Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

So we're trying to conceive. My hubby and I decided last month to try. But the thing is, my period is abnormal but normal to me. I either skip a month then get my period or skip 2 months then get my period. So my doc told me to first try the ovulation kit. I went to the pharmacy and found the ovulation kit and read the instruction. But I dont understand it :( It says I should use the test on day 11 of your menstrual cycle if your cycle is 28 days. But my cycle is more than that! And my period just passed. It started on Sept 6 and ended on the 11th. Can I just use it at anytime? Bc I dont know when I'm going to get my period since I have this crazy cycle and I can never determine when I will get my period. :( I have a period tracker on my iphone which is how I know the avg of my cycle. Please help me with this ovulation test kit :( Tia!!

Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

it sounds like you have PCOS. its the most common ovulatory issue.
with OPKs you have to test A LOT if you are unsure when you ovulate. my advice is pay attention to your cervical mucus. when it gets to be egg-white like (known on here as EWCM - google it) then start testing with OPKs. i have PCOS and thats what works for me. id be wasting weeks and weeks of tests if i tested on day 11 since i dont ovulate until at least CD20 and as late as CD28.
unfortunately this is not a foolproof plan and since your cycle is erratic so it your ovulation and you wont be able to track it easily. i say use OPKs when you see EWCM and make sure to have lots of sex around that time. thats prob the best you can do with an irregular cycle. also i recommend buying OPKs off of amazon and buy the strips - you can get like 100 for $20 or so. you will probably need that many to get an accurate reading for a few months.

good luck!!

Message edited 9/22/2013 9:36:40 PM.

Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

If you have longer cycles, I would not recommend a regular OPK. I'd recommend the Clearblue Easy Fertility Monitor (CBEFM). You'll start testing early at first (on CD6) but it will give you an idea of when/if you ovulate. With a 65 day cycle, I believe it will be a less expensive option in the long run for you b/c the regular OPK's only have like 7 tests. CBEFM sticks come in boxes of 30. The CBEFM itself is $$$ but you can find a used one on ebay for like half the price. With a long cycle like that, you should start out with more than one box just in case.

Another option for you would be temping. All you'll need is a basal thermometer and take your temp in the morning as you're waking up and you can chart it on a site like Fertility Friend.

What you really need to do is find out when/if you ovulate which with a 65 day cycle will be somewhere around CD50.

Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

my cycles average 60-90 days. I look for signs of ovulation. then when I have symptoms, I take an opk. 9/10 times I'm right. Wishing you lots of luck!

Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

I would temp. Temping is the only real way to know if you ovulate other than blood tests.

It will take a few months but once I starting temping I didn't need opks. I was able to predict my cycle.

Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

Thanks all!!!! Thanks for your suggestions and very useful info! I appreciate it very much. Yes the Opks are expensive! Thank you...I will check amazon. And the CBEFM is almost $200!!! Whoah!! lol Well I guess I'll try both! =) Btw, whats a CD11 or CD50 or CD6??? Sorry new here :(

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

I have 2 children now but when I first started trying to conceive I had 60 day long cycles and I swear by the CBEFM, I got pregnant my second cycle and then with my second baby I conceived the first month. Best of luck to you!

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

Thank you so much for your help! Thanks everyone! Yes my doc says to try the opk or CBEFM. If these dont work, I would have to go back to him and he may have to put me on fertility drug. I will also try temping as well. And def will be looking out for cm!! Oh and thanks all for letting me know that CD is cycle day =)

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

Hi all! So yea the opk really isnt working :(. I will search online to buy the CBEFM. Wow cant believe it cost almost $200 I am now researching temping bc I'm not to familiar with that. So I would have to purchase basal thermometer for that. Should I buy both the CBEFM and Basal thermometer? Or try the CBEFM first? Sorry So confused :(

Re: Hi New to this ttc chat! My avg cycle length is 65 days!

I have always had longer cycles and we got lucky with DS but now I am using OPKs. I buy the cheapy ones on amazon and start testing cd10 just in case, although I have always gotten a positive around cd17-23. I probably could wait for ewcm and start testing (I tend to get a positive a few days after ewcm) but its not foolproof and with longer cycles I dont want to waste time.

Another thing to keep in mind, it does sound like you might have PCOS so its common to surge a few times or come close to surging a few times. So, for me, my tests will darken and go almost positive, then lighten, and then a week later get a true positive. A true positive is when the test line is as dark as or darker than the control line, and I usually will get a positive for about 48 hours.

Good luck! With my DS I got my bfp on cd53 :)

Message edited 1/31/2014 2:02:55 PM.