A visit with the nurse has me really confused...

[8BriarRose8]

Hello there. My last period began on Feb. 10th and ended on the 14th. I seem to have a regular 28 day cycle, from tracking for the last four months. My husband and I DTD on Feb. 15th. While I know that its difficult to predict ovulation, I thought there was a standard "day 14" rule to estimate with, which would mean I wouldn't ovulate until around Feb. 23/24.

However, at a trip to see a nurse for unrelated reasons this last week, I was told that it was very possiible that I might have ovulated the week of the 16th through the 22nd. This would be the week after my period. She said to come back March 1st, as their tests might be able to pick up a pregnancy by then.

It seems early to me, and so I'm a little confused. If it's possible, then it's also much more likely that I might be pregnant (which we'd be thrilled with!) I'm just a little confused. Does it sound likely that I might be preggers? I'm also experiencing menstrual-like cramping now, but I'm thinking that this could also be ovulation cramping. I'm so confused Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[slg76]

Our bodies do the weirdest things! Yes, 14 days is the average time between AF starting and ovulation. But, of course this is different from woman to woman and month to month. Occasionally you can even ovulate twice in one cycle. I O early. For example this month I O'd on CD9. Good luck! I hope the nurse is right

 

[mandy_grovie1]

When I was into tracking my O date, I'd ovulate anywhere between CD10-14. The Follicular Phase (FP - time b/w period and O) isn't really concrete so that's why it's important to monitor your ovulation day when you're TTC. So the 14 day ''rule'' is really for the textbook, not the norm.

 

[8BriarRose8]

Well, just a quick update... I was expecting Auntie Flo either yesterday or today, and no sign of her yet... I'm still expecting her to come though. I had a blood test done about a week and a half ago, and it came back negative. So, I'm quite sure that she's just coming a little late this month for whatever reason. Am I right in thinking that blood pregnancy tests tend to be really accurate, no matter how early they're taken?

 

[BunnyN]

A week and a half before you af is due may well have been too early for a blood test to show. It depends on how long it takes for the egg to implant.

 

[8BriarRose8]

Really? Oh I didn't know. I thought a blood test could tell no matter what time in the cycle it was done. I suppose that makes sense though. Well, I guess I'll give it a couple more days to see if Auntie Flo shows up. Thanks!

 

[slg76]

A week and a half before you af is due may well have been too early for a blood test to show. It depends on how long it takes for the egg to implant.

^^^agreed. After conception it takes about a week for the embryo to implant. Only then does it start to produce enough HCG to be picked up on a blood test. I would say to expect a neg. blood test for at least a week after you ovulate and it could be a bit longer than that.

 

[BunnyN]

I think I read that implantation takes place between 4 days and a week after fertilization. H-hCG is produced before the egg implants, hCG only after the egg implants. Most pregnancy tests, both urine and blood tests, only test for hCG. Once the egg implants the hCG levels increase quickly but in the first couple of days it may still be quite low. It is possible to have very low levels of hCG in your body without being pregnant so they will only count blood levels over a certain amount as positive. Some women are going to test positive earlier than others but all these factors mean that getting a negative blood test a week and 1/2 before af is due doesn't mean a lot. If af still hasn't started a home test should give a positive result by now if you are pregnant.

 

[8BriarRose8]

Thank you ladies so much for your help and knowledge. I'm still a little new to all this, and while I'm trying to learn all I can, it can get confusing, and I seem to get contradicting answers sometimes (for example, the doctor who administered the blood test told me it would be quite definitive).

While my cycle tends to be quite consistent, I've noticed from tracking that it can once in a while run about 30 days rather than 28, so, I'm going to wait until tomorrow (the 12th). If Ms. Flo hasn't arrived by tomorrow, I'll test first thing the next morning

 

[slg76]

good luck with your test! There is so much to learn

 

[8BriarRose8]

Thanks! There really is! Well, still no Auntie Flo, soo.... Hehe.

 

[BunnyN]

Any news?

Honestly my experience is that doctors (unless they are specialised) have limited knowledge on this stuff. I've learned more from the ladies on here than the doctors I have seen know about pregnancy and birth .