strips for $20, which is the cheapest brand I've found so far. The box even says "for any cycle length." You can buy OPK's that only have like 1 or 2 tests in them, but that's not nearly enough tests for girls like us with long cycles - we have to track our cycle days alot longer than most people!  Anyway, you can probably get the OPK's I'm talking about at your general drugstore or grocery store. The box comes with a nice pamphlet & chart that helps you determine when you should start testing; I usually started testing around day 15 and just tested once a day at the same time each day until I got a positive. Like I said, I did get pregnant our second month using the OPK's, even with my very long cycles. Unfortunately, I had a miscarriage but now I am taking Clomid & using the OPK's again. I hope this helps. I know it's really hard ttc with long cycles. My advice would be to use the OPK's faithfully for a couple months & see if you get a positive. If not, or if you've been trying for a while now, I would recommend going to your doctor & seeing what he/she recommends. Good luck & baby dust to you!

Answer 4

Firstly, you should buy a very sensitive OPK. You have many OPKs available in the market but the best ones are those which have the sensitivity of 20 mIU/ml. (Don't buy if it is greater than 20 mlU/ml). I bought mine from babywishes.org and I tested on 12th day. It detected the LH surge in the first test itself. They are really good. If you buy them in bulk you get them very cheap. You can also compare your results with the pictures which are posted on their websites or you can mail them your pictures or queries. Their service is excellent.

Secondly, you should test at least twice a day. This is very important. If you test only once a day there is a chance that you could miss the LH surge. You can read in the below link- how LH surge can be missed if you test only once in a day (FAQ 12). That is why I bought OPKs in bulk (I bought 100 of them!!) so that I don't run out of them. Start testing twice a day from day 8 itself and continue testing till you spot the LH surge. This way you are not going to miss the surge.

For more details, visit this link. It has excellent information on Ovulation and OPKs.

http://www.peeonastick.com/opkfaq.html

Answer 5

I was trying to conceive for a year before looking to the doctor for help with this. Like you, I have long cycles (and sometimes totally irregular ones). I explained to him that I thought I knew when I was ovulating as my cm changed. He informed me that with such long cycles it was possible that I wasn't ovulating at all. And, if I was, it was not within an opportune time frame. Meaning, I wouldn't be gettting pregnant.

Here's what I did: Took a blood test on day 21 of my cycle to see Progesterone level, as this  level indicates ovulation. The test is done on day 21 because ovulation after that point is not likely to result in pregnancy. According to my progesterone level, I had not been ovulating. So, the doctor prescribed Clomid to induce ovualtion.  Same drill, go in on day 21 to see if Clomid worked. On our second round of Clomid (100mg). We found out that we'd conceived!! I am now 21 weeks pregnant with out first baby! It is INSANE how much we spent on ovulation predictor kits, and how much time i spent wondering if i was pregnant. Your best bet is to have your doctor tell you, either you ARE ovulating, or you're not! If not, he will get you ovulating, no problem!

I was also instructed to have s*x days 10 to 20 of my cycle (every other day...though I didn't *quite* follow that) to make sure you were definitely setting yourself up to conceive when ovulating.

Good luck!!! I am sure if you can do this you can be pregnant in a couple months! :)

Answer 6

You probably should have your thyroid checked out.  It can be the cause of long cycles.  Check out the new NFP book for more info.

http://ccli.org/shop/onlineshopping.php?...