Cycle length?

*krista* · #1 January 25th, 2009, 08:53 AM

I have been reading up on cycle length and fertility. Does anyone know the "healthy" range for cycle lengths? I can't find anything about it.

FF says my average cycle length is 37 days, longest is 45, and shortest was 29 (but I didn't O that cycle). I would say my average cycle length with ovulation is more like 38 or 39 days. I'm wondering if I should see a doctor about it.

*JenJen* · #2 January 25th, 2009, 09:49 AM

as long as you LP is consistent, I don't think it really matters. I've had anywhere from 21 days(anovulatory) to 92 days(anovulatory), and from 27 days to 48 days ovulatory. From what my OB says, anywhere between 21 and 35 days is considered average/normal now, so I'd say as long as you are near those numbers no reason to worry, just ask next time you are in/.

petalfuzz · #3 January 25th, 2009, 10:59 AM

Yeah, I heard that the total length doesn't matter as long as your luteal phase is within 1-2 days for the average. Normal for you is just that--normal for you! My cycles are 29-34 with an average of 30 (according to FF, anyway). But my luteal phase is always 14, once in a while it'll be 13.

**jessie** · #4 January 25th, 2009, 11:10 AM

My cycles were just as long as yours (high 30's on up to low 40's) and I went in and asked my doctor about it. This was about 5 months after stopping BC (implant). At that time, he said yes they were a little longer than normal, but to just give it more time. Ummm, 5 months off BC seemed long enough to me. Anyway, I went back after 9 month for another reason, but I brought this up again. I had a woman doctor this time and she said that seemed a bit too long. She suggested BCPs which I balked at. I ended up going on them because we were not ttc at that point and I had to go on another medication that was teratogenic. I took pills for 3 months. After coming off them, I have had normal cycle lengths... 30, 31 and 33 days. This cycle should be 29 days if I'm not preggo. So, I never found out whether long cycles are indeed abnormal or what caused them. I guess if you are Oing consistently and have a normal LP then it should be possible to get pregnant. I have heard that later ovulations tend to be less fertile than earlier ones, but I don't know if thats a myth or the truth.

A*LOT*OF*HOPE · #5 January 25th, 2009, 12:09 PM

My cycles were really long, like 45-120 days!! My Dr didn't like that, as it most likely meant for me that they were anovulatory!! As long as your are O'ing and your LP is consistant, you should be fine!!! My cycles now are 32 days and my Dr couldn't be happier!!

soImarriedAnerd · #6 January 25th, 2009, 04:43 PM

ditto to what everyone else said....normal LP with ovulation is the bigger concern.

*krista* · #7 January 25th, 2009, 07:53 PM

Thanks so much for your help ladies! I read something in a google search that said something about the egg not being healthy after a delayed O, which is what got me thinking. But, I didn't know how credible it was, so I thought I would ask the experts (that's you). I didn't know anything about the consistant LP. Ugh, I'm just so stressed about this cycle!

#8 January 25th, 2009, 08:20 PM

I am going to go against the grain and say that if you take a while to conceive and start to feel uncomfortable about it, that you should get it checked out. I have always had a normal 14 day LP, but since I consistently ovulated late (if at all) egg quality was a concern. I too thought I was fine b/c I had a normal LP, but after seeing an RE it turns out this was not the case. Everyone is different though, so don't freak thinking you automatically have major issues. From past chemicals and some other factors my doctor thought that egg quality was a factor and that is why I took fertility drugs even though I do ovulate (irregularly). Sure enough, this bean was from a record breaking CD 16 ovulation--earliest ever in my life. I do see lots of women online get preggo with long cycles though, so I wouldn't worry but keep it in mind that for some it can be an issue

*krista* · #9 January 26th, 2009, 06:07 AM

Michelle, if you don't mind me asking, what was your typical cycle length range before the fertility meds? (Feel free to PM me if you don't want to post about it.)

I'm on CD 27 and still no O. FF thinks I have, but I'm pretty sure it's wrong. I've never had LP temps this low before. Silly FF. At this rate, this cycle will be 40+ days. I know I could have worse problems, but at the very least this is incredibly annoying! I'm O'ing when most ladies are taking their pregnancy tests.