[Amanda C]

My name is Amanda and I'm a 29 year old SAHM. Dh and I have 2 kids that were conceived with no problems. In September we started trying for #3.

So far I've had one early m/c in February and nothing else. My cycles have been messed up for almost 2 years now. For some reason I bleed for 10-14 days out of the month.

For example this month my period was 10 days then I o'd 7 days later on cycle day 17 today I'm on cycle day 28 and AF is here.

I've been to several OB's who can't find anything wrong. My next step is to see a fertility specialist. I've had testing done that shows that I am for sure ovulating but they don't know why I'm not getting pregnant.

I'm frustrated and just looking for someone that understands Part of me wants to keep trying and part of me is just ready to give up. It's just so hard month after month

[~InHisHands~]

I know EXACTLY how you feel. It took us 3 LONG years to get pg. I know you from the thyroid disorders board so b/c I know you are hypo (as am I) I can tell you I ALWAYS Oed too. We tried for about a year then went to a dr to figure out what was going on. My first OB (who was clueless, BTW) found the thyroid problem then sent me to an endo who was of NO help. It took us a year to find a decent dr to treat my thyroid then onto another OB who wasn't clueless. My 2nd OB also found a progesterone defect (very common for us hypo patients) & I took clomid several cycles.

With hypo, it is possible to exhibit all the signs of Oing but not get pg at all... that was me to a 'T'. First I would say you need to make sure your thyroid levels are optimal (Free's are in the upper range of normal), then I would check to see if you have a progesterone defect. Thankfully I got pg before seeing an RE but some of the ladies on the thyroid disorders board had to see an RE to get pg.

GL, hun & it WILL happen... keep believing & having faith but I know how hard the wait is.

[Amanda C]

Thanks for your reply. Actually I just had my thyroid levels checked last week. The only level my family doctor checked though was my TSH. I'm assuming it was abnormal b/c instead of calling in my med refill they called and left me a message saying that I need to call them.

The odd thing is I was told by one OB that I have all the symptoms of low progesterone. She put me on progesterone and it didn't stop the bleeding all together but it did increase the length of my cycles. They still weren't normal but they were better. Than the next OB I saw said she was wrong. He checked my progesterone level and said it was fine and he took me off the progesterone.

I don't know anymore. I live in a small town and I've seen 5 different OB's here and we only have 10 total. So far nothing. They don't know why my cycles are so off.

I'm frustrated to no end.

[~InHisHands~]

Is your OB willing to try clomid (or femera) a couple of cycles? Actually, an RE will probably try that route & that really may be a better, more informative, option for you but if you are anything like me I didn't want to go to an RE b/c of my fear of the money it was going to cost. I think I did almost everything to stay away from an RE... switching thyroid drs 2 times & OBs once till I found drs that I felt were knowledgeable. I know how tough it is & I'll say a prayer for you... I hope so much that you get pg soon!

[MamaAnna]

Have they checked your hormone levels on CDs 3 and 21? I showed all the signs of O'ing, but it turned out I have low estrogen so if it was actually happening the eggs were no good. It ended up leading to a PCOS diagnosis and I don't have a lot of the symptoms you usually see. Mine is a thin case without hair loss and things like that. It'd be worth looking into if you haven't already. If nothing else you'd rule out another possibility.

[Amanda C]

The only labs I've had drawn are my progesterone levels. My biggest problem with going to an RE is not the money-luckily our insurance covers it it's the fact that we haven't told anyone we are TTC so when I have to ask MIL or my mom to watch the kids all day long while I go out of town they are going to get nosey and start asking questions.

Today I got a postcard in the mail from my OB's office. It's says I need to come in for a follow up on my last set of labs. Now I'm even more confused. My last set of labs was my progesterone. They were drawn in MARCH and the nurse told me they were fine.

[MamaAnna]

I'd see if you can get your OB to also do some CD 3 blood work. Have your LH, FSH, estradiol, prolactin, etc. checked. A lot of problems can be pinpointed or ruled out just from a simple blood test. You may also want to see if they'll order a CD 7 scan. It's done both internally and externally and only takes a few minutes. You could discover that your ovaries are polyfollicular, polycystic, or that something else is going on just from that.

These are standard tests that REs typically run before they do anything. If you have a good OB then he/she may be able to determine and treat the problem without you ever seeing an RE. If you do need one then you'll at least have that first step out of the way.

On a side thought, has your DH been tested?

[Amanda C]

My dh has not been tested b/c all the doctors I've seen say the probably is definitely me.
I have an appointment tomorrow with my OB. If he won't do anything more than I'm going to go on to the RE.

[MamaAnna]

I'm surprised they wouldn't want to rule out DH definitively. Even when my OB diagnosed my PCOS she still wanted to do an SA on DH. Thankfully I got my BFP before she put her foot down because he wouldn't pay that much to get friendly with a cup.

It sounds like an RE may be your only shot with the doctors in your area. You'll definitely be looking at lots of b/w, scans, an SA for your DH, and maybe a lap depending on what the RE thinks the problem is. If you don't chart I would start. It's something you can take into your OB or RE to help show possible problems like a LP defect.

I hope you get the help you need. Knowing what the problem is can make such a huge difference.

[Amanda C]

Well I'm back from the OB and he decided to go ahead and give me a 3 month trial of Clomid. He said he really thinks this will do it and I'll get pregnant within the next 3 cycles. I start the Clomid tomorrow.

He said if it works I may even get preggo this cycle! We're very excited but dh is also a little scared. The risk of twins it what has him worried.

[MamaAnna]

It's only about a 3% chance of twins and that's primarily on high doses or if they want you to release multiple eggs for various other treatments. You're more likely to have them from family history than you are from Clomid.

Hopefully it does the trick for you and you get your BFP soon.

[~InHisHands~]

I took 100 mg clomid & I'm only having one if that helps your DH at all!

[Amanda C]

Thanks Ladies! That's very reassuring! I started it today so hopefully it will work and I won't have too many side effects from it.

[MamaAnna]

I took mine in the morning and aside from feeling warm I didn't have any side effects until the 2WW. Then it made me horribly moody.

[~InHisHands~]

I took mine at night before bed so if there were any side effects, I'd sleep right through them.

Hopefully, whenever you take it, it works out & you get your BFP soon!