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

Hey @Avocuddles Happy New Year! How are you getting on?

I completely echo everything you just said to @EssJayyCee. Testing can be so misleading but bloods will show a true picture of what’s going on so the doctor is a good call. It’s my feeling that it’s better to know good or bad because the stress of not knowing is really tortourous. Once you know for sure, you can move forwards however hard it is. I’m hoping this is it for you @EssJayyCee and you get some good news! Xx

No I've not done any more FRER's I might get some at the weekend as my local shops don't sell them.

I doubt my doctor will do anything because I've not had any miscarriages before.

I've not got any nasty pains or bleeding so I may be okay.

I've got my gynae appointment tomorrow so I might voice my concerns to them and see what they say. I'm still waiting for a midwife to contact me after my self referral form. It said I should hear within a week.

EssjayyCee I agree with @Avocuddles and @Catconfusion that going to your doctor for blood tests could definitely help you figure out where you stand because not knowing is just torture.

@EssJayyCee it doesn’t matter if you’ve not had a miscarriage before. You’re concerned about line progression on the tests and want to confirm your pregnancy. A GP should be able to do this. However since you have the appointment tomorrow I’m hoping the gynae doctor will help you and at least do a test to confirm all ok. Fingers crossed for you! Xx

I guess you're all right. I'll see what the gynae says tomorrow. 🤞🏻 hopefully everything will be okay.

Has anyone had a symptom of feeling warm to the touch but inside feeling really cold??

@EssJayyCee yes I think the hormones can affect temperature control. I felt dizzy and shivery, even a bit sick like I was coming down with something.

Good luck today. I really hope you come away from your appointment feeling more reassured. There’s plenty of support here if you need it! xx

Wow you were awake early @Catconfusion couldn't you sleep?

Thank you, I am nervous for the appointment.
I'm panicking so much I feel like I'm going to forget to ask things I want/need to ask.
I will let you know later how it goes. It's not until later on in the day.

I had a dream last night that I had a small bleed and the doctor spoke to me on the phone said you might need an early scan. Then hung up and wouldn't answer again.
Dreams are so weird and make you worry even more sometimes!!

EssJayycee I keep my fingers crossed for your appointment ! You can prepare a written list of all your questions so that you can cross check the list with the doctor without stress.

@EssJayyCee baby was kicking and husband went to work early so couldn’t sleep.

Anxiety dreams are the worst and it’s not surprising.

If I was you my key questions today would:

1. Can they confirm the pregnancy is progressing with an hcg blood test as you have concerns about the strength of the line. It’s affecting your mental health etc.

1. You had erratic temperatures post ovulation and you wondered if this could be low progesterone. Could you have a progesterone supplement to support the pregnancy? Hopefully they’ll have your blood test result so can tell you.

1. If this pregnancy doesn’t progress what is the plan? What might be causing the irregular cycles? Can this be drug corrected so you have better chances?

I would say although the appointment was made before you knew about the pregnancy, you appreciate any support with this. When I found out I was pregnant I had a scan booked to check my ovaries. They were off with me when I asked them to check the pregnancy as this wasn’t the purpose of the appointment. I showed appreciation and the sonographer was more helpful. It shouldn’t be like this but it sometimes is.

As @Ellabb said make a list on your phone of questions.

I know you’re probably nervous today but you will ok whatever happens. You are doing everything you can to support this pregnancy. The rest is out of your control. I do hope though it’s good news and this is it for you. If not hopefully you’ll get the fertility support you need. Let us know how it goes! Xx

@EssJayyCee good luck for today. I would echo everything @Catconfusion says - I hope you get the answers you're looking for.

I have an opk question for you. For the past two days, I have had cervical mucus (not fertile mucus) which I did not have until now (as no period back since my baby's birth). I do not know if it is a sign that my body is trying to be back on track with cycles or if it is just due to my taking evening primrose oil caps. As I am in doubt I decided to start using opk to track a possible ovulation. My first opk (today) shows a faint line, so I know it is not positive. Here comes my question : if my body had not decided to start a cycle, would I still have a faint line or no line at all. Has any of you ever tested with an opk say on day 1 of the cycle and had absolutely no line ?
Thanks !

@Ellabab my experience with opks is not good, probably down to having mild pco. I’ve sometimes detected LH and got even a peak opk with Fertile Mucus and ovulation has not been confirmed by temps (using Ovusense). About a week later I’ve then got another peak and ovulation has been confirmed. I think ladies with irregular cycles have far more problems with false positives on opks. A faint line does not necessarily mean it’s coming soon.Temping has been far more accurate for me. Also they drove me a little crazy! Xx

@Ellabb i generally have a faint line pretty much the entire way throughout my cycle. Like @Catconfusion I'm not entirely sure that opks are that helpful for me - last month I had two potential surges during a 60 cycle but don't think I actually ovulated - but I do use an app called 'premom' to photograph them and track the trends - pictures attached! I did find when I fell pregnant that having this info helped me to accurately date the pregnancy. I tried temping before my second (unsuccessful) pregnancy but found it too stressful and not very reliable as I'm a light sleeper at the best of times!

Thanks @Catconfusion and @Avocuddles for your experiences !! Temping is a bit tricky when you breastfeed because of night sweating.... but I can give it a go. For my 9 months baby, opk did help find the O day through erratic cycles but I understand the line I had at lunch time does not mean anything regarding my cycle. Waiting for my period to come back just seems endless although I know I have to give my body time before I try anything else. So frustrating !

@Ellabb no problem. It would be worth looking at Ovusense as it works internally and takes your temperature throughout the night to give an average so it's incredible accurate. I used it because my husband works early shifts and my sleep pattern varies so it was easier as you can get accurate data whenever you wake up.

I'm sorry you're having such a long wait for your period. I hope it comes soon! xx

I will definitely have a look at it, thanks @Catconfusion !

@Ellabb as I said it was a game changer for me. I didn’t think I was ovulating at all until I used Ovusense and got confirmation. It is however a bit pricey but there are sometimes discount codes. xx

I told the woman at my appointment that I was pregnant and she congratulated me and pretty much pushed me out of the door.
She said to stop worrying about everything and wished me all the best.
I forgot to ask the questions I wanted to because she seemd to want me out the door.

Oh I’m sorry @EssJayyCee that’s strange. Doesn’t sound very reassuring then!? X

This is the thread I need I think thank you!

Last cycle was 60 days, bloods were normal. Ttc #1

Xxx

@EssJayyCee sorry you've had such an unhelpful appointment. I would suggest you call your GP and try to get an appointment as soon as possible to discuss how you're feeling. They may send you on your way, but they may offer some support or an EPU referral if you make your anxiety and concerns clear. It's such a nerve wracking time, I hope you're doing ok and getting plenty of support from your partner.

@MostlyChocolate hi! I'm another 60 day cycle-r. I did conceive twice last year but unfortunately miscarried both times. I'm about to start treatment with letrozole after a fertility clinic referral. Have you had any medical treatment / diagnosis re your long cycles?

Hey @MostlyChocolate it’s so frustrating isn’t it!? I was similar and had nothing but normal tests. The only thing they found when I was in my early 30s was cysts on my ovaries. Those have cleared up now.

Luckily for me I’m now 26 weeks pregnant. I had two losses early in the year though which was traumatic. The difficulty in long cycles is figuring out when ovulation happens or just having sex several times a week. I used Ovusense and it was amazing for tracking my cycles. I wouldn’t say it predicted ovulation as such because this happened randomly but it did confirm after it had happened so I knew if I had a chance or not. Good luck and I hope you find this thread helpful! Xx

@Catconfusion and @Avocuddles
I am surprisingly feeling okay. I am just going to take each day as it comes and what will be will be.

I haven't stopped taking my temps yet (I know I probably should) but they are still way up high in numbers I've never had before my highest being 37.14 so I feel like my body is doing okay.

I have signed up to loads of pregnancy apps and seeing all the pictures and reading information based on each week is so interesting and comforting in it's own way.

My boyfriend is the most supportive person I know. He is amazing.

I am really struggling with lying to my family though at the moment. I have had to make up a little white lie about the outcome of my appointment today because we don't want to tell them until I am 8 weeks but I feel so bad for lying to them. I just hope they don't feel offended by us lying when we finally tell them!

I'm not sure if fatigue is slowly creeping in. I'm not completely shattered all day every day but I seem to fall asleep alot earlier in the evenings on the sofa. And I've been yawning alot more during the day.

I am going to get some more FRERs to take at the weekend and if they aren't darker than the ones I have already got I will try and book an appointment with the GP but I'm not sure how quickly I will get booked in as it's usually a two week wait unless it's an emergency appointment and I am at work when you have to ring for emergency appointments so I can't even get one of them either.

Hello @MostlyChocolate
I have had cycles ranging from 15-72 days.
I was in the process of getting fertility help but miraculously fell pregnant this cycle! I am currently 5 weeks pregnant. Early days but never lose hope!

This thread is a lovely place to be with people who understand the difficulties of PCO and PCOS and irregular cycles!

@Catconfusion and @Avocuddles have helped me through so much in the last 10 months or so!

Hi everyone, please can I join as well? Currently day 42 of my cycle and just want AF to come. Haven’t had regular cycles since coming off the coil 7 months ago and if I’m honest I don’t think I was regular before I started contraception when I was a teenager. I think I’m going to invest in ovusense once AF finally arrives this month as at least it will help me with when I’m due. I always get AF 12 days after I ovulate so at least that part is clear.
I have a drs appointment next week to talk to them about irregular cycles. Are there any tests I should be asking them to do? I’ve convinced myself I have cysts as my mum gets them but no idea if thats something there can be a hereditary link with?