One last question regarding LH Surge & Ovulation

[AngelaM]

As you know, I've used the digital ovulation test this month. I got my LH surge positive result on day 11 of my cycle. We BMS'd in the afternoon on day 11 and last night on day 12. The test instructions said you should ovulate 24-48 hours after your LH surge is detected. Should we BMS tonight as well or do you think that ovulation has occured and more attempts are for fun only.

One more question, can you physically tell when you ovulate and if so, what does it feel like? Unfortunately, I usually have all kinds of aches and pains around ovulation because of endometriosis. But I usually have a distinct period where I feel local sharp pains around one of my ovaries followed by some dull aching in the general abdominal area. Is that ovulation or just more of endo discomfort?

[BC-Maura]

Angela, No question but that you should BMS today if you can! If you surged on cd 11, then you could be ovulating today on cd 13. I would probably also BMS tomorrow just to be safe. As long as you don't have any male factor issues, then BMS every day around O is the way to go (just make sure you leave 24 hours in between sessions to allow the sperm a chance to rejuvenate).

As for O pains, some women can feel it; others cannot. What you describe as a sharp then dull pain around one of your ovaries is what I often feel at O time (but I don't feel it every month). I bet it's O-related.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted+++++++++
Maura
p.s. These O pains can precede, accompany or follow O, so you can't necessarily pinpoint O from the pains... you can only know that O is near, is happening or is about to happen.

[BC-DKNY]

angela...i can't really add anything to what maura said. definitely BMS again! and tomorrow too! the egg, even after it's been released is still viable for 12 -24 hours. i would always incorporate BMS into the morning following O. good luck!

P.S. that's pretty much what i feel like when I O. it starts out as an ache, and over the course of 24 hours it turns into a sharper more uncomfortable pain, which by the next morning is usually back to an ache. so if that's what you get, and it's around the time you O, i'd say that's probably it. but what maura said is very true...those could also be after pains so it's hard to tell at what point in O you're at without actually having an u/s. that's why the OPK's come in so handy.

[AngelaM]

Can't you guys please give me the exact moment in time that I'm ovulating....Geeesh!!!!

Even with the ovulation tests, we really don't know when the magic egg is truly released. It just drives me bonkers.

As for the male factor question.....many moons ago, my dh was tested when we began treatment (around 1999). And, he was told he had a borderline low sperm count. Who knows if that is something that is always a problem or just happened to be the case on the day he was tested as he hasn't been tested since. He evidently has some active swimmers (and enough of them) because he has gotten me pregnant 4 times (one ectopic, two successful pregnancies, and one miscarriage). That was my only concern with BMSing each day was the fact that he may still have issues with a low count. What the heck! We'll play tonight and tomorrow too and hope for the best. If I don't get pregnant this cycle, it won't be from lack of trying.

[BC-DKNY]

you know it's funny angela...one of my sis's has a longer than normal cycle, has absolutely no clue when she O's, and has never had any trouble getting pg. she's presently pg for the 5th time...and i've always wondered how the heck she accomplished that. (obviously no IF issues)....she says her and her dh BMS for like 2 1/2 weeks straight. so i always figured i should be thankful that i can at least narrow it down to a window of 2 days....LOL. i mean seriously, could you imagine having to BMS for 2-3 weeks, everyday? yea, ok....much to my dh's dismay....those days are long gone.

[AngelaM]

Originally Posted by mod-DKNY

i mean seriously, could you imagine having to BMS for 2-3 weeks, everyday? yea, ok....much to my dh's dismay....those days are long gone.

To heck with their fertility, I want to know what they are taking for energy to BMS for 2-3 weeks every day when they already have 4 kids.

I have to say that I still find my dh incredibly sexy and I enjoy spontaneous sex with him but BMS is just not as fun because there is that "mandatory performance" requirement to it and I know everyone here can relate. I can't imagine 2-3 weeks of BMS.

[AngelaM]

One last thing....I got those pains that I thought might be ovulation pains on day 11. I didn't have any discomfort yesterday.

You know what is really strange. Ever since I had Anna I've had odd menstrual cycles. I will bleed for around 4 days and stop then start bleeding again around day 9 or 10 and then bleed/spot through day 13-14. My RE thought this problem might be fixed after my lap in March. He found some scar tissue in my uterus and thought pockets of blood might be getting trapped there are work its way out several days later. He removed that scar tissue though and didn't think I'd see that problem any more but I have. This cycle, I went my normal 4 days, stopped, and then started again on Day 8 and was still spotting even through yesterday. It makes it very difficult to identify CM. And, also makes me wonder what my body is really doing. I called my RE's office yesterday to ask if I should be concerned if I'm still doing this and his nurse said to wait and see if it does it again next month and if so, come back and see them. Just one more thing to add to the process of trying to figure out what the heck my body is doing and when.

[BC-DKNY]

oh i hear ya! although i'm very sad at times that out TTC days are done, i don't miss the demands it put on our sex life. my ds was a few years in the making and it was starting to get rough. so in that aspect, i'm glad it's back to spontaneity and fun.

re: your pains...don't forget that you can get those pains before you O. it could be just before the follicle ruptures, which in your case would completely coincide with your OPK.

re: your cycle. when was the last time you had a cd3 blood draw? i'm not sure of your age, cpuld it be hormone related? i'm, guessing that's the first place they'd look. although i found after each pg my cycle changed a little. between my dd and my ds was lots of pre and post spotting and my AF was 3 days, beginning to end. ever since i had my ds all the spotting stopped and my AF is now 4 days. go figure.....

[AngelaM]

Originally Posted by mod-DKNY

re: your cycle. when was the last time you had a cd3 blood draw? i'm not sure of your age, cpuld it be hormone related?

I'm 34 years old. I have never had a cd3 blood test. What does that check? I've had cd21 blood tests to see if I ovulated. I've never had any kind of test prior to ovulation that I recall.

I've never had problems with hormones per se previously. That doesn't mean I don't have those problems now.

This is one reason I was considering getting the Fertility Monitor. I figured that way when (and if) I return to my RE for fertility assistance, I will have captured cycle happenings in full so he can run whatever additional tests he might need to see. For some reason, neither my OB or my RE seemed overly concerned about my midcycle bleeding. I guess, for me, considering I never had those issues prior to 2003, I wonder what the heck is causing it?

[BC-DKNY]

mid cycle bleeding can be a result of an imbalance in hormones. i'm sure there could be other reasons too IE: the possibility your doc gave you. i know it's so frustrating when we get reasons that are akin to speculating, but the good thing is your doc is willing to check into it if it continues.

the cd 3 b/w is to test for FSH, E2 levels, LH, P4, and some other "incidental" things. it gives them an idea of how your hormones are doing (relative to age) and that your producing everything you need to produce in sufficient amounts to promote and maintain pg. FSH is obviously extremely important as it determines the reserve and "condition" of your egg supply. but i'm sure i don't have to tell you, any imbalances can be "trouble" when TTC. they're also some of the easiest things to correct.

here's a complete list of the day 3 tests and the normal range results.

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/hormonelevels.html