My PCPs advise re: long cycle. Input welcome!!!

[mouth1978]

So I'm on cycle day 57 of an annovatory cycle (I temp) so I go to my PCP yesterday and all my labs are normal. Her recommendation is to go on birth control for 3 months to help regulate my cycles... I am on the fence about this. I am 36 years old and want to ttc in June and am afraid my fertility may be affected by birth control. All previous cycles in past year I have ovulated...but cycles have been getting longer (32, 37, 43 days)

Thoughts? Should I just wait and see since we aren't actively ttc right now or go for the BC?

[becwheat]

Does he know you are TTC in the near future? Did he discuss other options?

[mainewifey]

I personally wouldn't go on BCP to regulate your cycles. What happens when you come off them? Chances are your cycles will become irregular again. I personally would just stick with temping, since you have ovulated on all of your previous cycles. Especially since you aren't TTC right now.

[cateyes]

How many cycles have you had that are long? If this is the first, I would say to ask about Provera. 7 or 10 days is usually enough to induce a period and then you can see if things adjust on their own. I wouldn't jump straight to BCP.

Edit:missed the last sentence

[joy]

Just my initial feeling: I'd balk at bcps. I'd try Provera and see what the next cycle brings.

[JulietRose]

I was super irregular before bcp and afterward I still was. BCP isn't always the answer to making cycles regular. I would do what the PP said and stick to temping.

[Rama]

Long cycles are my specialty, thanks to BCP (CD83/maybe CD1, what what!!). I'd avoid them and ask for Provera this cycle and see how the next one fares. I don't think a single anovulatory cycle is something that needs to be taken super seriously, they just happen sometimes.

Keep up the temping and hopefully you ovulate next time! :)

[Unknown]

I've had annovulatory cycles and because we are TTC I have never been given the option to go back on BCP. I've always been given Provera. Like PP's have mentioned just keep temping.

[getzystark]

FWIW I had terribly irregular cycles as a teen and was put on BCP. I wasn't sexually active so I was horrible about taking them, but they did "regulate me."

When I went to college, I went off BCP and had a period every 3-4 months maybe but didn't care because "wheeeee no periods!"

I was on nuva ring for a short period after college and then an IUD for 4 years recently.

Now I'm off everything for 6 months and I still have irregular periods.

TL;DR I'd follow the PPs' advice and do provera before "regulating" with BCPs.

[anonymouseliza]

What the others have said. Provera first, imo.

Out of curiousity, what tests were run?

[sunfrogger88]

I agree with all pp's. Make sure you tell the dr you will be ttc soon!

[bunnyfungo]

In general BCP will regulate your cycle while you're on them. Which is not helpful for you since you're trying to conceive. You said this was your PCP. Have you seen your OB? You also said you were TTC in June, are you TTA until then?

Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get an idea of where you're at. Especially since you said you were 36 and my advice would be different depending on how long you've been TTC.

[squeakyduck]

I'd get a second opinion. PCPs aren't GYNs. It's one thing to see a pcp for a well woman exam, but this is a gynecology issue.

Although, FWIW, I had irregular cycles before bcp and regular after. But I was a teen, and teens often have irregular cycles, so I may have just outgrown them.

[mouth1978]

My fiancé and I want to start ttc in June. We aren't ttc right now.

[gdaisy09]

Echoing PPs. I was put on BCPs in college to regulate my irregular cycles. and I was very regular on BCP (seriously I could count on AF to show-up between 2 and 4 pm on the tuesday in the placebo week). the two time's I've come off BCPs I have been extremely irregular. I came of BCPs in March of last year and my cycles since then have been 176 days, 90 days, 70 days, and 50 days. the 50 day cycle ended with Provora, when I took the provora I had not yet ovulated that cycle. however this cycle seems to be shorter, I O'ed on CD29.

TL;DR try the Provora first.

[ghostmonkey]

Being adamant that I go back on BCPs to regulate my hormones and fix my cycles was one of the reasons I left my old OB. My current OB and eventually my RE agreed that is an extremely outdated way to handle this for someone that is or will soon be TTC.

[kellybenelly83]

Feb 6, 2015 13:24:22 GMT -5 mouth1978 said:

My fiancé and I want to start ttc in June. We aren't ttc right now.

yup, we caught that the first time, but what you didnt answer was if you told your DR you were planning on TTC ? Did he offer you any alternatives? I would start with the provera first and go from there.