Can you have a period but not ovulate? - Trying to Conceive (TTC) Message Board

haileysheets · 05-22-2006, 10:49 PM

Hi everyone. I was reading the recent posts on Clomid and wondered this. A couple posters seemed to imply that they were having periods but that their doctors told them they were not ovulating. How can you find out if you are actually ovulating or not?

fallen_angel · 05-23-2006, 01:41 AM

Hi, im having periods but not ovulating. Some people dont have periods atall but others do, it depends on the amount of hormones your body is producing.With me my body is producing enough hormones to have a monthly bleed but not to release an egg each month. the only way to find out is to have a day 21 progesterone blood test which is done on the 21st day of your cycle and normally shows if you have ovulated dependent on the hormones present. You may then need further tests. In this situation some people ovulate on certain months but not on others.
How regular your periods are and the length of your cycles can be an indication of ovulation, mine were 35 days long and my doc said it was unlikely i was ovulating based on a cycle that long.
Taking your temperature and keeping an eye on mucus can also help. Hope this helps, Fallen

cincbcat · 05-23-2006, 08:14 AM

You can buy over the counter ovulation test kits and predictors to see if and when you are ovulating. But yes, you can have a period without ovulating. My cycle was completely messed up and the predictor kits didn't work for me but lo and behold I got pregnant anyway! Good luck!

shawnaslover · 05-23-2006, 08:53 AM

i also had periods and no ovulation. my cycles were 32-40 days. my periods are very painful and weird. one day i will bleed so much that i think i am bleeding to death and the next day barely enough for a liner. i am also so screwed up. i am on my 4th day of clomid and i am taking estradiol also.

hlowrie · 05-23-2006, 04:13 PM

I would start basal body temping. It is hard to use OPK's with irregular cycles. I have only been charting 2 months and I now know that I ovulate for sure, because your body temperature rises right after ovulation, it also shows you about what day in your cycle you can ovulate. The first time I charted I didn't ovulate until cd17, when I thought for sure I ovulated on cd14. I used OPK's for the first time this month and they can help in BD timing if you know approx. when you are going to ovulate. So if you chart a few months figure out the approx. days you will ovulate then you can start using an OPK days before that way you won't miss the eggie. But you basal body temp. should always tell you whether you ovulate or not. You must take at same time every day and with at least 3 consecutive hours of sleep, and take it when you are still in bed before you do anything else. Other than that getting your progesterone tested is the only other way. The BBT way at least let's you monitor it on your own at home. Hope this helps. Holly