Conceiving with a short cycle

[Sparks654]

Hi ladies

I was wondering about your experiences with your cycles. I am 43 and am noticing that my cycle is quite variable. Sometimes 28 days apart, sometimes just 23. I was told by a gynaecologist that under 26 starts to be problematic because of the luteal phase being too short, and that has made me worry that my chances of conceiving are low. I wonder if anyone has had a baby in their 40s with a short cycle?

Many thanks

I’m sure you know the chances are low anyway given your age. I’d look into getting progesterone to take once you’ve ovulated, to lengthen your Luteal phase

I'm in exactly the same boat as you. Same age and short cycles. Do you ovulation test? From that you can work out how long your luteal phase is (the days between ovulation and period starting). From what I have read, short cycles are only problematic if your luteal phase is less than 11 days.

I had 23 day cycles when I conceived my first at 37, I ovulated on day 10 so had a 13 day luteal phase which is pretty normal, I think ovulating later with a shorter luteal phase is when it can be an issue. After a few months of trying I started measuring my temperature daily and that is when I properly found out I was ovulating early, might be worth looking into?

@orangeandorange I don't actually as I have only recently recovered from quite a long period of ill health, but I have noticed that when I eat a very strict low sugar and low processed food diet my cycle gets a little longer. Of course there have been other factors too like stress which I think haven't helped with trying to get my cycle more regular. As others have suggested am planning to try and track my ovulation date from now on and see what happens. I did at least discover from an MRI that my uterus is looking normal, so that is a relief.

@justanotherlaura yes thanks -- I think that's my next step is to properly monitor my temperature. I also wonder whether my body has gone a bit odd the rails with other health issues I've had and had to take a lot of pain relief for (nurofen can mess with cycles if taken in large doses so I am trying to stick it out with just paracetamol).

Are you taking any supplements? I’m 38 and have been Ttc for 6 months now. I had cycles varying between 13-26 days for the first four cycles. I have started taking pregnecare which has lengthened them to 27-28 days now. I’ve heard that conceive plus supplements have a similar effect.

@Victoriasponge12 interesting - I am taking supplements but mostly the basics - folate, fish oil, sometimes B12 and vitamin D. I read mixed reviews about fertility supplements and when I spoke to my doctor they just said "eat a healthy diet and take folic acid" that was it! But then again they are not fertility experts, and especially not for the over 40s which is a different ball game. So maybe I will explore again the supplements if it might make my cycle longer. Besides anything else, it's annoying to have my period so frequently! But I did notice - maybe coincidentally, that when I was eating more seeds, my cycle lengthened for a month. So maybe I will up my seed intake again (mainly flax).

Hey OP. I have a short cycle- 21 to 23 days at its shortest while TTC ds2.

It did take a long time. We were actively TTC for about 2 years, then gave up, resigned ourselves to just having the 1, then fell pregnant from 1 shag the following month.

So it is possible, it just might take a little longer.

I was also an older mum, had ds2 at 38 fwiw.

I am 44. I was having shorter cycles at around 24/25 days down to 22! The next cycle I took conceive plus for a few weeks and my cycle went to 30 days. Since it has been 25 and 28. Worth a try.

However I have been trying to conceive since the first month of my 43rd bday and it still hasn’t happened. I was having cycles of 27/28 days usually until last September when they started to drop.