Complicated ovulation question (from donor, post-retrieval -- pregnancy mentioned)

donormomTTC · 08-12-2007, 11:52 AM

Hi everyone... new to this board, so thanks in advance for the help.

I have been an egg donor several times over the past couple of years and have finally decided to try and add to our own family. I had a retrieval back in July and had a period on July 29th, as is usual for me. Without fail, my second cycle after a retrieval is always around 45 days, so my period is typically delayed with the SECOND period by about 15 days (usually 30 day cycles).

We are TTC right now during this cycle and this also happens to be the first month I have charted and done BBT and stuff. My question is this... I know that delayed second cycles after oocyte retrieval are normal, but what is the cause? Does ovulation still happen within the normal time frame and the delayed period is just because of a long luteal phase or is it delayed because of delayed ovulation? So far, I'm at cycle day 15 and I think I'm on the brink of ovulating. DH is out of town for business for the rest of the month, so I'm trying to figure out the math here.

I was using follistim and menopur, ganirelix and then an hcg at the end. No Lupron with this cycle (which is a first). Any idea what the physiology behind the delayed second period after an egg retrieval is?

Thanks for reading! Baby dust to you all!!

thebabyproject · 08-12-2007, 12:06 PM

Well, you're the opposite of me as the cycles after an IVF cycle are almost always SHORTER for me.

Usually the cause of a long cycle is either no ovulation at all OR delayed ovulation. The time between AF and ovulation can vary a lot, the luteal phase usually varies very little.

OPKs can be helpful in pinpointing ovulation BEFORE it happens as opposed to AFTER like with BBT.

Hope that helps. I hope you add to your family easily after helping others achieve theirs.

Emily

**BC-MAV** · 08-12-2007, 12:34 PM

I've done many IVF's so I guess you can consider me an egg donor to myself-LOL! I have always had delayed periods after being on FSH. I think the drugs just mess up your normal cycles and system. Did you ask your Dr. how long you should wait to try to conceive after taking the FSH drugs? I would wait till you have normal cycle. Like if normals is every 28 days with AF for 3-4 days wait till it gets that way.

donormomTTC · 08-25-2007, 11:40 AM

Thanks to both of you. My chart was kind of all over the place for awhile but once I adjusted my software settings to show a 45-day cycle instead of a typical 30-day one (since it was my 2nd cycle after retrieval), I was able to see a distinct thermal shift and got a positive OPK on the 21st -- ovulated on the 22nd, according to all signs... so it was just a late ovulation.

I do think there's a chance that I conceived this month (we bd'd on the 20th and 21st but not on 22nd, so hopefully)... and I'm impatient waiting for results already. I'm curious what my chances for multiples are, assuming I had no problems conceiving... I was not on any gonadotropins during this cycle and I know they don't stay in your system very long, but was told that I would have "very enhanced fertility" the month following the cycle. I'm not sure how or why my fertility would be better after a retrieval but I can't help wondering whether whatever is going on in my system that would cause delayed ovulation and enhanced fertility would also keep me at an increased risk for multiples, the way it would have last month?

Oh well... I'll figure it all out in due time, I suppose!

Too curious for my own good.

Thanks again.

08-12-2007, 11:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
donormomTTC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 232	Complicated ovulation question (from donor, post-retrieval -- pregnancy mentioned) Hi everyone... new to this board, so thanks in advance for the help. I have been an egg donor several times over the past couple of years and have finally decided to try and add to our own family. I had a retrieval back in July and had a period on July 29th, as is usual for me. Without fail, my second cycle after a retrieval is always around 45 days, so my period is typically delayed with the SECOND period by about 15 days (usually 30 day cycles). We are TTC right now during this cycle and this also happens to be the first month I have charted and done BBT and stuff. My question is this... I know that delayed second cycles after oocyte retrieval are normal, but what is the cause? Does ovulation still happen within the normal time frame and the delayed period is just because of a long luteal phase or is it delayed because of delayed ovulation? So far, I'm at cycle day 15 and I think I'm on the brink of ovulating. DH is out of town for business for the rest of the month, so I'm trying to figure out the math here. I was using follistim and menopur, ganirelix and then an hcg at the end. No Lupron with this cycle (which is a first). Any idea what the physiology behind the delayed second period after an egg retrieval is? Thanks for reading! Baby dust to you all!!

08-12-2007, 12:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
thebabyproject 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South of Atlanta, GA Posts: 3,503 Blog Entries: 639	Well, you're the opposite of me as the cycles after an IVF cycle are almost always SHORTER for me. Usually the cause of a long cycle is either no ovulation at all OR delayed ovulation. The time between AF and ovulation can vary a lot, the luteal phase usually varies very little. OPKs can be helpful in pinpointing ovulation BEFORE it happens as opposed to AFTER like with BBT. Hope that helps. I hope you add to your family easily after helping others achieve theirs. Emily __________________ Severe MF w/SCSA 47% & DOR @ 32 DE IVF ICSI TESA#2 worked! Beta#1 3.5; Beta#2 13.8; Beta#3 58.6 Bethany Joyce born 5/16/08

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08-12-2007, 12:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
BC-MAV Board Coordinator for Surrogacy BB Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: way down yonder ... Posts: 29,651 Blog Entries: 50	I've done many IVF's so I guess you can consider me an egg donor to myself-LOL! I have always had delayed periods after being on FSH. I think the drugs just mess up your normal cycles and system. Did you ask your Dr. how long you should wait to try to conceive after taking the FSH drugs? I would wait till you have normal cycle. Like if normals is every 28 days with AF for 3-4 days wait till it gets that way.

08-25-2007, 11:40 AM	#4 (permalink)
donormomTTC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 232	Thanks to both of you. My chart was kind of all over the place for awhile but once I adjusted my software settings to show a 45-day cycle instead of a typical 30-day one (since it was my 2nd cycle after retrieval), I was able to see a distinct thermal shift and got a positive OPK on the 21st -- ovulated on the 22nd, according to all signs... so it was just a late ovulation. I do think there's a chance that I conceived this month (we bd'd on the 20th and 21st but not on 22nd, so hopefully)... and I'm impatient waiting for results already. I'm curious what my chances for multiples are, assuming I had no problems conceiving... I was not on any gonadotropins during this cycle and I know they don't stay in your system very long, but was told that I would have "very enhanced fertility" the month following the cycle. I'm not sure how or why my fertility would be better after a retrieval but I can't help wondering whether whatever is going on in my system that would cause delayed ovulation and enhanced fertility would also keep me at an increased risk for multiples, the way it would have last month? Oh well... I'll figure it all out in due time, I suppose! Too curious for my own good. Thanks again.