Getting pregnant with irregular periods.... success stories only!!!

[latinolover10]

Hi ladies. I have been sniffing around the conception threads, but I thought I would come here in the hope of hearing some happy success stories. I have been TTC since January (to no avail!) My consultant has told me with my irregular periods (can be anything from a 6 -9 week cycle) that it will difficult for me to conceive (no shit sherlock!!) ... anyway just felt a bit down in the dumps this week and need to hear some positive happy endings :)

I never had regular periods, except when taking the pill. When I stopped taking it we thought it would be a long before I conceived. Wrong. It took 2 months. DS is now 22.
When we decided to try for our second, DH was abroad and was only home for 2 weeks but I still got pregnant and DD was born 9 months later.
Having irregular periods doesn't have to mean fertility problems. It certainly didn't for me.

I had very irregular periods - every 8 weeks or so. We had DS1 when I was 28 and DS2 when I was 38. Ironically my periods are now more regular - every 4-5 weeks - than they ever were.

The upside was that because I never really knew where I was in my cycle (I did do all the ovulation checks etc, but they're not quite as good as an actual bleed), I didn't have terrible anxiety about wondering whether I'd become pregnant or not. I mean for DS1. I was still young so didn't worry about time. DS2 wasn't quite on our agenda (well he was on mine, but not DHs - whole other thread!).

I found Taking Care of your Fertility by someone or other to be excellent for making me feel that I knew what was going on.

Mine had always been all over the place. When we started ttc I was 38 so knew we didn't have forever to hang around, so after a couple of months, I went to the GP and told her we'd been trying for 6 months. They tested my ovulation, which was irregular, consultant put me on Clomid, and I fell pg on 2nd cycle.

Beware though, the effects of Clomid can apparently go on until after the pg. DS1 and DS2 are only 14 months apart . Apparently, that's why Jamie Oliver has 4 DC with small age gaps between 1 and 2 and between 3 and 4.

I've always had very irregular periods, often 6 months apart. I thought it would take years to get pregnant. Took 6 weeks (LMP August, started trying in October, pregnant by Christmas). It was a bit of a shock!

Periods came back much more regularly after having ds, about 5 week cycle. Again, took about 6 weeks to get pregnant the second time round. I've always felt incredibly lucky to have become pregnant so easily, especially with such irregular periods, although now that we don't want any more it's a bit of a worry..

Oh, and the bonus was that my periods didn't come back until each dc was 16 months old, so with ds I had two and a half period-free years! (bar lochia). Good luck

I have PCOS and when I came off the pill to TTC for the first time I didn't get a period at all for over a year. I ended up getting fertility treatment (Clomid which didn't work, then FSH injections which did) and got pregnant on the second month that I actually OV'd.

After DS, I breastfed for a year and got my periods back when I stopped but they were still irregular. Got pregnant naturally after my second period in a cycle of 36 days! Was a very pleasant surprise!

My periods were once every 6 months (PCOS). Went on clomid and got PG straight away. Sadly miscarried (these things happen) second round of clomid PG again, now have DD. After DD, had a roughly 35-day cycle! Now about 9 weeks PG again, no clomid needed. Hurrah!

Best of luck to you! It can be a difficult journey but keep reminding yourself to stay as relaxed and calm as you can and try not to focus on it too much (hah - easier said than done) - and assuming that you're not already in your 40's you have LOADS of time ahead.

My periods were all over the place, it took us 2 years to conceive DS. I went straight back on the pill after having him and lost 3 stone. I came off the pill to ttc again and was really surprised to find I had regular 34 day cycles, and got pregnant in the 4th month of trying. It might be a coincidence but I'm convinced losing weight helped my fertility.

Have you considered tracking the changes in your cervix? It's a bit gross but really easy to do and I found ovulation sticks crap tbh.

Good luck!

My periods were always irregular, I only had about 5-6 per year!

It took about 6 months to fall pregnant with ds, but with dd I was up duffed within a fortnight!

Just keep doing it!

Success story here too: ridiculously irregular period pretty much all my life - I'm talking 10 to 60 days. All over the place! With polycystic ovaries and underactive thyroid as well. But I'm 32 weeks now and everything is progressing well (touch wood!). Good luck!

hi,
I too had really irregular periods and am now pregnant with no1.

I cannot recommend enough the book mentioned above 'Taking Control of your Fertility' by Toni Weschler'. It was suggested to me by my SiL and I found it really informative, well written & simple to follow. My husband and I had been randomly trying and i thought i had a fair idea of when to DTD, but we hadn't had any luck for almost 2 years.

Once you understand how to track your ovulation and look out for your fertile days its really easy to follow. i was able to track when stress at work or something similar had affected my ovulation, and i ovulated later in the month than i thought. I got pregnant on my 4th cycle using her methods - not that it works for everyone of course!

many of the points she raises are extremely interesting such as;
(and i'm only writing from memory here so may get some info wrong!);
-many couples having problems conceiving are asked to try for a year by their GP, but by charting using her methods, problems can be spotted within 6 months
-many couples are unnesscessarily put on clomid, and although it works in many cases, it can actually dry up the cervical mucus which is so important to conception (she actually suggests using egg white as a substitute!)
-so many things can affect your ovulation date such as stress at work/ anti biotics / travel etc etc
-it teaches you to look out for primary and secondary signs of fertility

as i say, its method may not work for everyone, but i certainly found that i felt more knowledgable about the whole process. And am so excited about the little one on the way!!

Good luck!!

It took me 11mths of TTC. I had always previously had clockwork periods (literally 11am every 28days), even if they did hurt to the point that I was bed-ridden for 36h with people wanting to call 999 etc. But then, migraines and possible endometriosis and/or PCOS (neither of which I have, I just have ovaries like tennis balls and ovulate a lot) meant hormones, initially Depo injections then POP for about 6 years.
Came off POP and periods ranged from 27 days to 54 days. The period before conception...back to the bad old days of crippling agony and vomiting...
So, it is possible.

OP, if you're like me, and you've been on hormones (any form) for a while, then it can take up to 18 months to come out your system... If not, and you haven't asked/there is no reason you know, then, well, I'd be asking my consultant why I was allover the place rather than just accepting it as ok.

Mine always ranged between about 5 and 8 weeks so pretty irregular too - also it took about 6 months after I came off the pill for them even to start again. But then i got pregnant immediately (i.e. was pregnant before even realised was ovulating again) and have never had trouble getting pg since. I've been pregnant 6 times in the last 5 years - (I had 4 early MCs which were completely unconnected to irregular periods so don't worry about that), have one DS and am currently 6 mths pregnant with DC2.

So I wouldn't worry. Irregular periods just means you may have less - so less "chances" and also it's harder to tell when you're ovulating. So you just have to DTD as much as possible :)

For 10 years I was told that I would never fall pg naturally. DP and I decided to forget about ttc but that contraception wasn't necessary. 18 months later I fell pregnant completely by surprise!

My cycle is anything from 35-55 days with a tendency for the longer end. I also have PCOS and was told it would be harder for me and hubbie to conceive. We stopped being careful for a year and then decided to put our minds (ahem) to it. We used those clear blue ovulation predictor pee sticks (cheapest off amazon), made sure we had a couple of shags when the smiley face popped up on the indicator and fell pregnant in the first month. Am now 10+4 and hoping the little bean stays the distance :)

My cycle was anything between 28 and 48 days. After 6 months we started using ovulation tests, which NEVER showed I was ovulating despite getting through about 40 quids worth of sticks!

I've never heard of irregular periods making it hard to conceive. It may just make it harder to work out your most fertile time - we couldn't! But I got pregnant after 9 months. I think the hardest thing is not being 'late' when you are irregular, so you don't know when to get your hopes up.

But don't give up, and just take every month at a time. Good luck honey x

All of these stories are making me smile .
Last year I had a gynae op as I was left with adhesions following a very long period with undiagnosed chlamydia, 13 years ago (back then there wasn't the education there is now, or the screening!!). Up until that point I had taken continuous contraception for 8 years (the pill, deppo, implanon) so had not had a period all that time. DP and I were trying (well shagging ALOT) for 8 months when my doc began the fertility test process as my cycle was anywhere between 24-42 days. I'd had all the scans and blood tests I could and DP was due to go for his sperm test on the wednesday but we discovered we were pregnant the friday before . It was a full year to the day since we began and I was beginning to think I had trashed my body in the quest to stay period free but I am now coming up 12 weeks and we are both sooooooooo happy (not least for DP as he didn't have to 'spunk in a cup', to be honest I think that initially made him more happy than finally getting pregnant hahahaha!)
Good luck with it and don't give up all hope, it will happen when you least expect it!!!

i used the depo for 7 years and was told it would take 12-18 months for periods to return to normal. i stopped the injection in jan, had one half type period thing in march, nothing then till may when i had a semi normal period then 20 days later i had another period then i was pregnant by June!!!!
so between stopping contraception and falling pregnat i had 2.5 periods in 6 months!!

My preiods have always been all over the place, anything from lasting for 7 weeks solid or going 3 months without. First time round it took us just under 3 years to concieve. In this pregnancy the month I fell pregnant I had had 2 periods. From the day my 2nd period of the month ended we DTD every second night for 2 weeks. And I had joined Weighwatchers to lose some weight as I had read that losing 10% of your BMI can boost fertility. DC2 is due NewYears Day.
Good luck and remember the waiting is hard but it is worth it x

Yes, I have PCOS and cycles can vary from 35-55 days. Really annoying as I've missed ovulation on lots of occasions. Have one DD and am 37 weeks with my second DC.

Don't think anyone's mentioned soy yet - google soy isoflavones fertility for more info - it can also (when taken correctly) in some instances help kick start ovulation. Good luck!

I've always had irregular periods and after coming off the pill I didn't have one at all for 15 months. I was so worried something was wrong and was due to go to the doctors for some tests then I fell pregnant :) My dd is 2 next month at the same time as my second dd is due.
Good luck to everyone trying!!

To cut a long story short. Irregular periods, PCOS and three children concived without help.
Good Luck!

I have just looked up that Taking Charge of Your Fertility I will definitely buy this book. I was reading up about the cervical mucus as well. I have in the past noticed a clear/glistening substance on the loo roll when I would go for a pee, but I thought that this was a sign that AF was imminent, little did I know that it was a sign of my fertile days. Actually looking forward to the next few months to track changes in my body and get to understand my cycles a wee bit more. I feel alot more empowered (for use of a corny word). As my cycles are so irregular I could never tell what my body was up to. I have even tried the CB monitor but as my cycles normally go over the 42 day mark the monitor has been useless (and costly). So hopefully tracking ewcm will be a big help.

Hi LatinLover. Just wanted to say that I had a post on here a while back about Agnus Castus. If you do decide to take it Please please please do not take it without consulting a herbalist/Dr. It is very potent and I did think I had made a right mess taking it.(I hadn't but I could have)
These stories do make you think there is always hope.
Good luck
x

Another one with irregular periods and 3 children here!

And we started trying for our first in a January and conceived in the September, so you never know!

You can buy loads of ovulation predictor sticks for £not-too-much on ebay. Do one every day so you know when you ovulate and compare that to all the other symptoms.

The second half of your cycle is probably regular. I found it really useful, after I'd had my baby, that I now knew how to tell when I was ovulating, and from that when my period was due. After years of never knowing when my period would suddenly start, I could mark the day on the calendar! That was cool.