TTCers Unite! ~a place to chat~ (2)

[Katakalupto]

I think everyone else gave up.

Didn't give up, just lurking instead of posting now.

 

[RN4CHRIST]

I haven't given up. I am to ovulate this weekend so lotsa BD for hubby and me!!

 

[AdeliaGreen]

Just wanted to show off my new banners!

 

[SweetBella]

when does ovulating "usually" happen... is it 2 weeks after the first day of your period?

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Well it really varies from woman to woman. So all I can tell you is what I know from my own cycle.

I have a very "by the text book" cycle- meaning my cycle is 28 days exact and I normally ovulate on day 14. This is what is considered "typical" although I've hardly met any other women who this pattern fits.

So your cycle begins (cycle day 1) on the first day of full red blood flow. Not spotting or anything else, but full red flow- enough that you would have to change a pad/tampon. So typically it would be the 14th day from your first day of bleeding.

Here is my chart if you want to take a look at it:
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/SignofTheFishBurger

Here is also something to read up on. Ultimately the best way to get comfortable and totally understand your cycle is temping and charting. That is the only way you will know for sure. You can predict ovulation a few days:
Your cervical mucous and a shift in your temperature. However you only typically know the exact point you ovulated the day after it happened when you take your temp in the morning (you can see on mine where it shot up). Your most fertile CM (cervical mucous) is considered to look like egg whites and stretchy. You can also observe your cervix position, however it's not something I do.

I also use ovulation predictor kits to help me identify when a hormone surge has happened. Typically when you get a + OPT it means you will ovulate anywhere from 12-36 hrs and should have sex every day until your CM dries up and you see a thermal shift in temp (as once you have ovulated, it's impossible to get PG)

Here is some reading material if you are interested:
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Ovulation.html
http://www.fertilityfriend.com/Faqs/Most-important-fertility-sign.html

 

[SweetBella]

thanks for the info... i can't go by any charts, temps, or anything else really... i have tried everything and with my situations nothing works! my cycles are far from normal and nothing works for me so all i can do is *guess* when i may be ovulating if i even do ovulate.....and im assuming that its about 2 weeks after AF.....

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

I'm not sure I understand. If your cycles are not normal, then how could you ovulate 2 weeks after AF?? That seems pretty normal to me

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Have you seen a Dr about this??

 

[SweetBella]

my cycles are never normal and sometime i don't even have one so its hard to figure out when im ovulating or if i even do ovulate. when i do have a period, i "assume" if i ovulate, it will happen about 2 weeks after my period. yes, i've seen a doctor.. i have pcos.... its just very complcated.

 

[AdeliaGreen]

my cycles are never normal and sometime i don't even have one so its hard to figure out when im ovulating or if i even do ovulate. when i do have a period, i "assume" if i ovulate, it will happen about 2 weeks after my period. yes, i've seen a doctor.. i have pcos.... its just very complcated.

Is there anything the doctor can prescribe to help regulate your cycles? I would assume the key to figure out when you ovulate would be first to make sure you are ovulating, which comes with a normal cycle.

 

[SweetBella]

Is there anything the doctor can prescribe to help regulate your cycles? I would assume the key to figure out when you ovulate would be first to make sure you are ovulating, which comes with a normal cycle.

i used to never even have a cycle so yes the meds are helping me finally get a period but it doesn't make it perfect and some times it will skip a month or so... if you look at my blog at my entry #12 you will see how random my periods are. i have tried using the ovulating kits and the basal and neither work for me so as of now all i can do is somewhat guess when one would ovulate ... i am guessing the normal time is 2 weeks after/before your period... i know everyone is different but all i can do is guess. thanks everyone...

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Well thank goodness the meds are helpng you. One thing you can do is observe your cervical mucous. Just have sex as much as possible when you have that watery/egg white mucous and hope that you caught the egg!

 

[SweetBella]

Well thank goodness the meds are helpng you. One thing you can do is observe your cervical mucous. Just have sex as much as possible when you have that watery/egg white mucous and hope that you caught the egg!

yeah, this is another issue for me....

how do you check this, is this something that is on the toilet paper after you wipe?

 

[AdeliaGreen]

yeah, this is another issue for me....

how do you check this, is this something that is on the toilet paper after you wipe?

Found this little tidbit from http://www.womenshealth.org/a/ovulation_fertility.htm

Cervical Mucous Monitoring
Another method for determining when ovulation occurs is through the cervical mucous monitoring test. This is the only method that will not require looking back to the past few cycles to analyze. It is based on examining the mucous that is normally secreted from the cervix in order to determine where the woman is in her cycle. The consistency changes during the cycle due to hormonal fluctuations. The key to this test is that the woman will actually have to get a sample of her cervical secretions (from the outer lips of her external genitalia) and stretch it between 2 of her fingers (the thumb and index finger) to test for the consistency.

Before Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy):The first few days following menstruation, there will be little or no discharge present. The woman should feel dryness around her vulva. During this time, she is usually not able to conceive.

Approaching Ovulation (chance of pregnancy):The first discharge that does appear should be moist or sticky and should be white or cream in color. In the finger test, the mucous should break easily. She will only be able to pull her fingers about 1 cm apart before it breaks. During this transition time, first the mucous will become cloudy and slightly stretchy during the finger test (this means that it will still break before the fingers are stretched all the way). As time progresses, the mucous will become greater in volume.

Right around ovulation (high chance of pregnancy): At this stage, mucous resembles egg whites. It is the thinnest, clearest and most abundant at this point in the cycle. Finger testing will allow the mucous to stretch quite a ways (several centimeters) before it breaks (if it breaks at all). ) The amount of this thin mucous will steadily increase until she experiences her 'mucous peak'. This is the last day of this period where the chance of conception is high. It is closely tied to ovulation. It is often only recognized in rertrospect. During this phase, the sperm's survival rate is higher. It can survive in cervical mucous for up to 72 hours, a significantly longer time than during the rest of the cycle.

After Ovulation (low chance of pregnancy): After ovulation, there is a marked change in mucous appearance. It returns to the sticky stage (does not stretch during finger test) and there is again a feeling of dryness around the vulva.

One caveat for this test is that sperm can be confused with the mucous secretions and the woman could make wrong assumptions. Also, vaginal infections, medication, and birth control can alter conditions and should be taken into consideration when examining any vaginal secretions.

Mucous can be easier to retrieve after bearing down (like she is going to have a bowel movement) or after exercising.



~~~ Didn't know that last part... I usually notice mine when I go to the washroom in the morning and yes, mine is on the tp.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Yeah I normally notice mine on the toilet paper, and SOMETIMES on my panties.

I've heard that taking robitussin or soy can help with your cervical mucous.

 

[SweetBella]

i have that but i feel like i have it more than once a month...

 

[livin4christ9203]

thanks for the info... i can't go by any charts, temps, or anything else really... i have tried everything and with my situations nothing works! my cycles are far from normal and nothing works for me so all i can do is *guess* when i may be ovulating if i even do ovulate.....and im assuming that its about 2 weeks after AF.....

no, it's not 2 weeks... it's about half way through your cycle.. whatever that may be. They say 2 weeks for someone with a 28 day cycle.. because 2 weeks is 14 days and half of 28 days. I have the same problem you do, so I understand how frustrating it is.. never knowing for sure.. since you never know when it's gonna happen! I would start using OPK's or the scope that i use.. starting right before the 2 week mark.. and until it happens. Outside of that, I don't know. I'm in the same situation as you.

 

[SweetBella]

no, it's not 2 weeks... it's about half way through your cycle.. whatever that may be. They say 2 weeks for someone with a 28 day cycle.. because 2 weeks is 14 days and half of 28 days. I have the same problem you do, so I understand how frustrating it is.. never knowing for sure.. since you never know when it's gonna happen! I would start using OPK's or the scope that i use.. starting right before the 2 week mark.. and until it happens. Outside of that, I don't know. I'm in the same situation as you.

i know... i hate how frustrating it is. i have tried those tests and they don't work for me.

 

[livin4christ9203]

That is possible depending on when you ovulated. Some women with irregular cycles don't ovulate every month and I think some women may ovulate irregularly. Also, depending on the environment, sperm can last up to 5 days I think... So I think there is a possibility but it's hard to say if you don't know when you ovulated. I'm not very helpful I know...

I would wait a couple more days to test especially since your cycle is so irregular. Do you check your basal body temperature? If not, I suggest you start as it should help you figure out when you ovulate during your irregular cycles.

Anyways... Here's hoping you're experiencing real baby pains!

well, my period hit today.. sooo weird.. it is early.. and it has rarely been on time, let alone early! Who knows!

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

i have that but i feel like i have it more than once a month...

It typically also comes right before your period too.