my periods are all over the shop....how to work out my bingo dates.

[lionsandtigersandbears]

Ok, quick background, periods always irregular, 2 years ago saw gynae who was fab, blood tests showed hormone imbalance, and he thought my lifestyle (fly a lot) combined with low bmi would make conception tricky. Referred me to fertility whizzes. Never needed the appt as was pg within few months . Now have ds and thinking about no.2 but havent had period since first week jan(not pg as coil fitted tho due to be removed.) Periods last up to 2 weeks. Total pain and dont want to go through referral system again. My new GP seems to think exercise once a week'll do it . but wondered if based on 3 monthly cycle roughly when best dates to conceive. Thanks in advance.

Am sure Attila will be here soon to advise on best course of action with investigating irregular cycles.

But if you assume you are ovulating normally before you get your period it would be anytime from 10-16 days before your period is due. And you're supposed to be fertile from five days before you ovulate up to the day after. So best time to have sex would be every other day from 21 days before your period to 9 days before your period is due.

With three month cycles might it be worth getting yourself referred and 'in the system' now? so that in case you don't conceive in the first cycle you could be quite far down the line to receiving a diagnosis. And if you do conceive then it won't matter!

Thanks so much, it befuddles my little brain!!!

Prob is my gp wont refer me as he thinks its down to stress with toddler, flying and being a bit of an imsomniac! I dont know what to say to him to make him take it seriously....but 3 months isnt right and having established there was a problem 2 years ago I would now like to follow it up.

With three month long cycles you have every right to be referred and to get a second opinion from a specialist. Can you see another gp at the same surgery? Or can you explain to your gp that you would just like a second opinion to 'put your mind at rest'?
Either way you're going to have to push for this referral.

Good luck, I'm in a similar position. TTC#2 with a history of long cycles. Not as long as three months but 5-7 weeks. Never got a diagnosis first time round as conceived ds before I finished the first round of tests. Had mc in nov and cycles all over the place since then, waiting this cycle out to decide whether to go back to the gp for a referral.

I'm sorry to hear about your mc, I hope it happens very quickly for you or at the very least you get a referral quickly. I've kind of put it to the back of my mind since having ds, enjoying him but now its reared its ugly head again and the old worries have resurfaced. Its so easy to dismiss irregular cycles as very 'common'. Thanks again for advice, haven't been on this thread before and see how difficult some people have it, shouldn't complain! Good luck again

lionsandtigersandbears,

I have had irregular periods for years and in my case the casuse was PCOS.

Stress and frequent air travel are not the underlying causes here of your irregular periods. The hormonal imbalance that was previously detected by the gynae you saw is still there and these problems do not go away. Were you given a previous diagnosis?. In this regard a condition called polycystic ovaries or its syndrome are common culprits. Another possible one is thyroid imbalance; both of these should be looked for by a gynae (not a GP).

Also two week periods are not good either and you should not be bleeding for so long. That warrants investigation in its own right.

Exercise will keep you fit but it won't cure the underlying cause of the irregular periods.

With a consistently long cycle it is likely that you are not ovulating regularly if at all so it is really in your interests to get treatment started.

If your GP is unhelpful then change proactice; you do not need someone who is unhelpful and or unwilling to refer. All this person is doing is wasting time.

Push for a gynae referral; the underlying problem that was detected last time is still there.

You will need to be persistant in order to get answers. Do not be fobbed off and seek answers.

Thanks attila, I will make an appt ASAP and press for further investigation. The diagnosis was mild pcos, but with exception of long cycles I had no other symptoms, I was never entirely sure if the 'hormone imbalance' WAS pcos or something else, tbh because I got pg so quickly I didn't really press for further info. Would u know if the coil (copper not mirena) could add to my already long cycles? Thanks.

There's no such thing really as "mild" PCOS - you either have this or you do not. However, PCOS is a very individualistic disorder and does affect each woman with it very differently.

Push for further investigations; if you were previously diagnosed with PCOS you still have this.

Coil should not have had any additional effect on your already long cycles.

Would suggest too you try and stay within the correct weight range for your height as excess pounds can exacerbate PCOS symptoms.

You may want to look at Verity's website on PCOS:-

verity-pcos.org.uk

My bmi is actually a bit low, just out of normal range, slightly underweight. Not through choice as can't put it on! Genuinely was told 'mild pcos', wish had queried further now. Had unrelated blood test few months ago, thyroid, etc all ok. well ill get cracking on my gp and check out that website. Thanks again.

A useful blood test to have done is the day 2 which would measure and compare both your LH against your FSH level. LH (luteinising hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulation hormone) are two very important hormones as they kickstart the ovulation process. If these two hormone levels are awry then ovulation will be affected. My guess is that in your case your LH and FSH are well out of kilter.

Blood tests can be done according to calendar days so you do not have to wait for the next period.

Any blood test result over six months old should be discounted, you need up to date test results.

Good luck with the GP, if GP is unhelpful change GP practice.

Great, I'm really sorry to be dumb here but when you say calendar days do you mean they will work out appropriate time re my last period? or can it be done anytime? Obv have no clue when my next one would be anyway!Have appt with diff GP next tues

Calendar days are basically just that. Blood tests for you could be done on the 2nd and 21st of the month.

Good luck with the new GP, keep us posted.

Will do thanks again.

Hi attila, just wanted to let u know how I got on with doc. She was lovely, and I have to go fot the blood tests you mentioned, although she said the day 2 was day 4 or 5...? The day 21 is going to be somewhat problematic as my cycle is so long so it will be pretty much guesswork. Just the waiting game for my period now! She thinks they will verify what we already know and will probably refer me to a hormone specialist. She explained I wouldn't be entitled to fertility help on the nhs because I have a ds already. I do get tiny bit of private healthcare via work so if necessary will see someone that way tho it would literally only cover a consultation. I feel like I've at least got a starting point now. Thanks for your advice.

lions,

You don't have to wait for your next period; you can have the blood tests done according to calendar days instead i.e the 2nd and 21st (the progesterone one can also be done according to the calendar days) of each month.

Keep us posted and good luck!.

Oh right.....Why did she tell me I had to wait for my period? Aaargh.

lionsandtigers,

I can relate to 3 month cycles, the cycle before I got pg with DC1 was 126 days ish! That was extreme though I general average out 38-60+ days.

My tactic was much less medically technical when trying for DC2, after about day 7 of cycle DTD every other day! Bloody exhausting and makes it kinda lose its charm but worked for us! Got a BFP in first cycle of trying!

GPs can be ignorant when it comes to such matters.

hmmm apparently so!!!! incredibly frustrating when you're looking to them for guidance. Quick q then, I just go to local hosp blood clinic but am supposed to write my LMP dates on the form, what would your advice be re the date being that it was so long ago....
And thanks Tobermory....v.good to know!!!