I am 38 years old and have been diagnosed with unexplained IF but was able to conceive my first (and only) child at 36yrs with the help of Gonal f injections and IUI. That being said I have ALWAYS had 28 day cycles...my whole life!!! Now in the last 4 months my cycle has been getting shorter and shorter so that this last one which started on July 17 was only 21 days long.......what is happening to me? Are things getting worse?

Kim, are you charting? Do you know when you ovulate and if your leuteal phase is long enough? I have a 23-24 day cycle and it is completely normal since I ovluate on day 9 or so. I understand your worry about your age but I doubt that's a problem. Have you had your cycle day 3 tests done lately? They can tell by your results how "fertile" you are.

Hi suzi :)


Just when you think you know everything there is about IF :lol: ... What is a cycle day 3 test? I don't ever remember having a test called that.

On day 3 of your cycle they draw blood and measure FSH, LH, estrodiol (E2), etc. Your E2 level on that day is indicative of how close you may be to menopause. It doesn't give a cut and dry answer but it might be something to ask for!

Hmm, I just had a CD23 for progesterone and a CD3 last month. He also tested for prolactin on CD3 but I don't know about that estradiol. I get my results on Monday or Tuesday. I am 38 too and my cycles are getting shorter and shorter too! This last one was 24, my shortest yet. They are anywhere from 25 to 27 since going off the pill in February. I'm not temping as I don't get proper sleep, but I am using a saliva monitor and check my CM.

I'll let you know what my doc says in case it helps you too. :)

Kim, when I was trying to conceive Julian, my cycles were anywhere from about 23 to 27 days (never consistent, of course). Turned out I had a luteal phase defect due to weak ovulation - my doc figured this out with the help of my charts and a cycle where I went in for u/s's every other day to check the size of my follicles and see if/when I ovulated, and it was treated with Clomid, and then progesterone supplements post-o (and I had IUI, too, but I think that was another matter).

Good luck finding out what's going on! :hug99: