What is really happening in there?

Jilla · 12-10-2007, 06:34 PM

So, I've long had pcos, but it was well managed for a decade with the help of the pill. Almost a year off the pill, my body has resumed its 'natural' course or so to speak, which means infrequent periods and longer cycles than "normal". Interestingly enough, in the months after the pill, my body still managed to get a period every 30 - 34 days. Then, about two months ago, my cycles started to get longer and are now averaging 42 to 56 days. In fact, my body has basically returned to where I was before I ever took the pill. I suspect I will have some cycles that stretch out into the 70-day period as I used to.

I think I may be ovulating around 28 days based on some symptoms. However, I started to wonder what on earth is my body doing in those 28 days or so leading up to ovulation. Is it just standing still and doing nothing? Is it actually doing what it is supposed to do, but at a much slower rate than normal? I guess I'm trying to find out what it happening in there since it seems to take me double the amount of time to ovulate and get my period then what's considered "normal". Does anyone know? How do you find out whether you are even ovulating at all?

Thanks for any insight!

Laura32 · 12-11-2007, 04:38 AM

I am newly diagnosed, so I don't know the answers to what's happening down there(nothing at all, or business as usual at a slower rate) but my doctor advised me to wait until I knew I was NOT ovulating, such as right after a period (or even during, I guess) and take a OPK (ovulation predictor kit, he recommended Clear Blue or Clear Plan, but anyway, just the ones with the two lines, like an HPT) to see whether or not you will get a false positive, due to elevated LH levels. If I don't get a false positive, then I should be able to use OPKs to tell if and when I ovulate. One word of warning was that Clomid can give you a false positive, so if you're on it wait at least three days after last pill to use OPKs. Lots of ladies chart their basal body temp, I am waiting till I get up to my recommended Metformin dose to even start thinking about that, since it won't help me anyway if I never ovulate. Good luck, I'm going to keep checking back here to see what others say.

isenephthys · 12-11-2007, 10:26 AM

it sounds like you are right back where you started. when you stop taking the pill, eventually your cycle will gradually lengthen as your hormone levels become abnormal again. i would go see an endo, get a full set of labs drawn and consider getting back on the pill.