Irregular Cycles

[Tessie]

Hi there,

I'm new to this site and would really appreciate some advice.

My husband and I have been trying to conceive for 8 and a half months. I came off the Pill in July last year and since then, my cycles have been very irregular. My cycles have been: 50 days, 112 days and now I am on day 66 of my current cycle.

I saw my doctor in December last year and he ordered blood tests and all my hormone levels came back normal. I also had a scan and there was no evidence of PCOS or Endometriosis. He will not refer me until I reach 12 months of TTC.

I have read and heard that it is difficult to conceive with late ovulation due to the egg being of lesser quality when it is released late. So I'm not holding out much hope really.

I guess what I want to hear is some success stories that people have had with late ovulation to lift my spirits a bit. It's really going to be a waiting game until my doctor will refer me.

Many thanks in advance!

- Tessie

[RuthK]

Tessie

I normally have very regular cycles but this month my cycle was 3 days shorter and as a result my husband and I most probably missed with our timing to conceive, so i know a little of what you're going through.

Why don't you look at www.fertilityfriend.com

They show women who have been charting their temperatures and many of them have amazingly long cycles, yet still get pregnant. From what I've researched in the past, it isn't the length of your cycle that affects your fertility, but the length of your luteal phase (the time from ovulation to your period). If that is less than 10 days your chances of conception are not good. But just because your cycle is very long does not mean that your luteal phase will be short (in fact it's women with very short cycles who are most at a disadvantage in this respect).

Perhaps if you try charting your temperatures you can see when you ovulate and then you'll know exactly how long each phase of your cycle is. Also, buy ovulation predictor sticks, which will tell you when you are ovulating. You can get them on ebay very cheaply, and that way you know you'll have timed intercourse correctly.

And best of luck.

[cwsmum]

Hi,
my mum only gets a period every three months, and she has always been this way, except when she was on the pill.
There is 5 kids in my family :)
so try not to worry too much, you most likely can, and will get pregnant :) and it'll probably happen when you least expect it :)

[Kassiasmum]

Hi Tessie,
I have not experienced what you are experiencing, but before we ttc, I read a fantastic book called "Natural fertility" by Francesca Naish. MAybe you could read this book and the author runs fertility clinics that you could maybe try, from what I understand, you don't need a referal from your GP.
Good luck
Tracey

[cath]

Hi Tessie,
I have irregular cycles too (have had from 31 - 44 days after coming off the pill in February last year). You poor thing with the length of yours (I thought my 44 day one was a nightmare - you must be going insane). I had mine looked into in February this year and I was diagnosed with PCOS so at least I have a reason I guess.
However I have fallen pregnant twice in the last year (had a miscarriage in August last year and am now 11 weeks pregnant again) and conceived on days 25 and 22 each time. I am hoping that this one will stick with us but I am worried about the late ovulation egg thing as well because I have read that the healthiest egg is at day 14. My Obstetrician doesn't seem too worried that I ovulated late though - will just have to wait and see I guess.
There is defintely something they can do for you. I was just about to go on a drug called Clomid when I discovered I was pregnant again for the second time.Clomid was going to regulate my cycle and ensure that I ovulated on day 14 which was going to give us a much better chance. It was a tablet that I would have taken days 5-9 of my cycle. This should definitely help you. I think that with your crazy cycles and the fact that you have been trying for 8.5 months (I know some Dr's say it needs to be a year but stuff that I say if your cycles are not normal) you are fully entitled to ask to start taking Clomid (find a Dr who will prescribe it to you if this one won't). I felt so much better when my Ob. was going to put me on Clomid as it gave me real hope that it was going to happen (my cousin took it and was pregnant in the second month of taking it) and I will definitely go on it if I happen to have another miscarriage (hopefully not).
Best of luck and I hope you don't have to wait too long.

Cath

[PJO27]

Hi There

I was really interested when I saw your post, my cycle is about 35 - 37 days every cycle.

I came off the pill in November, but really didn't start trying untill mid Jan due to Chrissy and New Year Holiday etc.

Regardless I'm a panicker and asked my GP to confirm I was ovulating. I was also monitoring my temperature.

On the day of my BT to see if I had ovulated, my temp actually went up, but this was only 7 days before my period was due. I went to see my GP 10 days later, he said the BT confimed I had ovulated when I should have. I told him I was confused because how could I have ovulated one week prior if my temp only went up the day I was tested, anyway, by now I had done a test at home and it was positive.

From there on I continued to believe I was a week earlier than what my GP thought, I was sure I conceived around when my temp went up not when he thought I had. (hope this is making sense)

Anyway, sadly last week I went for U/S, was "supposed" to be 10 weeks, however bubs had no heartbeat and was 9 weeks. A BT that afternoon showed extremely high levels which the doc said meant it had extremely recently happened, so yes I had more than likely conceived a week later than I had apparantly ovulated.

SO I know this sounds really confusing, but what I suppose I'm trying to say that if I did conceive when I believe, it was only 7 days prior to my period due date and it was the first month of really trying. Surely that's a good sign for late ovulaters?

I had not heard that if you ovulate later there is less chance. It concerns me because obiously we are hoping to conceive again very soon.

Good luck with everything, I can imagine how frustrating it must be for you.

m/c - 29/3/05

[blacktulips]

It took me 8 years to fall pregnant. we gave up after 2 years.

I had periods that where all over the place.

I had blood tests done and other tests and they said all was fine. It wasn't until about 12 months ago. I had a test for Thyroid problems. And guess what I have an under active thyroid. I was placed on medication. I once again had normal peroids

Next shock I fell pregnant at 40 with number 5

Im not saying that this is anyones problem in trying to get pregnant but sometimes just getting this test done may help.


Cheers
Colleen

[claire&declan]

Hi there,
just thought id let you know when I first considered trying to conceive I was on the 3 monthly injection. I came off this to find that it took about 9 months of irregular cycles before I started to get worried. I got a referal to an obst. to tackle the problem head on. he did many tests and when they all came back fine, decided to do a D&C. As soon as that had been done i started getting a regular cycle. I have no problems, right hormone level, right cycle and still nothing.
This is not to put a damper on your problems but to just make you aware that its not always the female. My husband ended up with a few complications. We since have undergone IVF and now have a beautiful 2 year old son. Don't give up hope as there are always other options. Just make sure you seek the right help.

[onabreak]

Hi Tessie

I stopped taking the pill in October 2003. I wanted to get it out of my system as I wanted to have kids in the next few years and had heard that it can take 2 years to get out of your system.

I met a lovely man in April 2004 (who is now my husband) I still hadn't had a period which meant I had gone 6 months without one. I believed that it would be hard to fall pregnant if your periods were irregular. WRONG! 6 weeks after meeting my lovely man I WAS PREGNANT! (fell pregnant the first night I met him). Now I know why condoms were invented. :D

So it was the right place at the right time. I am still baffled to how or why I fell pregnant, without a regular period. I wonder if it will be that easy when we try for a second baby.