No AF - But Not Pregnant - How Did You Think About Next Ovulation?

KariShoe · July 2015

This is my first post to the Bump Board. My husband (34) and I (31) have been TTC since January. I thought it was a good sign when I missed my AF this month but over a week later and after a visit to the doctor, confirmed a definite BFN.

Has anyone else experienced this? My cycles have been pretty regular (31-34 days) since I stopped birth control last October but now trying to determine my next ovulation time frame? Should I just use what it would have expected to be had I not missed my AF? Went to a Nurse Practitioner today and she was not very helpful other than to tell me I wasn't pregnant.

Any advice would be most helpful!

IowaLove89 · July 2015

Welcome!

There is some helpful information here: https://forums.thebump.com/discussion/12585882/calling-all-those-who-are-new-to-the-bump#latest

Also, I recommend testing each week until AF or a BFP. If you are not temping, chances are that you ovulated later than you thought.

There are many ways to help determine your fertile window, but the only way to confirm ovulation is by temping. Also, it says this in the link I posted, but I highly recommend using fertility friend. It is extremely helpful.

didi0308 · July 2015

Hi! Welcome. So, if you are not pregnant and AF hasn't arrived that means you ovulated later than expected or didn't ovulate at all. Were you using OPK? Do you temp? Temping is the only way to know if you ovulates and exactly what day. OPK can give you an estimate based on your Lh surge but can not confirm ovulation. I suggest you download an app called fertility friend and buy yours a BBT thermometer. They are pretty inexpensive. Take the tutorials on fertility friend on how to temp and chart.

KariShoe · July 2015

Thank you both. I tried temping last month but got a little frustrated. I have purchased a new BBT and also a Clear Blue Ovulation kit. I was using Wondvo strips but I have never seen a clear positive on those. I have also been using Ovia Fertility but I think I broke the app by missing my AF I just had a really frustrating experience this morning. But you are both absolutely right. Back to the beginning.

IowaLove89 · July 2015

I know it's frustrating, but FF will be so much better than Ovia. I had Ovia at first, too. I really liked it better than FF in the beginning (mostly because it seemed to be more aesthetically pleasing to me.) I tracked everything in both of them for my first cycle after BCP (I didn't ovulate.) Ovia couldn't handle it, and was very frustrating, so I stuck with FF after that. Plus, FF has helpful hints that have helped me (along with TB) to really understand my body and its absolutely crazy cycle.

Also, if you aren't already, I'd keep an eye out for your CM to help gauge FW if you haven't had luck with OPKs. CM isn't the most reliable indicator for me, but some women swear by it.

TheBorg7of9 · July 2015

KariShoe said:
Thank you both. I tried temping last month but got a little frustrated. I have purchased a new BBT and also a Clear Blue Ovulation kit. I was using Wondvo strips but I have never seen a clear positive on those. I have also been using Ovia Fertility but I think I broke the app by missing my AF I just had a really frustrating experience this morning. But you are both absolutely right. Back to the beginning.

Forget ovia and start using fertility friend. Read a book called taking charge of your fertility. New 20th edition next week!

Your period is late because you ovulated late or haven't ovulated yet. Your cycle length is determined by the day you ovulate. The day you ovulate may vary a lot from cycle to cycle and woman to woman. The time period after cycle day 1 until the day you ovulate is called the follicular phase. The follicular phase could be 8 days or 60 days, although the 'norm' is more like 12 to 24 (don't quote me on that).
From the day you ovulate to your next period is called the luteal phase and it is between 10-16 days on average. However, an individual woman's luteal phase doesn't vary by more than a day or two.
Say, for example, your normal luteal phase is 12 days. If you ovulate on day 12, then you'll get your period on day 24. If you ovulate on day 25, then you'll get your period around day 37.
This is why temping is awesome, it will tell you when you ovulated and therefore when to expect your period and when to test.

IowaLove89 · July 2015

TheBorg7of9 said:

KariShoe said:
Thank you both. I tried temping last month but got a little frustrated. I have purchased a new BBT and also a Clear Blue Ovulation kit. I was using Wondvo strips but I have never seen a clear positive on those. I have also been using Ovia Fertility but I think I broke the app by missing my AF I just had a really frustrating experience this morning. But you are both absolutely right. Back to the beginning.
Forget ovia and start using fertility friend. Read a book called taking charge of your fertility. New 20th edition next week!

Your period is late because you ovulated late or haven't ovulated yet. Your cycle length is determined by the day you ovulate. The day you ovulate may vary a lot from cycle to cycle and woman to woman. The time period after cycle day 1 until the day you ovulate is called the follicular phase. The follicular phase could be 8 days or 60 days, although the 'norm' is more like 12 to 24 (don't quote me on that).
From the day you ovulate to your next period is called the luteal phase and it is between 10-16 days on average. However, an individual woman's luteal phase doesn't vary by more than a day or two.
Say, for example, your normal luteal phase is 12 days. If you ovulate on day 12, then you'll get your period on day 24. If you ovulate on day 25, then you'll get your period around day 37.
This is why temping is awesome, it will tell you when you ovulated and therefore when to expect your period and when to test.

@TheBorg7of9 you are amazing at this explanation stuff. Thank you for that.

KariShoe · July 2015

Ovia is ditched and downloaded Fertility Friend and started to key in information. All my materials get here on Saturday!

Thank you @TheBorg7of9 and @IowaLove89 - hopefully you hear from me soon and it's better news. The videos are super great on FF's app too.

bsckgb7 · July 2015

Yeah for taking suggestions and running with them!! Welcome to the club. You will soon also be addicted to POAS.

evabear123 · July 2015

I just wanted to put my two cents in here and say you haven't "missed" a period, so no you will not ovulate around the same time for your next cycle because this cycle hasn't finished yet.

Either you are yet to ovulate, which will mean your period is still at least 2ish weeks away (depending on your luteal phase), or you have ovulated much later than normal.

Or you won't ovulate at all this cycle, which happens.

It is impossible to predict your next ovulation, and even more so before this cycle is finished.

EDIT: Grammar/clarity

KariShoe · July 2015

Thank you @evabear for the extra two cents. After reading other discussions, I have decided the best bet is to start temping to get in the habit but if I do not have a AF by CD 60 I am going to consult my OB-GYN. Fertility Friend charts were very helpful to look at for other women who have had long cycles.

mommygrams0730 · July 2015

@KariShoe temping may seem a bit daunting, but after you get into the routine of it it's really quite stress relieving. You'll find you have much more insight and feel a little more in control of ttc. Good luck!

KariShoe · July 2015

Just as an update - cycle finally came to an end after 45 days. Hopefully I'm back to normal this month with a 31-32 cycle but I love how you guys knew my body better than myself or the nurse practitioner did. Thanks for being most helpful. Temped this AM

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