advice please

[bingbong]

hi ladies, would like a bit of advice my cycles are usually 35-36 days but this month has completely confused me as AF started today which meant the last cycle was 43 days!i have never been that late in starting AF got my hopes up a bit as i thought i might be pregnant but with loads of BFN's i didnt feel optimistic!Is it likely that my next cycle will as long?Also, i have never used OPK's or ovulation detection kits but think i should start trying them - do they work and how specific are they?I think i should start listening to my body more this month i have been taking more notes and it turns out i ovulated a week later than expected ( thus the late AF) i had the symptoms for it too just wished
we at the right time!oh well better luck next month

 

[Smiler82]

Hiya

sometimes ovulation can be delayed....have you been ill, stressed, been travelling? Things like that can muck up your body slightly and have an effect on ov. It's totally normal and if it's just a one-off then I don't think it's anything to worry about But charting etc is a good idea, you'll be able to see if longer cycles are becoming more of a pattern for you and you'll know if you need to speak to a doc...hopefully it won't come to that though

I can't be of much help re opk's as I don't use them I'm afraid but as far as I'm aware they pick up on luteinizing hormone, which your body releases just before you ov. For most women it's a good indicator but for someone like me with hormone imbalances they're not reliable, so I don't bother. I'm sure someone else can give you more advice than me though!!

 

[bingbong]

yeh im hoping its a one off!its bad enough having a 35 day cycle but the thought of it increasing does not fill with joy!It might just be my body still getting back to a normal rhythm i had my son 7 and half months ago ( he was 8 weeks early delivered by EMCS) and had a frustrating time with breast feeding.I don't think i have been stressed this month i have been a bit anxious well more nervous than anxious as my son has started nursery this week!funnily enough AF started the second day he was there perhaps because i was more relaxed as less worried?our bodies certainly do funny things!i will definitely chart properly from now on and i will give the OPK's ago.Thank you for your reply

 

[Dawnlouise30]

My cycle became as long as yours and i took agnus castus, it brought it back down to a 35 day instead of 42, i only used it last month and had no ill effects, just a shorter period.

last month was the first time i used my CBFM so i could pin point exactly when i was ovulating - turns out i ovulated way later than i thought. I have a shortish luteal phase (10 days) so am taking B6 to extend that. The ovulation kits are great cos it just helps pin point it all a bit more.

Dawn xx

 

[bingbong]

How does B6 help in extending the luteal phase?I wonder what the reason is for short luteal phases?I didn't have a short luteal phase before i got pregnant with my son but im definitely going to use an OPK this cycle and for each cycle from then ( until i get pregnant) at least i can see if im ovulating within my predicted fertile days or later.I may have just had an out of character month so to speak but im not taking any chances plus im going to listen to my body more!

 

[Dawnlouise30]

Not sure how or why it lengthens luteal phase (B6 that is). but from lots of reading i can see that it does