I know that many of you ladies have experience with charting, etc. I'm frankly pretty clueless :-). Are there any natural ways to regulate your cycle, supplements perhaps? If regulation isn't possible persay are there better ways that I could try to use to predict AF?

I've consulted with my OBGYN, but his answers were either the BCP or hysterectomy, I'm not inclined toward either.

For example, in the last year or so, I've gone anywhere from 24 days to 4+mths between AF. Sometimes they are ridiculously heavy and long (7+days) or light and short. There seems to be no rhyme or reason. Symptoms are also unreliable b/c sometimes I have days of cramping/irritability/fluid retention w/o AF arriving, but other times she shows up with no symptoms or warning.

TIA, for any advice offered.

Interesting thought, T. I've wondered that myself. My cycles were fairly regular up until littlest was born in '06. I also had a tubal as part of that birth and then b/f for a year. Both my mom and maternal grandmother had hysterectomies early (mid 30's for both) due to uterine issues, so that's part of my confusion.

My cycles regulated a bit when my older girls started theirs, but have now gone haywire again. That had me thinking maybe something hormonally off, but doc can't seem to find anything (nor does he want to try really). His answer was the pill or hysterectomy. I don't have peace about either.

In my heart of hearts, I'd like to reverse the tubal and go the TTC route- but with my history of difficult conceptions and nightmarish preg., that seems foolish to dh and absolutely crazy to the docs. We did the tubal in the first place based on med. advice.

So, I'm looking for some coping methods at this point I guess.

Thanks to you both. Ruth, I'll check into getting a copy of that book. T, anything you come across as far as links, etc. would be most appreciated.

I'm not sure about early menopause b/c of the histories of early hysterectomies in my family. My mom is also and only child and my only sister is several years younger. They both had issues with fibroids though, which I don't have. I do have significant uterine scarring from all my repeat c's which perhaps could cause heavier bleeding, though not irregular cycles.