Those with long cycles (40+ days)

Have you been to the doctor? What kind of treatment have they done?

I am on CD 36 of my 4th cycle off BCP. My last cycle was 43 days so I feel like this one is gearing up to be just as long. I go see the doc in January for my yearly exam, but am wondering if I should go see him now to find out what's going on. I feel like I'm getting cheated out of time because I only have 1 chance to get PG every month and a half instead of every month.

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

I'm not quite as long as you - I have 34-36 day cycles.

I have been seeing an RE who has me on my second round of Clomid (100 mg). I'm glad I started seeing him because I was so off on when I thought I was ovulating that we kept missing the mark each month.

I was using OPK's but for whatever reason I was not getting anything from them. At least by being on Clomid, I have to go & see him at certain times each month & he can tell me when I'm going to ovulate. We'll see what happens this month

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

Do you know if you are ovulating or not?

I went off BCPs in February which was followed by 2 very long cycles (around 60 days each). My doctor told me to just wait it out b/c my body is just getting used to being off the pill. After a 3rd 60+ day cycle, I went to a new OBGYN and she did a bloodtest to check all of my hormone levels along with my thyroid, etc. Turns out, my prolactin level is elevated which is preventing me from getting AF.

It can't hurt to see your doc since it is your 4th cycle. Maybe he/she can do a blood test to check everything out.

Good luck!!!

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

I saw my dr for an annual about 3 1/2 months after going off BCP. At that point, my cycles were 51 and 36 days and I was in the middle of a 39 day cycle. My doctor wasn't too concerned b/c of the BCP. He said it wasn't uncommon. This was august and he told me to come back in Jan if I'm not regulated by then (and having shorter cycles). Last cycle was 33 days and I thought I was back to normal. Right now I'm on CD33 and no AF yet. I'm praying it's not another long one.

I'm okay with waiting it out and waiting to see him again until Jan since DH and I need to take a break right now anyway, but I totally understand your frustration with feeling like you're not getting a fair chance. I agree with pp that maybe you should ask for bloodwork.

Message edited 11/10/2009 12:13:17 PM.

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

my cycles were 30-60 days, and usually 60 exactly. a few months into ttc, i had my annual. the ob said if my cycles did not become more regular by 6-7 months off bcp to come back so i did. the ob did several blood tests - to confirm ovulation, various hormone levels - and all looked good so we moved on to clomid. my first cycle of clomid was still very long - it did not put me on a 30-day cycle though it may have shortened my 60-day cycle some. anyway, i still had no idea when i was ovulating but we got lucky and got a bfp anyway. if it's been about 6 months, i would definitely go to the doctor and get some basic tests done.

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I did some more research yesterday and I think we're missing my O time. We start BDing every other day as if I have a normal cycle and when I didn't get a positive OPK by CD 25 I gave up on them thinking I wasn't getting an accurate result because I was using FMU and had actually missed my surge. By the time CD 30 hits we're (well more ME) are exhausted and we don't BD every other day.

If I don't get a BFP this month (which I'm pretty sure I won't), next month I think I'll use the OPKs in the afternoon like I'm supposed to and then start BDing every other day a little later in my cycle.

Since several of your docs have said to wait until 6 or 7 months after coming off BCP to see if your cycle regulates itself, I think I'll wait until January to see him. That'll be our 6 month mark.

Thanks again everyone!

Re: Those with long cycles (40+ days)

my long cycles are due to my hypothyroidism; Hashimoto's

I take synthroid 200mcg and metformin 1000mg a da

I took clomid with DS and now we are holding off on that and just seeing what happens for a few months