To ask about conceiving with irregular periods

[Blueberrycheesecake1]

I am very lucky to have 1 ds but have been trying for 9+ months properly now for another. Still no period despite stopping breastfeeding 5 months ago.

Any positive stories as am feeling a bit downcast and like ds1 might have been a miracle baby!!

Have you seen a doctor?

Sorry should have said periods always been a bit irregular

No probably should but was hoping for some good stories as not sure they can do much other than suggest ivf?

I’m not a doctor but I imagine they’d possibly either put you on medication to regulate your cycle or they’d me able to at least confirm whether what you’re experiencing is normal. I’d go to the doctor to get peace of mind even if there’s nothing they can do. They wouldn’t suggest IVF after such a short time

Are you significantly underweight? I stopped ovulating for over a year when I was too thin....

What does GP say?

Hi OP, I have always had irregular periods (anywhere between 25 days to 43 days) and fell pregnant first month.
I know I am in the minority and was extremely lucky but it does happen

Have you been using ovulation sticks to check whether your ovulating? Presumably not if you arent having a period but it might be worth checking as there isn't much point in feeling like you're properly trying if your cycle isn't back yet

Hiya. You get pregnant 7-14 days after your period starts. So my advice having got it wrong for a long time would be as your period 'dries up' (around day 5-7) come straight out of the starter gates and have sex every other day for as many days as you can keep that up 😉. So there is live sperm sitting up there most of the time from day 7-14. If you can keep going longer than that that would obviously help your chances if your ovulation comes later. And try to relax!

I have 3 children now but the first took 4 years as I thought it was 7-14 days after the END of your period!

Thank you all. Yes suspect am not ovulating.... So not sure what I can do really :(

I'm a bit heavier than I was when I conceived ds1 in less than a month. Had just stopped the coil so wonder if that kick started it

I know I'm so lucky to have 1 but would love another

I did basal temperature tracking which showed me that I was actually ovulating but much later in my cycle than I thought. Meant to could time things much better. That said, you say you’ve been trying for 9 months but you only stopped BF 5 months ago. These are not long timeframes! You might not have been ovulating while BF, your body might have taken anywhere between 1-3 months (or more) to clock you weren’t BF. But early to be worrying. The average healthy couple take up to a year.

• bit early

It's worth talking to a gp. Your thyroid may not be working properly and that can cause irregular cycles and infertility. It did for me and 6 weeks after starting the tablets O got pregnant

I just wanted to comment that I have irregular periods too ( they only came back 7 months after baby born ) and I've just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Apparently irregular cycle a common side effect . Once you get on medication it's supposed to help greatly ( I'm just waiting to get mine sorted ) . Worth getting that looked into maybe ? X

I breastfed Dd for 14 months. My period came back irregularly from when she was 1.

It took a good few months from stopping breastfeeding to fall pregnant again, I think it takes a while for the hormones to go back to normal for some people! I second what others say, take some ovulation tests. My cycle was regular again by the time I conceived but like I say it took a few months.

I’d say 5 months isn’t that long if you aren’t sure of ovulation timing etc. Good luck to you x

Thanks all. Still no period and no positive ovulation tests. Doctor on Friday do hopefully its something that can be fixed. Feeling despondent!

You’re getting a bit ahead of yourself here! IVF is certainly not the only option.
What do you actually mean by irregular periods? How long have each of your cycles been since your first one since your last baby? Why do you think you’re not ovulating? (e.g. have you used ovulation tests consistently through all your cycles? Do you have a menstrual history before your first pregnancy which suggested it?)

Sorry, re-read - you haven’t had irregular cycles since your last pregnancy, you said your period hasn’t returned yet.

How irregular were your periods before?

It sounds tough trying for 9 months, but if your cycle hasn’t started again yet, you actually haven’t been “trying”. I know it feel like it though, and that’s frustrating!

I would see your GP, because 5 months without your period restarting after stoping breastfeeding is long. Not unheard of at all, but longer than average (NHS says 6-8 weeks, so definitely reason to see GP).

Next step will probably to hormone level check - blood tests. And discuss your menstruated history.

Don’t think that IVF is the next step. There are drugs like Clomid to promote ovulation. I’m not a GP do it depends what else is going on - but that seems far more likely a choice than IVF.

Yes it feels silly to have been trying so regularly 😂 when there was no hope! Periods were pretty irregular (sometimes not for 3 months sometimes every month) but became regular when I went on the coil and then conceived within a month when it was removed. Which I know was very lucky so I probably had too high expectations. I know ivf comment was ott but I meant that I wasn't sure if GP could do anything at this stage really

I’ve always had problems with my period and my partner and I didn’t use contraception for 4 years before I conceived our son. And that only happened after going on the pill for 3 months to regulate my cycle as I started having prolonged periods. It was great and while taking the pill I had 3 regular periods and they came like clockwork so I stopped taking it. The same week I stopped was the same week I fell pregnant.

I didn’t realise the pill obviously makes your cycle regular, so while I was having regular periods - that obviously meant I would have a regular ovulation date