Irregular Periods

[morsie]

Hi.. I am trying to concieve baby number 2 and have been getting jiggy for last year or so with no luck as yet. For last 6 months have kept a record of my cycle and ( I know I should have done this before) now realise that my cycles go between 28 to 39 ish days. I am currently on day 41 and they just seem to be getting longer each time. Is there anything I should be doing to try and regulate them or is it a trip to the GP do you think? Am 33 and had DS1 after about 2 yrs of trying in 2004. Also - went for a lymph massage the other day and the lady reckoned she could "feel" a swollen ovary and that I was ovulating - that was on day 37! Bizarre I think - anybody had anything similar? Hope you can help, thanks, morsie x

Hi morsie,

A trip to the GP is in order because your cycle lengths continue to lengthen.

She may well have felt a swollen ovary (some ovaries that are polycystic can appear larger than normal walnut size) but to blithely say that you're ovulating is not right.

Also a cycle length of more than 35 days is more likely than not to be an anovulatory cycle.

Such problems are often caused by hormonal imbalances; in this regard a condition called polycystic ovaries is a common culprit.

A blood test can be done to see what your hormone levels are like - if this is done ensure that the GP compares the level of LH against that of FSH. If these two hormone levels are out of sync (particularly if the level of LH is higher than FSH) then a referral to a gynae is in order.

Also I note that it took some time for you to conceive your first child. This is of note too and another good reason to be referred to a specialist. You have good reasons to ask for a referral.

Hi, i have had something similar to you. my cycles when ttc were

28
13 (yes, thirteen!)
41
43
34

Then i got pg (am 11+4 now)

Good luck. Maybe pop along to your GP especially as it has been a year.

thanks for your advice - I have booked an appt at the GP for next week - we had just started a referral to infertility clinic when I fell with DS so maybe there is an underlying issue. Really appreciate you taking the time to respond in such a detailed fashion! ( sorry for namechange - slight panic that previous one was a little obvious to anyone in RL)

I was the same I gave up trying to work out when I was ovulating and we just had unprotected sex. I think sometimes the stress of trying to work out when your ovulating can have effects on conceiving - but hey thats my theory. I have 2 boys so it worked for me. Also I have great faith in my dh he can sense or "wants some" when I'm ovulating, its an old cave man trick . Hope it all works out for you

Hi... I went to the doctors and have now had some blood tests too to try and figure out whats going on... typically my period started as I was walking out of the surgery! Now need to wait two weeks for the results Thanks for all your advice...