Back to basics

A side effect of taking Clomid is that it can thin your uterine lining, which in turn can hamper implantation of the embryo.  Dr “James” our Consultant told me to go in for a scan, on a Thursday, between cycle days 10-16 to check the thickness of mine, this happened to be this week on CD 14.

As soon as I walked into the room he put me at ease, chatting away and sharing a joke, and I could feel the apprehension float away and I relaxed, which isn’t easy to do when you’re naked from the waist down with 2 “strangers” in the room!!  Whilst waiting for Dr “James” to start the scan I mentioned my “smiley” on CD 8 and asked if he could tell me if I had in fact ovulated or not.  Both he and the nurse said OPKs are not 100% reliable.  He carried out the scan and said although my uterine lining was slightly thinner than he’d like to see on that cycle day it wasn’t a problem as it would thicken up once I’d ovulated.  That’s right, I hadn’t ovulated yet so the OPK had got it wrong!  He confirmed I had a few follicles on my left ovary but these were too small to release, and one (I think it was just one) on my right ovary which was “ripening” nicely and this is the ovary I’d ovulate from this cycle.  It was a huge relief that ovulation hadn’t occurred yet so we hadn’t missed our opportunity this cycle, and in Dr “James” words we’re to “keep at it”!  Lol!

I mentioned that I’d received the letter with our next appointment date which isn’t until July, he didn’t seem concerned by this, but I think I’ll try to get it brought forward to coincide with our last Clomid cycle.  I also told him that I only had enough Clomid for the next cycle so he gave me a prescription for some more.  As always his parting words were full of positivity for us and he said he hopes he doesn’t see me again, I told him the feeling was mutual 😉

So, here we are now on CD 16 and no hint of a “smiley”.  Yet I know I’m ovulating or about to as I have the OV pain, or Mittelschmerz as it’s formally known, that I always get at ovulation.  So based on a false positive and now a false negative OPK, plus the 3 or 4 error symbols I’ve had on the OPKs this cycle, not forgetting the ridiculous cost of them I’m wondering if we should just go back to basics and forget about using them altogether.  Yes I’m a poas addict but, if we don’t fall this cycle, would it really be that bad to “go it alone” next month?  Maybe it’ll bring some spontaneity back into our love life, but equally maybe it’ll drive me insane with not knowing for sure when things will happen.  I mean I know they’re not 100% reliable, this cycle has more than proved that to me, but they give me a guide and when they do work they’ve been spot on.