Expert: Edward Joseph Ramirez, MD, FACOG - 10/14/2009

Question
Good Morning,
My question is about ovulation date. I decided to do timed intercourse this cycle and the doctor put me on 100mg of Clomid on cycle days 3-7. On cycle day 12 I went in for a ultrasound and bloodwork. The ultrasound showed 4 follies 18, 18, 16, and 14. I was told to trigger that night with Ovidrel and have intercourse on day 12, 13, and 14 and on day 15 start Prometrium. On day 13 I had very painful cramp, could that have been my ovulation day? When do you think that I ovulated and do you think that our timing was good. Thank you.

Answer
Hello Kristin from the U.S.,

Normally, the follicle has to reach 20-24 mms to ovulate.  That would have been on cycle day # 13 or 14, so the pain that you had on cycle day#13 was probably ovulatory pain.  If you had intercourse on CD#12-14 then you timed it appropriately.  The protocol I prefer is to start intercourse the day after HCG trigger for four consecutive days, then start the progesterone on day#5.  But the protocol you used is okay too.

Good Luck,

Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com

Monterey, California, U.S.A.

for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on facebook and twitter with me at @montereybayivf