Suddenly not ovulating-too soon to see a doctor?

My husband and I conceived our daughter easily. This past January, when she was 14 months old, we decided to start trying to conceive another baby. I went off of the "mini-pill" and stopped breast feeding. I got my period approximately one month after stopping the pill and breast feeding. This was my first period in two years. Nine days after the first day of that menstrual period, I experienced cramps and bleeding that turned out to be symptoms of a miscarriage (a blood test confirmed the pregnancy). Oddly, I must have ovulated very soon after starting my period. My next period came approximately 6 weeks after the miscarriage. It has now been 44 days since the first day of my last menstrual period. I have been taking my basal body temps and see no signs of ovulation. For the two menstrual cycles I've had since stopping breast feeding and the pill, my basal body temps very cleary indicated ovulation with a bi-phasic pattern (97.5 pre-ovulation, 98.5 after). Before starting birth control, my menstrual cycles averaged 35-45 days. We would very much like to conceive a second child soon. Is it pre-mature to talk to someone about my lack of ovulating?
Thank you.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Hello - thanks for asking your question.

While measuring basal body temperature is widely used to measure the timing of ovulation, studies have shown that is not the most reliable method.  

Better alternatives are methods that have the woman examine her vaginal discharge for changes suggestive of a preovulatory estrogen effect, such as an increased volume of clear, stretchy, slippery mucus.

Another test would be to measure the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge that is characteristic of ovulation.  This can be measured either in the urine or blood.  There are commercial urine kits measuring this.  

For further evaluation, an ultrasound or endometrial biopsy can also be performed to evaluate the menstrual cycle and its ovulation pattern.  

Before concluding that there is a lack of ovulation, I would consider the tests I mentioned above first.  If they all show that there is a lack of ovulation, then further management should be discussed with your gynocologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[misslady]

Hello everyone, normally my periods are very normal. Usually they would start on the 20th of every month, no sooner or no later. But the month of August was very different. After my husband and I had intercourse in the early morning hours on the 14, I was bleeding with a little bit of pain. The bleeding lasted at least 4 days. I just took it to be my cycle changing. I brushed it of to be a regular period. Now it is the 14 of September, and there is nothing. Is it possible what I have expierenced to be implantation bleeding? I am worrying myself sick. Wondering even though I'm only late 1 day, I'm still nervous. I suppose it's only because after all was said and done during our whoopy making, my husband announced to me that I was pregnant. Even before I started to bleed unexpectantly.