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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Anyone with irregular periods? Need advice.

18 replies

AlyTab · 23/01/2018 13:30

So me and my fiance are thinking of trying for baby number one. Problem being that I've had irregular periods for the last 6 months or so now.

I am definitely in no way pregnant just to clarify. They've been very off the past 6 months. They were very regular give or take a few days up until then, then one month it came 2 weeks late. I didn't worry too much since I thought it was a one off thing and the heaviness and length were the same as per.

Next month it was only a few day days late, but it was very light, but definitely a period all the same. Hours in between bleeding and lasted about 2 and a half days. Since then I think it's only came every other month, or 4 weeks late so essentially missing every other period.

My last period started/ended at the beginning of December.

Another thing that's unusual is I'm starting to have bad night sweats, and hot flushes. I have no idea if this is related though or totally separate.

Anyone have any advice or has anyone gone through a situation similar to this? Really appreciate it :)

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Original poster

AlyTab · 23/01/2018 13:31

Oh and I'm 23, forgot to mention xx

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Picnicsandwich · 23/01/2018 13:36

Yep. Periods sometimes heavy, sometimes light & all over the place. Ovulation sticks are the way forward. My cycles were pretty random and I was ovulating on different cycle days.

Pregnant now (and much older than you) so it's definitely doable.

Oddly enough I also had night sweats, no hot flushes though. They tended to be related to my cycle as I tracked them and it tended to be in the run up to my period.

theconstantinoplegardener · 23/01/2018 13:38

Are you otherwise in good health? It sounds as though your hormones are a little out of kilter. It would be a good idea to see your GP and have a blood test for your reproductive hormones and probably thyroid too.

In the mean time, since it will be difficult for you to predict your most fertile time, having unprotected sex every couple of days should give you the best chance of conceiving. Good luck!

bretonknickers · 23/01/2018 13:39

Have you spoken to a Doctor about it?
I had issues with my cycle and was diagnosed with PCOS.
They put me on Metformin and Provera at one point to try and regulate my cycle, as after having DS I went for 9 months without a period (not breastfeeding either, as that can stop you ovulating).
We managed to get pregnant again despite this so it's definitely possible.

Original poster

AlyTab · 23/01/2018 14:02

I did have several blood tests done in 2017 when I came in due to being constantly tired amongst other things and pain in my legs. I think they check my thyroid levels but then again this was before my periods became irregular so maybe I should get them done again. I've made a gp appointment anyways so it cant hurt.

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Original poster

AlyTab · 24/01/2018 10:07

Thank you for the help everyone. If anyone else could help by giving their expetiences on their experience I would really appreciate it :)

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Dippydodah · 24/01/2018 10:15

I have always had irregular cycles, PCOS. The fact that it seems to have changed recently, without any particular reason, no harm in going to the GP and get them to the extended blood test. Stress/lots of sugar/ putting on weight can all affect cycle in my own experience. Good luck!

Original poster

AlyTab · 24/01/2018 12:07

Thank you. Nothings really changed I don't think. I do have depression, but I've had that for quite some time now and my periods were still always regular. Even now when my mood is much better than it has been in a long time, my periods are still irregular. I eat the same and I've put on a little weight, but I really put that down to getting my appetite back again since my mood has increased and I'm actually a healthy weight now (whereas I was slightly underweight before). Still not a massive weight gain though, maybe half a stone or so over a year.

I automatically jump to the worst conclusions though. I thought maybe my ovaries were failing prematurely or something.

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Original poster

AlyTab · 24/01/2018 12:52

Grr sorry I'm annoyed, I really should have kept better track of my periods. My last period ended around 43 days ago I think. Not far off from where I thought but I do get them mixed up a bit sometimes. They still are all over the place. Prior to all this I had a standard 27-29 day cycle.

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Picnicsandwich · 24/01/2018 13:54

Prob not what you want to hear but if your BMI is at the very bottom of the normal range it may be a factor. Personally I could only get pregnant when I was at least midway (2 x) and my periods have always been closer together when I've been a bit bigger. I also ate a higher fat diet both times i was Ttc as low fat consumption is not necessarily good for fertility. Well, according to books that I read! I personally still feel bitter towards thinner women that have gotten pregnant (would never say anything and it's totally my issue) because that just wasn't the case for me.

Original poster

AlyTab · 25/01/2018 11:09

Well my bmi is around 20 at the moment I believe. Somewhere between 19.5-20 anyway. I used to be quite a bit underweight a few years ago and I still got very regular periods so I don't think it's my weight

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Picnicsandwich · 25/01/2018 11:36

We're you on the pill when you were underweight? As that would mask if. If not then you are probably right but it might be worth playing around with the fat content of your diet, especially if you don't eat a lot currently. It's the Zita West book about eating yourself pregnant that discusses it. It's just my experience but I went from periods every 5/6 weeks to every 4 after a couple of months of eating a bit more fat. You wouldn't necessarily have to up the calories and gain weight. I did but that was my decision as it was a real effort for me to maintain a BMI of 19/20 and didn't feel healthy. I feel much better with a BMI of 22/23. But it was a massive step emotionally.

LookingAtTheStars89 · 25/01/2018 11:43

@AlyTab. I feel for you as I'm going through the exact same thing. My last period was in December and about 41 days ago! I did a test on Monday but negative, I will be doing another one in a few days but I don't think I'm pregnant.

My periods were 29 ish days, then 32, 35 and now - gone! I've had a couple of episodes over the past decade where they've disappeared for a bit but because I wasn't ttc I didn't think much of it. I have a doctors appointment for next week. It doesn't really change no matter what weight I am.

I am thinking it's some sort of imbalance as my mood has been a bit blah lately.

Original poster

AlyTab · 25/01/2018 11:56

Thank you picnicsandwich, I will have a look at it. I was only on the pill for 5/6 months and I had regular periods before and after stopping using them. They really messed with my hormones I had to get off them!

LookingAtTheStars89 It's really puzzling isn't it? Mine's just suddenly went AWOL it seems. Day 44, still no period! My cycle was actually similar to yours, then out of nowhere, bam. Irregular. Good luck at the doctors, I have an appointment next week so fingers crossed :D

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MrzE · 25/01/2018 18:02

I've never really had a regular AF. I went on the pill when i was a late teen to try sort it out, but I put in a lot of weight so came off it. I then had the implant for 6 years. For the first 3 years I had no AF at all, then on my second implant I had one year of the odd bleed lasting a couple of days each. Then I spent the last 2 years of my implant constantly spotting having a couple of days every week. It was horrible. One GP wasn't bothered at all, the other GP insisted i have it out ASAP.

Anyway, since then AF has been really irregular. My last cycle was 45 days, the one before that was 58 days and before that was 31. Now we're TTC and trying to dbd every other day for the best chance.

Original poster

AlyTab · 26/01/2018 14:55

I was thinking of getting the implant, then again if we do go ahead with trying for a baby obviously we would have to wait until after the baby has been born (duh). I was a bit worried it might make my periods erratic though, turns out I don't need the implant for that after all...

It's a shame that a lot of you also have irregular periods too. It's a lot more common than I had initially expected it seems :(

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Original poster

AlyTab · 27/01/2018 00:11

Out of interest in case PCOS happens to be the issue (since quite a few people have said I should be checked for it), how much more difficult would it be to conceive since my ovulation is a bit out of wack? I would appreciate if I could get some more perspectives and experiences on this thread if possible. You have all been very helpful regardless:)

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reginagiovanna · 12/04/2021 22:41

@AlyTab @LookingAtTheStars89
Apologies I know this thread is 3 years old- just wondering if you found the cause of your irregular periods or if they sorted themselves out?
I'm asking as what you described is exactly the experience I'm having at the moment (I'm in my twenties as well). I have a three week wait for my doctor's appointment so waiting anxiously and would be very grateful to hear the outcome of your situations if you'd be happy to share.

Mine cycles became somewhat irregular (between 29-38 days) after pregnancy loss in Jan 2020, and now a year later, I'm on CD45 and no sign of period, and I am not sexually active. Thank you in advance! :)

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