Can TTC change your cycle?

[chestnut9]

Hello all. I'm 35 and we've been TTC for six months. My cycle is usually super regular at 25 days, one day of cramps before then straight into bleeding. Since starting TTC I've had two cycles where I've had weird cramps for a week before, then AF's been a week or so late, and when it did start it wasn't the usual bright red blood but more brownish.

Both times I did pregnancy tests that were negative in the days after the missed period.

Has this happened to anyone else? Could these be very early MCs or can TTC just make your cycle go weird somehow? Would love any insights as feel like I'm going crazy trying to analyse, thanks so much x

That actually sounds like your body is trying to regulate. Your cycles at 25 days are short. Realistically too short for pregnancy to work. I say this as I too have 25/26 day cycles and a short luteal phase. Ideally you want them to be 14 days before you ovulate and then another 14 before you get your AF. It sounds like your body is trying to work out when to ovulate. Where in your cycle do you ovulate now? Do you know? And yes, TTC can change things, especially if you’re stressed or unwell.

My cycles were 25 days but like you while TTC I had a couple of times where period was late but pregnancy test negative. I figured it could have been a very early miscarriage. But I’ll never know.

Got my BFP after just over a year. Although we didn’t DTD at the right time every month due to both travelling overseas for work.
Good luck

Thanks! Yeah I was thinking my cycles are quite short. I've been using the Clear Blue OPKs and getting peak fertility on day 12 so guess I'm ovulating on day 14 and then a fairly short luteal phase. Wondering if there's something I can do lengthen it - B vitamins?

Bunnyfluffy - interesting you had 25 day cycles too and the same thing as me. Congrats on your BFP! We travel a lot for work too, makes everything harder for the body I'm sure (stress etc). Fingers crossed for next cycle..... though I've currently just got AF today so think will break out the gin before starting again....

Sounds like you actually ovulate on day 13. Which is great with a 25 day cycle. Focus sex from days 12-15 if you can. You should catch it then. I wouldn’t worry at this stage. Honestly our bodies are so complex, don’t always assume the worse. Xxx

Thank you! Really appreciate the advice xx

not sure why you told her to do the BD starting only 1 day before ovulation... this is pretty common knowledge that one has a higher chance of getting pregnant 5 days before ovulation and after ovulation the chance of conceiving drops drastically. Its ok to not know but let's not spread ignorance in the time of accessible knowledge.

I’m almost relieved to see someone else experiencing this as we are TTC at the moment. My cycle is always 28 days. The moment we started trying, it was 34 days and now 40 days. We are only two months in since we started but it’s sad frustrating and annoying that my cycle has suddenly changed. I’m 30 and pretty healthy and we have no kids. Really trying to not get disheartened and feel down only after two months of trying.

@Leena05 are you taking pregnacare? I've heard some ladies say it lengthened their cycles.

OMG, same. My husband and I have been TTC for a little less than a year (took a short break at the start of Coronavirus). And every time we DTD my cycle changes. My cycle is usually around 27 days, but it changes to like 32 days when we DTD. I get all kinds of weird symptoms too - like mild cramping for two weeks before AF arrives.