Will I have fertility problems....

[blushingmare]

I think I probably fall into the "dithering" camp when it comes to TTC. DH & I know we definitely want a family, but whenever it comes to thinking about the practicalities of having a baby we freak out a bit. Also, it just never seems to be the right time, with various career moves and doing major work on our house. Anyway, I'm 31 and, whilst not getting any younger, I feel like I should have at least another year or so of dithering in me. But I constantly have this worry in the back of my mind that I might end up having fertility problems and therefore should just get started asap. I went on the pill aged 15 as had problems with my periods. I came off it about 18 months ago and it took me about 9 months to have a period at all. Since then I now seem to have settled into cycles that are about 50 days long.... Does anyone know if this is an indication of having fertility problems? I know I'll be ovulating less, but I wonder if it indicates other problems too..... Anyone with any experience of this out there?

A long cycle isn't a problem in and of itself, but 50 days does sound unusually long. Do you have any idea if you're ovulating regularly?

You may do but you may not. It might be an idea to ask your GP to do some blood tests just to check things out.

I does sound long, but you could try taking ovulation tests to check if you are ovulating. It may make you feel a bit better. You can get the sticks quite cheaply on ebay.

read the fertility diet by sarah dobbyn. lots of nutritional advice to get periods in order. i followed and now preg after 3 miscarriages, and I'm 40 next month

Thanks for the advice. The first couple of periods I had I felt like I could tell when I was ovulating but for the past few times I've no idea if or when I ovulated. What are ovulation tests and how do they work?

I think if I were you I'd see the GP. Long cycles are often anovulatory and ovulation tests will not tell you if you are ovulating (they spot the peak of lutenising hormone that happens before ovulation, but don't confirm an egg is actually released - and you can have this build up without ovulating). They're also flipping expensive for something which is not a diagnostic tool. Blood tests from a clued up GP are the only way to know for sure.

You say you had problems with your periods before. I did too, and went on the pill for years (15 to be exact) and the pill just "hides" those problems IMO, it doesn't resolve them. I couldn't believe, when I came off it, how shit I felt every month, just like before (if slightly more regular).

Anyway, see the GP, get to the bottom of it and then hopefully everything will be sorted before you start to ttc. And at 31, you've got a decent amount of time. Try to be as fit and healthy as you can though, I am sure that that helps.

If you're in the right relationship and both want children, I'd get on with it if is something you really want. There will never be a "perfect " time. I'm forty two and having problems and had I had the chance at 32 and could have my time again, I'd have gone for it.

I have had long, very irregular cycles. Circa 31-56 days and there was no telling when. Thought I may have trouble but conceived ds1 on first month, ds2 on second month and ds3 on first month. Since ds1 cycles got alot more regular but still long (32-40 days). Ok I would have liked another year b4 ds1 arrived but took advice from gp friend who said at 28 I wasn't getting any younger and there was no telling with my cycle and that she saw lots of ladies with issues as they had left it quite late. I figured 'what's the worst that could happen? I have a baby a year b4 I'm ready' and indeed it happened. But you're never ready really IMO so i would just crack on with it but also do the ovulation tests at the same time. From seeing all my friends go through it in the last few years, many with 28 day cycles and unexplained fertility issues, my view is that it really is a lottery that you won't find out your chances of until you start playing.

I agree with hairylights. Remember it's not just about the first child (although you may only want one child which is fine).

The longer you leave it now, the older you'll be when trying to conceive any subsequent children. We're struggling to conceive no.2 (I'm nearly 39) and I do wish I'd had ds earlier - he was born when I was 34 and we waited 2 years before trying to conceive again.

The easiest way to find out if you're fertile is to try to have a baby

Sounds like me. I had been on the pill for 17 years, since I was 17. When I came off it my cycles were 40 or 50 days when we started TTC 2 years later. I got pregnant first attempt, so I would say no it doesn't necessarily have any effect on fertility. Good luck when you decide the time is right for you.

Blushing -- I would definitely go see a GP. Long cycles such as yours tend to be annovulatory.

Of course you may have women who come on here and tell you they conceived despite having long, irregular cycles. However, as others have pointed out, fertility is a lottery and you have no way of knowing how easy it will be for you to conceive.

In terms of fertility years, you are not young. I am sure you have heard that a woman's fertility declines drammatically after age 35 so I would hesitate to wait. I am also 31 so I say this with myself in mind as well!

There is never a right time to have a baby but I also want to point out that life doesn't end once the kidddies arrive. Many parents try to scare others by saying so but I really think life goes on and becomes more fun with children. It just requires more planning and a good babysitter!

Best of luck.