35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Maybe I'm being naive but I'm wondering if we have a shot of conceiving without using meds. From being on this board I've learned that you girls know quite a bit about how this all works so I was hoping for some opinions/info.

Here goes:
Dx with PCOS at age 26, rarely got my period, but it was normal the 15 years prior

At age 32 we decided to try for a DC so we went straight to the RE. I was not ovulating naturally and rarely got a period.

We conceived DS on our 1st cycle - Metformin, Clomid, Ovidrel, back to back IUI's, and Crinone

Fast forward to now. Since having DS 3 years ago I get my period pretty regularly, about 35 day cycles (this last month was 40, no idea why!) Went to the RE and had a monitored cycle. Turns out that I did ovulate on my own this past month and the month before. Since I was monitored this last month I know that I started to produce 2 eggs, 1 on each side. One stopped growing at 12mm but the other was 16.5 at my last sono and bloods and was told by RE to BD that night bc I was going to ovulate. Blood tests confirmed that I ovulated again.

When I got the call from RE the receptionist said that I had ovulated but that it was an abnormal cycle since it was 40 days long. Was told to make an apptmt for a consult since the cycle was over to go over meds/protocol.

I'm wondering since I am ovulating on my own, is it possible for us to conceive on our own? Or does this whole "abnormal cycle" thing mean more than I realize.

If you got this far, thanks. I'm just wondering if we should use OPK's and see what happens. I'm sort of reluctant to go on meds but will of course if its deemed I need to.

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Yes. Though I have chosen to go the IVF road for age and recurrent losses, my cycles when I conceived DS naturally were 42-44 days and the same when I conceived naturally again after that but had a m/c at 6 weeks.
I was 32 when I conceived DS and I was 36 when I conceived again naturally.
Also, before IVF but after my first m/c my RE monitored me for IUI's and I would Ovulate usually around day 30 with a 15 day LP to = a 45 day cycle. Often my RE would want to bring on my period with provera saying I wasn't going to Ovulate but I always did. OPK's worked for me but I only would get a for one day and I had to use FMU because my body would surge during the day when most women surge in the evening.

Message edited 11/19/2012 6:36:13 PM.

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Totally possible. If you are ovulating and there are no sperm issues then no reason why you couldn't (well in theory anyway lol). It might take a little while but it can/does happen. Good luck!

35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

completely possible. as long as you ovulate you can conceive. the only issue with longer cycles is that eggs that take too long to mature can become "old" and thus increase the risk of being damaged or abnormal. however 35-40 days is like borderline normal/long so i wouldn't be too concerned with that. if you are 35+ though you may already have compromised eggs so if anything i would just make sure your FSH is normal and you aren't anywhere near early menopause (hormone-level wise). assuming all testing comes back normal i dont see why you couldn't conceive normally if you can consistently track ovulation.

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Posted by gina409

Posted by BaseballWidow

Totally possible. If you are ovulating and there are no sperm issues then no reason why you couldn't (well in theory anyway lol). It might take a little while but it can/does happen. Good luck!

ita and i do not know why they would say bc cycle is 40 days it was abnormal

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Hope you dont mind me crashing this board. I have always had long cycles (30+ days) and, although I've never been officially diagnosed, always thought I might have pcos. In any case, I conceived my perfectly healthy daughter on CD 31, so it is entirely possible to do. I know it isn't the norm, but it does happen. GL!

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Re: 35-40 day cycles - is it possible to conceive w/out RE help (LONG)

Definitely possible. My friend swears acupuncture helped her conceive. Her cycles were always long and irregular. The acupuncturist told her when she was about to ovulate and she conceived her son. She said she'll definitely go back for #2.