TTC and somewhat confused???? help????

[camcat]

Just started TTC #3. Have been trying to monitor CM and CP and using OPK's to figure out when I'm ov'ing but am now somewhat confused lol

basically, had a pos OPK 12 june, plus CM and CP changes to indicate ov a day or so later. But still no AF, PG also neg. on 11th of this month got another pos OPK so think maybe just ov'd again??? (fits time wise?)

At the risk of sounding really naive, can you ov but not get AF??? haven't actually had AF return since DS2 was born so really flying blind with what's going on?

[camcat]

bump!

someone????? please???????

[mumma bear]

are you still BF'ing? if you are then yes you can ov but not get AF.

I have just ov'd for the first time since DD2 and no AF and not expecting it as she is still feeding heaps from me.

[camcat]

Yeah I am. Only 2 feeds - morning and night but maybe that's what it is :D thanks for that!!!! :hugs:

[KatiesMum]

Actually unfortunately that is not quite the case.

To understand you need to understand the menstrual cycle a little more.

There are 3 phases to your cycle

Follicular Phase - From cd1 to ovulation
Ovulation - the release of the egg
Luteal Phase - from ovulation to menstruation.

During the follicular phase, your ovaries form numerous follicles which develop and mature eggs ready to be released. You produce oestrogen and LH hormone which surges to burst the follicle and release the egg (ovulation). Your body then produces progesteron which helps build up the endometrium (tissue lining your uterus) for the fertalised egg to implant.

If the embryo is implanted, it produces HCG and progesterone to stop your body from dispersing the endometrium tissue.

If the egg is not fertalised and/pr implanted, the progesterone in your body drops and the endometrium tissue breaks down and disperses forming your menstrual period.

Basically - while you can certainly have a period but not ovulate, you cannot ovulate without having a period afterwards.

While it is true that women have fallen pregnant after childbirth before their period has returned, its because they fell pregnant on the first ovulation cycle..... not because they ovulated several times without a period.

The truth is, that if you are not menstruating, you are very very unlikely to be ovulating. Unfortunately breast feeding does tend to delay the return of ovulation.

[camcat]

Actually unfortunately that is not quite the case.

To understand you need to understand the menstrual cycle a little more.

There are 3 phases to your cycle

Follicular Phase - From cd1 to ovulation
Ovulation - the release of the egg
Luteal Phase - from ovulation to menstruation.

During the follicular phase, your ovaries form numerous follicles which develop and mature eggs ready to be released. You produce oestrogen and LH hormone which surges to burst the follicle and release the egg (ovulation). Your body then produces progesteron which helps build up the endometrium (tissue lining your uterus) for the fertalised egg to implant.

If the embryo is implanted, it produces HCG and progesterone to stop your body from dispersing the endometrium tissue.

If the egg is not fertalised and/pr implanted, the progesterone in your body drops and the endometrium tissue breaks down and disperses forming your menstrual period.

Basically - while you can certainly have a period but not ovulate, you cannot ovulate without having a period afterwards.

While it is true that women have fallen pregnant after childbirth before their period has returned, its because they fell pregnant on the first ovulation cycle..... not because they ovulated several times without a period.

The truth is, that if you are not menstruating, you are very very unlikely to be ovulating. Unfortunately breast feeding does tend to delay the return of ovulation.

K, well that's the impression I had to begin with, but is why I was wondering about getting pos OPK's without AF returning. See, was still bf'ing DS1 when fell pg with DS2 but had had one AF before fell, so knew for sure my cycle had returned. This time don't really know what's going on. I know OPK's don't always work for everyone but was more under the impression that it was that they wouldn't always show a pos when you are ov'ing.... not that they'd show a false pos????
can they? Or is my body just bizzare and weird lol

[KatiesMum]

Nope you are weird :laughing: - false posatives are pretty common with opk's.

OPK's measure the amount of LH (leutenising hormone) in your body. It does occur naturally at most stages of your cycle, but you have a surge immediately prior to ovulation.

Unfortunately, everyone has different levels of LH normally, different spikes at o time, and it breaks down differently in your urine.

I have known people who have definately not o'd to get +ve opk's. I have known people to not get a +ve result at all, and fall pregnant so they definately o'd. I have known people to have got +ve tests for 6 days in a row....all kinds of weird things.

The best thing I can suggest is - if you think you may be o'ing, bd just in case :D

[camcat]

:laughing: So nice and confusing all round then :laughing:

well, guess I'll just have to BD lots (gee, that'll just break DH's heart :laughing:)

[Kewe]

well, guess I'll just have to BD lots (gee, that'll just break DH's heart :laughing:)

lol I would do that, because your cycles actually havn't come back yet, you could ovulate at any time, so just go for it :yes:

[camcat]

Oh, was just thinking though - do you know anything about cervical changes????? Coz been monitoring C to try help get a fix on things and last month had some changes but htis months seemed to be even more noticeable? definately a lot softer and more open anyway.

What I was wondering is do you know if there is much change if no ov occurs??? Or more so just whe ov does occur (does that make sense?)

[KatiesMum]

I dont know much about CP changes and o .... never could work it out for me :confused:

Others may though ....

:babydust2: :babydust2: :babydust2: :babydust2:

[camcat]

I dont know much about CP changes and o .... never could work it out for me :confused:

Others may though ....

:babydust2: :babydust2: :babydust2: :babydust2:
thanks for all your help!!!!!!!!

Not sure if you or anyonw else would know but can you get AF back really really light. As in, more like pink/brown tinged mucous than proper AF? Coz in between the 2 pos OPK's had a few days of pink tinged CM, was thinking it must be start of AF but then after 3 or 4 days it went away and nothing???? (basically smack bang in the middle)

So sory to keep coming back with all these questions lol. I really appreciate the time anyone takes to answer though.

Not necessarily of huge importance but I'd like to have half an idea of whats going on with me so I can sort of know what my body is doing iykwim