Lack of EWCM question... Not ovulating?

[Jessy1280]

Only after my mmc can I describe that I most definitely had ewcm. Only one other occasion can I recall in my entire life having ewcm was about 2.5 years ago. I'm convinced that I have a problem with ovulation.

Two years ago I had a 21 day progesterone test and it was 32. This still seems on the low side to me. My GP fobbed me off.

Repeated this test recently and it was just 20!?! Again GP fobbed me off and agreed to repeat the test soon. Just had failed cycle. Will the estrogen and progesterone supplements I was on in my third cycle skew these results? I'm not sure if after three cycles and one mmc in the last that I'm ovulating anymore. My cycles are pretty erratic. They used to be 30 days apart or thereabouts, normal flow and about 5 days long. They're now super heavy for about three days before calming down. I'm frightened I'm not ovulating anymore given that I have no ovulation symptoms anymore. I don't get the ovulation pain I used to, I don't get any ewcm not that I ever really have. I asked my clinic about my progesterone results and they said it's quite common once or twice a year to have an annovulatary cycle. I'm just not convinced. I can never get positive paper opks, only the digital ones.

Can anyone shed any light please? I'm wondering if that's why I've never got pregnant before besides my mmc at cycle 2. I think my hormones are whack. Don't know what else to do...

[Hidden]

Hi Jessy. I feel you. I have this as well i think. The only time i saw the ewcm was when i did my trigger shot. There was alot of it sorry tmi. I chart my cycles for 2 years now and i never get strong opk on the cheapies. I cant afford the digital ones so stopped those. My bloodtests were done first by gyna and then by my current clinic and both came back ‘normal’ but its true in those two years i had 3 or 4 times that my cycles were 60 days ir more meaning i didnt ovulate. But then clomid didnt work for me as well so i HATE being unexplained. Husband is borderline so im thinking must be one swimmer at least that should do the job. Not having a good day so sorry if not much of help. I wish i would have started private treatment straight away because nhs just brushes you off as unexplained. Sorry not want to be ungrateful but clock is ticking and i think we need thorough investigation rather than 2 blood tests in 3 year time x did you try clomid?

[Jessy1280 in reply to Hidden]

Ive never been offered clomid as my GP just brushes it off.

[Hidden in reply to Jessy1280]

Jessy i dont think its the GP that offers it. They have to refer you to a gynaecologist who usually starts with clomid if your cycles arent regular x

[Jessy1280 in reply to Hidden]

Maybe have to approach my clinic instead then given that nhs has suspended everything non essential

[Hidden in reply to Jessy1280]

Yes you do that let us know what they say. I was thinking to call them but they closed down.

[eldarkera]

Hi Jessy, have you had the AMH test or the transvaginal scan (I can't remember the name of it) that checks your uterus and ovaries?

My GP was dismissive of changes in my cycle too, which started after a laparoscopy, and it wasn't until I had a consultation with a private clinic that I got some proper information (I'm in Ireland though so don't have IVF through NHS).

I hope you make some progress soon.

Sue

[Jessy1280 in reply to eldarkera]

Yes I've had it done several times. My amh is now 24.3 and my ovaries and uterus totally normal. Ivf has just messed up my cycles. My last 21 day progesterone test was just 20 when it needs to be over 28 to confirm ovulation. The GP just dismissed it. Thanks for your reply xx

[eldarkera in reply to Jessy1280]

Ah I see, well that all sounds really hopeful overall. It's a shame the GP isn't more responsive to your concerns. I hope you get sorted soon.

[LizzieBW]

Hi Jessy,

Firstly, I'm sorry you're feeling a little lost. I haven't started IVF yet (was due to start this month before cancellations) so can't comment on my success or not of my treatment but I wanted to say I have abundant EWCM; every month I know when my body is gearing up for my fertile window because I get extremely noticeable amounts of it and still haven't fallen pregnant once in over 4 years. I'm not sure this helps you but having increased CM unfortunately doesn't necessarily indicate things are healthy. I have also read sometimes women do have EWCM but less abundant and so it doesn't...(sorry tmi) drip out and it stays around the cervix. Unless women regularly check their cervical position throughout each cycle they maybe wouldn't realise what's there.

Once this Covid cloud is lifted, could you consider organising/paying for consecutive bloods for 3 cycles to check the consistency of results? These results would also be brilliant evidence for your fertility consultant to base your next lot of meds/treatment on and more than anything would confirm or deny your suspicions about ovulation xx

[MontsJ]

Hi Jessie,

I initially tracked ovulation using OPK sticks and now by taking my basal body temperature so I know that I ovulate every month. However only once in a blue moon do I see EWCM. Some of us don’t produce a lot. I have wondered if this contributes to my infertility but even my fertility clinic were never interested in this. Lot’s of ladies struggling with infertility have lots of EWCM though so I’m not certain of it’s relevance.

Consider monitoring your BBT, one off cost of buying a thermometer and then you’ll know if you ovulate. I first learned about this in the book (Taking charge of your infertility)