Q&A: Will my high blood pressure hurt my chances of getting pregnant?

My husband and I have been trying to have a baby for one year. A year and a half ago, my doctor told me that I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol. I was on pills for both conditions as my 27-year-old brother passed away from it in 2002. I have been able to get my cholesterol back to normal, so I am no longer taking those pills, though I'm still trying to get my blood pressure under control. The pills I'm taking for that purpose are called Propranolol. My doctor assured me that these pills would not hurt my baby when I become pregnant.

Since I have been off birth control, my period has been very irregular, with cycles ranging from 47 days, to 39, then 30 and so on. I am 25 years old. Before I went on birth control my periods were not like this. Do you think that the blood pressure pills could be causing my cycles to become irregular?

Also, I use BabyZone's calendar to help chart the time of month where we should try, but since my system is so out of whack, how do I know when I ovulate, or even if I do ovulate?

This past month I believe that I was pregnant as I had all the signs, however, my pregnancy test came back negative. The doctor said it may be too early to tell so to just wait and take the test again a couple of days later.

Last Sunday I started bleeding heavily and I had very bad cramping, to the point that I went to the doctor's, who thinks I might have had a miscarriage. He's doing blood work to find out.

Since my menstruation cycle is not regular, how am I supposed to know what days of the month I should have intercourse? Also, do you think that my elevated blood pressure could be preventing me from getting pregnant?