Irregular cycle stress

Welcome to OhBaby!

Do you chart, or use OPKs (ovulation predictor kits....you pee on a little stick and it tells you if you're going to ovulate within the next 24-48 hours)??

These are two effective ways of pinpointing ovulation. Charting is a simple method - you wake up the same time every morning, and take your temperature (you can take it in your mouth!!), then enter it into your chart (Fertility Friend is a good website to use). Your temperature varies depending on where you are in your cycle, and you get to see what is happening and when. If you have a look at the charting thread in here, you'll see some ladies charts - they are a good example of how your temperature differs throughout your cycle.

Good luck!!

Sorry to hear you're having trouble.

I also have irregular long cycles - apparently mine are caused by a luteal phase defect. I am able to fall pregnant naturally it just takes forever.

Good luck!

Hi there, thanks for all your replies.

When I said I stopped taking the pill in March I meant March last year, so it's been over a year since I stopped. It took about 2 months to get a period again once I stopped, then after that until January this year they came pretty much every month, maybe about 6 weeks apart at most.

But then in March, I didn't get one and it came in April. Then the same thing happened in May, and I got one in early June. So I am ovulating, just not every month.

How long does it usually take for the pill's effects to get out of your system?

I am interested in starting to figure out when I'm ovulating but I am so clueless in all of this, first baby first time trying and yeah no idea really, still learning how all this works.

When you are charting, what sort of temperature would be normal and what would be considered higher ie. ovulating? I have no idea about temperatures lol.

Can you please also explain to me what the abbreviations you used meant freckle, ie. CD12, CM?

Basicially Im just in such a state worrying about what's going on with me because I don't have any cysts on my ovaries, but I've read you can have PCOS anyway without them.... which seems strange? But I guess you can.... did I do anything that would have caused this or do people just get it?

I had a blood test for diabetes today so I'll see what comes back from that.

I guess Im just panicking about whether I'm going to be able to conceive, Im sure I probably can, I mean aside from the slightly high testosterone I am still ovulating, I guess I'm just scared it will stop! We've only been trying 2 weeks so no need to stress yet but yeah.

This whole thing is very overwhelming and I'm scared TTC is going to get very stressful when it shouldn't be....

Sorry that was a bit of a ramble!

Also freckle, my friend mentioned vitex. Where do I get it from? How long does it take to work?

Thanks again to everyone who replied

I think minik8e covered most your questions as for the vitex it is suppose to take up to 3 months to start working, however, for me it worked the first cycle I took it... You can get it from healthfood stores, it's about $20 for 60 pills. Some people take it as a tincture as it is suppose to work faster but I found the pills worked very fast and didn't taste foul ... vitex basically balances out your hormones...

I hear what ya saying about not wanting it to be a stressful process! That's one of the reasons I don't chart as I would get too obsessed but it would be a great way to confirm Ov... if ya keep an eye on ya cervical mucus when it becomes clear and stretchy (like egg white) that is usually the fertile phase of your cycle...

Looooooong time lurker - first time poster

This thread sounds exactly like me!
Seeing the Dr on Monday for my blood test results - apparantly my cholestral is really high - don't know if that effects TTC?? By my cycles have been getting further and further apart - up to 70 days!

Good luck Lisaas101 - it's stressful realising that TTC is not as easy as you first thought, but like the girls have said above - there seems to be plenty of options that will hopefully speed the process along!

Now that I've finally taken the plunge and started posting, I guess I need to get one of those ticker things sorted...!

Hi

My experience sounds familiar.

I had been on the pill for about 9 years, I came off the pill once during that time for about 6 months and didn't get a period at all.   When I got engaged I came off the pill permanently as I knew I would want to get pregnant soon after the wedding (which was 18 months away).
After 8 months of waiting, still no peiod so I went to the doctor who wasn't much help and said to keep waiting, did a few blood tests etc.
So I went to see a Traditional Chinese Medicine dr. I was a bit dubious about it, especially when I saw the herbal concoction that I was to drink everyday. But one week after taking these herbs I got my period, and i continued to take the herbs everyday for a month and then my period was regular every 5 weeks. I charted during the time leading up to TTC and knew my body really well and then I got pregnant the first cycle of TTC.
The Chinese dr said that being on the pill can affect your body making its own fertility hormones as you are putting aftificial homones into your body everyday. Also, I read an interesting fact that if you had irregular periods before going on the pill, the pill can be even more detrimental to your cycle which you won't notice til you come off it.
I would also recommend reading the book 'Taking Charge of your Fertility' by Toni Weschler.

I am currently TTC for my 2nd, and am taking vitex in the hope I get my period back as I am still breastfeeding.

I would totally go and see a Traditional Chinese Medicine dr. I was so sceptical, but the herbs that I took completely fixed my cycle in a very short space of time.
Before I tried it I was tested for PCOS, and nothing showed up, and then the normal dr just told me to wait.

Hi Gypsy, I'm new to the forums too and also have irregular cycles due to my pcos. We have been trying for nearly a year.
I agree it is hard talking about it with friends that don't have any problem with getting pg, they just don't get it. Mind you my bf is really good about it and doesn't keep saying (unlike everyone else) don't worry it will happen.
I assume your doctor has done all the usual blood tests?

Hi Lisa, there is a drug called Metformin which is prescribed for PCOS and it is known to regulate hormones including lowering testosterone.   Maybe ask your GP about it and do a google on it.  I have found a few websites that have had success stories using it. 

Here is a link to one of those sites :

http://www.soulcysters.net/metformin-success-stories-193442/

 

Edited by Shezzey

Hey Lisa that's great news that they came back normal!! what a relief eh... Vitex worked pretty fast for me too and I had my shortest cycle in years... great stuff!!

You should join the waiting to Ov thread