How 'normal' is it to jump from a 24 day cycle to a 32 day cycle in one month?

[hippmummy]

Please bear with me for the period maths..

I've always had a regular 28 day cycle. Last month however, my period arrived 4 days early. I put it down to a one-off glitch and calculated I would be due again 28 days later. That was sunday (just past) and I still don't have my period.
I've kind of got an 'uh-oh' feeling but I'm hoping maybe my body has gone back to it's original 'pre-glitch' cycle and I'll get my period on thursday. But this will make it a 32 day cycle. Is this likely?
I know I'm just trying to stall the inevitable and should just do a test to put my mind at rest. But I don't really want to spend £8 if it's more than likely that I'm not pg anyway.
DH and I use condoms as our main form of contraception (along with not having sex very frequently )

[hippmummy]

Anyone?

[Impatience]

It's possible this has been an annovulatory cycle, or that you ovulated late so are going to get your period late. Possibly your homones went a bit wobbly in the first month, and that then had repurcussions for the second.

I am guessing at all this, but I've had a short one then a long one a couple of times over the last couple of years, and each time my cycle came straight back to normal after the long one. So I wouldn't worry if I were you.

Of course there is always the possibility you're pregnant. Speaking as someone who's been ttc for ages, surely if you're not trying you probably are, huh? Good luck, whichever way you want it.

[hippmummy]

Thanks Impatience, nice to know that whatever you ask on MN someone has knowledge of it somewhere..

good luck in ttc for you to x

[beansprout]

It's not necessarily normal, but it is entirely possible. My cycles vary from 26 - 32 days from month to month and my GP told me that this is within the "normal" range. Obviously if you are used to a more regular cycle then it would seem irregular.

So, no help at all then from me!

[MrsMar]

When I was ttc i was quite surprised about how much my periods fluctuated. I always thought I was a solid 28 day girl, however writing it down each month made me realise that every three or four months I would have a 24 day cycle, then take the next four months to get back to 28 days, then have another blip and a 24 day cycle. I think blips are fine, so long as they don't vary by more than about 8 days (but don't quote me on that!)

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

A "normal" cycle is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days OR with a variation of 4 days or less from month to month.

I would not worry myself unduly if this is only happening occasionally; I would only become more concerned if cycle lengths started to increase.

[hippmummy]

Thanks for all your messages. I will stop being unduly concerned and wait patiently!