Something to be concerned about or just one of those things?

[Thisisbonkers]

I've never had regular cycles since a teenager, varying mostly between 30 and 35, occasionally as short as 28 or as long as 42 (that was a scary month back then!).

We've been ttc since December. I've never had any reason to suspect fertility issues, that said, I came off the pill a good couple of years ago (only taking them to prevent bleeds on big holidays) and we haven't always been particularly careful (I know ).

So far we've had no luck ttc and I'm trying to be cool with it. It can take a while. I know.

But the last two/three months have been bizarre. I had a very light period (I'm usually fairly heavy) lasting the usual 5 days-ish the last week of July. Then started the heaviest period from hell 20 days later. A 'normal' month and another very light period two weeks ago. Followed by another very heavy period starting Saturday just gone, so 12 days apart. That's not normal, is it?

Or could it be all above board and I'm noticing it because I'm scrutinising cycles? Or should it be checked out? A friend who recently struggled to conceive (and now has healthy baby via ivf) started an early menopause, and I'm aware my mum's cycles went to pot through hers. So I'm jumping to conclusions.

Or also wondering if my heavy bleeds have been very early miscarriages, but two consecutive months?

Gin and cake to anyone who can wade through that. Double if you can fathom what I'm actually asking

I think early onset menopause is really rare. I also know that weird cycles are very common, and caused by lots of things, but as redannie said most often hormone imbalance. If you normally are regular within about 5 days then that is pretty perfect, the odd long or short one is often down to ovulating a bit later, or earlier, or having an anovulatory cycle. All of which is pretty par for the course.
Your most recent cycles you definitely need a chat with your GP about as 12 day and 20 day cycles aren't normal, it's more than likely no cause for concern but is definitely worth looking into as you're ttc.
If it makes you feel better, in my family alone I know a woman who had a 7 week bleed, a woman who had a mid cycle bleed every month that they thought was a period so thought they had 2 week cycles and an aunt who never had a bleed in her life but ovulated. They are all mums and had nothing "wrong" with them, just weird cycles. I hope that's reassuring.

Irregular cycles on their own can be an indication of a hormone imbalance.

I think you should get checked out. Some simple blood tests will give a clearer picture of what's happening and absolutely do not panic that there is something terrible and final happening like the menopause. There are so many things that can be done but you'll never know if you don't go along and get the ball rolling.

With an irregular cycle, I'd guess that you possibly aren't ovulating regularly, if at all, which can have all sorts of effects on your cycle.

That read as a bit doom and gloom. Sorry. To be clear, I think slightly irregular cycles are more common than absolutely clockwork cycles and it's perfectly possible to conceive with irregular cycles. It does cause problems with pinpointing ovulation and with longer cycles in particular, obviously gives you fewer chances.

It's just worth checking it out because if it's something simply fixed, you will save yourself a lot of time and worry.

Thank you. I feel better for reading it's not necessarily the end of the road.

I suppose I should retrieve my head from the sandpit and ring for an appointment tomorrow. I'm much more at ease with the ignore it until it goes away approach but this is something we both want, I owe it to dp to at least get the weird stuff checked out.

Thanks again

Appointment booked for Wednesday