Some help from you knowledgeable ladies

[MiriamL]

Hi

I have been charting my cycles for awhile now as I came off the depo injection and begrudgingly realised my TTC journey could take awhile!

I am starting to see a pattern which I hope is a good sign of natural cycles but is also confusing! The last four cycles started with cycle one:25 days, cycle two: 28 days, cycle three:25 days and the fourth just started at 30 days.... Seems every second is like clock work but the other could be getting longer!!!

I also read somewhere that your ovaries don't alternate producing and each cycle is random so can someone please shed me some light as I keep hitting brick walls researching myself

TIA :-)

[[M]umma[M]ia]

Try not to look too much into your cycle length. It is well within the normal range and I know alot of people who would kill for them cycles. Rather though.. look at your lutuel phase (the 2nd half of your cycle after you ovulate). The LP doesnt change. So I would say its your ovulation day is changing. Certain things can delay/stop ovualtion such as lifestyle changes, no exercise, stress.. so on so forth. Is there any chance you could put a link to your charts in here??

An egg will pop from the largest follicle which in theroy should be from one side and then the other. But it doesnt happen like that. You cant predict which is going to release an egg unless you have become crazy (like i was) and knew everything down pat after 2 years..

Also, I think its about 3-4 months before the depo comes out of your system.. if not more. Lots of people take 12 or more months to fall pregnant after coming off that shot.. so be prepared, as much as it stinks.. you could be in for a long haul. Also.. try and give your cycles abit longer to settle into a pattern.

[MiriamL]

Thanks for the reply! Not sure how to link in my chart as it's an iPhone app, is there something to use that works on here as I have been charting since Jan so could put it all in.

Can you explain a bit more about the LP phase? I am slowly learning everything but also try to hold back on researching too much as I don't want to drive myself crazy ha

[[M]umma[M]ia]

There is a good site called Fertility Friend which is used by most people for charting cycles.

Heres some more info on the Luteal Phase etc. This should explain it abit better than I did (its easy in my head because I did it for so long lol).

Luteal Phase Of The Menstrual Cycle
In menstrual cycle, the body begins to produce follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH facilitates the formation of a follicle on one of the ovaries. The follicle contains and nurtures the egg. When a follicle has adequately matured, a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) causes the follicle to burst and release the egg into the fallopian tube – ovulation. The egg tours down the fallopian tubes towards the uterus. At this point, fertilization of the egg may take place.


Luteal Phase Of The Menstrual Cycle
When the follicle expels the egg, the follicle is now called a ‘corpus luteum’. The corpus luteum is responsible for producing the hormone progesterone – and during the luteal phase, progesterone facilitates a thickening of the uterine lining and the development of blood vessels, which gives the embryo a place to attach. During the luteal phase, the corpus luteum will produce progesterone for approximately twelve days

A female menstrual cycle has different stages. However, the Luteal phase of the menstrual cycle is one of the most important when it comes to increasing fertility and conception. In fertility and conception, luteal phase is also known as days past ovulation (DPO). At the onset of this phase, a woman produces progesterone that is responsible for making a woman’s body feel an increase in temperature (Basal Body Temperature). This is a natural mechanism of the body to create a fertile environment for the ovum – and the uterus undergoes physiological changes to sustain implantation and fetal development. The higher temperature acts like an incubator which is important in maturing a fertilised egg if conception has occurred.

In a pregnant woman, during the luteal phase the fertilized egg will travel from the fallopian tube and into the uterus for implantation. This phase normally lasts from 13-15 days. During conception, the luteal phase will last for the entire term of pregnancy until the time of giving birth.

Luteal Phase Length
The lutheal phase begins on Day 14, after your ovulation and continues throughout the menstrual cycle until Day 1 of your next period (time in a woman’s cycle between ovulation and menstruation). The luteal phase length usually remains the same. Ovulation can be delayed by a number of factors (Medication, illness, stress, heavily increased activity, etc.). Even if your ovulation period is delayed, if you know the length of your luteal phase, you will be exactly aware when will be the expected date of your menstruation period.

“I have late periods”… This is a common complaint of most women but if they were charting they would know that actually it was their ovulation being delayed and not their period.

What Can Affect the Luteal Phase Cycle?
Birth control is one of the most common things to affect the Luteal cycle. It works to suppress the production of hormones that is important for getting pregnant. As a result, the body is not suitable for pregnancy. However, if the use of birth control is discontinued, some women develop problems in increasing their hormone levels back to a high amount that is enough to result a pregnancy.

[MiriamL]

Make that October last year!