No ovulation?

[Esb27]

Hi guys,

Sadly my hysteroscopy/laparoscopy on 14th March was postponed 6 weeks due to the junior doctors strike (which I actually really support!). So I'm back to just tracking my cycle whilst I wait.

Weirdly I'm on day 21 and I still haven't ovulated. My cycles aren't super regular but recently I had got down to a 28/29 day cycle and ovulating on day 15 ish. I chart using ovusense but this cycle I've had no peaking temps, they've stayed pretty low/similar (except for a little spike last night but that's because I had a few drinks hehe) and it's not confirmed I have ovulated like usual. I've also been testing using cheap ovulation tests from day 14. On those I had a faint line each day which got a little darker but never got as dark as the test line and now today (day 21) it wasn't even visible!

I've not always consitently tested for ovulation but I do use my ovusense most months (though I didn't whilst going through IVF last year) however when I have I do usually always ovulate! Is it okay to have one month where you just don't ovulate? I had a chemical in January after our first IVF FET transfer, then the next cycle in Feb I ovulated on day 18 (I only used ovusense, not test sticks) but this cycle there's been no sign of it. So I guess the miscarriage could be throwing my cycles off a bit....has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks in advance

[DreamingOfTwo79]

Hello Esb27, it could very well still be a side effect of your chemical pregnancy in January. My cycles were a little out of whack after each miscarriage and I wouldn't necessarily ovulate straight after so perhaps your body just needs a little more time to heal and get back to its usual rhythm. I see you did a natural FET so I understand why you're worried when you're not ovulating. I tend to have regular cycles and ovulate most months but I am booked for a modified natural FET with my clinic where they'd give me a mild stims dose until my lining and follicles are ready and on the day my LH rises they would give me an hCG trigger shot with the transfer being 7 days later. My consultant said even if it was an anovulatory cycle the trigger shot would ensure the eggs are being released and the corpus luteum then kicks into action. Perhaps this could be something to discuss with your clinic if you're worried your ovulation pattern has been impacted by the most recent loss? Hope your surgery appointment will be rescheduled soon! Best of luck for everything! xx

[Esb27 in reply to DreamingOfTwo79]

Hi DreamingOfTwo79! Thanks for the response. You’re right they must just be out of whack. I will continue to temp and monitor the next cycle too. But that’s always a good option re: the trigger in case my ovulation doesn’t really come back properly. I have a while to wait yet anyways as my surgery is 25th April now, plus I don’t know what the outcome of that will be/I’ll probs take a couple of months to heal from that as well.

When you have an anovulatory cycle though do you get your period roughly the same time as a normal cycle, just no ovulation/LH rise? Just wondering when to expect my period now, it’s thrown me off haha xx

[DreamingOfTwo79 in reply to Esb27]

That's a good plan not to rush into things but give yourself and your body time to heal. Really hope all goes well for you on 25th April! As for the anovulatory cycles, I was usually still within my normal cycle range whenever my ovulation sticks failed to indicate peak fertility so I am unsure as to whether there are any other signs of not having ovulated that month other than the predictor sticks or whatever method you may be using. I also tend to feel it when I ovulate and it's usually roughly 24-36 hours after seeing peak fertility. I tend to have shorter cycles around 26 days, but after my miscarriages my cycles would vary wildly between 18-36 days for a good few months until they went back to a more predictable pattern. When I had my initial consultation for IVF my consultant really drilled into my menstrual pattern and said it is absolutely to be expected after going through a non-viable pregnancy to have cycle irregularities. I hope it will all return back to normal for you soon! xx

[Esb27 in reply to DreamingOfTwo79]

ah that’s good to know. Yeah I normally feel ovulation too, I get the pains but nothing this cycle so makes sense with the lack of LH surge/temp rise. But all makes sense, thanks for the info and the luck - much appreciated 😘xx