Anovulatory cycles

kiki047

Hi ladies,

I've been feeling a little out of sorts lately because of my 3rd anovulatory cycle in a row. Currently CD40 and no AF in sight. I've been lurking between WTO and TWW but not sure that I belong in either at this point. Tried searching for an older thread but didn't find much (maybe I'm not using the right search terms) so hoping it's ok that I'm starting a new one. I understand everyone's experiences with an-O cycles will be different as they can happen for many different reasons. Some temporary (like hormones regulating after coming off BCP), some more serious/lasting (like PCOS). It is still too soon to start down the IF rabbit-hole so I'm genuinely curious to know how others have dealt with this. 

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)?
Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)? 
Did you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)? 
What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise?

TIA for your input! Will put my replies below.

kiki047

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)? 
I went off BCP in December, had two initial 28/29 day cycles where I was only tracking OPK so I did have positives both cycles but unconfirmed O because I wasn't temping. Next 2 cycles were 60 days and 35 days, and currently on CD40 this cycle. 
 
Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)? 
My psychotherapist suggested I see a naturopath to delve deeper, check for hormonal imbalance, vitamin deficiencies, etc. Currently taking PNV (with folate), CoQ10, Vit C & D, and Omega3s. 

Did you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)? 
I've gone for a TV and pelvic ultrasound and had a preliminary blood test. I do have some cysts on my ovaries but until I get my referral to see a GYN, my GP has only suggested it could be PCOS (based on the fact that my cycles are so irregular and I haven't been ovulating). I'm only about 6.5 months off BCP so I'm hoping my body is still adjusting but I hate not having answers. 

What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise?
My body seems to show all signs that it is getting ready to ovulate, but then it doesn't. In the past I had at least one or two +OPKs per cycle but I wasn't temping so it is likely I was not actually ovulating at that time either. This cycle I have had 2 +OPKs but no sustained high temps to confirm O. At first I thought maybe my temps were just off because I know I can be a mouth breather but my RHR is a good indicator that my patterns are pretty accurate. 

Chart in spoiler: 

*TW* MC
My temps have confused FF to the point where my fertility status now says miscarriage, although I don't see how that could be the case.

lulu1180

I've had several an-O cycles but mine are definitely not the norm.  They have always been short (usually around 2 weeks or so) with the longest being 21 days.  I've always gotten my period naturally and never had to have my cycle kickstarted.  I have no idea why it happens as the tests that have previously been run have all been normal.  I do take myo-inositol as it does seem to help regulate my cycles.  If this is your third cycle with no confirmed O, I would schedule an appointment with your OB.  They can run some basic tests to rule out PCOS or such.  

From what I've seen from others, most an-O cycles have very rocky temps with patches of EW or watery CM through the cycle.

kiki047

@lulu1180 thank you! My last OBGYN retired and I didn't like the doc that took over his practice so I needed another referral from my GP. I'm still waiting to hear back, they said I should hear from them by the end of the week. The specialist I was trying to book with has a 6 month wait list. 

lulu1180

@kiki047 What kind of specialist are you trying to see?

kiki047

@lulu1180 he's a OBGYN but Chief of the Women & Babies program at one of the best hospitals in the province. He treated 3 of my friends (all of whom eventually went on to get pregnant) so they've been pushing me to go straight to him. I figured it was worth a shot, even though I don't think I'm at that point yet. 

lulu1180

@kiki047 If you can get in to see him, I don't blame you.  However, I wouldn't do any more than testing with an OB.  If they suggest doing treatment, ask for a referral to an RE. 

kiki047

@lulu1180 I'm not sure if it's different in the states but in Canada I was advised that the REs won't even see patients who haven't been trying for at least a year or who don't have a confirmed diagnosis causing IF. I could be wrong, but my GP wouldn't even entertain the idea of referring me to a fertility clinic to see a RE until I've gone through all the other steps first. I get it, it puts a burden on the system if everyone just skips right on over to the RE. MH has been down this road before with his ex and they ended up going stateside for treatment. 

lulu1180

@kiki047 I certainly understand that, but there are obviously exceptions.  I mean, the OB can diagnose PCOS, but I'm not sure if that would be enough for a referral.  Regardless, I hope you get answers soon.  An-O cycles can be incredibly frustrating!

kiki047

@lulu1180 Thank you! I really appreciate the input. It's all very new to me and there's only so much you can learn from Google. I've done a lot of research on the TTC process but everything hinges on the principle that you're actually ovulating. Now I'm changing gears. 

grangerhp37

I’m new to this process and charting so I don’t have a ton to share, but maybe this can help!

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)? 
I have a similar story that I stopped taking BC in December after 10 years and had 2 normal length cycles at first (35 days, 31 days). I wasn’t temping or anything since we weren’t TTC yet, so I can’t confirm whether I ovulated or not. Then I had a 75 day cycle but still wasn’t temping so no clue whether I eventually O’d but I ended up with just a few days of spotting as a result so I’m guessing no. Most recently was a 63 day cycle - I thought I O’d around CD 43 then had a few days of spotting 2 weeks later, but then AF came another week later and a 20 day LP makes no sense, so FF took my crosshairs away.


Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)? 
Started taking some supplements at the end of May (fish oil, magnesium, and Myo Inositol) in an attempt to regulate my hormones. Hoping that my cycles will start to regulate by the end of August (3 months).


Did you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)? 
I was diagnosed with PCOS due to irregular cycles and a high testosterone level. The OB thought that my BCP could also be a factor, but seemed skeptical that after 5 months (at the time) it would still be affecting my cycles. 


What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise?
I wish I had temped during my 75 day cycle but we weren’t TTC yet. I got a bunch of negative OPK’s last cycle but wasn’t very consistent with them, so I am going to try to be really consistent this cycle to see what I notice. Currently on CD 6. Here’s the chart for my last cycle (63 days):

nitnat007

@kiki047 I have not experienced an-O cycles personally (that I am aware of) but wanted to mention that here in Nova Scotia, the wait time to get in to see the RE (of which there is only one clinic in the province) is anywhere between 6-8 months. I was able to put myself on the wait list back in November without a referral from my family doctor in hopes to try and not waste any time when we got to the point of actually needing the help. Not sure if you are able to do that in your province, or what your wait times are, but might be worth a call to the clinic to check. GL and sorry you are having such a frustrating time. 

amc772

It seems like there are a lot of similar stories of women coming off BCPs having two normal length cycles then super long ones after that. The same thing seems to be happening to me. 33 days, 29 days, 35 and counting. I have no idea how legit this is but I've found some websites describing an "post birth control syndrome" and was suggesting that some essential vitamins like magnesium get depleted while on BCPs. So a multi vitamin which you should be taking already if TTC is a good place to start. Good food and exercise, water, sleep, and just taking care of yourself in general to get things regulated. 

holly321

TW ahead, loss and death mentioned   

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)? I started having an-O cycles last winter, I had a couple in a row, it could have been going on for longer, but we were NTN (always) P for a few months and I honestly was paying no attention.
Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)?
I used provera a few cycles to try and to see if my body would self regulate with after a period, it did not. I eventually started clomid, and became pregnant (but miscarried ) on my second round.  My miscarriage, being molar, led me to both get a period for about 5 months, then I took bcp for a bit.  Now I am getting periods evrye 3-4 weeks.  I was temping and I gavh ovulated, but my cycles are getting shorter and I am not sure I am now.

Did  you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)?
I had hormonal imbalance, which I believe was caused by stress, it started around the time my brother died, plus events leading to his suicide were stressful, which adds to the amenorrhea starting earlier than I noticed.


 What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise? When this was going on, I was not charting.  Before, i could always tell pretty clearly when I ovulated by symptoms, but my body kept giving me O symptoms for days, then a week later and so on, but would not O.

kiki047

@dogmomma271 your chart looks a lot like mine. Very jagged, signs that point to your body preparing to O but then not following through. I’ve been doing a lot of research on myoinositol, planning on adding it to my daily regimen. I suspect this affects more women than we think, which is why I wanted to start a conversation around it. Thanks for sharing! Even if it doesn’t seem like we have any answers right now, maybe this will help someone else down the road. I certainly find it interesting, and reassuring that I’m not alone. 

@nitnat007 good to know, thank you! I may just try that. 

@amc772 I’ve read about that too. I’m taking a prenatal multivitamin that covers most things, then supplementing with vitamin C, D, omega 3s, CoQ10, and am planning on adding myo inositol as well. But you’re right, de-stressing is probably one of the biggest factors. The more months that go by where I don’t even ovulate, the more stressed I get about TTC. 

@holly321 oh my goodness, that is a lot for any one person to deal with. I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. Mental illness is not something to be taken lightly. *hugs* thank you for sharing. We are so fortunate to have this community to turn to, not just in our TTC journeys but making connections as our lives intersect through shared experiences. I hope you find what you need for your heart to heal, and in doing so, hope your body follows suit.  

suzycupcake

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)? My experience is that I didn't ovulate regularly. I would have a normal cycle and then a really really long one and never ovulated. 

Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)? No, not until recently.

Did you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)? pcos for me

What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise? On really long cycles, they just looked really long. Never got a positive opk during those cycles. 

My two cents. Depending on how long you were on bc, it's possible that it was masking an underlying problem all along. Like nitnat mentioned, it's worth consulting with your doctor to have cd3 hormones checked, having insulin levels checked, and having an ultrasound to rule out pcos. Getting an hsg and a sonohysterogram done as well as a full thyroid panel, including free t3 and antibody tests (to check for graves and hashi) would be important too. Just do it now and get it over with so that you don't have to do it later after trying for so many cycles and finding out there was an issue later on. 

KariAnn323

*lurking siggy TW*
@kiki047 and anyone else thinking of adding myo-inositol. My RE had me take 2000mg of myo-inositol and 50mg of D-Chiro-Inositol twice daily. Apparently they both work together and 2000:50 is the ratio that should be used. On the supplement bottles it says to take that amount once a day but my insulin is on the higher end of the normal range so I’m guessing that’s why he had me taking it twice daily. It did seem to help me O earlier but I was also on letrozole and gonal-f. There’s a powdered drink mix that you can get called Ovasitol. Supposedly it doesn’t taste like anything but powdered drinks gross me out so I got pills from Jazzee Naturals on Amazon.

kiki047

@suzycupcake you hit the nail on the head with that one - BCP most likely masking something as I wasn't regular as a teen before I started the pill. My doc did some prelim. thyroid testing because my mom has Graves so it was a concern. He didn't find anything that he felt raised any red flags but that's definitely on my radar. Still waiting for referral to book follow up with gyno for further testing to confirm/rule out PCOS. 

@kariann323 good to know, thank you! I found the Ovasitol on Amazon, will check that out. This is why this community is so great; for those of us who are just starting to TTC, I really appreciate the insights. My heart aches knowing the reasons why you know what you know and for everything you've had to go through in the process, but it is also so inspiring. It is empowering to be a part of such a wonderful community of strong, brave, brilliant women who have fought some of the hardest battles, usually with their own bodies. 

josie12367

Lurking...

I have had many many long An-o cycles in the past. They would last any where from 70 days to well over three months. I'd have some spotting, but never a period. Then I'd have some cycles having delayed ovulation past cd 40, or a few of my "regular" 45 day cycles that i ovulated around cd 30. I have a hormone imbalance issue due to PCOS. BCPs always masked my long cycles,  so i never knew i had an issue, and actually, they suppressed me enough that i didn't have a period for eight months after coming off them. I've used Provera in the past to start a cycle, but it's never resulted in ovulation happening. Metformin and Clomid did work in making me ovulate, but of course they have usage limits, and you need a full work up for those. Supplements, like myo inositol (2000mg X2) did seem to help. I also took extra folic acid (800mg), B-complex,  and Vit D (consistently low on lab draws) & Vit E. It was my own little mix,  but it did help regulate me to a more consistent ovulatory cycle pattern without any prescriptions.  

I wasn't very good about charting in the past, but I did have one classic an-o chart that I can share that is complete with OPKs.

And here's one with a delayed ovulation that FF never gave me crosshairs, but I did have a sustained rise...

I would also suggest starting a work up now... at least to rule out basic issues that could be solved easily. Good luck!

harrierwife

lulu1180 said:

If this is your third cycle with no confirmed O, I would schedule an appointment with your OB.  They can run some basic tests to rule out PCOS or such.  

Ugh. This is me right now. 
I'm on my 3rd cycle (they were 28 days, 24 days, & 24 days) after stopping the NuvaRing with no O. Its driving me nuts. 

Nothing much else to add but my grumbles since I'm a n00b at this point. I don't like my OB/GYN. 

lulu1180

@harrierwife How are you confirming O?

harrierwife

@lulu1180 I'm charting CM and CP as well as charting my BBT. My CM and BBT has been the exact. same. since I stopped the NR on April 30, but my CP does change throughout my cycle. My body may still be working things out, but who knows. My mom is an OB/GYN NP (not my own, however) and has always thought that I may have PCOS. Never been tested for it though. 

projectalice

What are your experiences with an-O cycles and how long did they last (how long were your cycles/how many cycles did it take to regulate)? 

I have had some, but I also get some ovulatory cycles too from time to time. That's why I track everything, so I can hopefully tell when I get an ovulatory cycle. 
This cycle seemed to be anovulatory, but my ovasitol finally arrived and the day I started taking it again I saw a temp rise. It's been rising for a few nights, so we will see. Hard to know for sure without being monitored. 

Did you do anything to stimulate ovulation (e.g. meds, acupuncture, change in diet, etc)? 

I feel a little different when I take ovasitol, and I think it does help. I mix it with some plexus slim I've got laying around, and I can't even tell it's in there. Losing weight also helps me, but my body does not like to drop any weight unless I severely restrict my calories, like 700-800/day. Not very healthy. 

Did you ever find out what was causing it (PCOS, BCP, IUD, stress, MC, etc)? 

I was initially misdiagnosed as premenopausal but some intern, but went to a fertility clinic and discovered I have pcos.

What did your charts look like? Did they follow any recognizable pattern? Did you have any +OPKs but with no associated temp rise?

Not much of a pattern to mine, just very rocky and sort of all over the place. This cycle I got one brief positive opk, but no temp rise.