Short but regular cycles

[AnonymousXXIX]

Hi ladies,

My question for this week is - does anyone know anything about the impact of short menstrual cycles on fertility? I am regular, but generally between 23-26 days, some 28 day 'outliers' (especially questioning it today, as just started spotting on day 21!).

We're hoping for ICSI due to MFI, but whilst waiting for that I am making myself increasingly concerned about myself ofc ... I used to think at least it's regular, so it's fine, but worried about everything atm...

Asked Drs about it, and tried googling, but comments only ever seem to be on very long cycles, or very irregular cycles. What to do if you don't get a period for 60 days etc.

As far as we can tell I ovulate regularly too, and all my blood tests and scans have come back fine. Usually ovulate c. day 13-14 and then have a short luteal phase; although this cycle ovulation was day 10 so I'm not that surprised my period came early. Period usually starts with spotting for two days, and then proper bleed for a good 5 days or so. (Internet seems to connect short cycles to light bleed, so that's not me.)

Yeah wondering if anyone has any info on this. I'll speak to my Dr as well ofc but I kind of want to be prepared (for example how it might affect what they recommend for the ICSI cycle when we finally get to that stage).

I had a typically 26 day cycle, seemed to shorten to 25 in the months before IVF, sometimes 24 but always a relatively short and regular cycle. Twice or so I got a 28 day cycle which of course made me wonder if I might be pregnant!

I also thought I ovulated day 13 which made me wonder if my luteal phase was too short. Doctors weren't concerned about it and my IVF worked first time.

Good luck!

Oh, I also had a natural FET so there was no drugs intervening in my cycle on my successful IVF.

@Yokey, thanks both those messages are really comforting!

And yeah I have never even really gotten to a pregnancy test, because I always just get my period!

OP, from what I've read fertility doctor's only really get concerned about regular short cycles if your cycle is usually about 21 days or shorter - because the embryo can take up to 12 days after conception to implant (so if your typical luteal cycle is usually less than this it could cause problems without extra progesterone supplementation). But if you keep having 23 day cycles naturally, it might be worth asking Doctors again just to be sure?

I will, @IamnotwhouthinkIam! I was just wondering if anyone has any personal experience with short cycles, because I can't find any info about it on the internet, only long cycles.