Is it possible to naturally ovulate with a long cycle?

Question

I have PCOS. Though I don't have any symptoms other than a longer than usual cycle. I'm not overweight. my cycle is usually around 41 days. I have just started charting temps so I can't be sure if I have routine temp shifts or anything. I've read that women that have cycles longer than 35 days don't ovulate regularly. Is this true? I have been taking metformin for the last couple of months. I'm on day 20 of my cycle and haven't yet seen any kind of major shift (though there have been a lot of factors that could have altered my bbt )

And that's my second question... How much will drinking alcohol the night before or room temperature alter your basal body temps in the morning?

Answer 1

it's possible to ovulate, you might be ovulating very late on your cycle though so keep testing, you should see a doctor to take meds such as Clomid to regulate your cycle...it'll help you a lot, you can also ask a doctor online for free for advice, try fertilityties.com

good luck!

Answer 2

It's not impossible to ovulate with a long cycle- but it's very unpredictable, and you're probably not ovulating regularly.

I have a friend with PCOS who needed injectables to conceive her first, and then she decided that she wouldn't prevent pregnancy and just see what happened. After 18 months, she was pregnant. So it is possible, but it could take a long time, and it might never happen. If you're serious about getting pregnant, you would do well to seek some assistance in the form of Clomid or another ovulation drug.

As to whether or not drinking will affect your temp- I have no idea. Maybe you could try www.tcoyf.com and check there.

Good luck

Answer 3

I read a lot about this when I came of BCP because my cycle was anywhere from 40-55 days.  It ended up I had more issues and my cycles are now in the 31-32 range but through my reading I learned that there are women who ovulate with a normally long cycle like yours.  My fertility doctor told me that the most reliable method to know for sure is to chart your temps, this will tell you a lot.  If you have a temperature shift that stays up for a full luteal phase (at least 13 days) then it's just normal for you and you're cycling.  

The alcohol question, I use to think it did raise my morning temps and after 18 months of charting I think a few (1-3) drinks doesn't but more does.  

Good luck!

Answer 4

Your most likely ovulation date is 14 days before your next expected period. So in your case, you should look for the BBT spike to occur around CD27 (more or less). If you're very regularly 41 days long, you might like to try doing an OPK this month; start testing around CD22. That, combined with charting temps and monitoring cervical mucus, should give you a good idea if you're ovulating properly. Very helpful information to know if you ever need to go to a specialist.

Drinking alcohol can make your temps unnaturally high and give you a false BBT spike. I'd avoid it from around 1 weeks before you think you might be ovulating, until you get the natural spike and sustained 3 high temps which indicates ovulation. Finally, be sure to chart online at http://www.fertilityfriend.com. I was charting with paper and pen for 8 months before I realised I was doing it all wrong. FF.com will stop that form happening! And no, I'm not stupid .... I was analysing the data OK, but not taking enough factors into consideration over time (ie: not seeing trend over several months)

Answer 5

I have cycles that are generally 42 days. There doesn't seem to be any particular reason, they have just gone that way. I spent 2 years trying to get pregnant before I used ovulation tests through my entire cycle and found I ovulated 4 weeks after the first day of my last period. Once I found that out I fell pregnant both times....however I have yet to carry to term.