TTC with irregular cycles?

[mauvehamster]

DP and I have started TTC this month. I don't have regular periods so we're really not sure what to expect. By irregular I mean I've had two in the last year, one at the end of October 2011 (when at a work conference, so that was good timing) and one mid July (at a festival, even better timing). Sorry for the TMI. Before that nine-month cycle they were roughly every two months.

Doctor's tests everything came back normal. A few years ago I was on medication that raised my prolactin levels and that's what messed my cycles up at that point the doctors think. They don't know why it's still like it.

My last period ended 64 days ago. Do I even have a chance of getting pg? Do I test, and when? Anyone out there got pg despite irregular cycles?

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

mauvehamster

Docs have clearly missed something here out of ignorance; what tests did they do and on which day?. They should have done a day 2 test to check and compare your LH level against that of your FSH level. As your periods are so irregular such tests can be done according to calendar days i.e the 2nd of the month.

Excess prolactin levels can certainly interfere with ovulation to its detriment and this needs further investigation and preferably by a gynaecologist or endocrinologist. You need a diagnosis first and foremost. You need to speak to such a person about the medication you took that raised your prolactin levels and to find out if they are still raised.

Conditions like polycystic ovarian syndrome and problems with the thyroid gland can also cause such problems to arise. These also need to be checked for through blood tests.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers; with such irregularity of periods you are unlikely to be ovulating regularly if at all. You now need proper investigation and medical advice. If GP is clueless (and they often are when it comes to such problems as this is basically outside their remit) change GP practice asap.

[elizaregina]

Change gp practise or see another gp at your practise.

i dont know about the technicalities attila mentioned but take heart - my periods are irregular too - and I hadnt had one for three months and didnt have one then was pregnant!
I do have polycystic ovararies though and was taking docs medication and herbal stuff like wild yam and agnus castus - and lots of brocoli juice...

[mauvehamster]

Attila I'm not sure what tests I've had to be honest. I've had several sets of bloods taken over the last year but the only one I definately remember was the prolactin.

Eliza Thanks. Broccoli juice?

Time to go back for some more testing I think. And I probably need to change my GP by the sounds of it. They're never that helpful when I ask for tests. They mostly cater to students at the university and I think they're more used to stopping people get pregnant than helping them.

[elizaregina]

Mauve

I was so nastily interoogated by my uni doc when first went in with no periods - are you SURE your not pregnant etc!!!she was VILE>


Kick up a fuss - push - say waited long enough want to know whats going on.

Yes brocoli juice is a powerful hormone regulator!

consultant referals take time - could be months before you see soemone then they may have lost your bloods etc...then your problem may take a while to correct - so dont hang around....

[LittleMissSnowShine]

Mauve - I also have PCOS and irregular cycles and I've gotten pg twice, once with DS and one sad mmc. I'm currently ttc no. 2 and I really sympathise with how frustrating it is. I find that keeping my weight down so I'm no more than a size 12 and stuff like agnus castus etc does help a bit in shortening my cycles. There's other stuff like metformin GP or hospital can prescribe if you have PCOS and have trouble losing weight, or clomid to give ov a hand but just to let you know that it is poss to get pg naturally with long/irregular cycles and both times I got pg within 3 or 4 months. Good luck with it all x

[mauvehamster]

Eliza That sounds like my doctor yes. I suspect it's time to move. I'm not long out of uni so I don't know if that makes a difference in their perceptions of me. I hate being thought of as pushy but maybe I need to be to get anywhere with doctors...

LittleMiss I'm sorry about your mmc. I'll have to look into agnus castus. Thanks for the positivity!