QuestionCould you please tell me if there is anything I could take to regulate my periods to make detecting ovulation possible? Thanks
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Followup To
Question -
hi, Im not sure if you're even the right person I need to tak to but I'll tell you my situation and if you are the wrong type of doctor, I'm sorry for wasting your time. I am 22, with one child of the age of 3. My last period was 1st October 2005 and my cycle can range from 24 to 30 days. I have been trying to get pregnant with my partner for a while now with no luck (my daughter is from a previous partner) and we would both like to give my daughter a sibling to play with. Last year (just before I met my current partner) I was told I had chlamydia and was treated with a course of antibiotics. I was told then that because I hadn't had the spotting between periods my fertility would not be affected. With the fact that we have been trying for a while does this mean my fertility could of been affected? We really are getting desperate now so is there anything else we could try? Please help
Answer -
If you were treated for the Chlamydia, it should pose no problem at this time. Since you have such irregular cycles (24-30 days) it is difficult to tell exactly when you ovulate. You can only become pregnant if you have unprotected sex from one day prior to ovulation up to 2 days after ovulation. If you have a 28 day cycle, ovulation occurs on cycle day #14 and you can only become pregnant on cycle day #13, 14, 15, or 16. If you have a 24 day cycle, start having sex on cycle day #10 and countinue every other day until cycle day #16. You may wish to purchase an ovulation predictor kit from the pharmacy. That will help pinpoint the exact day of ovulation. Do not get frustrated. We usually do not do an infertility workup until you have been actively trying to conceive for a full 12 months. (Remember, 12 months is really only 12 days of ovulation). Keep trying. If you have been trying for more than 12 months, consult your doctor and you will get some tests to check if your tubes are patent, or if you are, indeed, ovulating.
AnswerUnless you start having regular cycles (between 21-35 days in length) it will be difficult to calculate when, exactly, you ovulate (if at all). You may have to go on birth control pills for a few months to regulate your cycle and then stop them and continue trying to conceive. Another option is to purchase an ovulation predictor kit from the pharmacy to help pinpoint the exact day of ovulation.
