Long, irregular cycles. Any chance of clomid before 12 month wait?

[Thepursuitofhappiness]

I'm TTC #2.

I've got long cycles, and since coming off pill in December are long and irregular. Between 40-60 days (I'm at 58 days with this cycle at moment).
Was hoping to get pregnant since then and DTD plenty, but ben actively trying for baby and tracking properly since March. I've taken OPK every day of last two cycles and never got a positive. In the absence of knowing at all when I'm ovulating, we've been DTD at least every other day in the cycle....phew.

When I was pregnant with DS, I was on cycles of about 40 days so obviously ovulated then. I'm a healthy weight, quite active, so no obvious lifestyle changes.

I've got a doctor's appointment on Monday.

I guess id like something to regulate periods or ensure I ovulate (clomid ??). Will she just say yes, there is a good chance you're not ovulating but come back after 12 months TTC? Not sure I want another 6 months of having no idea of whether I'm ovulating, let alone when I should be DTD!

Hi, have you tried charting cervical mucus or taking basal temperature? You might want to try reading "taking charge of your fertility", it's a brilliant book! That might help you see if you're ovulating and the OPKs are missing it.

Otherwise I'd lie to GP about how long you've been trying! Good luck, fx you get your dc #2 soon x

Speak to the doctor and if they are not supportive see another. My DH and I have been trying for 10 months and I went to see the doctor regarding irregular periods (I was on CD65 the day I saw him). He ordered blood tests to check if I had even ovulated that month. Unfortunately/fortunately by the time my blood test appointment arrived my period had started and my cycle had been 70 days. He then ordered a blood test every week from CD21 so they can determine if I have ovulated this month. He said we would determine if I am ovulating and then will decide what our next step is.

I think what helped convince the doctor there was a problem was that I had had a positive ovulation test on CD23 and then my period hadn't arrived at CD65 when I saw him. I also mentioned painful ovulation so he suspected PCOS but that test came back negative.

So what I am saying is that they didn't send me away just because it wasn't a year so they shouldn't you.

Thanks for the advice. The GP I'm seeing has seemed nice in the past so hoping she'll be good about it. I'll update after the appointment.

You can have pcos at a healthy weight -my bmi is 21.
A cd 3 test would measure your lh against fsh to see if you have this.
Thyroid issues can also affect your cycles

Hmm my mum has thyroid issues which she takes steroids for (amongst other auto-immune conditions including coeliac) so that is a potential. I've not really considered PCOS as periods aren't massively painful, just very irregular.

PCOS does not cause painful periods to arise. It can certainly cause irregular cycles. They should certainly do thorough blood tests to see if either PCOS or thyroid imbalance are issues. It is also possible to have periods without actually ovulating.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost.

IIRC GPs cannot prescribe clomid as it is quite powerful stuff so you should be monitored whilst on it. Also no monitoring whilst on it is unacceptable as you then have no idea whether its working or not.

Update: doctor was really nice, referred me to gynaecologist and for blood tests. I'm impressed with waiting times, I've just booked gynaecologist appointment for next week, I was expecting a wait of months!

She didn't think It was likely to be PCOS due to lack of other symptoms other than irregular periods, but blood tests will show for definite. I've got a friend who has PCOS without showing the typical physical signs so know it can happen.