Trying to conceive first child with PCO/PCOS or irregular long cycles

[Catconfusion]

Hi there,

I'm currently on my 3rd cycle ttc my first child and I suffer with irregular cycles due to PCO. I conceived first cycle but it was a missed miscarriage at 10 weeks. My second cycle was a chemical pregnancy. I'm now on my 3rd and it's day 34 with no ovulation yet. I'm using Ovusense to temp which helps to show when I've ovulated. I can't help but worry it was a fluke to fall quickly like I did. Just wondering if there's anyone else in a similar situation struggling with long cycles as I'm finding it really frustrating. Looking forward to chatting to some of you! x

Hi everyone

I just want to catch up with you all. So i did a test a week after my delayed test line and i can tell you that a faint but clear BFP appeared today !!!!
It appeared after 3 mins but it is still there. Please dont lose any hope even if you start feeling really depressed like i did

Just stay keep ans stay positive xx

Congratulations @FredMyl that's great news, hope that everything goes well, keep us posted!

Depressing chart for me. I'm on CD16 now and getting a bit fixated on peeing on a stick and temping even though I know realistically that with cycles averaging over 40 days it's highly unlikely anything is going on

@EssJayyCee I know exactly what you mean about it being too hot, we'd been aiming to DTD every other day this month but that has definitely fallen by the wayside this week!
I hope AF arrives for you soon. My cycles are generally anything from 40 to 65 days long and the waiting is agonising!

Congratulations @FredMyl

@Avocuddles My cycles are all over the place.. they started to even out at 37-39 days but since then I've had a 72, 15 and now currently 52 and counting.. so really not sure what is going on.
I am just waiting for some blood tests but I need to wait for AF before I can have them its driving me mad!

Hey everyone,

Congrats @FredMyl I’m so happy for you. Hoping it’s sticky!

@EssJayyCee how are things now?

@Avocuddles it’s so frustrating isn’t it!? Hang in there!

So I actually ovulated on cd 32. I’m 7 dpo and chilling on holiday with DH. Just trying not to stress about anything. I’m super tired but not assuming we’ll get good news when I test at the weekend. Xx

@Catconfusion good luck to you! Definitely try to relax and enjoy your holiday. I'm onto day 19 now. Definitely a more visible line on opk today (vs the completely blank ones I've been getting used to) so hoping that if I am going to ovulate it will happen within the next week....

@catconfusion yes its sticking i have been doing tests every day and the line is getting stronger and stronger. I have an appointment booked for Friday with the Doctor

@Catconfusion Aww yay good news you have ovulated! I hope you're having a fabulous holiday!

Well.... take a look for yourself ...
Same sh*t different day.

I keep getting cramps stabbing uterus/ovary/lower abdomen pain but nothing seems to come of it.

@EssJayyCee sorry that your cycle is dragging out this long, my longest one was over 60 days and I was practically tearing my hair out by the time a pathetically light AF appeared. Really hope you don't have to wait much longer....

@Avocuddles I'm used to it I suppose.. I wish I didn't have to say that but it's true..

My last cycle was 15 days and the one before that was 72! So who bloody knows what is going on!

I just wish AF would hurry her red arse along so I can go to my blood tests and fingers crossed get some kind of answers!

I am trying to keep positive about being able to conceive and have a baby but EVERYTHING in my body is against me so it's so bloody hard!

I know exactly how you feel, mine have been all over the place the entire time I've TTC, and when I first stopped taking the mini pill it took around 120 days before I had any kind of bleed at all! If you don't mind me asking what blood tests are you having and are they with your GP or a specialist?

@Avocuddles They are with my GP. Day 1-5 blood tests for FBC, FSH & LH, Oestradiol, Progesterone and Thyroid function.
Basically hormone tests so see if I am lacking or producing too much.

I have had an ultrasound and other blood tests as well (too many to list and not at the right time of my cycle because the doctor was useless).

Have you had any tests or anything linked to TTC?

@EssJayyCee in my area there is a set list of tests that need to be carried out before you can be referred to the fertility unit I (and DH) went through the full round, had assorted blood tests but to be honest have no idea what for, as well as an internal ultrasound. I didn't successful have a 'day 21' test as I wasn't getting positive opks, I'm now tracking fairly religiously in the hope that I get a better feel for how my cycle works, although we've tried to DTD every other day (when possible) since we started ttc last spring so the fact it took 11 months to conceive (and then miscarry) wasn't through lack of trying. Opk definitely looked much darker today, although it was nowhere near a 'peak' reading I'm hoping that it does happen at some point in the coming days, which would make a pretty short (32+ day) cycle by my standards....

@Avocuddles I'm not sure what the set protocol is for this area, I am just doing as I'm told and hoping something is found.

I am pretty certain I'm not ovulating(well, not often anyway!) so there must be something they can do/something must come up in a blood test somewhere! With me not ovulating I am hoping they may prescribe Clomid or something similar to encourage ovulation.

My current GP is so helpful and she seems to really want to help so that's a good start for me.

The last OPK I took was around a week ago and it was dark but not quite positive.. I have only ever had one positive OPK and that was back in January when I last ovulated..
My temps as you can see are just up and down up and down.

I have noticed I have had sore nipples (TMI) for the last couple of days and a bit of acne has come up this afternoon on my face... so I am hoping with everything cross AF is on the way! Please please please.

I have honestly never wanted AF to arrive as much as I do this long and painful cycle!

@EssJayyCee have you tried acupuncture? I was really sceptical but after six weeks of treatment I had my (second ever!) positive opk this morning - solid face clearblue and a strong line on a cheap strip too. This is only cycle day 20 which would make this at 32-33 days my shortest cycle since I stopped the pill! I've no idea if the acupuncture has helped or if it's just coincidence, but it's good to feel that after 15 months of trying (and one miscarriage after a cycle where I didn't see a positive opk) my body might at long last be regulating slightly....

Those do sound like AF symptoms (which annoyingly are pretty much identical to pregnancy symptoms), hopefully you'll get one or the other ASAP..... X

@Avocuddles no I haven't.. I can't really afford it to be honest. If you have ovulated on day 20 I'd expect your cycle to be 34 days at least as if 32/33 would mean only a 12/13 day luteal phase which isn't normal..?
So excited that you have ovulated! Fingers crossed you have managed to catch it this cycle and you will get a BFP!! GOOD LUCK!

I AM SO BLOODY HAPPY! I am spotting! So AF is here later today or tomorrow which means blood test friday and finally the ball can start rolling!!!! Eeek!

Thanks @EssJayyCee glad things are looking 'positive' (in a negative kind of way...!).

My luteal phase last month was only 12 days, but as that was my only previous positive ovulation month I've no idea if that is 'normal' for me or not. Guess we'll find out....

hey, hope you don't mind me jumping in on your thread but I had a question for @Avocuddles - did you get acupuncture for PCOS? Did you specify that exactly to the acupuncturist or how did it work? Thank you!

Hi @Ofpalestsilver yes my acupuncturist runs a clinic that specialises in fertility / women's health, dealing with everything from general hormonal issues to fertility issues to pregnancy. I'm based in Leeds but I assume there will be similar specialists in most cities. It costs £45 per session but if you belong to / sign up to a health scheme such as Medicash or simply health you can often claim towards the costs which has worked out well for me as I also have been able to claim for medical and optical under the same scheme so more than made my money back several times over.....

@Ofpalestsilver two close friends credit their pregnancies to acupuncture so figured definitely worth a try!

I'm so sorry @EssJayyCee. I honestly feel your pain. I hope it sorts itself out soon so you can get on with trying. So pleased you're spotting so can get your bloods done. xx

@Avocuddles congrats on your ovulation. Fingers crossed for you! xx

So my holiday wasn't as relaxed as I'd hoped. My best friend of 15 years messaged me at 3am to end our friendship as she feels it has an unhealthy dynamic. I've had no sleep and been crying all night. I only just saw the friend concerned and all was fine on Friday. She's blocked my phone so I can't even talk to her. I'm baffled by it. She has mental health issues so maybe its to do with that. Anyway I don't like our chances with all the stress I've just had. What's worse is she knew we were going away for a stress free two week wait. It's such a cruel way to end a friendship. xx

@Catconfusion so sorry to hear about your friend, you are right it's baffling, the kind of thing you expect from teenagers not grown adults! I'm sure she has her own issues but it seems very cruel. I hope once the dust has settled you are able to make some time to look after yourself and get the relaxation that you truly deserve after all this drama.... x

Thanks @avocuddles it is like something a teenager would do and I'm shocked beyond belief. She was maid of honour at my wedding and her children were involved too so in most the photos. I feel like it's ruined my wedding day too as she said she's been feeling this way for a while so seems to me like she was there under false pretences. I've always tried to be a good friend to her but it's been tough at times as she lives a long way away. I also have more friends than her so I'm doing my best to keep in contact with far more people. She's told me I'm her only friend which makes this even sadder.

She upset me when I saw her because she works as a theatre technician and said my ERPC surgery to remove my pregnancy was no more invasive than a coil fit. Urm no, that's why you have a general aesthetic. She counter argued by saying her coil fit was so bad she wishes she'd had a general. I let it go through as she's never had a miscarriage and doesn't know what it feels like physically or emotionally. That's what friends do, they forgive. DH heard my interactions with her and said I couldn't have been nicer or more supportive. She's divorcing her husband and has a lot of stress at the moment whereas I'm happily married so can't help but think there's a bit of jealousy. Anyway sorry for ranting I just feel so sad for the loss of my friend and that the stress may have prevented us conceiving. I've not ovulated in three months before this so a lot is riding on it.

I hope you're all having a good night! xx

@Catconfusion she may have been a good friend in the past but with your current circumstances but I would take her shocking behaviour as a wake up call to remove her from your life for the time being and concentrate on yourself. I get what you mean about your wedding day but you must try not to let it taint your view of what washopefully one of the best experiences of your life. You need to focus on what the day meant to you and your DH, I'm sure there are plenty of happy memories you have of the day that don't involve her.... I know that's all easier said than done though, and when it's someone who has been an important part of your life for a very long time it will inevitably cut deep for a long time too, just like the end of any relationship. It sounds like she's had a tough time, hopefully she'll sort herself outside in time and give the apology you deserve, but either way please try to plan some fun / relaxing things for you and your DH that will hopefully distract you from the tough times....

Oh my @Catconfusion I'm so sorry.
I can only begin to imagine how you must be feeling but as @Avocuddles has said you need to try and push that right to the back of your priorities list. You deserve a happy life, you don't have room in it for such drama especially at a time such as trying to conceive.

I have my fingers crossed that the stress from this hasn't effected a possible BFP but even if AF comes again hopefully your cycles have re-regulsted a little bit after your miscarriages.

I wish I knew you to give you a hug because you really seem like you need one!

Going to have my blood test on friday afternoon. Should I ring and get an appointment with my GP for the following friday to discuss my results or should I wait and see if they call me first?

The acupuncture sounds so intriguing I just can't afford £45! If I could I definitely would!