How long is your cycle?

[Wiggy29]

I know the average is 28,but what is it like for you lot?is it regular as clockwork & if not,what is the range? I'm curious as I just came off the pill and,based on a 28 day cycle I should be due tomorrow,I'm curious to see the longest/shortest&how many are regular.

Well before I had my daughter it would range from 31 to 38 but generally 34 days. Now after the birth its about every 29 days.

Wow!38!I didn't realise it could be so long,that must be harder when ttc as it makes it a long wait each cycle.

Every 29 days, to the minute.

27 days.

I know of several people on here who have longer cycles than 38.

My last cycle was 317 days!

Mmm,interesting.reading these,I may not be due tomorrow at all!I've had cramp on and off and ridiculously sensitive nipples so I'm expecting it soon.

317??? How so?

My cycles vary between 30 days and 278! I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which means my hormones can be all over the place!

IMHO there is no such thing as a "normal" cycle length. Everyone is different and just because a cycle last long than 28 days, it does not necessarily mean there is anything wrong.

Not at all,I hope it didn't sound like I was suggesting that there was. For all I know,mine could naturally be longer; other times I've not been on the pill,I wasn't ttc so kept no record of it at all&have no idea how long they are.

Sorry, my post came out wrong! I wasn't accusing you!

What I was trying to get across is that you shouldn't stress about "normal" as everyone is different. Don't compare yourself to others, take a few cycles to get to know what is usual for you and then take things from there.

Good luck!

So,excuse my ignorance,do you not always ovulate once per cycle then?I'm just wondering as if some of you have longer gaps between each period does that mean you still ovulate monthly but don't have a period? Again,solicits for sounding like a kid in a biology lesson,ds was a lively surprise so all of this is new to me.due to medical reasons,we're under time pressure so I'm trying to get my head around it all.

Next month I'm going to try tracking temp&if that fails,my friend said she has a 'expensive predictor' type thing I could borrow (it's currently packed as they're moving house). I tried to be laid back about it this month but still been weighing heavily on my mind,so thinking perhaps it is better to be as informed as possible.

You usually only ovulate once per cycle (though it's not unheard of for some people to ovulate more than once), but a cycle can be very long. Months are not really a good way to describe it!

The luteal phase - the second half of the cycle, between ovulation and your period starting - is always the same each cycle for each woman. I know that my luteal phase is always 15 days, but the first half of the cycle can vary massively. Sometimes it can be caused by stress or illness, or in my case hormonal imbalances.

This is why it's a good idea to get to know what is normal for you, it will give you a much better chance of conceiving.

I don't think it's true that the luteal phase is always the same each cycle for each woman.

Mine varies between 9 and 12 days - I know this because I track it, we are ttc dc2 and I've been concerned that my short luteal phase is keeping us from getting there. It's always pretty short, but the length can vary a day or two or three from month to month.

I also have PCOS hence the long cycles. My cycle before that was 96 days. I'm pretty sure I don't normally ovulate. Oddly, I think I may have just ovulated on day 15 or 16. Almost positive OPK, cramping on right side for two days and bleeding. I've never had any of these symptoms. cavemum have you experienced anything like this with your PCOS? Sorry to hyjack your thread OP. I hope you manage to get a clearer understanding of your cycles soon.

That's better than a science lesson,thanks cavemum! I started making a note of key things but until I have a few cycles off the pill,it's hard to know what it will be like for me.the last time I wasn't on the pill I think it was roughly once a month but that was a few years ago now and only lasted a few months as periods are horrendous when I'm not on the pill.

I read (in something unrelated to ttc) about injections you can get that iincreases ovulation per cycle, I wonder if that would benefit women with long cycles as it obviously increases chance of conception (&twins).

I don't get any ovulation symptoms so can't help on that front! I'm on Clomid at the moment to get me ovulating, which is working but still no baby yet!

otterface, I can only speak from my own experience. Having checked my "What To Expect Before You're Expecting" it says:

"... The luteal phase usually lasts 12 to 14 days, but no longer than 16 days. This second phase [of the cycle] is consistent from woman to woman, no matter how long or short her cycle is..."

Hi wiggy I'm Faith. Been ttc for way too long a while now. Came off the pill 2 years. I've had cycles varying from 24-31 days since then, average works out at 27 but my last 5 cycles have been 26 days - nice to have some regularity!
As a veteran in ttc and within conception, the best advice I could give you is not to start worrying about temping/ovulation predictors yet! Just try to have sex three times a week every week of your cycle. Get your sexy undies out, light some candles, create some romance. Temping is helpful - I started to confirm I was ovulating when I worried I wasn't after a year of ttc - but it takes some commitment and bladder control! to temp at the same time every day before you do anything else. Leave it - you have an 80% chance of conceiving in the first year. Go and enjoy the sex! :)

Haha,we are enjoying it! I know I should be more relaxed about it but am currently being checked to see if my pre-cancerous cells worsen (it's not first time I've had them/had treatment for them).if it worsens then I will have to have a treatment which I've been told will make it difficult to conceive & most likely I'll struggle to carry full term
If I do (to the point where it would be dangerous for the baby). the advice is that we have green light for ttc but we need to do it ASAP as if things change,I will need treatment. Desperatly want another (ideally two) so as I said before,trying not to get too stressed but at same time I don't feel I can be too casual about it.I'd hate it if anything changed and I hadn't at least been able to do all I could to increase chance of conception.

Ah, I see. I'm sorry to hear that. I'd still stand by the sex three times a week. You may find using ovulation tests helpful to start pinpointing ovulation before you borrow your friends 'expensive contraption' ?clearblue fertility monitor! I'd recommend Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. You can get it on Amazon fairly cheaply. It's really informative - will help you understand your fertile signs and give advice on charting. Good luck ttc :) and with your health.

Thank you and the same to you! Until I get my head around things I'm happy to use your 3 times a week mantra : ) I'll try and get my hands on that book when we get back from our hols.