New here + TTC 26 day cycle!

[VeronicaFranklin]

Hi,

I'm new here and this is my first post so just wanted some advice :-)

Me and my husband are just starting to TTC I'm 33 and I've been tracking my period for around a year and my cycle varies from 25 to 28 days with the last 2 months being regular 26 days each month.

I started taking Pregnacare vitamins earlier in the year and it moved my cycle to 31 days and gave me pregnancy symptoms so I came off it as it didn't feel quite right, but I've been taking the recommended dose of Folic acid and vitamins since.

I haven't been on the pill for a couple of years but we have always been safe so I really have no idea about any of this! We haven't been using anything for last couple of months but also haven't been really actively trying.

I've done some research into Clear blue ovulation test kits and Luteal phases and I'm a bit overwhelmed with all the info to be completely honest!

I thought my cycle was fairly normal and regular but have come across posts saying 26 day cycles are 'short', I've looked back over the past 4/5 months and there are 14 days between my ovulation day (based on the app) and the first day of my period which seems 'normal luteal phase'?

I'm using the Flo app to try be a bit more clued up on my cycle and ovulation dates with the hope of just starting to try and not put too much pressure on certain days etc.

Just wondered if anyone else has 26 day cycles or slightly varying cycles each month and if it is a cause for concern? I also don't really ever notice the clear stretchy discharge people talk about when ovulating, in fact I don't think I've ever noticed having much discharge at all!

(Also please help with all the lingo, I've been reading through some posts and have no clue what most of it means!)

Thank you,

V x

Hey
A 26 day cycle is perfectly healthy, I think they say a cycle shorter than 21 days is problematic. The apps will usually always put your ovulation at 14 days before your period so I wouldn't trust that. The only true way to know if you've ovulated is to track your temperature and see if there is a sustained increase in basal body temp (bbt). It could be that you ovulate on day 14 of your cycle but then have a 12 day luteal phase (that would be absolutely fine) however if you ovulated on day 16 and had a 10 day luteal phase then that might be more of a problem as that would be a bit short for luteal phase length.

as for the mumsnet lingo- you can try googling bits but it doesn't take long to pick it up 😂 its like learning a second language.

If your still early in your journey I would just focus on having regular sex and see what happens!

Good luck!

@kitty1993

Hey A 26 day cycle is perfectly healthy, I think they say a cycle shorter than 21 days is problematic. The apps will usually always put your ovulation at 14 days before your period so I wouldn't trust that. The only true way to know if you've ovulated is to track your temperature and see if there is a sustained increase in basal body temp (bbt). It could be that you ovulate on day 14 of your cycle but then have a 12 day luteal phase (that would be absolutely fine) however if you ovulated on day 16 and had a 10 day luteal phase then that might be more of a problem as that would be a bit short for luteal phase length.

as for the mumsnet lingo- you can try googling bits but it doesn't take long to pick it up 😂 its like learning a second language.

If your still early in your journey I would just focus on having regular sex and see what happens!

Good luck!

Thank you for your reply. Turns out my worry was for no reason, I started using digital OPKs in Sept our first proper month of trying and last night got my BFP! Can't quite believe it!

Oh wow!! Congratulations! This gives me hope for my 26 day cycle! Hoping to start TTC this month 😃 hope you have a healthy pregnancy x

@kitty1993

Oh wow!! Congratulations! This gives me hope for my 26 day cycle! Hoping to start TTC this month 😃 hope you have a healthy pregnancy x

Thank you, still feels unreal, good luck with TTC, I can definitely recommend Clearblue digital OPKs, they worked great for us! :-) xx