[AngelSmiles]

Okay, I've read other posts where some of you have irregular cycles but I've not ran in to anyone who has experienced the same issues as I have, so I'm putting this out there to see if anyone is in the same boat as me, and if anyone can offer some suggestions. First of all, my DH and I will be seeing an RE for the first time in just a few months to discuss options for an IUI (If that's what we're told is necessary for us). I went to a regular ob/gyn who put me on Clomid for six months. I was successful at ovulating on Clomid, but not successful at getting pregnant. I feel like my DH and I have not had the chance at conceiving naturally. What I mean by that is I don't ovulate on my own, nor do I cycle on my own. I literally have not had a period in over six months. As a matter of fact, my last AF was the last month after taking the clomid. I've not had AF since. I feel like if there was something I could take to make my cycles normal every single month, we could conceive naturally without having to pay the high costs for fertility treatments (since we don't have insurance). I've tried everything I've read online. I've tried Vitex, FertilityBlend, Ovulex, Fertility Teas, and an array of vitamins I've been told work but nothing has helped bring on AF. So my question is, does anyone else suffer from extremely long cycles, and have you been diagnosed and treated? If so, what were your treatments and diagnosis? Also, is there anything I can take other then the things I've mentioned having already tried, that will help bring on AF? And last but not least, is there any major dangers in not having AF monthly?

Oh and just so you know, I've been tested for PCOS, and I don't have it. I've been to two different ob/gyn's and neither seemed concerned that I don't have AF and neither offered suggestions on how to "fix" the problem. They just prescribed me provera and sent me on my way. I am overweight but had this same issue before I packed on the pounds. And I am a smoker. I know, I know, stop smoking...heard ya. LOL My AF's became non-existant after I stopped taking BCP's about six years ago.

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[AllyBourbeau]

I am in your same situation. I get AF about once or twice a year. I have gone as long as 3 years without a period. There is no reason you HAVE to have a period each month but obviously if you're TTC you need a period. I am underweight which is why I don't ever get AF. I tried Provera for six months and it worked once. I have always been told that gaining weight will help but even after gaining 15 lbs it didn't come back. We tried all the supplements and vitamins but no luck. We are doing our first IUI at the end of this month. I am a little skeptical b/c nothing has really helped me ovulate before but my doctor is very optimistic! When is your first appt with an RE? Mine was back in February I think and we are just now onto the IUI step. The months went by SO slowly! I have no advice on how to go about this without fertility treatments cause nothing worked for me. Start saving!!

[AngelSmiles]

We haven't scheduled our first appointment yet. I might be losing my job over the next couple of weeks so we're kinda waiting to see what happens with that before we schedule. Have you tried Clomid? I was able to ovulate on that. It's crazy that you took provera for so long and only had AF once. Wow!! Provera always worked for me. It's nice to know I'm not the only one in this boat though. I'll be anxious to find out how the IUI works out for ya.

[sarahelaine57]

I had my first period when I was 17, by 18 I stopped having them, and have never ovulated on my own. Clomid did help me ovulate but no pregnancy from that, I have heard that clomid can thin your lining so that may have been my issue. I got preggo after using gonal-f and IUI #3. I was never told by my doc for sure that I have PCOS but I have some of the symptoms, but the tests point to that. I have also heard that raspberry leaf tea can help with your reproductive system, not sure if it will help with ovulation. I would say your best bet at this point would be to try and save up for fertility treatments or ask your RE what they suggest to get you to ovulate naturally. One option for you may be to look into being in a trial study because I believe you either dont pay for it or it is at a reduced rate. ALso sometimes people will donate medication that they didnt use, I did this when I got my BFP, I had almost two full boxes of gonal-f left and donated it to my doctor's office and they gave it to someone who didn't have insurance. Keep thinking positive and do lots of research, you just might find something that would work for you. Good luck and hope you see that BFP soon!

[wtnganother1]

Until you meet with your RE and go through testing, etc, you won't know what you're up against exactly. I've had irregular cycles most of my life. Progesterone kept them regular, but I needed help to ovulate. Clomid made me ovulate, but I didn't get pregnant. Injections worked right away for us. We didn't need IUI. But, do start saving the $$. There's expense involved, even if you get some donor meds.

[pol79princess]

Originally Posted by AngelSmiles

Oh and just so you know, I've been tested for PCOS, and I don't have it. I've been to two different ob/gyn's and neither seemed concerned that I don't have AF and neither offered suggestions on how to "fix" the problem.

What tests have you had done? I'm guessing bloodwork, ultrasound, HSG? When I first turned to my OBGYN with no periods, no pregnancy issues, he said that I don't fit the profile of someone with PCOS (other than no periods and no ovulation). Then, when I first spoke to an RE, she told me right away that it is definitely PCOS. An ultrasound showed tons of empty follicles sitting around, and my LH levels were elevated, all pointing to PCOS...

[AllyBourbeau]

I haven't taken clomid yet. We are just jumping right in to it with clomid, bravelle, ovidrel, iui, and progesterone. I am really hoping everything goes according to plan. If they can just get me to have AF and ovulate I will be happy... But if I get a baby too I'll be even happier!!

[southernbelle]

I currently am on provera to keep my cycles regular.

[vacantsea]

A lot of your story sounds like a page out of my own book!

I don't even know what a normal cycle is outside of birth control or Provera! I first started random spotting in my teens but never had a "period." In my twenties I had irregular bleeding for a few years.

Birth control worked like a charm and helped me for once in my life to not feel like a freak because my lady parts didn't work!

I've had PCOS thrown at me several times and I think it's finally the consensus that yes, I do have it. I've had a normal ultrasound and several sets of normal blood work, but every doctor who takes a look at me says I have it. No use arguing anymore!

Provera, when I’ve used it, has worked sporadically. My new OB/Gyn recommends that once I’m not trying to conceive I only use it once every few months to prevent any possible buildup. Last time I took it monthly and that might have been why I was having difficulty.

It took me a long time to find a doctor that cared about my lack of period. My NP said “This isn’t right and we need to do something about it.” and I almost cried! In the years that I’ve been working on my health it was the first time someone actually cared about my menstrual health! She wasted no time in referring me to a fabulous Ob/Gyn (my previous experience was AWFUL!) who asked me flat out what I was looking for. I said “I want to have normal periods.” He was very honest with me and said by the way I’ve described my history it’s not likely that I’ll ever be “normal” but we can work at keeping me healthy in that department and restoring my fertility.

I wish you the best of luck, AngelSmiles!

[wannabmom1979]

Hi I just wanted to let you know I have the same situation I was 16 the first time I had got AF and am now 30 and have only had 9 AF in my life and 8 of them was from Provera to try and induce AF.Nothing else works for me and sometimes even on Provera AF doesnt come so I too know how incredibly frustrating it is .I have been with my now husband for 8+ years and have never prevented getting pregnant and I never did until we started the whole fertility thing.I did a few cycles of Menopur with TTC naturally and always had and then the last cycle we added IUI and finally got my and unfortunatly lost him at 18 weeks .Its only been 3 weeks and I am ready to try again and am going to see my RE in Aug. to discuss whether to do Menopur cycles and try naturally or go right to the IUI.I also have been tested for PCOS and its negative and have had every other test done to see why I dont ovulate and the only thing they found was my body doesnt produce enough Progesterone so I had to take Prometrium supplements before and 12 weeks after I became pregnant.I hope we all get our so I am sending .

[pumpkin.pie.2008]

You sound a lot like me! I rarely get periods on my own (sometimes only once or twice a year). Doctors have always gone back and forth on the PCOS diagnosis. My RE says I do have PCOS; however, i do not have cysts on my ovaries, nor am I overweight. But the doctor felt that the other issues I had meant that I fell under the PCOS category (few periods, excess hair, hormonal irregularities, etc).

Regardless, the main thing keeping us from conceiving was the fact that I wasn't ovulating. It's great that you did ovulate with Clomid. I only ovulated once in 4 cycles of Clomid. The doctors felt they could definitely do better, as I had tons of follicles with potential on both ovaries. It was when I switched from Clomid to Follistim and did my first IUI that we got our BFP.

If you are ovulating and there still hasn't been a pregnancy, perhaps there is something else keeping sperm and egg apart. Has your husband been tested?

You will probably have a much better sense once you meet with your RE.

[Garver30]

Hey! Im in the same boat as you. I never had a regular cycle but I did manage to get pregnant and have our 2 year old daughter naturally and the doctors were kind of confused. Since having her I have not had a cycle on my own in over 2 years and have been doing fertility treatments for a few months. We also found out that my husband has low morphology so we started to get a little down. I did one round of clomid and got pregnanct but had a m/c at 6 weeks so my RE wanted me to do a round of Bravelle Injections and right now we are just waiting for the pregnancy test. Unlike you we are lucky enough to have tricare since my hubby is active duty int he Army. I wish you the best of luck through everything!

[dylansmommy]

wow i too wanted to state i have a lot of similiarities to all of you altho af was never consistent for me when i was younger i would get her 6 or more times a year howeverin the2 years before my ds was conceived I had completely stopped my cycle no idea why and already knew i had problems so i didn't worry about it my ob/gyn knew about it and wasn't terribly concerned just said go on bcp (um no) and boom i wound up pregnant..they said i must have ovulated spontaneously and miracles do happen(i will attest to that) after his birth same old no af asked my ob/gyn they said don't worry you just gave birth (um over a year ago) and you have time(ok i'm 30 but the clock is still ticking) so I took matters into my own hands and found an re who after my first u/s said "has anyone diagnosed you with pcos" lol sound familiar..course the only parts of it i have are lots and lots of follies and high lh..they also diagnosed me as hypothyroidism..they have been using provera in 5 day doses to induce af and it usually works 2-4 days(for me anyhow) after i stop taking them ...clomid has helped me ovulate on the 100 mg dose i hope it does so again...I don't know what to tell you with regulating yourself naturally i have read things about red raspberry leaf also I have tried fertilaid and red raspberry leaf to no avail..you should be careful with taking herbs without someone who knows all about it..at least discuss this with your dr. sometimes herbs can have interactions with other medicines or conditions...in the last 6 years i have probably had 4-5 natural af ..two of which ocurred this year after stopping provera. I hope you learn more about yourself with the help of your re and good luck in your quest for momhood
good luck
naomi