Irregular Cycles - HELP

[TTCBabyMore19]

Hi all
Ive been off the pill since March and actively TTC for 4 months. Iam 30 my partner is 31.
I'm using OPKs, have had two positives both on CD 19, but with irregular cycles, I don't think im testing early enough!!
My cycle lengths have been as follows:
28
31
27
32
24
I was so excited to test on Saturday, but with AF showing this morning, a week earlier than expected, im out this month!!
Has anyone with a cycle pattern as above still got their BFP?
Do I need to seek medical help?
Are there any supplements for regulating cycles at all?
I understand that 4 months TTC is still very early days in the whole journey, it just seems so easy for everyone around me, and I end up with negatives!
Any help or advice, or just a chat will be lovely, thank you all xx

 

[IVW]

Hiya

It definitely is a struggle to deal with when people around you are falling pregnant and it feels like you are getting no where, but sometimes it just takes that bit longer.

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Even if you did have pcos, it definitely doesnt rule you out of getting pregnant compared to anyone who doesnt.

Have you got a positive opk ever?x

 

[TTCBabyMore19]

thank you for replying.
I have had two positive OPKs, one in may and one in july. The other months I just put down to testing at the wrong time due to irregular cycle days.
I may get an appointment to check it out now you mention PCOS.
My friend has that and ended up on clomid, she now has healthy 1 year old twin boys, so at least there's the light if it is PCOS.
It is just a struggle every time someone around me announces a pregnancy.
I guess stay positive and keep trying
Just seen you got your BFP last week - CONGRATULATIONS!!

 

[IVW]

thank you for replying.
I have had two positive OPKs, one in may and one in july. The other months I just put down to testing at the wrong time due to irregular cycle days.
I may get an appointment to check it out now you mention PCOS.
My friend has that and ended up on clomid, she now has healthy 1 year old twin boys, so at least there's the light if it is PCOS.
It is just a struggle every time someone around me announces a pregnancy.
I guess stay positive and keep trying
Just seen you got your BFP last week - CONGRATULATIONS!!

I would definitely make an appointment with your GP just to maybe see if your irregular cycles are down to PCOS, but as you know it doesn't stop your chances

Around the time you did ovulate, did you notice any cm? that is usually a good indicator you are close to or are ovulating. I would get ewcm, which is like a stretchy type cm, so i knew it was time to

Its annoying having to keep testing so looking out for ewcm will be really handy for you.

Thank you

 

[TTCBabyMore19]

[/QUOTE]I would definitely make an appointment with your GP just to maybe see if your irregular cycles are down to PCOS, but as you know it doesn't stop your chances

Around the time you did ovulate, did you notice any cm? that is usually a good indicator you are close to or are ovulating. I would get ewcm, which is like a stretchy type cm, so i knew it was time to

Its annoying having to keep testing so looking out for ewcm will be really handy for you.

Thank you [/QUOTE]

Thank you for your tips and advice.

I don't really get EWCM, I did in May so knew to take a OPK, and it was positive. I don't have any noticeable amount of CM when I had other positive tests.

I've just read on another post about Agnus Castus - I wonder whether that would help regulate

 

[Vintageling]

I agree that a good first step would be to talk to your doctor due to pcos or its just taking longer for your cycles to regulate again after coming off the pill as it can take some people a good few months for this to happen.

 

[baby.3]

Hi

I have slightly irregular cycles, they can range from 26 to 36 days in length! I went to the GP about it and he basically told me that they are within the normal range, had tests done to confirm nothing was amiss and they found nothing. If been on and off charting my cycles and i can tell you that i do ovulate, but some cycles i ovulate later than others, when that happens i end up having a longer cycle.

The only thing i can suggest is either religiously do your opks, even if there just once a day in the afternoon/evening. Eventually, you'll see the line begin to darken that's when you need to start bd'ing every other day. I also found temp charting useful as this confirms ovulation.

It's a long process but gives you an understanding of your cycles. Also, you'll discover whether or not you actually are ovulating. I think you will be PCOS you have major long and random cycles i believe?

Also, if you've only just come off contraception it can take a good while for your cycles to regulate themselves.

Wishing you lots of luck xxx

 

[LucyR]

Could you not just do the deed very regularly through out your whole cycle? Like every couple of days I’m sure it would be lots of fun lol

 

[pupperino]

Hi I'm in a similar boat as yourself and baby.3 - my cycles are between 28 and 34 days, although I am in for a 36 day cycle this month.

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I start my OPKs from CD8 and really learned all the signs and symptoms of ovulation so that I can work out my luteal phase (LP). Your LP will roughly be the same each month, you just ovulate at different points for whatever reason (stress, illness, just "because" - lol). I know that I am in for a 36 day cycle because I count 10 days from ovulation and I ovulated late this month due to illness. I am also taking supplements this month to lengthen my LP so it may be longer that 36!

Your 24 day cycle is very short - so I wonder if your AF was actually implantation bleeding? Is your AF different from usual? No harm in taking a pregnancy test in a few days if you are suspicious! Was there anything unusual this month (i.e. lots of weight loss, over exercise?).

So, I don't necessarily think that semi-regular periods are cause for medical concerns, but there is no harm checking with a doctor if you are still concerned. If you have a short LP (less than 10 days) - definitely see a doctor. Otherwise, have a go at trying to pin point ovulation each month using various methods and have regular sex to catch the egg

Best of luck x

EDIT: source https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/irregular-periods

EDIT again (sorry!) - I just saw on your other post that you were looking up vitex. I would be wary of using a powerful herb to intervene with your cycle - particularly if you don't have a progesterone issue, or if you actually have pcos. I found this helpful: https://www.larabriden.com/vitex-for-period-problems/ - femmehead on youtube is also really great with info on vitex!

 

[WinterWolf]

Your periods are actually fairly regular (more regular than me and I'm 100% healthy) so I highly doubt there's anything wrong with you. Don't worry about PCOS, that's characterised by long cycles, you definitely don't have that. A few days difference here and there between cycles really doesn't mean much, your last cycle was probably just a bit screwy (normal to happen sometimes). Don't stress x

I wouldn't go to a doc unless you had other symptoms bothering you or you can't conceive after a year. They'll tell you that you're in the normal range. You should start doing the OPKs around CD12 until you get a positive though, CD19 is going to be too late most of the time!

 

[IVW]

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I wasnt suggesting that was what she had, just that its a sympton:

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Learnt to cover myself with my advice and opinions esp as i am no doctor.

 

[baby.3]

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I wasnt suggesting that was what she had, just that its a sympton:

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Learnt to cover myself with my advice and opinions esp as i am no doctor.

This might have been reference to my comment hun. I've just realised that I wrote

'I think you will be PCOS you have major long and random cycles i believe?'

It was meant to say 'I think with PCOS...'

This phone writes what it likes sometimes, honestly predictive text has got me into so much trouble in the past lol. But I'm lazy and it makes typing quicker haha.

Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

 

[pupperino]

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I wasnt suggesting that was what she had, just that its a sympton:

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Learnt to cover myself with my advice and opinions esp as i am no doctor.

Sorry IVW, wasn't referring to you at all (or you baby.3 for that matter). I'm aware of what you wrote and agree with what you said (as you wrote it) - I was just conscious that to the OP they may interpret that as "you might have pcos" because they thought their period was irregular (per the title). Hopefully that makes sense.

 

[IVW]

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I wasnt suggesting that was what she had, just that its a sympton:

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Learnt to cover myself with my advice and opinions esp as i am no doctor.

Sorry IVW, wasn't referring to you at all (or you baby.3 for that matter). I'm aware of what you wrote and agree with what you said (as you wrote it) - I was just conscious that to the OP they may interpret that as "you might have pcos" because they thought their period was irregular (per the title). Hopefully that makes sense.

Yea I know what you mean, you were just reassuring her

 

[Mrsb91]

Have been reading some of these threads for a month or so now but never actually posted. Think I need to vent to some people who are going through the same thing!

Came off the combined pill in March and had withdrawal bleed as normal.
First cycle was 49 days.
Second cycle I took that pill to delay your period as I was on honeymoon so I came on on day 66 3 days after stopping pill.

Jury is still out on this cycle.
CD 53 and bfn on a clear blue.
So hard not to get obsessed with this. Keep telling myself not to test.
Just want to get AF already so I can start again.
Thought I was coming on 2 weeks ago, cramps, back ache normal symptoms. Then nothing.

Need to accept I've just skipped a month and just need to keep bd'ing every other day to try catch ovulation!

No one else I know is trying to conceive right now and my friend is currently 6 wks so having other people to talk to on here helps!!

 

[WinterWolf]

I disagree that your cycle lengths suggest pcos (although can always be a possibility). baby.3 is right that pcos is usually long cycles of like 60 days or more and problems ovulating. It is normal for your period to vary from 2 - 7 days each month... And finally, you are coming off the pill, so it can take 6 months for your cycle to regulate.

I wasnt suggesting that was what she had, just that its a sympton:

Irregular periods are a sign of PCOS - it might be worth seeing what other symptoms go along side pcos to see if there might be a chance you have that.

Learnt to cover myself with my advice and opinions esp as i am no doctor.

I think the problem with jumping straight to "you should get checked, you might have PCOS" is that it will freak OP out unnecessarily when she's already worked up. PCOS shows as long, super irregular cycles (like 45-70 days). OPs cycles are within normal range and most doctors wouldn't even consider them irregular from a medical sense (I know, I've been there, they don't care unless cycles are shorter than 26 days, longer than 35, or have more than 10 days difference between them). I think everyone is better off not throwing possible diagnoses out there unless someone has obvious symptoms. Otherwise OP will get even more stressed which isn't good for TTC. I don't think anyone was having a go at you, more so trying to relax OP. x