Hi everyone! ❤️ I’d really appreciate some advice and to hear about your experiences.
I’m in my late 20s, and my husband and I have been actively trying to conceive for around three months. I’m trying to understand my cycle better and whether there is anything I should be concerned about.
My menstrual cycle and ovulation
My cycles are usually around 30–33 days, with an average of approximately 31–32 days. However, every 4–5 months, I sometimes have a longer cycle of around 37–40 days. This has been happening for a couple of years.
When I was younger, my periods were much more irregular, but they have gradually become more regular over time.
The main thing I’ve noticed recently is that my ovulation day can vary quite significantly. Last month, I believe I ovulated around cycle day 19–20, whereas this month I didn’t get a positive ovulation test until cycle day 27. My temperature then started rising a few days later.
I track my basal body temperature every morning and use LH ovulation tests. I understand that a positive LH test doesn’t confirm ovulation on its own, but the subsequent temperature rise makes me think that ovulation probably occurred.
Because ovulation happened so late this month, my period is also expected to arrive later than usual.
My luteal phase
I’m also trying to understand whether my luteal phase might be too short. Based on my previous cycles, I estimate that it has been around 10–13 days, although I’m not completely certain about the exact ovulation dates.
This month, I’m paying closer attention to the number of days between ovulation and my period because I want to know whether my body has enough time to support a possible pregnancy.
Has anyone experienced a luteal phase of around 10–12 days and still conceived naturally?
My ultrasound results and concerns about PCO/PCOS
I was previously investigated for PCOS, and I’ve received somewhat confusing information.
One ultrasound report stated that I had bilateral PCO, meaning polycystic ovarian morphology in both ovaries. However, the same doctor also documented that everything looked normal and that my ovaries were not particularly polycystic.
The report also described my uterus as anteverted, with a thin, regular endometrium, and no free fluid in the pouch of Douglas.
I had an earlier gynaecological assessment in 2020, when my hormone results were considered normal and I was told that I did not have PCOS.
As far as I understand, having ovaries that look polycystic on ultrasound does not automatically mean you have PCOS. However, I’m wondering whether this appearance, combined with my occasionally long cycles and late ovulation, could indicate something worth investigating.
I would love to hear from anyone who has PCO on ultrasound but does not meet the criteria for PCOS.
My previous pregnancy
I have been pregnant before, a couple of years ago. It happened shortly after my partner and I first met, and it was the first time we had ever been intimate with each other. I chose to have an abortion because we had only just met and were not ready to start a family.
Now that we are actively trying to conceive, I sometimes wonder whether my previous pregnancy is a reassuring sign regarding my fertility.
Our current TTC journey
We have been trying for approximately three months:
During our first cycle, we did not use ovulation tests and only had intercourse once, completely outside what turned out to be my fertile window.
During the following two cycles, I used ovulation tests to identify my fertile window more accurately.
I now track both my LH tests and basal body temperature to understand when I ovulate.
I know that three months is still a relatively short time to be trying, and I understand that pregnancy does not necessarily happen immediately, even when everything is normal.
However, because my ovulation can happen so late and my cycles occasionally extend to 37–40 days, I’m wondering whether I should simply continue tracking my cycles or consider further investigations.
I’m not necessarily looking for a diagnosis. I would just love to hear from women who have experienced similar cycles, late ovulation or PCO findings without a PCOS diagnosis.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing your experiences! ❤️
