Charting with abnormal periods?

beckalyce

So my fiance and I have been discussing the idea about trying sooner than next year to have a baby. So since then, I've been looking at different methods to trying and came across the charting method at Fertility Friend Online...

My issue is, I don't have normal periods at all. They come and go without rhyme or reason and have been that way for the last two years. Before that I had to be on birth control to get a period at all, and when I was in high school my periods were so heavy and so long I had to get a blood transfusion so I wouldn't die from blood loss.  Needless to say, my hormones don't do what they should. 

My question is, do you ladies know of any success with charting with an abnormal cycle? I don't want to put the time and effort into it if its fruitless. I might just have us go the route we went before with the "not trying not to" get pregnant and see what happens!

DaisyZH

Have you ever spoken to a doctor about your abnormal periods?  Perhaps they could help you find some answers as to why they are so crazy.  That sounds pretty scary to have periods heavy enough to need a blood transfusion.

I don't think charting could hurt, it might give you some more information about your cycle but I feel pretty strongly you might want to be monitored by a doctor. 

If you do want to chart Fertility Friend really is a great website, it's pretty easy to use. 

ETA: Sorry, I realized reading over my answer that I shouldn't assume you don't already have a doctor, I just saw the blood transfusion thing and got worried for you!  I don't think charting would hurt though, and it's pretty easy to do.  You can read all about it in Taking Charge of Your Fertility which is a great resource.  Good luck!

vflipo

You should check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's great and has a lot of information about charting. The FF website has a lot of tutorials as well. With irregular cycles, charting is a great idea actually. I would also strongly urge you to use OPKs and talk to your OB about your abnormal cycles.

kiki4

vflipo:

You should check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. It's great and has a lot of information about charting. The FF website has a lot of tutorials as well. With irregular cycles, charting is a great idea actually. I would also strongly urge you to use OPKs and talk to your OB about your abnormal cycles.

I agree with all of this.

beckalyce

Thank you ladies  

To ease your concerns, I have seen a doctor. Many doctors in fact. The heavy periods happened when I was in high school and I was too embarrassed to tell anyone. That's how it turned into needing a blood transfusion because after almost a solid year of bleeding (I'd have 3-4 week periods and then a week break), I was of course physically and mentally declining where my health was concerned. By the time I got to a doctor they found I had less than 30% of the amount of blood I should have... It was scary but they threw me on birth control and I was on it for about 5 years on and off (all different types) and it helped me from bleeding to death...

But I've always wanted kids. Since before all of that happened (I was 16 when I had the blood transfusion). And all my doctors and specialists since have said I'll probably have a hard time conceiving. My second to last specialist took me off BC to make sure my body doesn't start depending on it. I just haven't had normal periods ever. They're random and sporadic. Everywhere from 1 month apart to 6 months. I'm physically healthy, my uterus, ovaries, vagina all look pretty and normal on an ultra sound and cat scan. It's my hormones that dont fluctuate on a cycle. So they hypothesize that I don't ovulate normally.

My next step on the find-out-what's-wrong-with-my-hormones journey is a reproductive endocrinologist. I just haven't had the time to go yet. The fianc? and me weren't even seriously trying to get pregnant. We would had just been happy if it happened. Since it did happen and we had a taste of what it felt like, we can't help but want to keep trying. I'm out of town for the next month but when I get home, I'm making that appointment with the endocrinologist! 

Sorry for the long post, ladies! I tend to have the need to explain everything.

I like the suggestion for the OPK's and might have to look more into that as well. I have no idea when I'll have another period. Going tomorrow to hopefully get blood work done to see if the hcg is back down to 0. The start of a new cycle! Just who knows how long it will be.... *sigh* 

My sex hormones are a pain in my a**! 

OSUJaydee

My periods are abnormal but I've been charting for a few years and I like having the information about my body and I also like to see that I've actually ovulated with the temperature shift. I also now know that I tend to have a big temperature dip the day of ovulation which is helpful in timing intercourse!

beckalyce

I'm definately already looking at the OPK's and reading more on charting. I might just have to start sooner than later. Two weeks ago my blood test showed an HCG level of 24 and it had gone down enough to concern them two days later (they called me days later to "talk to me" and inform me of the miscarriage I had went through a few days prior...) but I never heard a number...

All this guess work! I'd love a control panel for my body that I could just look at! (total computer nerd and it's what I'm used to!) 

DaisyZH

beckalyce:

I'm definately already looking at the OPK's and reading more on charting. I might just have to start sooner than later. Two weeks ago my blood test showed an HCG level of 24 and it had gone down enough to concern them two days later (they called me days later to "talk to me" and inform me of the miscarriage I had went through a few days prior...) but I never heard a number...

All this guess work! I'd love a control panel for my body that I could just look at! (total computer nerd and it's what I'm used to!) 

A control panel would be perfect!  It could have a green light when you're about to ovulate, that would make things much easier, then a pregnancy-meter to show how likely you are to be pregnant ... I'm a nerd too lol

pinktrojanbride120107

Mine are super abnormal as well, and have been for years!  This was the first cycle I attempted charting (just temping and CM when I remember), and although it's given me no good information (except to show that I am, indeed, abnormal), I'm hoping it will help at some point when I get to a doctor, RE, or whatever specialist I find myself with.  I would think the more we know about ourselves and what's going on, the better.  Good luck!