How can you track your cycle when it is completely irregular?
My husband and I will start trying in the near future and my problem is my period is completely irregular. It used to be very regular and the same length and everything. But then I got on the pill and it made me sick, so I switched to a lower dose pill and I had a non-stop period for a year. Then I tried Depo…another 6-month long period. Then I gave up with it. Since then it has been totally off. About I year ago I had an IUD placed. That has done nothing to regulate me but hasn’t made it worse. My doctor recently put me on Yaz to try to fix my irregular cycle and cobat my right ovarian cysts that have developed. With Yaz I gained a ton of weight and guess what…still irregular. Soon I will be off everything and I know I’ll still be irregular (because I was during that multi-year time when I didn’t take anything). So I would like to know FROM WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD SEVERELY IRREGULAR PERIODS what they did to attempt to track their cycles leading up to conception. Thanks!
I got off the pill in January 2007 (I had been on the pill since I was 14 yrs old) and I have not had a regular cycle since. Some are long, some are short, some really bad periods with whacky symptoms, some mild, etc.
The best way to truly know what is going on with YOUR body is to check your basal body temperature (your exact temperature when you wake up each morning – you can purchase an inexpensive digital thermometer at any drug store) and to know/understand your cervical fluid patterns.
This may sound a little overwhelming at first, but if you go onto FertilityFriend.com (there are others, but this is one I am familiar with) you can create a free account and they make it really easy to track your BBT and your other body changes throughout your cycle. This way, when you do decide to start trying, you will know EXACTLY when (and in some cases, IF) you ovulate.
You will also know the length of your different phases which your body goes through monthly, for instance, your Luteal phase (the phase that occurs right after ovulation and ends when you start your period) is typically the same length each month. In other words, when charting your temperature, you will be able to pinpoint your ovulation date, and therefore, in knowing how long your Luteal phase is, you will also be able to pinpoint your expected period date.
They will also send you daily lessons on how to use their charts, how to interpret YOUR chart, and much more. My husband and I have been trying for #1 since August, but January (2008) was the first month I tracked my temperature and my cervical fluid… now I understand my own cycle SO much more. Charting your BBT and your cervical fluid changes is the best way to discover your body’s own unique pattern and allow you to plan ahead.
If you start tracking your BBT and you notice that yours is wayyyyy out of the ordinary, I would definately suggest talking to your doc about possible underlying health issues like someone stated above.
Best of luck to you and I pray that when you and hubby do start trying, you find yourselves with good news rather quickly!
Has your doctor done anything to figure out why you’ve had such irregular periods?Are you on Yaz AND an IUD? S/he should have done some tests to see why your body responds the way it does to hormones. You might have something very mild to deal with, or something more complicated. Blood tests, laparoscopy, etc to rule things out or give you a diagnosis. You might have something like PCOS- weight gain is common with that when untreated, and it would explain the cysts you say you have, and would explain the irregular cycles.
When you are off everything, until you see your doctor again (and I would make an appointment asking for answers ASAP), start by buying a basal body temp (you can get them at walmart, target, your local pharmacy). Every morning, at the same time, the moment you wake up, take your temperature, and record it. This will help you to determine IF you are ovulating and when. Look into a book called Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler.
Start charting your temps. Even if you are VERY irregular you will be able to tell when (or if) you are ovulating if you temp. Also, get the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler!
The more irregular your periods are, the more difficult it is to predict ovulation.
However, if you are ovulating then as long as you are having intercourse two or three times a week, you will be having sex at the right time.
What else can I try?
Many experts feel that for most couples having sex two or three times a week is the most effective way of maximising your chances.
It’s certainly worth trying for at least a few months before looking at other ways to detect ovulation.
Morag Martindale, BabyCentre’s family doctor, suggests that,
"If you do not become pregnant after, say, six months of actively trying (particularly if you are over 35 years of age), it’s worth talking to your doctor.
He or she may well suggest that you track your cycle for a few months to identify how regular your periods are and when and if you are ovulating.
Your doctor can also give you advice about your health and what you can do to increase your chances of conceiving