Do any of you have really irregular cycles? And do you just put up with it?

[notnowbernard]

I have never really had regular periods (NEVER had 28day cyles, for example)

Particularly irregular since having dds.

Is this something to be worried about? Or would you get it checked by a GP?

Mine are anywhere from 30-45 days. I don't worry about it TBH. Just one of those things. It's a pain but at least we've been able to have children.

Agree re fertility aspect

Just wondered if it were a 'symptom' of something that needed checking out.

It is a bit of a pain. Do tend to spend a bit of time fretting about buns in oven as well

NNB I had irregular cycles from when I was about 17 until about..er, a year ago (I''m 38).

Anything from about 8 weeks to 6 months apart!

I have polycystic ovaries, endometriosis and an underactive thyroid. It was after my last increase of thyroid meds that my cycle suddenly started behaving itself...I still can't get used to it....it seems to come round so quickly

I am on about 32-35 day cycles now.

TBH I used to see it as a blessing, but I do feel happier to be "normal" now.

I suppose if you are concerned it owuld be worth seeing your GP but IME most are pretty disinterested unless you are actively TTC.

Thanks, Frayedknot

Don't know much about polycystic ovaries... I don't think I have any symptoms though. Periods are heavy and painful, but certainly manageable.

Can you tell me what the symptoms of underactive thyroid are, out of interest?

i have the implant and bleed one week on ,one week off (i hate it)and they are so heavy

used to have irregular cycles 28-64 days
used agnus castus for a month, have had 28-30 day cycles and 2 children since.

Charlie, Blimey!

What is Agnus Castus? Never heard of it. Did you use it to boost fertility?

no used it to regulate cycles
here is the first article I cam across about it.

I used the tincture 4 times a day.

it boosted fertility as I had a cat in hells chance of DTD at the right time not having a clue when I was ovulating. I had regular cycles for 6 months before TTC.

Mine are 32-70 day cycles unless I have regular reflexology, then I settle in to my pre child bearing 35 day cycle with much less pmt.

Great link, thanks

I want my cycle to be regular in order to avoid pregnancy

Not planning on #3 just yet!

I used to have irregular periods, which were also very heavy (though not really painful). Then I discovered I had fibroids (these are notorious for causing heavy periods). Once I'd had the fibroids removed my periods regularised immediately to every 26 days. Even having had two pregnancies, one miscarriage and one birth since then, I'm still back on 26 day cycle.

Another friend of mine used acupuncture, which had a huge impact on her irreg cycle.

If I were you I'd see someone about it - maybe even a herbalist, as they will treat you holistically, and therefore may help you uncover symptoms which you'd not paid attention to. If there is an underlying condition it could be a good way to help discover it (and they'll be able to give good advice on Agnus Castus).

Reason I mention herbalist is I saw an excellent one when my periods became so heavy I thought I'd need a blood transfusion. She prescribed a strange concoction of foul-smelling herbs, which totally sorted out the heaviness.

Good luck!

Thankyou, MrsThierryHenry (great name - why?)

Might consider that

NNB, the main symptoms of an underactive thyroid are usually unexplained tiredness, tendency to put on weight and difficulty losing it even with dieting, dry hair, skin and nails, depression.

If you suspect you might have an underactive thyroid for any reason, it's easily checked by your GP with a blood test. It's very common.

Before ds mine were really irregular too, cycle was anything from 22-45 days. Period would last from between 5 and 15 days too so really unpredictable. Was on the pill from 16-21ish because they were so heavy and unpredictable, and then used other methods, but got pregnant unexpectedly with ds (ok so perhaps dh and I weren't that good at using other methods ).

When ttc this time round (am 21wks) I started noticing my ovulation pattern more and realised that even fairly small amounts of stress was enough to delay ovulation quite significantly, even when I thought stressful situation had gone away! So a big presentation at work around the time of my ovulation could delay it by 10 days or so, even if the presentation was given the day after I thought I was going to ovulate. The female body is a marvellous and mysterious thing! Do you think you could be ovulating at odd times? Might not explain heavy periods but could go some way to working out why they are irregular.

Noticing this has helped me realise that my cycle is regular, in that I can predict it- I have a period 14-15 days after I ovulate- just that the part when I ovulate is a bit skewiff.

Thankyou for replying everyone.

Hmmm, don't think an underactive thyroid is the problem... am not overweight (have lost weight since having dds), don't have dry skin or nails etc... am always bloody knackered, but hey, who isn't on here?!

I think I should start 'paying attention' to my cycle as you mention, Minkus.

Ovulation signs... egg white d/c I know about, any others?

I have always had irregular and painful cycles and there is always a cause. In my case the irregularity was caused by PCOS (a common cause of such problems if thyroid imbalances are ruled out) and the pain (excrutiating in nature) was caused by endometriosis. Blood tests can determine if PCO is an issue, with endo though that is only usually diagnosed via keyhole surgery.

If your cycles are irregular in nature you are less likely to be ovulating than in the case when cycles are regular. It is also quite possible to have periods without ovulating. Things like egg white cervical mucus are of no benefit to check if cycles are irregular.

Ovulation is not an exact science and ovulation can occur earlier later or NOT AT ALL in any given cycle. Its not always thus on the 14th day.

Do not ignore this, you will need to be persistant though in order to get answers. Your GP should refer you to a gynae for blood tests and an internal ultrasound scan to see what your uterine cavity looks like. It will show whether the ovaries are polycystic.

yes bernard the egg white mucous is a good sign for me as is a dull ache/cramp a bit like a cross between period pain and trapped wind lown down on one side of my abdomen (used to think that this was the side that was ovulating but apparently this isn't always the case).

Agree with Atilla, it is always quoted that ovulation happens on the 14th day of your cycle but this is just in an "average cycle"- as if one exists! If you're like me and the smallest thing delays ovulation, then it's almost never on day 14.

A really good website with excellent archives containing questions from the public and answers from medical professionals (in the USA, not here) is obgyn.net, hth.

Thanks again

Will monitor my cycle for the next couple of months, looking for signs of ovulation etc.

But then I think I will wander down to the GP, just to enquire whether this is anything to be concerned about. Might ask for some bloods to be done etc.

Could probably do with an MOT anyway