Newly TTC with a 45-day cycle. Anyone else?

MaPetiteFamille

Hi Everyone!

I just wanted to introduce myself and see if anyone else out there is TTC with a ridiculously long cycle.  I've been married for over two years now and have been off the pill for about a year and a half, although we only recently stopped using condoms.  My cycle has always been long, but I'd never tracked it prior to going on the pill.  Now that I have about a year's worth of data up my sleeve, I'm able to see that it's pretty consistently between 44 and 48 days long.  Yikes!  This is going to require some patience.

In any case, I'm coming up on my fertile days this weekend (CD28-33) and am excited to see how we do during our first cycle of actively trying.  I've been using the OPKs, but of course no positives yet.  I tried tracking my temperature during my last cycle in the hopes that it would help me to prepare, but I found it stressful and frustrating because I sometimes work overnight shifts and was bouncing all over the place.

I'm looking forward to hearing your stories and to sharing in this exciting time with you all!

Svenny1011

Welcome and good luck! 

LM915

Hello and welcome!!  Good luck with everything.  I have irregular cycles, and have had a few that were over 40 days.  It can defintely be annoying when it's so long, but that's great that you are using OPK's and charting, it will be very helpful.

sweetgotham

Welcome!

I think that a 45 day cycle might be in the upper rage of 'normal'. I see that you have been using OPKs and you mention having data for a year- does that include temperature to confirm ovulation for the full year or just the last month? It is possible to ovulate and have the OPKs miss the spike, but I would be more interested to know about your temperature history (some other ladies are really helpful with overnight shifts/temp taking so it is worth doing a search of the forums for other threads on that). Having said that, if you have been actively TTC for over a year, I think at least a talk with your doctor is warranted.  

 

Good luck!  

mrsz2008

sweetgotham:

Welcome!

I think that a 45 day cycle might be in the upper rage of 'normal'. I see that you have been using OPKs and you mention having data for a year- does that include temperature to confirm ovulation for the full year or just the last month? It is possible to ovulate and have the OPKs miss the spike, but I would be more interested to know about your temperature history (some other ladies are really helpful with overnight shifts/temp taking so it is worth doing a search of the forums for other threads on that). Having said that, if you have been actively TTC for over a year, I think at least a talk with your doctor is warranted.  

 

Good luck!  

I agree with all of this...BUT to the bolded, she said they just recently stopped using condoms so I'm guessing they just started trying.

Welcome OP and good luck!

sweetgotham

mrsz2008:

sweetgotham:

Welcome!

I think that a 45 day cycle might be in the upper rage of 'normal'. I see that you have been using OPKs and you mention having data for a year- does that include temperature to confirm ovulation for the full year or just the last month? It is possible to ovulate and have the OPKs miss the spike, but I would be more interested to know about your temperature history (some other ladies are really helpful with overnight shifts/temp taking so it is worth doing a search of the forums for other threads on that). Having said that, if you have been actively TTC for over a year, I think at least a talk with your doctor is warranted.  

 

Good luck!  

I agree with all of this...BUT to the bolded, she said they just recently stopped using condoms so I'm guessing they just started trying.

Welcome OP and good luck!

 

Whoops! I take it back! Give it a year!

/shame  

MaPetiteFamille

Thanks, sweetgotham!  I'm sorry if I wasn't clear-- I've only been using OPKs for a few weeks, since we knew we wouldn't be ready to start TTC until now.  I tried to monitor my BBT during my last cycle so that I could have an idea of when to BD once we actually did start trying.  But since it seemed not to be accurate in my case, I opted to start using OPKs.  It's great to hear that others have had some luck measuring BBT while working night shifts.  I will definitely take a peek at those posts, because while I'm sure the OPKs will be helpful, it'd be nice to have the confirmation of a temperature spike.

AshDahlia

I can relate. I've been off the pill since Feb. and we've been trying, but I'm just starting to chart, so don't know when O is for sure-so who knows, maybe when I think we've been trying I've been a week off.  My cycles average 35 days, but I had a 58 day cycle in June and now I'm on day 45, hoping AF comes soon to just get it over with since I know we're not pregnant. We'll have to be patient together. I'd be interested to know how the OPKs work for ya- I might try that next month. Good luck!

behapy2day

Welcome!

 

I went off the pill in May and so far, i have had three cycles- 44, 48, and 47 days long. It definitely is frustrating! GL to you, and I hope you get your BFP soon!

kailapennington

Newly TTC as well!  45 day cycle as well. This has been my first month using the opk. I got the clear blue digital which has worked awesome because there is no guessing it is either a smile  or not. I have been talking to my doctor since June about us wanting to try to concieve and I suggest if you havent already to have a talk with your doctor. My sister has been going to a fertility specialist ( not because she has any issues her husband had a vasectomy before they were together) and according to him anything over 35 days is not normal. So after my sister had said this I went to my doctor and she said it would be a good idea for me to try to get my period a little more normal. Long story short she prescribed provera  to start my period last month and I took it for 10 days started my period on the 17. I have read about this drug and some girls say it can help jump start your system especially if your like me who has gone as long as 55 days between periods! ANYWAY period started on the 17 of last month start taking opk a week later and didnt get a positive until day 20 which is awesome for me because my doc was afraid I may irregularly ovulating. I had a blood test yesterday to check my progestrone level to make sure I ovulated. I will find out Monday my level. I will keep you posted! If I do not get BFP my doc wants me to take another 10 days of the pills to start my cycle again. But I am waiting until the end of the month to test.  I may be saying the name of the medicine wrong all the P's are confusing me.   

 Just my plan just thought I would share. Good luck!  

kailapennington

PS I saw your picture do you work out a lot? I do and I have backed off the cardio quite a bit because my sis fertility specialist said it is a big reason some women have problems. I work out like a crazy woman and I have had to make myself do more moderate workouts. 

 

Just noticed how petite you are, my sis is similiar size.  

09babymama

Yes. I hate long cycles! I have never had a 28 day cycle except on BCP. Mine are all 40+ days. Most recently 50,40 (which was actually pretty good for me),48. When I got pregnant with DS I was on a 120+ day cycle. All the more reason I started temping and ordered my OPKs. We have to make the most of the fertile time we get since the longer cycles= less chanced to get pregnant. GL!!!

MaPetiteFamille

Kailapennington, that's great to hear that the Provera has worked for you!  I'd be interested in hearing how the progesterone results turn out.  I went to my doctor over the summer for a preconception workup and she drew a TSH, blood count to screen for anemia and a few titers to check my immunity, but no hormone levels or anything like that.  She tried to reassure me that I was probably ovulating despite my long cycle, but said that if I end up having trouble after a couple of months we could come up with another plan (probably something similar to yours).

I don't exercise too vigorously-- just light cardio 3-4 times a week and some occasional yoga.  I do have some friends who are marathon runners who have stopped menstruating.  I'm nowhere near as motivated!  In any case, I had a +OPK last night and this morning (CD29), so here's hoping! 

Good luck to all of you and thanks for the support!

 

Ms Molly

I have longer cycles as well (averaging 34 days).  I've been temping for about 8 cycles yet we just started trying actively last month.  I think charting before we even starting TTC has really helped me understand my cycle.