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My cycles are fairly similar from month to month. Usually not too long or heavy compared to what I hear other women talking about. (4-5 days mild/moderate bleeding and spotting.) Usually my cramps are pretty bad. I don't think the ovaries "alternate" from right to left every month consistently- I think you can ovulate a few times in a row from the same side.

Thank you, imatestingfool! I did some further research and you are totally correct. Ovulation can happen randomly from either the left or the right ovary. What research has shown, however, is that the side of ovulation is correlated to the length of the follicular phase (the time during which the egg matures) of that cycle. In cycles with a short follicular phase, the left over corpus luteum (the 'sack' that develops in the ovary every month and releases the hormones needed for ovulation), prevents ovulation from that ovary happening again and ovulation then takes place from the other one. It seems that if your follicular phase is consistently longer than 14days, then ovulation will take place from either the left or the right ovary at random. If it is shorter than 14days, then you might find that you alternate consistently between the left and the right.
Still not sure what this means in terms of symptom tracking, but hey, at least I learned something new!

I would try not to compare cycles period. Yes it's true that you will O from one ovary and the next time you will O from the other ovary BUT it doesn't always switch off every other month... You could O from the left for 3 months in a row, it's very hard to tell, so trying to compare apples with apples would really be so accurate. Nice wording of your question thou :-) I liked that apple a lot lol. But like I said, every cycle is different and your symptoms will be different each time too whether they are from pregnancy or just progesterone, I would really try not to compare cycles. Best of luck to you, I hope you get your bfp soon! Baby dust!! Xxxx