Infertility
Long, Irregular Cycles - Motivation Please!
GeorginaClarke92 · 09/10/2015 19:00
Hello all,
I am TTC but have long irregular cycles, last cycle is 41 days and now on day 45!
Have just started properly tracking temp and using OPK, previously would miss days.
Getting really stressed for no good reason and feeling like I am going to struggle to conceive.
Does anyone else have these kind of cycles and was it more difficult to conceive?
FindingNormal · 09/10/2015 20:50
Hi. I was similar and went to dr....turns out my thyroid is duff. Went on thyroxine, cycles went back to normal and my little girl is asleep (touch wood) upstairs. Worth getting checked.
FindingNormal · 09/10/2015 20:51
Oh and temping really helped me. I used an app called kindara which was fab
GeorginaClarke92 · 09/10/2015 20:59
Thanks, how do you know if you have thyroid problems?
FindingNormal · 09/10/2015 22:24
Blood test from the dr. But symptoms are being cold all the time, being tired and putting on weight amongst others. It can mean you don't ovulate hence the long cycles.
AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/10/2015 09:09
I've had irregular cycles. I won't lie; it was more difficult to conceive simply because in my case I was not ovulating at all.
Temp charting and OPKs are not worth doing if the menstrual cycle is irregular in nature. Stop using both methods and ask to have your bloods tested.
A condition called polycystic ovaries (or the syndrome itself called PCOS) can be a cause as can be problems with the thyroid gland. Both can and should be looked for via blood tests.
GeorginaClarke92 · 10/10/2015 09:28
Do you both have strong symptoms of either as I read up about them last night and don't see much of it in me and asked my husband. He thinks it more him with those symptoms!
Are there chances of mild symptoms as thyroid does run in my family.
TheHoneyBadger · 10/10/2015 09:37
i had very long cycles and fell pregnant very easily - just to point out that it doesn't have to automatically = difficulties.
the thing that finally made me have normal cycles was agnus castus extract which works on the pituatory gland and is prescribed for everything from pms to pcos in some countries due to success in clinical trials. would definitely recommend trying a decent dose of that from a reputable supplement producer. i'd spent years with 38-48 day cycles and only took this stuff because of the awful pms i was getting but it also shortened and regulated my cycle.
if i'd have been trying to get pregnant i'd cover all bases by having sex very regularly from day 24 to day 40 (re: 12-14 days before my period was due by my shortest or longest cycle).
how long have you been trying to conceive for?
FindingNormal · 10/10/2015 09:40
Hi. Not very strong symptoms no, (although perhaps with hindsight I was more tired than usual but out that down to stressful job- also am always cold but just thought that I was being nesh) but even mild condition can stop ovulation as your body 'recognises! it's not well enough to make a baby. My cycles pinged back to textbook 28 days when I went in thyroxine (although appreciate this may not be the case for everyone). One thing to note though if it is your thyroid and you do get upduffed, you need it monitoring closely when pregnant as if not properly managed can cause problems
AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/10/2015 10:09
I would have a chat with the GP, such problems are often caused by hormonal imbalances.
You should have blood tests done to determine properly what your hormone levels are like now. How long have you been ttc for?.
GeorginaClarke92 · 10/10/2015 16:15
Hi, that's great! Ordered some Angus Cactus last week and have been taking it in pill form! So glad to hear from someone that it works! Thank you.
GeorginaClarke92 · 10/10/2015 16:17
Have spoken to GP before and they say I need to try longer basically! Have only had my first cycle but struggled to pinpoint ovulation which is what worries me, however lots of learning curves from first cycle! Just panicked myself about abnormal cycles! :(
TheHoneyBadger · 10/10/2015 17:54
well don't panic! panic is the worst thing you can do. my son was unplanned and i only had one slip up with contraception which must have been when he was conceived. i also fell pregnant unplanned before that from a one off whoops - sadly that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage but my point is long irregular cycles do not have to mean being unable or finding it particularly difficult to conceive.
if you post in infertility you will likely hear the experiences of those who DID have fertility problems and relate to the long cycles and you will panic yourself further. it's only luck i happened to be up and see this thread in active and post otherwise you'd have only heard from people with fertility problems.
you've only just started trying for a baby - relax, have lots of sex, take good care of yourself and your relationship and good luck 
AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/10/2015 17:57
Do not readily accept that from the GP particularly in the event you have been trying for say nearly a year (how long have you been ttc for?). Would suggest you read the NICE guidelines as well.
Generally speaking gynaes like to see people if they have been ttc for 1 year or more without success. If the person is over 35 then they should be seen earlier than 1 year.
If you do want to continue to take AC I would suggest you seek out the advice of a qualified medical herbalist re dosage. Self medicating with this is not always a good idea because it can make some hormonal imbalances worse.
You need a diagnosis first and foremost.
AttilaTheMeerkat · 10/10/2015 18:01
Do not readily accept that from the GP particularly in the event say that you have been trying for say nearly a year (how long have you been ttc for?). Would suggest you read the NICE guidelines as well on subfertility.
Generally speaking gynaes like to see people if they have been ttc for 1 year or more without success. If the person is over 35 then they should be seen earlier.
If you do want to continue to take AC I would suggest you seek out the advice of a qualified medical herbalist re dosage before continuing to take this.
chosenone · 10/10/2015 18:02
Ok. So my cycles were long and irregular. All through my teens and twenties I never knew when I was due on and often went 8-10 weeks without a period. When I started ttc at 28 yrs old I went and explained to the GP. I was told that if they've always been irregular but then ran a range of bloods to check and these were all fine. So we ttc and from day 14 DTD every other day basically until my period came. DS was actually conceived on day 35 of my cycle and we were still DTD when i felt nauseaus and achy boobed ! On my 12 week scan I was actually only 9 weeks cos of my cycle. This took a year (9 cycles) ... with DD a year later they were slightly shorter but we did the every other day plan again and got PG the first month. So see your GP to double check all is well and then keep a regular supply of swimmers up there and you can't miss ovulation. Enjoy.
FindingNormal · 10/10/2015 18:46
...also my GP agreed to test me even though I'd been ttc for a bit less than a year as he said he was investigating the reason for my long cycles (40 days ish) not infertility...
BettyBi0 · 15/10/2015 17:04
Definitely get checked out for PCOS, low vitamin D or thyroid problems. My cycles were always wonky and I was only borderline for thyroid and vit D and had normal looking ovaries but polycystic reactions to IVF. Low level treatment for all 3 made the difference for me
GeorginaClarke92 · 09/12/2015 15:23
Hi everyone, just wanted to give you all an update! I have just been diagnosed with PCOS so thanks to all of you for suggesting I get checked and apologies for me thinking I was symptomless!
I am seeing the gyno next week! :)
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