Reassurance for a long cycle (please?!)

[Sticklebricksuk]

Hello,

I am just after some advice from you lovely ladies. I came off the pill (Femodette, so a low dose one) in December and had my withdrawl bleed at the start of December. Since then my cycles have been 22 days, 26 days, 38 days and then this one. I was hoping the 38 day was a 'blip' and I would go to 'normal' length cycles, but today is day 35 and still no hint of my period, and a BFN this morning (I caved, just in case!).

I have been scaring myself silly by reading about a long cycle meaning that I am not ovulating or may have trouble getting pregnant (damn you Dr Google) - can anyone give me any advice, or reassurance that this is not a problem, or anything that I should be doing differently?

I am 30 and have never been pregnant and never tried to get pregnant before this, but now me and DH have decided the time is right I am getting impatient! I am not using OPKs or temping as we were taking the relaxed, chuck some sperm at the egg all month round approach, and do have regular sex, about 4 times a week if not more (just normal for us). Also a friend of mine who is going through fertility treatment told me that her consultant said OPKs are useless and can't be relied on so that has put me off a bit.

Am I panicking about nothing?

Aww thanks for your reply sparkle that made me feel better. I think I'm with you - I'm a total control freak, so maybe I should try temping and OPKs for a month and see how they work for me. At least I'd feel that I was doing something proactive, and hopefully would get some answers so I could at least see how many DPO I am.

Pretty sure I'm not up duffed as I was so hopeful last month and POA lot of S, but I'm more cautious this month, and don't feel preggers iykwim.

I think I might have felt ovulation this month as I had some light cramping one night and then a quick sharp pain driving to work the next morning then nothing else. That was on day 21 so if that was the case then I guess I'd only be 13dpo today. It's all a bloody mystery isn't it?! I've never been so aware of my body honestly. Perhaps that's part of the problem and I should chill the hell out?!

Hi stickle,

If there's one thing I've learned in this TTC lark it's that there is no such thing as normal - and just as you think you are in sync with your body and you know what is 'normal' for you it will throw you a curve ball to throw you completely .

For example, I have had text book symtoms around AF since I was a teenager, more so since I came off the pill 14 months ago. This month, nada, not one single symptom except the obvious lol, and even that didn't look 'normal'...

I've decided this month I give up trying to predict anything any more and am debating whether to throw my OPK's in the drawer next to the bin.

It might be worth you giving them a go for a bit though to try to get some understanding of your cycle before your body decides to change your cycle without telling you Good luck!

My average cycle is 45 days I have 1 dd whos 3 (took around 6 wksto conceive) and currently 21 wks pregnant (this one took 4 months to conceive). The only thing I will say is that both times I was off of the pill for around 6 months before trying as it took my periods a while to sort themselves out. But a long cycle wasn't bad news for me

I have a long and unpredictable cycle and have 3dc. 1 and 3 were concieved first time, no.2 was a year but for totally unrelated reasons. I seem to ovulate at different times in my cycle. Sometimes really early and sometimes much later. My cycle is anything from 36 days to 56 days.

Good luck ttc.

Thanks all for your responses, and tickle and eglu that's great that you've both had successful pregnancies and lovely dc's with the long cycle. I feel better already just for writing it down, and will definiltely have a go with the OPKs and temping next month I think.