Long Metrual Cycle

How long have you been off bc or IUD? It can take a really long time to get regular after having a baby and after coming off of birth control. I didn't start taking anything after giving birth to my son that is turning 2 next month and I am just now starting to get regular again.

I'm going to be 35 in September so I've got some years on you, but my cycle has gotten longer since my second was born 21 months ago too. It was always 28-29 days before and after my oldest child was born, and now it's more like 33-34. To make matters worse, the PMS I get now is FAR worse than before, and with a longer cycle, the torture just goes on forever!! My doctor is not concerned, she said they just look for regularity of some sort, so if you are longer but consistently longer in your cycle, that's okay. Some women are just like this. It might be your new normal! I am of the opinion that nothing ever really goes back to the way it was before after having kids!! Don't worry too much about secondary infertility until you deal with the HPV - one step at a time. You are so young and even if there was an issue, you at least can deal with it and resolve it and move forward in an acceptable amount of time. Think of it that way when you get worried! I know it's hard to have a lot of unknowns, but hang in there and rest assured that you will get to the bottom of it!

I had issues after having my son as well. I actually was bleeding for a very long time and having a period every 2 weeks. My dr said it was hormonal and this was still going on until my son was 2. I am now on a BC pill called micronor which is a progesteron only...no hormones! And my period is back on a decent schedule. This pill is supposed to lighten your periods and eventually make them go away. There are no sugar pills so u are taking one everyday and you could have your period anytime in that pack of pills but it has still made a tremendous difference. I, too, went 35 days without a period this past month. Dont worry. And good luck!

Hi J.
I had very irregular periods and calcifications in my breasts. I am 55 and had severe clotting and almost had to have uterine ablation. Also used to have severe PMS issues and cramping. I have been taking Reliv nutrition plus their soysentials product and I have had relief with PMS, cramping moodiness no more calcifications and hot flashes.I no longer suffer with the clotting either. My friend also came off of HRT and has great results. I feel secure in my choice because it is safe and it works.
J. H

Hi-

While I am not a doctor or have any medical training, I am a holistic health counsellor and can recommend a few things for you to try.

I think your long history of using bc pills might have predisposed you to having some hormonal imbalances. When you couple this with stress, you can see changes in the menstrual cycle. How well do you sleep?? How much sleep do you get??? What is your diet like?? Do you eat alot of processed foods?

I would recommend you try to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night. I know with a little one that this can be challenging, but the more sleep you get the better.

I would try to eat a diet rich in vegetables, high quality fats and proteins and whole grains. I recommend coconut oil and butter. And meat from local farms with grass based diets. Avoid meat from CAFO's. You should also be taking a good quality fish oil. I like the brand Nordic Natural, but Carlsson's is widely available and of good quality.

I would be happy to offer more ideas, but try these first.

Good luck.
Mara Hahan

This happened to my sister a year or so after having her son. Her doctor did a "full panel" (not sure exactly what that means), but they determined that she was pre-diabetic with very high levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone. She is a bit overweight, but nothing near the weight they usually see when someone is pre-diabetic. They determined that the cause was genetic.

The first thing she did was lose 20 pounds, which was really difficult because estrogen dominance tends to make you gain weight. Losing the weight actually caused her hormones to become a bit more balanced. She got pregnant, but miscarried. They suspect it was a hormonal issue that caused the miscarriage.

Now she is taking medication to address the hormones and watching her sugar & carb intake to address the diabetes. (She does want to have another child.)

I hope this info was helpful - best of luck!
C.

J.,
My cycle got longer after the birth of my first daughter 7 years ago. My ob told me that this was normal because a cycle can go anywhere from 28-35 days. With the birth of my second child 8 months ago, again my cycle got longer yet again. My ob still assures me that this is nothing to worry about. It is more of a pain because you never know when to expect it too start.

I would definitely followup with your OB/GYN. Something certainly has changed.

I have to say my cycle totally changed after having our son 12 years ago. I had a lot more spotting between periods and they became more unpredictable timing-wise. I became more moody and tired which, along with other symptoms, pointed to thyroid...but that was fine, like yours.

Your BC pills and IUD could be changing things. You might want to talk with your doctor about whether or not any of that should be changed.

Also, any chance of an infection or polyp? I was hospitalized two different times in the past year for an abscess in the fallopian tube and ovary. They caused a lot of spotting and pain when they were at their worst. One side was removed, the other was controlled with antibiotics. But we suspect I was living with some sort of infection for years in my internal cavities. It wasn't any kind of STD, just some weird infection. Unfortunately, they didn't identify what the specific cause was.

If you've got the moodiness, that sounds like hormonal imbalance of some sort. (You're too young for this, but I have two close friends who went through menopause in their early to mid-30s! So anything is possible!)

Any vitamin deficiencies like D or anything else?

That's about all I can think of at this point. Good luck and let us know if you come up with any answers.