Cycle confusion...!?

[gea]

Hi...

I am a little confused about my cycles... they have always been weird and now it seems important to get a grip and understand it...

My cycle varies from 24 days to 26 days - most commonly 24 days. This cycle started October 20th, I tested for ovulation from day 8 and got a positive on October 30th. (Day 10 or 11?). Does that make my luteal phase 13 days? And is that ok for a cycle that short? I am taking AC and folic acid. And penicillin right now too (hoping it won't affect anything).

We BD'd on October 26th, 28th, 30th and tried 31st also - but got interrupted ha ha. So instead Nov 1st. By my calculations, that should be plenty If it sticks... I sooooo want to get that BFP - been waiting forever it seems... (since beginning of the year)!

Can someone give some clever input to this confused chickie...?

 

[NorthStar]

Your cycle sounds fine, though without the charting/temping it is difficult to confirm ovulation, but a 13 or 14 day LP is good. Has your cycle changed at all since taking the AC? Some people find it makes them ovulate sooner.

 

[gea]

Your cycle sounds fine, though without the charting/temping it is difficult to confirm ovulation, but a 13 or 14 day LP is good. Has your cycle changed at all since taking the AC? Some people find it makes them ovulate sooner.

No my cycle is still the same as before the AC but I haven't taken the AC more than roughly a month (this is the second cycle, and last cycle I started it on day 5).

I use a OPK to try to confirm ovulation? Are they not reliable? Thanks for your answer!

 

[NorthStar]

OPKs are okay but to really confirm ovulation you could do the charting (ie taking your temperature every morning on waking with a BBT thermometer) - if you want to find out about it have a look at the fertility friend website.

The reason I say this is opks will detect a surge but some people have a long surge, or more than one surge per cycle.

AC can take 3 months to affect your cycle, so as long as you are feeling okay with it sounds fine to me

 

[dachsundmom]

^^^NS is spot on.

 

[velo]

The day you get a positive on your OPK is not the day you ovulate - it means ovulation is about to occur, typically within 24-48 hours. As previously mentioned, temping is the best way to confirm. So if you had a 13 day LP by counting the day of your positive OPK as ovulation day, it may really only be 11-12 days.

 

[gea]

Thank you all - I will have to go and look at different charting ways... got my AF this month again - and even earlier than usual.... this time my cycle was just 20 days :S

 

[NorthStar]

Fertility friend website has some charting tutorials on there, it's worth reading. And if you temp you can confirm ovulation so will have a better idea how long your luteal phase is and often you can have an idea when AF is coming by a temp drop.

A 20 day cycle is very short, sounds like maybe the AC doesn't agree with you. I'd keep an eye on that, some supplements aren't suited to everyone.

PS Loved Sweden went there on holidays a few years ago

 

[gea]

NS - I have thought about the AC too - I will give it one more month - that will make it 3 cycles! If not better, then I will stop taking it!

Sweden is wonderful! I have only lived here for 18 months - originally from Denmark. But have also lived in the UK for 5 yrs. Loved it there!

 

[NorthStar]

I've only been to Southern Sweden, it was very nice, I'd really like to go back and see more of Scandinavia. We went to Copenhagen as well on the same trip - much hilarity at our attempts to speak Danish

AC is supposed to be great for some people, but in some cases I've heard that it can shorten LP and bring AF early, which is not good.

 

[gea]

I live in the northern part of southern Sweden - in the region where most of Astrid Lindgreens stories take place Beautiful! But I love England too - all the different kinds of nature. You don't have that same variety in Denmark - most of it is flat and sandy ha ha...

I actually stopped the AC - heard from a friend that she got shorter and shorter cycles on it - so I am not trusting it any longer... I tried to get hold of the gynclinic today, but apparently Mondays are a phonehell... so I will have to try again in the morning

 

[NorthStar]

I've been to Malmo and Lund and also Helsingborg caught the ferry over from Helsingor in Denmark that was quite an experience seeing loads of pissed up old Swedish guys struggling to carry as many crates of alcohol as possible back on the ferry to Sweden Will definitely go back one day.

It's probably best that you stopped the AC, I've heard a few people say the same thing (though other ladies have said it's great) with the short cycles etc.

Last month I started Vitamin B complex and COQ10 (there's a whole separate thread on COQ10 if you are interested) .

 

[gea]

I haven't got access to a computer on a daily basis at the moment - frustrating! I will look up the COQ10 thread Tonight I am going for my first specialist appointment to see if they can figure out why nothing is happening Fingers crossed that they will push a button and I'll be pregnant soon

Yes - it is really funny seeing Swedish people around alcohol - they never seem to realise, that it is no longer a problem getting hold of it

Where in the Frozen North are you from?

 

[NorthStar]

I'm from the Highlands of Scotland, but live in Glasgow, it's cold compared to just about everywhere except Sweden

Good luck with your specialist appointment, I'm waiting to hear when my FS appointment is, not sure how long a wait it will be.

 

[gea]

I hope you hear something soon! My appointment was fine... but a bit confusing.

All regular checks was fine - then they bloodwork - that answer came through today - all fine too!

He said to keep trying a few more months, and if no luck they would do a complete check of the both of us.

AF due tomorrow or Friday, but hoping it stays away

I love the nature in Scotland - gives me the same sense of wellbeing as where I live now The cold here is horrible though... although Denmark actually feels colder quite often (due to the coastline and winds)...

Is it a long wait for specialist medical help in Scotland? Or just some of the specialties?

 

[NorthStar]

That is good that the tests came back all clear for you so another few months of TTC before they will offer further assistance? Would they give you any fertility medications like Clomid or Tamoxifen in the meantime? Either of those meds would probably give your cycle the regularity that you were looking for, though there is a risk of side effects.

I expect to be waiting a while for my specialist appointment in the meantime my partner will go and do his SA. We would probably go private ultimately for treatment, because of the waiting list, but first I'd like the testing done just to eliminate things and see if there is any point in going further with this.

 

[gea]

I understand that you want to eliminate the different possibilities....

No - they didn't give me anything that could get my cycles more regular. He said as I have had irregular cycles before I had children, that might be my pattern. So if I need any medications, I will get them when they do a full check. So we are still just TTC naturally.. He did say that losing a bit of weight could make a difference... so I will have to try even harder to kickstart that project

Do you suspect that there should be any reason NOT to go further with this?

 

[NorthStar]

We've been trying for over a year now, so I'm fairly convinced that something isn't right but I have absolutely no proof of this, it's more a gut feeling

Ooh weight loss is challenge at Christmas, what kind of foods do you have at Christmas?

We have mince pies (minced fruit like raisins and sultanas) which are pretty disgusting, and Christmas pudding again with the dried fruit which I don't like but there is always tons of chocolate in the house too.

 

[gohereall]

Are they not reliable? Thanks for your answer!

 

[sunyellowbby]

So if you had a 13 day LP by counting the day of your positive OPK as ovulation day, it may really only be 11-12 days.