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

@EssJayyCee that’s brilliant news. So glad you’re taking each day as it comes and feeling relaxed. It’s so hard keeping it secret in the early days. It sounds like you have a good plan with the FRERs at the weekend. If you are not getting a strong line I would call up the doctor and ask for a call back or emergency appointment and hopefully you’ll get an EPU appointment. Usually from 6 weeks they can do an ultrasound. Obviously any cramping or bleeding see or speak to the doctor on an emergency basis.

Hopefully though it will all be ok. I have everything crossed for you. Fatigue is a really common early symptom. Just get rest when you can. Let us know how you’re getting on! Xx

@Banoffeepie91 welcome to the thread. Sorry you’re waiting so long for AF. If you were irregular before it’s likely how your body is anyway. Coming off contraceptives can make this worse. Ovusense was amazing for me and the only thing that accurately confirmed ovulation. It’s great you know your luteal phase is about 12 days. Once you accurately know when O is you’ll know when AF will be there.

If your mum had cysts it’s likely you have some form of pco/pcos. My Mum and sister both have this. I was lucky that mine got better with age. I had cysts when younger but they cleared up however I’ve always had irregular cycles. My hormone blood tests have always been normal. It sounds like you could be similar if you’re ovulating. When the hormones are affected it can stop ovulation altogether. I’m now 26 weeks pregnant and it’s been a tough ride but I got there.

At the doctors explain your family history of PCOS and ask for an ultrasound of your ovaries. Also see if they can test your hormone levels to see if yours are normal. This is normally a blood test on day 3 of your cycle to look at the hormones that stimulate the ovary to release the egg. When pcos is severe these hormones are often out of balance. You can still however have normal hormones but the ovary releases the egg late. They may also look at progesterone. This is done on day 21 for women with normal cycles. If they offer this test you’ll need to have it after you think you ovulated so in those 12 days before AF. It will confirm you ovulated and the progesterone levels once the egg is released.

I hope you get a good doctor who is willing to help. I find female gynae specialists are the best. Sometimes gp websites will tell you what the doctors are interested in so you can choose someone with specialist knowledge.

It’s really important they investigate your cycles because if the hormones are out of whack you may need a fertility referral.

I think Ovusense will really help too with figuring out what’s going on. Let us know how you’re getting on! Xx

Hi, new to this forum. TTC 2 years. PCOS. started clomiphene 2 months ago, had to readjust my dose due to overstimulation sadly so taken a while to start trying with it. First month really. I've been reading posts from here for a while, sometimes feels like I'm alone in all this frustration, hope and disappointment. It's nice to know I'm not. Thank to everyone who shares their stories. Gives me alot of hope and optimism.

@Banoffeepie91, @ZoeCa welcome on the thread !

@ZoeCa welcome to the thread. Hopefully your body will adjust to the Clomid and you’ll get some luck soon. My Mum fell pregnant on Clomid on the first cycle after going 9 months without periods. She was one of the first to take it in the early 70s. My sister and I might not be here without it. I really hope it works for you!

Having irregular cycles and pco/pcos can be really lonely as it’s not so common. One of the reasons I started this thread was because I wasn’t finding many people who had issues with irregular cycles on the ttc threads. It definitely adds another layer of stress. I really hope you find this thread helpful! Xx

Just wanted to add ladies there’s a really interesting video on @yourfertilityjourney over on Instagram about what to ask the GP for if you think you have pcos.

Hi and welcome @ZoeCa and @Banoffeepie91. It's a rubbish journey isn't it but hopefully you will gain some encouragement from the positive stories here as well as having some people to rant to about the rough times.

I had my nurse consultation today re starting letrozole. I'm currently on cycle day 24 and have been told to give it another couple of weeks to book in for a scan before taking provera to force a bleed (my last cycle was 60 days long) or if AF arrives before then to ring up on the first day. I had a potential surge on Monday but will avoid DTD without protection from now on so that we can kick off the treatment within the next three weeks. I'm scared of getting pregnant as my precious two pregnancies failed at 7-8 weeks, but reassured by the fact that I'll definitely have more monitoring this time round. Fingers crossed we'll all have a BFP soon!

@Catconfusion @EssJayyCee @Avocuddles
Thank you all for being so welcoming! 💞
I joined a ttc thread last year and it was weirdly opposite and just got stonewalled 😂
Ironically we started to ttc in Nov, I'd bought modibody pants and everything expecting whatever... (I had a 47day cycle in May and got caught short) even though my cycles have always been regularish give or take a day or so...
I practiced with opk sticks in Sept and Oct and all seemed well... 😝
Thankfully I got AF late on Xmas day so I had the bloodwork done on the 27th but all was normal thankfully. I remember getting the ov mucus very late in the cycle though, so maybe just late ov? But my periods are very short 2/3 days and light.
I think I need to arrange for another appointment though, I was just told if the blood was normal they'd arrange a scan. Shall I wait for the next AF or just book an appt? Xx

Thank you so much for the replies really appreciate the support. AF came today so this cycle was 42 days which is my longest so far and my shortest has been 24 days. Don’t think my body knows what it’s doing!
Everyone here has reassured me though, I don’t think it’s going to be an easy journey but lovely to hear people do get there in the end

@Avocuddles great news you now have a specific plan and are moving forwards with the treatment. I really hope you have your bfp soon.

@MostlyChocolate I found it difficult joining some threads too. There’s an over 40s ttc thread and I could never work out if I was saying the wrong thing or it was just clicky. I think ttc threads can be difficult as emotions run high. I’ve always just tried to be friendly and helpful.

Great news your bloods are normal. Chances are your ovulation is late in your cycle and maybe sporadic. It’s a case of catching that egg at the right time. Opks may be helpful for you. If you’re getting a peak and then an AF roughly two weeks later it probably was O.

I would book in to see the doctor ASAP to arrange the scan. They can do it at any point I think. If you have cysts and irregular periods it is likely a form of pco/pcos. It’s still likely you will conceive naturally though if you’re ovulating on your own and time it right. As your bloods are normal there’s a good chance you are releasing an egg.

@Banoffeepie91 great news AF came. Try not to think it will go a certain way. I was convinced I would take a long time to conceive as my Mum and Sister both did. For me it was quick but traumatic as I had two miscarriages. Long irregular cycles don’t mean it won’t happen. It might take longer because tracking O is more tricky but don’t be surprised if you catch quickly. Or it might take longer but the GP should be able to offer some support if it does. Xx

I am getting good dark lines on Cheapies now 😁 I feel I can stress a little less now 😊

@EssJayyCee that's great to hear! Have been thinking of you, glad you're seeing some good progression x

@EssJayyCee that’s amazing news. Been hoping you’d get some stronger lines. Ics can be so misleading. Great you’re at the 5 week mark now and getting lines like that. I’ve got everything crossed it’ll be plain sailing now until your 12 week scan. Xx

@EssJayyCee that's fantastic ! So happy for you. You must feel relieved !

Thank you @Catconfusion @Avocuddles and @Ellabb 😊

I just need some proper symptoms now for it to all feel more real!

I phoned up about why I'd not heard anything from the midwife and it's because she's been away so I should hear from her at the beginning of next week!

Great for the midwife !! I had no symptoms for my son until I was way in the 2nd month but then it kicked strong !

@EssJayyCee I’m a bit weird for getting ill as early as I did. I think most people if they’re going to get symptoms will at the 6-8 week mark. Some lucky people feel no different.

Over the last few weeks I’ve felt pretty normal apart from being kicked quite hard. It’s amazing how early on you can feel so rough yet later on you have a great big baby in there but feel normal. Although saying that I think tiredness is very common throughout! Xx

@Catconfusion I don't really want to be Ill I just want to feel pregnant.
I think I've got a cold brewing which isn't fun!

I don't know if we may have been rumbled!
My boyfriends mum was just round and wanted to see our bedroom because we have recently painted it... and on the bed were my notes from my phone call about my midwife appointment... at the top it said "maternity support telephone number" and when my first positive was incase she asked! I am hoping she wasn't nosey and didn't read it!

I have been lying about my appointment on Wednesday to my family and I hate it!

Aww I can't wait to feel kicks! When did you first start feeling little boy kick?

No honestly @EssJayyCee you really don’t. Hopefully you’ll get some mild symptoms soon.

Oh no, colds are rubbish. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

I had a similar accident where mother in law was looking at a book DH got baby for Christmas. He did an inscription with the name mentioned. I can’t be sure if she saw it or not. There’s not really anything you can do if she’s seen it. I’m sure they will understand. Are you sure you don’t want to tell your Mum? We found it helpful to tell people who would be our support if something went wrong. I had to tell family quite early though because I was so ill.

The kicks are awesome. It all depends where your placenta is. Mine is at the front so I felt kicks later on. Though still early considering at 20 weeks. They are more flutters at first. Now my whole stomach is moving. If placenta is at the back you can feel them at about 16 weeks sometimes. It’s the weirdest feeling but lovely! Xx

@Catconfusion I don't want to tell anyone until we are 8 weeks. My mum will be there if anything does happen.
At the moment I don't feel it's right to say anything because of what my sister is going through.

Today I have had pains a couple of times when I've stood up quickly in the centre of the very bottom of my abdomen/top of pubic area.
Does this sound like something to worry about or is it pretty normal?

@EssJayyCee I think in your case it makes perfect sense. It’s hard to lie but I’m sure everyone will understand. You know your family and what the best course of action is.

Aches and pains seem quite common. The rise in progesterone can affect your joints and ligaments. I think the general advice is to speak to the doctor severe or stronger than mild period pains. I got pains that felt a bit like a stitch at first. These sorts of pains can come and go as your stomach stretches. Xx

@Catconfusion Yes none of my pains have been agonising. Just mild I know you're there kind of pains and aches.

Is it common to have mild cramps after sex in early pregnancy? It wasn't immediately after but about 3 hours later I got cramps. Really mild cramps.

@EssJayyCee yes I think it’s normal to have mild cramps after sex. If the cramps are severe or there is bleeding it’s best to stop until you can see the doctor. xx

Okay thanks.

Should I be worried?
I did another clear blue digital with a date thing today which is a week ago from the last one and it is still saying 1-2 weeks...

I’m not sure @EssJayyCee hopefully it’s just how insensitive they are or the sample wasn’t strong enough. I’ve heard so many bad things about these tests.

Have you done another FRER or IC? If they are looking stronger I wouldn’t worry. See the GP if they are looking faint or the same after a four hour hold. You should hopefully be offered an hcg blood test or an early scan as you’ll be coming up to 6 weeks. Fingers crossed it’s just the tests being rubbishXx