Ovulation past day 53???

[hmbn]

Hi, since being off the pill for 6 or 7 months my periods have been 34-42 day cycles.  My husband and I are trying to get pregnant.  I am at day 53 and still no period or signs of ovulation so I saw a Dr. today to ask.  She said I looked like I am still in the estrogen phase and I haven't ovulated yet.  I took a preg test and have no symptoms so that's not it unfortunately.  My question is, can I still ovulate this late?  She made it sound like I would and didn't even bring up an aovulatory cycle and I didn't think about asking until after.  She said if I still haven't gotten a period in 2 weeks to come see her and she can give progesterone to make my period come.  Any advice would be appreciated.  

[Shayne Plosker, MD]

Dear hmbn - it is always possible to ovulate even on day 53. This is why women with very irregular periods still get pregnant on their own without fertility drugs from time to time - ovulation can occur once in a while. Having said this, you should get blood testing for progesterone (to see if you have had a delayed ovulation) and a blood pregnancy test. Also, if not recently done you should also have hormone testing for thyroid, prolactin, FSH, estradiol. If you have a lot of facial hair that you are shaving frequently hormone tests for testosterone and DHEA-S should also be considered. The decision to give progesterone should be based on your progesterone level. It is important to understand that progesterone medication will bring on your period but does not make you ovulate. If you want to get pregnant then after taking the progesterone you may need fertility medicine. You might want to consider seeing a reproductive endocrinologist/infertility MD if you want to get pregnant, particularly if the progesterone test you get shows that you have not ovulated. Good luck!

[delsy620]

Sounds like you arent ovulating in this cycle. I have very irregular periods too. i am currently under fertility treatment at the moment and have been advised that I may have PCOS. I do not ovulate every cycle and when I do ovulate it is never during a cycle that is longer than 42 days.