What next?

[MintChocAddict]

Looking for some advice from any medical types or anyone else who's been in my position. Been TTC DC2 for about 9 months and since coming off the pill have had progressively longer cycles. About 33 days 9 months ago now up to 42 last cycle and currently on day 40 this cycle.
Has day 21 tests done (around day 30ish to fit in with my long cycles) this month and results have come back normal. No problem with thyroid and stating that ovulation has occured.
Just wondered if I just need to put up with these increasing cycles and keep trying, or should I be making another appointment with my GP to find out if there is anything else I can do? E.G. Is there any way of reducing the length of cycles?
Any advice would be gratefully received.

MCA

The day 21 needs to be done really around day 21 (if your periods are irregular these tests can be done according to calendar days so tests can be done on the 3rd and 21st of each month).

Day 3 tests need to be done as well; this will tell them what your LH (luteinising hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) are like. These two hormones are important as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these two hormone levels are awry then ovulation will be affected (as in longer and possibly anovulatory cycles).

There's nothing much you can yourself do to reduce cycle length particularly if PCO is the underlying cause. Usually such problems are caused by thyroid problems or a condition called polycystic ovaries. If your thyroid levels are okay then the possibility of you having PCO needs to be considered. PCO is very common; around 1 in 5 women show signs of polycystic ovaries. Also cycles of 35 days of more if this persists are more likely than not to be anovulatory ones.

Would go back to the GP and see if they are willing to do a blood test for day 3 along with an internal ultrasound scan. This will show the state of your uterine cavity and ovaries.

If GP is unhelpful I would insist on a referral to a gynae at the hospital subfertility unit. Infact I would ask for a referral now anyway. These problems as well are often outside a GPs general remit of understanding.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and you will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

If you have a day 3 test done ensure that the level of LH is compared against that of FSH. Hormonal imbalances are usually only spotted if the hormone levels are compared against one another.

Hi Attila,
Thanks for all your advice. I'll make another appointment with my GP and hopefully get things moving.
Thanks again.