First cycle of letrozole/Negative OPK PLEASE HELP

[Hannah1029]

Hello,
I just noticed that there is a section for assisted conception. I had previously been posting in the TTC forum on not getting much of a response, so hopefully I will have bettet luck here.

Me and my husband have been trying to conceive since we were married in April, the same month I removed my IUD. My mother got pregnant at the drop of a hat with my brother and I, so I hoped I would have similar luck. Unfortunately I was diagnosed in late September with PCOS due to my irregular periods and my polycystic ovaries. This is my first cycle taking Letrozole (5mg CD 3-7) and I am currently on day cd 13. My GYN told me to start taking OPK on cd 10. She also suggested I use the Clearblue advanced ovulation test. (The one that has a flashing smiley during days of high fertility and a solid smiley at peak fertility) Now I am concerned because as of today I have still gotten low fertility. Does this mean I'm out for the month? Or is it possibly still early? I also read that 66% of women get 0-4 days of flashing smiley before getting a solid? Maybe I'm just overthinking this? LOL

Any advice or reassurance would be much appreciated!

-Hannah

 

[Hannah1029]

Any comments on femera?

 

[messica]

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggle and diagnosis. It's such a frustrating journey

When using hyperovulatory meds, especially if you have a condition like PCOS, it's super important you be getting follicle studies done. Follicle studies are done using a transvaginal ultrasound probe and they tell you if you're responding to the med, how well or how poorly, and if you can safely proceed with timed intercourse or if you should hold off (due to increased risk of high order multiples because you over responded or your ovaries going bonkers because the med exacerbates your PCOS for example).

If the only guidance your doc is offering you is to use a store bought ovulation test she may not have the knowledge needed to safely navigate you through these meds. It's easy to get defensive when hearing things like that but it's incredibly common, many of us here have experienced the same. Well meaning MD's and GP's will offer them without understanding all that's involved. Please don't hesitate to seek out the care of an actual RE or fertility specialist. They can save precious time, money and heartache by being thorough right off the bat while minimizing what the side effects can do to your body. Many women can only endure so many cycles on hyperovulatory meds before their ovaries and hormones peter out temporarily or permanently. Having cystic ovaries this is especially true for you. Don't take them willy nilly if at all possible!

Have you had ultrasound done to determine if your uterus looks good and 3 day bloodwork to see where your hormones are sitting in all this? You say you have irregular periods, can you elaborate on that? Once a year, every few months, every six weeks.....?

 

[S_secret]

It could be that the dose wasn't high enough. I am currently on 10mg. Haven't finished yet presently on cd 5

 

[Hannah1029]

My cycles range anywhere from 40-60 days long. Last month, before starting my first round of the letrozole, I had a fairly regular cycle of only 33 days. Which leads me to believe I had possible ovulated on my own, possibly just late. But maybe thats is just wishful thinking.

I am currently on CD 18 now and have been getting the flashing smiley on the CB digi indicating a rise in esrogen since CD 16. Hoping for the solid smiley, but I am feeling really discouraged and that its just not going to work.

 

[Miss_chicka]

Hey, I'm on my 2nd cycle of Femara. First cycle my doctor wasn't sure if I ovulated or not. This cycle I didn't ovulate until cd 18. I read that on Femara and Clomid that you have a short Lh surge so it is easy to miss it. I'm not sure if that is true or not.

 

[Hannah1029]

Hey, I'm on my 2nd cycle of Femara. First cycle my doctor wasn't sure if I ovulated or not. This cycle I didn't ovulate until cd 18. I read that on Femara and Clomid that you have a short Lh surge so it is easy to miss it. I'm not sure if that is true or not.

I got a positive OPK on sunday CD 19. Do you have PCOS as well?

 

[Miss_chicka]

I don't have pocs the doctor did a blood test to check if I was ovulation or not because it had been a year since my miscarriage and it turns out that my levels were really low.
Are you getting a cd 22 progesterone test?

 

[Hannah1029]

No I'm not. I'm very frustrated that my GYN never even bothered to mention such a thing to me. I also heard that many women get ultrasounds to check their follicle sizes and that was never brought to my attention either. I feel very upset and neglected.

Maybe I'm just being a drama queen lol

 

[S_secret]

It might be that they just aren't being aggressive enough at the beginning. You have been ttc since June? You may have to be a bit more pushy. I eventually had to be as well to get what we wanted

 

[Miss_chicka]

Hey Hannah, I was wondering how you were getting on

 

[Hannah1029]

Hey there!
I am doing well. I did end up ovulating that cycle on cd 19 and AF showed exactly 14 days later which definitely confirmed that I o'ed. Sucks that it was a bfn but I'm justso happy that I can try just like every other woman now!! I am currently on cd 6 of my second femara cycle and hoping for a better result this time. Thank you so much for checking in
-Hannah

 

[Hannah1029]

And I will also be getting a cd 21 progesterone draw this time around

 

[Miss_chicka]

Hey, sorry for the late reply.
That's awesome news that you ovulated and that you are getting a cd 21 test. I'm on my third cycle and got my cd 21 test yesterday so I will find out my results tomorrow. Last month they were 52.5 I'm hoping it's around the same amount again.