Expert: Norman Solberg - 12/31/2008

Question
QUESTION: I had the Mirena IUD for almost a year and a half, about three months ago i had it removed in hopes of concieving. Upon having it removed i have had three normal cycles and the ovulation tests I have taken each month have shown that i have been ovulating at the same time each month, my husband and i are intimate every day and we have yet to concieve could there be something wrong with us?

ANSWER: Hi Melissa,
Most likely you are very normal.  The average time for a couple to conceive is 4 months.  That means many couples take longer than that.  It's thought that having sex every other day increases your chances, since it gives the sperm count a chance to build back up.  Since you're checking for ovulation, your best bet is to have sex the following day after your ovulation test is positive (and not the same day).

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I took your advice and I also stopped "stressing" this month I didn't check for ovulation and I started "spotting/ bleeding" on the 5th of December and started heavyflow on the 8th of December that lasted until the 12th. On December 29th I started spotting but it only happened once and was a very light pink, along with mild cramping on my right side. Could my period be starting 9 or 10 days early or could this be implantation spotting?  

Answer
If your period started around Dec. 5-8 and you're still ovulating every month, then it's unlikely that your period would start this early.  Maybe it's implantation spotting, and maybe it's just one of those things.  Time will tell.  Occasional spotting and cramping is so common that it's hard to know.