Trying for over a year, I have irregular periods, any suggestions?

Question

My husband and I have been trying for a child for over a year now. I have always had irregular periods (anywhere from every 2 weeks to every 6 months). I talked with my doctor and he told me that it will take some time but it should happen in time. Not quite what I wanted to hear. I have always wanted to be a mom.. And its very discouraging to me. We've tried basal temperature, but with me being so irregular, its hard to do that. The over the counter ovulation monitors are so expensive for someone in my position.. Any one have any ideas on what else we could try?

Answer 1

Your doctor is right, *but*... You can increase your odds of getting pregnant. The basal body temperature is useful to know if you *have* ovulated, but it's not useful to know *before* you ovulate. Since you have to time sex for before ovulation, knowing when it's too late is usually more frustrating than helpful. Unless you *also* know when you are about to ovulate, and then can use the BBT to confirm it.

To know when you are about to ovulate, forget the ovulation predictor kits. In addition to the expense, they aren't all that accurate. Instead, try charting your fertility signs. For details on this, read _Taking Charge of Your Fertility_ by Toni Weschler. It will give you detailed instructions and information to know when you are fertile.

If you have done the BBT, though, you should now know *if* you are in fact ovulating...if not, then all the checking in the world won't help you. (Did you have a temperature shift about 2 weeks before your next period sometimes, always, or never?) You would need fertility treatments if you *never* ovulate.

I hope this helps. Good luck!!

Answer 2

I had the exact same problem and tried for 3 years - i saw a fertility specialist and tried fertility drugs such as clomid and puregon.

I was told i should do IVF so i booked a trip to Greece and i leave in a matter of days. Then on Sunday i thought it had been a particularly long time since i last had a period - generally they were every 5,6,7,8 weeks so i did a test and wallah......it was positive. The reason for my response is to not give up hope.

Since going through this i have spoken to a lot of people and found that fertlity treatments do work for a lot of people so they are worth a shot if you are desperate.......it can be an emotional rollercoaster but if you are really keen then a positive outcome will be worth it.

Personally as much as i tried for this in the end if was unexpected and not well timed with my trip etc and i am scared out of wits ,.......i wonder if i was ever going to be prepared.

Good luck - all good things come to those that wait.

Answer 3

Honestly, basal body temp is probably your best bet. I know you said you tried it already, but I would keep doing it. It is the best way to tell when you are ovulating without purchasing an ovulation kit. I am very irregular as well and I have PCOS. So basically I typically would go months, sometimes a whole year without having a cycle. When my husband and I were trying to conceive my doctor was gracious enough to give me clomid (fertility med) because of my history. We had our first child together using that. But to much of our surprise, I conceived again shortly after having him without any help from medications! And I wasn't having my cycle then either! So just keep plugging away with the basal body temp chart. Keep calm and try to just enjoy each other and eventually, when the time is right, you will conceive. Good luck to you!

Answer 4

Try getting tested for PCOS (Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome). I had irregular periods, and then they stopped all together. AFter 5 years of no period I ruptured another cyst or a fibroid in my uterus and had a massive uterine bleed. 5 months later I was pregnant. Don't get discouraged, but find an OB/GYN that specilizes in infertility. I saw the same GYN since I was 16 and they never caught up on it, just kept telling me to lose weight. When I moved to MS, that doctor noticed the visual signs I had and after hearing my story tested me right away. She put me on Prometrium to regulate my period.

Read up on PCOS and see if you have similar signs or symptoms. They are usually abnormal hair growth on the chin and or lower abdomen, excessive weight around the mid section, fluxuating weight gain/loss...can be rapid at times. The bad thing is that this can go undiagnosed for a long time. Now that there is more out there about it more dr's are checking for it more often than not.

It seems a lot of dr's just brush you off when you have a concern. It takes time to find the right one what will work with you and for you. Get blood work done and have them check everything from your thyroid down to your ovaries. If your weight is an issue or if you are excessively over weight, try to lose some. Its not necessarily an answer, but I lost 100lb in a year and a half and after being told it would never happen it finally did.

Good luck to you, I know it is frustrating when you are trying to get pregnant and can't. But find a dr that will find out why and not brush you off.

Answer 5

I know where you are coming from I only get my periods maybe twice a year if any. I was trying to concieve for 6 years and well there alot of things I did. The fertillity doctors got really expensive for us. So we look at other options. For instance I am hispanic and well most of our grandma's always have the remedy for everything well I went to her and she said my uterus was not in the right position so she massaged it with pompay oil upward, then I got on birth control for about 8 months ( to regulate my period) after that I traveled to Galvestion to not stress about it. After intercourse I put a pillow under my lower back and picked my legs up....a few weeks later I was pregnant. My husband said it was the seafood...lol...to be honest not sure which one it was but I am happy I did all of the above. Hope I put some hope in you.

Answer 6

Just take your time and don't rush it. Stressing over trying to have a baby can actually make it harder. I tried for about a year and was on clomid (i to have irregular periods). After about a year of trying and feeling like failures we gave up. Less then a year later I was pregnant. My cousin did the same thing. They were on stronger fertility drugs and nothing happened. Then they gave up and stop stressing over it, went to Puerto Rico on vacation and got pregnant. So I believe that you should relax and make love (not thinking of trying to get pregnant) and let nature take its course. Good Luck =0)

Answer 7

Most mointors won't work if your cycles come every 6 months. If I were you, I would find a doctor that will help you find out WHY you're getting your period so infrequently. "It should happen" after a year of trying is not proper care.

I would find a better doctor. A fertility specialist. Most ob/gyn's lack the extra training that specialists have.

Answer 8

My sister-in-law swears by the ovulation method available here...

http://www.familyplanning.net/index-home.html

On the other hand, since you're irregular, you might consider going on "the pill" for a year and then quitting. It's completely anecdotal, but that seems to be a way that works.

Answer 9

To get pregnant you must have sex on a day that your eggs are being released.

After the 3rd day from the day that menses started put a thermometer into your mouth and check your body temperature every morning before you start turning in bed. (Though you did it once keep on doing it.) The best time is at about 4 a.m. Maintain a chart. You will find that on one day the body temperature drops from 1/2 degree to one degree. This is the day that your eggs are being released. If you want to get pregnant this is the day that you must have sex. Tell your husband to ejaculate on his inward thrust so that the sperms will shoot deep inside.

After having sex you must stay in bed for about 30 mins with your knees bent up with a pillow under your buttocks so that the sperms will not pour out - to enable them to travel up.

Get your husband to save his sperms in the testacles for at least 5 days before sex to enable them to mature well to do their job.

Answer 10

The more you worry the longer it will take. I was ALWAYS irregular to. But then I just calmed down and had fun trying. Just do it when ever you can, enjoy it and you will get your baby. Have faith but do NOT dwell on it.
Good Luck LOL