Irregular Cycles & Infertility After Birth Control - Seeking Advice

Question
Hello Sarah!  My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a year now with no luck. I had a loss last year @ 8wks (Dec 2007), so I *am* able to conceive, but I'm worried about it staying next time :( I am seeing an ObGYN (just finishing up testing to see if something hormonal is causing infertility). Hopefully she will have some answers but I thought I would ask here too. Ive noticed since going off birth control (april 2007) my cycles seem to alternate between a 31 day cycle and a 36 to 40 day cycle (the long one varies in length, the short one is ALWAYS 31 days).  I used OPKs for the past two months, and while both showed a definite surge on cycle days 19 and 20, on my shorter cycle my menses started on day 31. That would make my luteal phase only 10 days? Im waiting to see if this cycle is in fact my longer one, I had the positive OPK on cycle day 19 again. I'm not sure if I have an LPD, or if im not ovulating every month or if maybe nothing really is wrong after all. I always get my period but it's just odd that it alternates like that.  Any thoughts? Ive also been fairly stressed out since my loss last year, and only now am I finally feeling back to normal emotionally..so I wonder if that could have been contributing to our lack of luck. Thanks for your thoughts on this :)

Answer
Dear Tam,

It can certainly be a stressful time coping with a miscarriage and this can influence your cycles as well as the amount of time it takes to get pregnant again.  I know this on a personal level.  It seems like your cycles are not yet quite back to being regular, which they usually do resume a typical pattern after 3-6 months.  It's good that you're seeing your doctor about this, as they may need to prescribe something to correct the lengthy cycles and short luteal phase, as this will make it difficult to maintain a pregnancy.  I am also of the belief that it will happen when your body is in a state to allow it to happen, meaning not stressed out.  I'm sure it will help that you are finally back to feeling well emotionally.  Best of luck.