Advice for irregular cycle

nicolinab

Looking for advice on when to have sex with an unpredictable cycle. I've got very long cycles (40-50 days) but have successfully been shortening them through acupuncture and taking Vitex, under supervision of my ND off course. It's great they are getting shorter.... Still I don't typically know I'm going to ovulate until the egg white shows up (sometimes it doesn't). This doesn't give us the chance to have sex many times during that tiny window of time when I'm fertile! How have others dealt with this? My body doesn't show obvious signs that I'm about to ovulate so its always a surprise. We're frustrated and feel like we are wasting chances. We are not looking to take Clomid, except as an absolute last resort, and the natural means are working anyway.

GermanGirl2007

I agree with PP.  CM is not a super reliable way to know if/when you are ovulating, since it can happen at any time throughout your cycle. It is most reliable to confirm ovulation when paired with charting, or a positive OPK.  If you have long or irregular cycles, I would really strongly recommend charting so you know what is going on with your body.  It's super easy and will give you a lot of information about what's happening. 

I know you said you don't want to take Clomid right now, but I would say to run like hell from it unless you have had all of the proper testing beforehand are and being monitored.  Some Dr's like to hand it out like a miracle drug, but it can be really damaging. 

I also think that you could get some good advice over on TTGP. This board is for women who have been trying for a year or more, or have an infertility diagnosis, so unless that's where you're at, you might find it easier to relate to the ladies over on TTGP. It's more of a feisty group than over here, but they're really knowledgeable too. Good luck to you!

GermanGirl2007

MaiTaiBeth said:

My periods changed in the past two years, I have skipped two and the average is 33 days. In using the opk's I realized I would ovulate 2 weeks after my period no matter how long it took me to get it. I use a phone app to track them. Good luck!

I am sorry, I know you mean well, but I think this might be misleading advice.  Phone apps are generally very unreliable for tracking your cycles. Unless you are charting your temps, apps have no idea what is going on with your body, so it is very generalized and doesn't help pinpoint.  Also, your follicular phase (the days between your period and ovulation) are variable.  However your luteal phase (the days between ovulation and your next period) are pretty consistent, give or take a day or so either way. OP, I would really recommend signing up for Fertility Friend if  you haven't already. It can walk you through the charting process and help you understand what is going on with your body.  GL to you!!

nicolinab

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I chart. With irregular cycles, you really need to temp to see what's going on. Between the charting, herbals, and acupuncture... We did it! 4 weeks pregnant. Now praying for a healthy baby. Good luck!

tippytoes06

Um. Congrats? You post a question almost 2 months ago... Never come back to reply... And then tell us you're pregnant without any warning?

Something I definitely didn't need to see today. Thanks for making a rough day a little worse. Go to first tri.

jessandmike2013

Is this really an appropriate place to shame someone (undeservingly btw) for telling us their good news. Nicolinab congrats to you and yours. Everyone else get a grip. Holy.

ErinSays

@jessandmike2013 No. Just no. She came here, asked a question and contributed nothing, then returns almost 2 months later to announce her pregnancy. We're all having actual trouble conceiving while she tried for under 12 months according to her posts elsewhere on thebump - NOT trouble, normal. This is our support group and we are very supportive - she put in no effort to support anyone here and her situation wasn't "trouble."

But cool of you to spend your first post shaming us.

dunlop46

This forum states to have a "warning" in the title if a child is mentioned. Wish she would have done that. This is my first week here and already feeling frustrated Good luck to all us 12+ TTCers!

nicolinab

I am sincerely sorry for potentially hurting anyone's feelings! I hadn't seen any kind of rules, and can promise that I would never intentionally do that. I can't get on to the internet very often, which is why how long I've actually been trying isn't shown on here, and how I often I check things can't be consistent! Again, my most sincere apologies. Other threads always show people updating how things are going, which is the only reason I said anything. I always feel good seeing people's prayers and efforts finally come to fruition. Best of luck everyone. xo

tippytoes06

I appreciate your apology. Now kindly remove the flag you left on my previous comment please. Nothing I said was flaggable. You can do so by "loving" the comment.