having a hard time getting pregnant

[Moonflower09]

We've been ttc for 1 year. History: 1 pregnancy 1 year ago, miscrr'd - Oct @ 9 wks.  Got pg only after 1 month ttc.  Cycles screwed up after the mc, a lot of problems. 1st doc didn't do d&c; bleed'g & cramp'g til Nov. 1st period Dec. 2nd. Changed docs. 2nd doc concerned cause 1st doc did't do d&c ultrasounds still showing remained product in dec.  2nd ultrasound in Jan (scope & saline).  Recomended surgery if anything still remained, but all was clear and uterus looked great, she also noted I was ovulating (day 9 of my cycle).

I have been tracking cycles, avg: 25-26 days, 2 short ones: 23 days; 2 @ 28 days. I am 39.

Trying to use cm for ovulation prediction. I've been observing how the consistency changes and noting when I have egg white stretchy cm.  For a while after the mc, I didn't have ANY.  I've just recently started getting the abundant cm that will stretch between fingers about 3 inches.  I've only had that twice - last cycle and this past Monday.  Could that be why we haven't been able to get pregnant?  How predictable is using this method? And what does it mean if I don't have the stretchy ewcm?  

The ewcm happens early in my cycle.  Last one - day 8.  If that's true, and I ovulated on day 8 or day 9, wouldn't that mean my cycle would only be 24 days?  Last cycle was the same.  I noted the ewcm early - but my period came 3 days late and my cycle lenght was 29 days instead of the normal 26.  

Tracking these last two cycles the cm changes just like the research has said - just that the ewcm is coming earlier in the cycle than what the research says.  Does that mean my luteral phase is messed up?  

We tried this cycle day before and after ewcm though it was early.  How else can I predict and what else can I do?  I don't have money for fertility testing.

periods: heavier & more clots then before mc. last cycle: 3 days late, lasted 24 hours, stopped, started 1 day later, lasted 1 more day. ewcm noted day 8. today day 11, moving into dry stage.

[Bigmoma6]

I have a question for you, I am 37 yrs old my husband is 38 yrs old. I have just had a blood test that was to be done on the 3rd day of my cycle. My period is very irregular. Sometimes I get it for 3 months in a row, then I won't get it for 3 months.
What causes this? Will I have a hard time getting  pregnant? Is there something I should be doing?
I see the doctor in another week what should I expect?  

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
A couple of things:
If ovulation occurs, the period always follows 14 days later.  So, if you have a 29 day cycle, ovulation was day 15.  26 day cycle, ovulation day 12.  It sounds like your cycle varies a lot.  One way to determine when ovulation occurs is to use ovulation predictors--these are available at most pharmacies.  To save money, I recommend using the predictors only until a positive occurs, and then save the rest for next cycle.

In your case, you may want to do a cycle in which you start testing as early as day 7.
Once you have a positive test, you can correlate it with your cervical mucus and have a ballpark estimate for the next cycle.

For optimal results, it is important to have intercourse approximately daily or every other day during the fertile time--not just the day or ovulation.  Mother Nature is pretty good at making couples feel "frisky" when they are fertile, so follow your instincts.

One test you might wish to consider is a day 3 FSH.  This will give you an estimate of your ovarian reserve. This gives you some idea of how likely it is that you will be able to conceive at your age (sorry). Your gynecologist could do this test for you.

Good luck!
Dr B