How much cycle variation is okay?

[Alice1987]

Hi all, I have not started ttc yet, but plan to soon (via at-home insemination). Usually my periods come on the expectated day, but it's late this time (only 1 day now but looks like it'll be a couple of days late at least) . I believe this is due to stress as I am definitely not pregnant. Just wondering if anyone has been told by a professional what is classed as a normal cycle variation? Just because I know a friend who struggled to conceive was actually told to go on the pill for 3 months to get their periods regular before ttc again! I'm stressing already and not even started! I'm 33 and have an ovarian cyst, so I do worry I'm running out of time. Any happy stories to encourage me?

My cycles vary far more than that, I conceived unintentionally when I was 31 then when ttc number 2 when I was 35 found it much harder.

When they have been extremely irregular, I found acupuncture helped.

Aw thanks both. FERTILEDANCE I'd be really interested in your blog and videos if you could post a link? I'm generally pretty regular, and ovulation seems to be around the expected time (my cm matches up with the predicted ovulation dates on the apps 'Flo' and 'clue'. It's really helped to have some reassurance 😊