Long cycles.....

I am in the beginning stages but would love any advice/info. I could get.

I have very long cycles and irregular if that is the term; anywhere from 32-50 days usually and never any longer than that. Pretty much every month is a crapshoot on when I will get my period. This has been the case pretty much as long as I have had AF. I do eventually get it, though.

I have spoken to many a doctor with this concern and all I get is "This is just the way your body works" or "You will know when it becomes a problem." "There is no way of telling right now.They can not tell me it is a real issue until I have a good 6-12 months of no success. I feel a little trapped and worried.

Does anybody have any insight? Or perhaps any positives on this? I am beginning to get pretty worried. Is anybody in a similar boat?

By the way, I have only been on the pill very briefly and that was about ten years ago so that isn't a factor.

Re: Long cycles.....

hello :) you are not alone. I havent been on BC for around 5 years and i also have irregular cycles ranging from 33-46 days. I was also told by doctors in the past that it is my body, etc, and all that crap. after i got married i went to a new gyn (like my 4th in the past couple of years) and finally someone was concerned!! and only b/c me and my DH wanted to try within a year to get PG (this was august) she told me that i had PCOS and to chart, temp, and do OPKs to atleast figure out if i was ovulating at all, she also sent me for some bloodwork which came out fine. I still wasnt satified b/c PCOS tends to be seen on sonos and she didnt even recc that just told me i had this syndrome!! so i went to anotherr women who agreed with the last one but also sent me for sonos which came back inconclusive as they werent sure if what they saw on my ovaries wwas cysts related to PCOS or just follicles which is common in most women. my BEST advice is got to someone else until you find someone who listens to you. I really like my current GYN but she told me if i am not preggo by march we may have to go another route (fertility meds, etc) and in that case i will go to a RE (reproductive endocrinologist) who specializes in fertility. Hope this helps and any questions feel free to FM me!
Good luck

Message edited 9/21/2006 10:18:22 PM.

Re: Long cycles.....

This is what annoys me about Dr's and insurance since that is really who is pulling the strings for our healthcare in the US.

I had to have two miscarriages before I went to a specialist and was diagnosed with the genetic problem called MTHFR-this is when your blood clots unusually in pregnancy and causes loss of blood flow between mother and baby(your blood is what gives your baby everything-oxygen, etc) There is probably not any way I would be able to keep a pregnancy on my own. Now I am on Lovenox(a blood thinner) and a super vitamin with extra folic acid and B vitamins.

Ok sorry off topic BUT it is NOT normal to have cycles that long-you shoudl find another Dr and tell them you have been trying for a year ad no luck-just have someone give you tests and figure out what is happening so you can fix it! Good luck.

Re: Long cycles.....

Bayla,
Thanks so much for your response. It is actually comforting to have someone actually "get" what you are talking about.

Melijane: I am sorry for your experiences. Thanks for the advice. It is amazing that us, non medical professionals, have to beg and plead for help on issues that they should be very knowledgeable about.
Or at least guide us.

Re: Long cycles.....

When I was younger, before I went on the pill, sometimes I would go 3 months without getting AF. The doctors told me it was because of my exercise routine. Sometimes I would be intensely training and sometimes not. Sometimes there's nothing you can do other than go on BC to regulate it.

You obviously don't want to do that if you are TTC.

My AF is not as normal as it was when I was on BC, so I've been keeping track.

I think the best thing you can do is start keeping track of your temp and use the O predictor tests. That's going to be the only way to pinpoint your O.

Good luck.