TTC after Dianette, with very irregular long cycles

[Randomgal]

Hey all. Been off dianette for two years now, and have been TTC for the same 2 years. Was originally put on dianette partly because I had bad acne and also because I wanted contraception - had bad side effects with micro-gynon and cerazette.

Since coming off it my cycle lengths have gone: 46 days, 54 days, 186 days, 143 days, 96 days, and I'm now on day 80. It's getting just a little bit frustrating. I'm not stressed about getting pregnant, tbh we've always just said it'll happen when it happens! But I'm just annoyed with the long cycles! :(

Had 3 separate sets of blood tests so far. All came back normal. I don't have PCOS or anything like that. The doctors can't explain what's wrong, they've just said try for a bit longer.. I'm almost 21 so they're saying I have plenty of time, which I agree, but doesn't change the fact that cycles that long are damn annoying! To say the least.

Just wondering if anyone has any advice really? :/ I seem to read most people's cycles being about 50 days after dianette but they sort themselves out after 8-9 months.. With it now being 2 years later, should I be worrying?

Any help or advice would be appreciated! Thanks :)

I have a feeling you've been fobbed off and badly so.

What blood tests were done and on which days?.

Have you not been referred to a subfertility unit to date, its all very well being told to try for a bit longer but its already 2 years without success. How much longer do they expect you to keep trying for and without a diagnosis?!. They simply have failed to find out what is wrong and are keeping you hanging. Gynaes too generally like to see couples after a year of ttc their first child without success so a referral is indeed in order.

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.

You are still very young but such problems do not go away of their own accord, far from it. Do not put up with this, seek a second opinion and get proper answers. At the very least I would change GP practice. You will not become pregnant readily with such long cycles as you are likely not ovulating regularly if at all.

I would put money on it that there is some sort of hormonal imbalance here; PCOS is a possibility as are problems with the thyroid gland. Dianette also is sometimes given to women with PCOS due to its anti androgenic qualities, I certainly know of PCOS patients who take this.

I have PCOS and took Dianette for nearly 15 years. I was diagnosed back in the dark ages and told I probably wouldn't have children.

I had one period and then pg, all within 3 months, but miscarried at 7 weeks. I then had another period and pg again within 3 months, that time having DS.

I would def see if you can be referred as your cycle does sound long. FWIW my cycle when I am not on the pill is about 6 weeks.

This is interesting. TTC#1 for 2.5 years now :(
I was on Dianette for a few years, had very long irregular cycles after (they were irregular before but not quite as long!). I'm in the system now, have been waiting these last few months for our appt. at the fertility clinic (months of waiting has just about done my head in!) - I switched from my folic acid supplement to Pregnacare about 9 months ago - which has led to/ or coincided with my periods becoming more regular. No idea what's going on - Day 3 tests normal, Day 21 show no ovulation, but with the irregularities I didn't really expect anything of it.
It all takes so very long being shunted from GP to blood tests, to nurse at fertility clinic, to waiting, waiting, waiting to see someone who can tell you what is going on that I would strongly urge you to get pushy and get yourself into the fray. You GP needs to refer you to the fertility clinic and you need to start figuring out what's going on - it won't happen immediately, but time to take a number and stand in line I think.

Betteronacamel,

I hope you receive your appointment soon.

Was going to ask you about the day 3 results; what did these show exactly?. Did they measure your LH level against that of your FSH?.

FSH was 6.6 iu/L
LH was 7.5 iu/L
They said it was all 'normal' - but then they also said the 21 was 'normal' although it clearly said no ovulation. So I'm not certain what normal means anymore!

(Sorry for the hijack, randomgal!)

LH and FSH should be the same.

An imbalance of LH to FSH is commonly seen in PCOS patients, were they planning on repeating the tests?. If the progesterone test showed no ovulation then it is likely that the hormone levels measured in the day 3 test were out of sync as well.

Also many GPs seem ignorant when it comes to PCOS and some medical staff within surgeries just do not recognise it.

Exactly the same?
I have no idea what they're planning on doing. We've been waiting for around 4 months just for our appointment to swing around to see an actual doctor face-to-face. Just a few more weeks left now. I'm almost at my 35th birthday, I had seen all this play out so differently :(
Is there anything I can specifically request for them to do to rule out PCOS and/or hormonal issues?

Heyy! Sorry I got distracted with work so never got chance to check back sooner.. And that's no problem betteronacamel, it makes me feel less alone seeing others talking about similar things!!! Lol.

They tested me also on day 3, then at 21 days.. They checked my thyroid, LH, and FSH.. I was told they were 'normal' however I wasn't told the results, so whatever normal is I don't know! I was also told I have no signs of PCOS. They then tested my bloods again randomly, which was around day 70 of one of my cycles, I was told that again was normal, and even told I was ovulating at that point.. But doubt that, as my period didn't arrive for about another 70 days!

They said they would refer me 'soon', but to expect a long wait of atleast 2 years as I'm so 'young', anyone over 30 will jump the que ahead of me.. And that is literally exactly what the doctor said! :S
However I recently moved 30 miles away from there so have had to change doctors, been anxious about getting the ball rolling again though as its like I've been made to feel like I'm just wasting time before :(

I too started pregnacare tablets, my partner takes the male ones too, we have done now for about 8 months, not much difference in my cycles though..

sigh my cycles were practically regular before I went on contraception.. If I'd known then what hassle it would cause then I'd have never taken them!

Oh and just to add the last blood tests I had was August LAST year.. When the doctor said I was ovulating, she also said she could almost guarantee I'd be pregnant by February (this year) as she was THAT sure everything was fine.

Well here we are in August and still no normal cycles or pregnancy.

I never expected it to be easy or simple. But this is just beyond a joke now :(

If it's not PCOS I will eat my hat. Acne in the past plus long irregular cycles now are classic pointers. Can you go to the GP and ask for a print out of your test results?

Well I still have acne now. Just decided that to fall pregnant I had to stop the pills (which didn't work really anyway) so sacrifices had to be made. I'd rather have acne and a child lol!

But that doesn't even matter now. I don't know if I can still get a print out or anything as I've changed doctors? But I would imagine they'd repeat the blood tests now as it has been a while. Last time I was told its difficult as to get accurate readings I have to wait for a period then book a blood test immediately. Hence they did tests the last time at 70 days as there was no period within sight. Which just is constant waiting. I could wait atleast another 50 days til I get another period. And as they are so far apart the time just drags on.

I'll see if I can get an appointment tomorrow. Any suggestions as to what I can say to really kick them up to bum to get things sorted? I just don't want to walk out feeling like we've made no progress yet again!

As Eurochick has stated adult onset acne and irregular periods are indeed pointers to PCOS. Unfortunately some GPs just mess around in pure ignorance of this condition with resultant delays.

Blood tests can actually be done according to calendar days and should also be repeated. So you can have a day 2 and day 21 done on the 2nd and 21st day of the calendar month; no need to wait for your next AF to arrive.

BTW there is no real evidence to suggest that the pill is responsible for failure to ovulate but what the pill can and does do is mask symptoms of the underlying problems.

Testing your blood around day 70 was a completely pointless exercise. With regards to blood test results anything done over six months ago should be discounted. If more blood tests are done they need to adopt the method I have outlined in my second para otherwise its no point. Also they could possibly arrange for you to have an internal ultrasound scan done to assess the state of your uterine cavity and ovaries.

I would insist to the GP that you are now referred to a gynae for proper further evaluation. DO not take no for an answer!!. Its all too easy to be fobbed off. If these people are unhelpful change GP surgeries.

Can you get referred to a specialist? I am super out of touch as I was diagnosed age 18 ( 45 now! ) by a very forward thinking GP who referred me to the Samaritan Hospital for Women ( which closed sadly in 1997 ).

They were the only people in the country that seemed to know aboout PCOS at the time.

Surely there is some other specialist place? Try looking on Verity website

Sorry for gimmer-like info.

Thank you! I will keep all of this in mind and get a doctors appointment ASAP! What a waste of time the past 2 years have been now :(

Why do people online seem so much more sensible than doctors.. All of you should open up a GP surgery for women like us! :D