Why don't some docs like BBT & OPK's?

[paranoidpatty]

Any of you ever want to smack your gyn? I was just told AGAIN that I'm definitely not ovulating.  I know I have low progesterone levels (7.1) but that does NOT mean I don't ovulate but the doc still insists I'm not.  I keep telling her about my temp shifts and positive OPK's and she said that means nothing because the blood is more accurate.  The blood work only shows the Progesterone levels and even if they're low you can ovulate and you still CAN get pregnant.  Although I know you might have higher chance of miscarriage.

I get watery CM, temp shifts, positive OPK's and ovulation pains all at ovulation time so I'm sure you can all understand why I'm frustrated. My temps shift from about 97.5 all the way to about 98.2 during my luteal phase so that's a bunch of bull.  Anyway, I am finally going to an RE so I won't be arguing with my doc. I could believe her if she will just say that I am ovulating but the progesterone is just low but she still insists I'm not.  I can't believe I got all worked up and cried in the car on the way home because she had me believing I don't ovulate.  Then I remembered all of the stuff I read and people with stories of lower progesterone than mine and still ovulating. And from what I read and what the doctor on this forum says, anovulatory cycles are more irregular and mine are consistent with the same luteal phase length.

But after I talk to the RE I will consider the Clomid or whatever to up my Progesterone. Thanks for listening!

[peekawho]

This article is interesting.  Long, but interesting.  All ovulation is not "normal", and does not always result in adequate progesterone levels.

http://www.infertilityphysician.com/ovulation/abnormalities.html

Your visit with the RE should be very helpful.  Keep us all posted.  

[paranoidpatty]

I can't seem to get that link to open.  I tried going to the site directly but it must be down right now.  I'm so anxious to read it so I'm getting impatient.

Thanks so much, can't wait to see what it says.

[peekawho]

It opens for me without problems.

anyway:

"At one time, about the only thing you could tell by testing was whether a woman ovulated or did not ovulate. Even then, you couldn't always be sure. The techniques available were the Basal Body Temperature Chart (BBT), careful evaluation of changes in the cervical mucus, changes in the appearance of the cells of the vagina when appropriate smears were made, and the measurement of a metabolite of progesterone in the urine called Pregnanediol. By current standards, these procedures and tests belong in the history books but not in clinical practice.

BBT charts will tell you if a woman ovulated but cannot tell you if "normal" ovulation occurred. Furthermore, many women may ovulate normally with a very bizarre looking BBT chart.

The measurement of the urinary Pregnanediol could tell you if ovulation occurred. However, again, it is not a valid test to determine whether normal ovulation is occurring.

Changes in the cervical mucus or changes in the vaginal smear may also tell you if ovulation occurred but that is about all and even then, they are very inaccurate.

The ability to measure the concentration of hormones in the blood using highly accurate techniques combined with the development of ultrasound - first abdominal and now vaginal - has permitted us to study the normal menstrual cycle literally day by day. This has permitted us to determine, with a high degree of accuracy, exactly what a normal menstrual cycle ought to look like."

[paranoidpatty]

This seems to point to what the doc said something about "disordered" uterine lining or something like that.  I'm going to see if I can get into this website on my home computer.

Thanks a bunch!!