Cycle lengths varying between 28 and 42 days - so when to start using Clearblue digital OPK 7-day sticks??

[ChateauMargot]

Also, is it possible to only buy more test sticks, or do you have to buy a new digial OPK every month?

Um??..

Would it be ok if I rationed the sticks over, say, 10 days, using one every other day?

like you my cycles vary wildly. Shortest being 27 days and the longest I've had is 45 days.

I start OPKing on CD11 and use these as they are cheap and I don't feel bad about peeing on one every day until ovulation finally decides to make an appearance!!

Have you had anybody look at why your cycles are so varied in length?

Thanks, GetDown - I'll check those out.

PureAs, no, I haven't yet. Only came off the pill this summer, so I'm hoping that it's just hormones sorting themselves out after 10 years. Have also had a fair bit of stress and travel lately, which I'm hoping might account for the irregularity. But I plan to go to doc's early in the new year if no luck in the next month or so, just in case.

Basically, my history has been as follows:

first cycle post pill - 29 days
missed next cycle
then a 28-day cycle
then 42 days
then 49 days
then 38 days

and waiting...

GetDown - apologies if this is very nosy of me - but have you tested for PCOS? Were your cycles always this way?

Not nosy at all Mine were always regular before I went on the pill. Was on the pill 3 years then when I came off, they were all over the place.

Thankfully I conceived DD after just 4 months, but the cycle I conceived on, I ov'd on CD32 - so that would have been a 46 day cycle! Not exactly normal!

DD is now 3. Took 18 months to get my periods back. They have then gradually got shorter and shorter, and the last few have been around 29 days. Am hoping this is the way they will stay!

No, never been tested for PCOS. I don't have any other features of PCOS. What about you?

Thanks for your reply, GetDown. Very reassuring to hear that you had early success despite erratic cycles. Was it thanks to OPKs that you knew you'd OV'd on CD32?

The only other PCOS symptom I have is rotten skin - breakouts especially on my jawline and neck at the moment, which I'm told is a hormonal breakout and has raised a few alarm bells for me. I've struggled with this since the age of 13 or so, although my cycles as a teen were usually pretty regular. I'm of normal weight, exercise fairly regularly, eat healthily and am not yet 30, so it would be a real bummer if PCOS is the culprit...

well I am no expert but it doesn't sound like you've got many of the features of PCOS. You are still young, and sound like you have a healthy lifestyle. I suspect your body is just still settling down after the pill. It seems to take a lot longer for some people than the dr. says (e.g. people like you and me!)

No I didn't use OPKs when trying for DD, I just did temp charting, which I found invaluable. When you see the shift in temp you know you ov'd a day beforehand. That's how I knew I'd ov'd on CD32. The bizarre thing was that we'd pretty much given up trying that cycle (because it was so long) and we actually last had sex 6 days before I ov'd!! So just goes to show that sperm can hang around!!

I've only recently bought OPKs - in a new fit of obsessiveness interest in my menstrual cycle

You and my both! Well, I'll definitely look into the cheapy OPKs if we're not successful this month - can't imagine shelling out 15 quid for the Clearblue every few weeks!

You and me both

Good luck Chateau! Hope we both have success soon

This is a really helpful thread. My cycles also vary (from 28 days to 47ish) and to date I've been observing my discharge but not temping or using OPKs. Now that we're TTC I was thinking of using OPKs to check when ovulating as the timing can vary. I think the time between ovulation and AF arriving is always bang on 16 days but time from CD1 to ovulation can vary and I think the only way to confirm when this is happening is with the OPKs. Observing EWCM is a good indicator but feel like I should be doing more..! Good luck both.

Hi Chateau,

re your comment:-

"I'm of normal weight, exercise fairly regularly, eat healthily and am not yet 30, so it would be a real bummer if PCOS is the culprit"

PCOS is actually a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently. There is no one type of person who is more prone to developing either polycystic ovaries (around 1 in 5 women have PCO) or PCOS; they are certainly not all overweight, spotty and or hairy for instance. That is a fallacy. The fact that you have some spots and your periods are irregular could well point to this being the cause of the irregularity of periods. Cycles of over 35 days are more often than not anovulatory ones. There is always a cause for irregularity of periods (the pill leaves your system very quickly after taking the last tablet) and it is in your interests to find out what it is. OPK's won't help here.

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

Would not suggest you use OPKs at all in your circumstances as you may well get multiple positive OPK results. What these kits do is measure LH hormone; many women with PCOS have an excess of this and the kit ends up reading that excess level. Infact I would go as far to say that these kits are actually a waste of your hard earnt cash!.

Do go to the Doctor's early in the New year as you have previously planned.

Ovulation is not an exact science and it can happen earlier, later or not at all in any given cycle. It is certainly not the case that ovulation happens around 14 days before the start of the next period; that is completely false.

LittleOne, glad it's been some help! Fingers crossed for you :)

Attila, I remember your feedback from another thread and have taken note of what you say. My comment about PCOS had more to do with the fact that all of the 'controllables' in my case are good (ie., age, weight, health) so it would be a bummer if an impediment to conception turned out to be an uncontrollable like PCOS.

You say "Cycles of over 35 days are more often than not anovulatory ones." Can I ask where it might be possible to verify this (it's not something I've heard before)?

"It is certainly not the case that ovulation happens around 14 days before the start of the next period; that is completely false."

Again, this is new to me. In fact, judging by EWCM last month, my fertile phase was still exactly 14 days before period started...

??

I would be interested as well, particularly in the cycles over 35 days being anovulatory (presume this means no egg laid?). Have been trying to convince myself that my random cycles since the beginning of the year (and they do vary by more than 4 days easily) are due to chemical pregnancies, not that that is a good thing but then neither is not ovulating at all. I guess for me I would prefer to think that I do ovulate and I can conceive, even if they aren't sticking.

I had more or less discounted PCOS - don't have bad skin and hairiness not really an issue for me (apart from the odd stubborn bugger - electrolysis is useless!). Slightly unnerved to see that irregular cycles can be the only sign. Have never read up about PCOS, and I know I need to speak to my Dr about my irregular cycles before assuming a cause, but - and at the risk of sounding v dim/naive - does it completely bugger up with all attempts TTC? And does anyone know if it is something that can occur later on having previously had regular cycles (am 35).

"I guess for me I would prefer to think that I do ovulate and I can conceive, even if they aren't sticking."

Totally hearing you on this, larus.

I think that PCOS can arise from nowhere (I could be wrong, but thought I'd read of other MNers who've already had one child and then struggled with number 2 for this reason) and it can complicate things slightly - although there are plenty of people out there with PCOS who have managed to conceive without too much trouble.

Well I know for a FACT that you can and do ovulate with long cycles. My DD is living proof of that. As I said before I ov'd on CD32 with her, which would have made a 46 day cycle, had I not conceived.

I have been charting for quite a long time and always see the temp shift, which to me indicates I am ovulating, even on long cycles. And I get the other indicators such as EWCM and ov pain.

I don't think people should be scaremongered into thinking that they are not normal or have PCOS just because they have long cycles. It is very worrying, and frankly, not accurate.

GetDown, I was wondering if you'd have anything to say about that claim. And I agree with you completely...

Sorry but I do feel quite strongly about this. Attila is well known for posting doom and gloom about PCOS and long cycles, and how OPKs are totally useless if you have long cycles, which is not true. And I know myself how upsetting it can be to have a complete stranger suggest that you might never be able to conceive. It is really upsetting. And not to be believed.

Supersunnyday what a wonderfully clear and helpful post. Thank you

Supersunny, thanks very much for that - most informative and reassuring!

I think I might ask my doc to test for PCOS just in case (if only to stop me worrying and to save us from wasting too much time in case there is something wrong) but it's great to hear that long/irregular cycles aren't the end of the world. Good point about going by CM as well as/instead of OPKs, too. Temp charting sounds a bit of a headache, but I may well give it a go in the new year...

"Sorry but I do feel quite strongly about this. Attila is well known for posting doom and gloom about PCOS and long cycles, and how OPKs are totally useless if you have long cycles, which is not true. And I know myself how upsetting it can be to have a complete stranger suggest that you might never be able to conceive. It is really upsetting. And not to be believed"

This in unfair. I have not said that at all.

For what its worth I have long cycles and the cause in my case was PCOS.

I can only go by fact; irregular cycles have a cause. Two possible ones are PCOS and thyroid imbalance. You can ovulate even with long cycles but this is rarer than supposed and charting will not see it. I stand by my claim that charting and OPK's are pretty much useless when it comes to long and irregualr cycles. I know of too many women who have turned up with charts and the like to gynae offices only to have these dismissed. You can imagine how they feel so I am just pointing that out. I would not want that to happen to you people. You have the right to disagree but I also have the right to have my views also respected even if disagreed with. Personal attacks are not allowed.