Irregular Cycles

Have you been diagnosed with PCOS? How irregular is you cycle? If you are much greater then 30 days there is a high chance you are not ovulating at all and most of the preditor will never show a high, been there. The monitor is the electronic one but it is about $100 or so, it is the Clear Blue easy. However if you are not ovulating or you have PCOS, you will most likely not show a peak on the monitor.

Have you considered talking to your OB and maybe doind some additional work to help you. There is some very simple steps that your OB can do. i.e. an HSG to make sure your tubes are open, Clomid, etc.

I have PCOS, take 1500mg of metformin. I have a 4 year old boy, my mircle and have been TTC #2 for 3 years with 2 MC's during the process.

Hi L.! My mother-in-law is a certified instructor in Natural Family Planning (the Billings Method). It's the only thing I've ever used, and it's the only thing she ever used, and she had very irregular cycles. Even with the irregular cycles she had all three of her children exactly when she wanted to. I'd be happy to put you in contact with her, she'll even do correspondence instruction. You can also go to http://boma-usa.org/ to read up on it. Good luck!

Just another thought for you - you might try acupuncture. We were trying to have a baby for a year when I decided to try acupuncture since one of my friends had gotten pregnant after trying it. She needed Clomid the first pregnancy to encourage ovulation but wanted something more natural the second time around. So I went to Dr. Jung Kim of livingacu.com in Burbank. After three months of mostly weekly visits, I'm happy to say I was pregnant! He could even tell I was pregnant before a pregnancy test could! I think the acupuncture just helped my body balance out because I wasn't ovulating normally. Plus I think it helps with overall stress management and the needles do not hurt. It might be something to try before the more invasive fertility stuff. Plus, it's easy to do now while you're looking into other options. He even gave me a discount because he is affiliated with my HMO. I also read Taking Charge of Your Fertility and charted, too. That's how I knew I wasn't ovulating normally.

Good luck!!

Do you have PCOS? If so, then OPKs and "charting" are not going to be 100% accurate. If you're also o Clomid, then your Dr SHOULD be ordering "CD 21 blood panel" (Cycle Day 21) to check you progestrone levels. No or severely low prog equals no ovulation. I know several ladies that use http://www.fertilityfriend.com/ to track their cycles, but I personally have not. Also, for me, my CM (cervical mucus) is a better clue of ovulation than anything else. SEGCM (Sticky Egg White Cervical Mucas) means you are in your MOST fertile part of the cycle.

I know that IF SUCKS! I wish that I could give you the answers of how to not let it hurt! Wishing you and your hubby lots of baby dust! My first was unexpected, my 2nd (due in November) we started trying for in May of '06

I would go see an ob/gyn or fertility specialist.

I had an irregular cycle as well, and tried for over a year to get pregnant with my first. I used an ovulation kit, but they didn't work for me. What DID work was having sex every other day for a month. If that hadn't worked, we were going to do every day for a month. I had a lot of friends who did fertility treatments and didn't want the shots or emotional ups and downs. Give it a try. At least it will be fun. Oh, and our second was conceived without us even trying. Good luck!

I had irregular cycles myself when I got married about 8 years ago. My husband and I took Natural Family Planning classes from the Couple to Couple league through the Catholic church, but there are books you can buy on fertility as well. It just takes getting to know your body to learn your body's cycle.

I also took metformin for about 2 years due to a gynecologic problem and it helped me slowly lose weight (only about 10 pounds). Once I got down to my "ideal" body weight, my cycle became EXACTLY 28 days and I was pregnant within 3 months with my daughter, who is now four and a half.

Hope this helps!

Hi L.. I had irregular cycles too (they're more regular now after having a baby, so there's something to look forward to). I never did any of the things mentioned here, and in fact never heard of many of them. All I did was write down the first date of my period every single time. Even if you don't have the same cycle each time, you might be surprised to learn your body is following some sort of cycle, like maybe for two cycles you'll be 35 days apart, then the next two you'll be 40 days apart (I was around 60 days!) Or you might be on a cycle but just not think you're on a cycle because your periods are so far apart. You say you're already using a calendar so maybe you've already been keeping track for awhile. That should be all you need. Knowing that ovulation occurs approx. 14 days BEFORE the start of your period, regardless of the length of your cycle, I guessed my ovulation based on my last period. It worked on the first go!

i have always been slightly irregular. for several years i made my own chart and tracked my basal body temperture. that is where you take your temp first thing in the morning, every morning before getting out of bed. you sill have a slight drop in temp, just a few tenths of a degree, just before ovulation, then a spike of at least 1 full degree on the morning after you have ovulated. then your temp stays up untill the day before your period, then it drops back to the temp before ovulation. i also did used the clear blue easy 1 week ovulation test kit, and thanks to that, i have my youngest, so they do work. good luck!

Fertilityfriend.com is the best site I have found.
I had VERY irregular cycles and I found it a great tool.
the basic service is free and more than you need to keep track of the basic stuff. even if you pay for a membership its not very expensive. Good luck on your TTC journey!

I swore by fertilityfriend.com when we were trying to concieve for 4 years with my first. You are able to track your periods, temps, cervical mucos, etc. Go check it out..there is also a forum and chat with women in the same boat. Hope you like it. I loved it. Good Luck

I've been a member of fertilityfriend.com for 3.5 years now. My husband and I tried to conceive our daughter for 1.5 years and having their charting software was so nice, and they have a very supportive community. I think the TTC cost is about $40/year, which is worth it in my book. I have a pregnancy membership which costs less than the TTC membership.

You will be amazed by the community on Fertility Friend. I have friends now from all over the states and a couple in England all due to my FF membership. I love it! I log on every day and get advice or give advice...

Best of luck in your TTC journey!

Several years ago I read the book, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health.

In addition to the wealth of knowledge contained in the book, there are also charts you can photocopy. My periods had been all over the place, 40 to even 60 day cycles. I charted for three months before becoming pregnant with my little boy. He'll be 4 next month. Good luck!

I used the First Response Ovulation kit. It wasn't hard at all. I just started the test on the 10th or 11th day of my period and kept testing until it came up positive. We still weren't getting pregnant so we tested our ph levels and found out we were opposite. I used a douche to balance to what he was right before intercourse and the first time the ovulation test came up positive and we used this method I got pregnant! I have seen conflicting info on douching right before intercourse so it is a personal decision to do it. It worked for us though, and I would do it again! My beautiful son is now 3.5 months old.

Here is a great site:

http://www.mymonthlycycles.com/

i used ovulation kits and am the proud mother of a 2 year old and a 11 week old! basically when the stick says your fertile it means that you will be fertile in a day or two.. so get busy when it says that and stay busy. good luck

I used to be called "firtle" looked at me wrong and guess what. But only one was meant to be and that was at age 22 hes 9. At 29 remarried and "tried for a year", omg what was going on? I have PCS and took "clomed" and it worked the first month and my daughter is now 22 months old. My doctor feared I couldn't have another one but together we did it. My oldest sister was only able to conceive in Jan so all 3 of her kids b-days are end of OCT lol. She took Clomed aswell! It's been a year that you have been trying right? Time to consult a doctor and get a little help. I think part of the prob is we are so worried about it it's become all consuming and it doesn't happen. As soon as you relax and stop over thinking and one day it will happen IT WILL!!