Irregular cycles...when to go see a doc?

[Anonymous]

My cycles have been irregular since going off the pill 6 months ago. When would you go to see your doctor? And what could they do to help normalize them?

[Anonymous]

Now. And see an Ob Gyn not a GP.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what you mean by "irregular." If your cycle is 28 days one month and 33 the next, that's completely normal. If it's 28 days one month and 55 the next, that could be an issue. What were your periods like before you went on birth control, and how much are they different now?

[Anonymous]

I'm the original poster. Irregular as in they are ranging from 28 to 43 days. I've been on oral contraceptives for years, but my cycles were normal and on the longish side (32-36 days) previously.

[Anonymous]

Could still be that your body is adjusting to the new "normal" after being on birth control, but at this point I might talk to a doctor to see what's up. I would guess that likely nothing is wrong - when I came off the pill after being on it for only a few years, it took about a year for my periods to be regular again. But after 6 months it couldn't hurt to have a blood draw so they can take a look and see if you've had any major hormonal changes since before going on it.

[Anonymous]

Go see your OB.

Also: how old are you?

[Anonymous]

I didn't think my cycles were irregular, and they were similar to yours. My OB said that they were irregular, and said that regular is every x (28 or whatever) days. I'd go see an RE now.

[Anonymous]

OP I had this issue, but the OBGYN didn't do anything. I'm now at the RE, but had to wait to TTC for a year before I could get a referral. I have PCOS.

[Anonymous]

Go to your gYN now. It's a classic sign of pcos and you may need help concieving.

[Anonymous]

Are you tracking your fertility at all? Temping, cm? Those cycles don't alarm me, but I guess seeing an re wouldn't hurt. And generally speaking, ob's don't know anything about how to get pregnant. If you're concerned, just go to an re.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm 33 and otherwise very healthy. No signs of PCOS. I don't have an OB or RE, I usually see midwives. Not sure that matters or not...

I wasn't too concerned about the irregularity after reading TCOYF and the Expecting Better book, since those made it sound like it can take a while for cycles to regulate post pill. And I am temping and charting and am definitely ovulating based on the OPKs. But now I am worried.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I'm 33 and otherwise very healthy. No signs of PCOS. I don't have an OB or RE, I usually see midwives. Not sure that matters or not...

I wasn't too concerned about the irregularity after reading TCOYF and the Expecting Better book, since those made it sound like it can take a while for cycles to regulate post pill. And I am temping and charting and am definitely ovulating based on the OPKs. But now I am worried.

Not to say that you do or don't have PCOS, but the only sign that I had it was irregular cycles. I've never had weight issues, no acne, no insulin resistance, none of the other signs. After 8 months off of BC and irregular cycles the entire time, my OB diagnosed PCOS through blood work and an ultrasound, and promptly sent me straight to an RE.

[Anonymous]

I had regular cycles then suddenly began getting irregular periods. I went into my OB pretty soon, and they confirmed I had PCOS. They looked at my blood levels and did an ultrasound.