Irregular / long cycle

[Lauren8642]

I came off the pill in December so 8 months ago and since then I’ve had irregular/long cycles- 37, 46, 48, 34, 43, now I’m on day 32 and waiting.
About a week before I get my period I get really bad uncontrollable bloating and this time round whist I’m waiting I’ve had a dull headache all week(don’t know if that’s got anything to do with the period)
I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I’ve been having pain during sex since having my daughter via c-section 2 years ago and also mention my periods she took blood test to test my hormones and I had a transvagial ultrasound and a normal one both coming back fine.
Are long cycles normal or do I need to push more for a diagnosis of something? But I don’t know what else they can do…
im 25 years old not over weight, not stressed and not TTC

"I went to the doctor a few weeks ago because I’ve been having pain during sex since having my daughter via c-section 2 years ago and also mention my periods she took blood test to test my hormones and I had a transvagial ultrasound and a normal one both coming back fine".

A "normal" cycle is a cycle length of between 21 and 35 days or with less than 4 days of variation from month to month.

What blood tests did you have done and on which cycle days?. I ask as bloodwork taken on the wrong days can give both meaningless and misleading results.

Something is causing your long cycles and its certainly in your interest to find out what it is. Often they are caused by hormonal imbalances; in this respect a condition called polycystic ovaries is a common culprit. Other possible causes include problems with the thyroid gland. You should ideally have a day 2 blood test done to measure and compare your LH (lutenising hormone) against FSH (follicle stimulation hormone). An excess of LH compared to FSH could possibly indicate polycystic ovaries.

Deep pain during sex is a possible indicator of endometriosis being present and ultrasound scans will not detect that if it is there. Its usually diagnosed through a keyhole surgery op called a laparoscopy.

You need a diagnosis first and foremost and I would go back to the GP.

@AttilaTheMeerkat i had my blood tests taken on the 13th July which was a day after my period finished.
I thought maybe pcos but nothing showed on the ultrasound like cysts or anything.
Then also endometriosis crossed my mind because I do get very bad pains for about a week before.
Ill ring the doctors tomorrow and ask to be seen again

Bloods need to be taken on the second and twenty first day of the menstrual cycle. If periods are irregular such tests can be done according to calendar days i.e the 2nd and 21st of the month.

The cystic follicles associated with PCOS do disappear, only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. It can also take a highly skilled sonographer to see them.

Any pain that is cyclical in nature and or gets worse up to and including menses should be checked out by a gynae to see if endometriosis is present.

Indeed ask to be seen again.

@AttilaTheMeerkat would you recommend asking for the same doctor I saw before or a different one?

A different one

@AttilaTheMeerkat well bit annoyed but it is what it is… spoke to the doctor this morning she said there’s nothing they can do as my hormone blood tests and scan was normal so she’s referred me to a gynaecologist… over 1 year wait list! she said if I do want to have more control over my periods to go back on the pill but that’s just gunna mask whatever it is I’ve got 🙄 I’m also a bit annoyed with myself because if I went 2 years ago when the pain started after my daughter it would of been sorted by now