Mumsnet Talk

Hello Ladies,

already have one ds who is 3. We are desperate for another child and I took out my coil in August.

Trouble is, I don't seem to be getting pregnant. What now? Please explain all of this to me, I am completely a novice. I thought you just had sex like crazy and miss a period and your done.

I've missed a period, a few actually, but all my pregnancy tests are coming out as negative.

It can take a while for your body to get back to normal following the use of contraception. It took a year for my periods to come back and since then I've only had 3 real periods and several anovultory cycles! I have also been diagnosed with PCOS.

You could try charting you temps and cervical fluid to pinpoint if you are ovulating.

I would assume that you have not been ovulating hence the missed periods and negative results. I would see your GP to discuss.

How long have you been trying? What contraception are you using? What are your cycles like? By missing a period, do you mean not getting it at all or it coming later than expected?

Sorry, skip most of that! I missed the second line of your post. <Needs caffeine>

sorry eurochick

I had normal periods until November. Missed December and January and now looks like I may be missing February but I've tested and I'm definitely NOT pregnant.

Could I possibly be too fat? I am overweight--most likely obese at this point.

Also, I've been told I have PCOS (however, I've never had a problem with getting pregnant before) (I've been pregnant a few times before)

PCOS shouldn't stop you getting pregnant if you are ovulating, but as you are completely missing periods, it sounds like you might not be at the moment. Losing weight probably will help. I remember seeing some research that showed losing even a small amount increased your chances of conception. Have a look over on verity-pcos if you want more info.

but why have I stopped ovulating? this hasn't happened before. Why now?

It may be that your body hasn't kicked into the regular cycles yet. Was it a hormonal coil?

It could be the weight. I know from posting on Verity that people do get their cycles back when they lose weight. But maybe it is something else. Go and see your dr if you are worried.

it was not a hormonal coil.

I have PCOS and a BMI of 18, clinically underweight, but my cycle is very regular when my BMI was 22 (which is in the healthy range) it took 3 months and ovulation wasnt happening.

I think weight does affect PCOS, my DH's auntie had it in the 1950's and even then the Doctors told her it was her weight that was holding her back. She lost it and went on to have 3.

I just can't seem to lose any weight at all. I used to starve and be able to starve and exercise. Now that I'm getting older (28 soon) it's too difficult. I can exercise and exercise, the weight only comes off if I stick to just clear liquids. It's not normal.

Literally, I could have a glass of milk and work out for 4 hours and still not lose a single ounce. It's ridiculously hard for me.

Have you had your thyroid checked? That can make your metabolism sluggish - though I think weight gain is also symtomatic of PCOS and it might be worth speaking to GP?

Ttc since August isn't long, really - it's the absence of cycles I'd go to my GP about imho.

So my thyroid is bad, but it's not bad enough to be medicated...it is in America though. (Where I'm from).

My GP is useless and I'm just not sure where else to turn. I guess I'll have another go with him and see what happens.

eandz I spent years going to the gym every day and never losing an ounce, yet since starting Weight Watchers I've lost nearly a stone.

And as said before, ttcing since August isn't that long at all. At you age it'll need to be 12 months before the GP will be too interested.

I suggest charting with fertility friend. www.fertilityfriend.com

I don't understand, how do I know if I'm ovulating if I'm not perioding? (I know, I know, so stupid)

I suggest you buy some ovulation tests and start using them, or a Clear Blue Fertility Monitor.

I did buy a box of those, but then realized I may be completely wasteful of it all if I'm not ovulating at all.

Well you can test and see, or go to your GP and see if they will give you a blood test to see if you're ovulating.

okay, since my GP won't help me ever. I'll just keep with the clear blue sticks, and pee on them starting this evening.

I feel so stupid, I don't know any of these words/terms.

Af/BFP/

I know all about LH and different hormones going up and down and fsh and hcg and all that stuff, I just cannot translate it and when it comes to me.

Your age does affect your ability to lose weight, imho. But it doesnt make it impossible.

I think that if your starving yourself, as opposed to sensible eating and exercise, then your body will go into starvation mode. It slows its metabolism right down to exist on the food it does have. When you eat a bit more it then stores as much of it as possible as body fat to get it through the next "famine".

What you dont want to do is mess up your metabolism to the point that your not burning fat effectively.

Blood sugar control can be a problem for PCOS sufferers iirc so perhaps the low glyceamic index diet would suit us better than calorie control diets? eg being sensible all day is all very well and good but if you then have a sugary pudding at night your blood sugar levels will shoot up which isnt really ideal for us. Plus sugar is very ageing to the tissues in the body even at cellular level. It literally makes the tissues toughen up and age. With a steady supply of carbohydrates you should, theoretically, be able to go between meals without that snacky feeling. All starch breaks down to sugar it's just a matter of controlling the speed of absorption. E.g fruit is loaded with sugar but the fibre in the fruit slows the rate of absorption down. Where as a chocolate bar's sugar has no fibre in it so breaks down very quickly.

When I bought the zita west ivf book (and I assume it's the same for normal conception) she adivsed giving up saturated fats such as margarine, vegetable spreads and butter. I lost 9lbs literally overnight. I use olive oil and goose fat in cooking instead, neither of which are saturated. You dont miss them after a while.

I also take Solgar Kelp tablets, they contain a lot of iodine in a one a day tablet. I dont think it hurts to take it, I didnt take it for weight loss but hair growth as I had all my hair cut off and wanted to encourage growth. It is meant to be good for metabolism though, especially if you dont add salt to food (I dont).

I forgot to say if your GP isnt coming up to scratch then ask to see another gp in the practice (I dont think they can refuse this request I've changed mine as DH didnt like him) or change surgery.

You literally walk into a doctors surgery you would like to be a patient at (you might ask friends/ colleagues whos good) and say you would like to register as a patient. When I moved they didnt contact my old gp they just requested my notes via the pct so they didnt know where I had gone either.

Whyd

Stupid iphone. I was going to say that it sounds like you need to change your GP. I am not sure why you say your GP won't help you ever. Seems very final.