Irregular cycles...trying for a baby

[oodledoo]

I need some advice, I have always had irregular cycles and suffer mild PCOS. I already have 2 dc's. I would love another baby but despite months of trying, nothing is happening. I came off the pill in December 2007 and my periods did not return until July, since then my cycles have been 40 days, 60 days and 54 days, CD1 today .

I know for sure that I ovulated exactly three weeks ago today, had the groggy feeling and lots of EWCM. Boobs have been sore for a week and tbh I thought I was pg until this morning when AF arrived.

I know that the phase in between ovulation and my af arriving is too long. I just keep thinking if I have got pg easily before, I can't see why its so hard this time around.

I don't have any advice but I am in the same situation as you so I can sympathise!

I got pregnant straight away with ds I had just come off the pill so my cycles were regular as the pill had been keeping them in check.

I never went back on the pill after having ds and I regret it as my body never seemed to go back to normal my cyles are all over the place and some months I don't think I even ovulate.

Have you been referred yet?

have you thought about charting your temperature to find out when/if you do ovulate?

fertilityfriend.com is pretty good.

good luck

I've read that there is some correlation between long and irregular cycles and not ovulating. Also, with cycles as erratic as that I think charting, OPKs etc are not really going to help.

Because of that I think you should see a specialist. There are drugs they can give to treat PCOS and get you ovulating more regularly.

Sorry not to be of more help, but I think that having very few cycles over a 12 month period is something that you should talk to a specialist about.

hi ladies,
i have irregular cycles but unfortunately this is my first attempt at ttc (8months in the process). They range from 29 - 45 days so not as hectic as yours but i understand where you're coming from. I bought a Clearblue digital fertility monitor and it's marvelous. It tells me exactly when I ovulate. For example i'm CD26 today and today is showing as me ovulating on the monitor. This is un heard of for me as lately my cycles have been 29-32 days so very odd.
There are plenty of things on the market to tell you when you ovulate and fertility friend is also a good website. However, i would go to see your gp and ask for some blood tests or at least advice!
Good luck xx

Thanks all, I thought about purchasing a digital monitor but was told that with such long and irregular cycles it would not be of any use for me. It is hard not get down and depressed about all of this. I guess I was a bit naive thinking it would be as before. I think I will go back to my GP (I did go when I came off the pill) and see what they have to say.

Thanks for the advice though, much appreciated. I hope for positive news for those of you going through the same.

Hi there oodledo I also have PCOS.
I have a 3yr old DS and am expecting my 2nd DS in March. It took me 11 months of serious ttc. I charted everyday - my cycles were mostly as long as 100 days. I only ovulated twice in that whole time we were ttc (according to my chart)
Charting is great if you are very very patient as it will show lots and lots of peaks and troughs which is typical of a PCOS sufferer.
OPK's are useless if you have PCOS as it picks up the LH which is so erratic in women with PCOS. If the OPK's show positive then it still doesn't mean you are ovulating.
I'm not very good at the facts of PCOS but if you have a look at this thread you will find some wonderful advise. The person you want to speak to is Attila she is a wealth of knowledge. Look out for her posts on there if she isn't around.
Good luck, and don't be disheartened, you've had two dc's, there's no reason why you won't have another, just might take a while

oodledoo

Unfortunately there is no such thing as "mild" PCOS; the commonality amongst all PCOSers is the cystic follicles on the ovaries. It is a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently. What is a problem for some women with PCOS e.g hirsuitism (excess hair) to give but one example is not for another.

I also do not think you ovulated three weeks ago. Any cycle over 35 days in length particularly if they are consistenly over that time is likely to be anovulatory. With PCOS as well you are less likely to be ovulating; it is certainly possible to have periods without ovulating. I would think it very likely that your LH/FSH hormone levels are out of balance (you may have an excess of LH to that of FSH; ideally these two should be the same).

Generally speaking as well fertility declines with age. That also is a factor as well as PCOS.

I would go to your GP, tell him of your previous PCOS diagnosis and ask if you can go on the waiting list for a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit. You may be looked at sympathetically. Blood tests can be done to see what your LH and FSH hormone levels are like; these are normally tested around day 3.

As your periods are irregular as well blood tests can be done according to calendar days i.e the 3rd and 21st of each month.

Verity's website is also helpful to women with PCOS - www.verity-pcos.org.uk

HTH, any other questions just ask

Attila

i was diagnosed with pcos 5 mths ago, (have been ttc for 18mths+)

i had really irregular cycles all 45+ days.

now on my 4th cycle taking clomid, it's a horrible drug to have to take, but my cycles for the last two mths have both been 30 days. gp says this is the clomid working properly so theres a lot more chance of bfp now.

go to your gp.

good luck!