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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Odd periods: should I worry?

9 replies

thelady · 16/12/2006 21:59

Pretty much since the first, I've had really bad pain on the day the bleeding kicks in (usually day 2 or 3) and then not much after. I've been told I don't have PCOS, because I don't have cysts on my ovaries even though all the other signs are there....

I'm now noticing (for at least the past 4 cycles) that on that day the bleeding is, well, odd. It's almost like it's not blood, but bits of me. Solid-like, or at least semi-solid. Almost like scrambled-egg consistency, but liver-coloured.

Oh, I don't know if I'm making any sense at all. I'm fed up with my consultant, and very tired of going back to my GP with more worries.

Would you worry?

OP posts:

foxinsocks · 16/12/2006 22:02

when your period gets heavy, it starts coming out like clots that can look like bits of liver or sort of thick string (I get this with mine and it's apparently normal that this happens).

You might be getting pain because your period's quite heavy.

Original poster

thelady · 16/12/2006 22:55

Thanks for the reassurance. I'm furious that none of my medical advisers mentioned that 'intimate lubricants' are actively sperm-unfriendly. We've been ttc for 3 years now: size mismatch means that lubricant is essential, so....

Humph.

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AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/12/2006 09:09

the lady

Know that description well. What you're seeing is "old" blood.

Not all women with PCOS actually get the cystic follicles on their ovaries. Sometmes as well they are so small that they are not readily seen by ultrasound. A clue as well to this disorder is that the ovaries appear larger than normal (walnut) size. Have you had blood tests done; in particular have your LH and FSH levels been compared against one another. An abnormal level of LH to FSH is another indicator.

I would return to your GP and ask for a referral to another more proactive gynae. The cause of all this needs to be ascertained properly particularly as you have been ttc for three years now.

foxinsocks · 17/12/2006 09:39

I don't know how it all works (but I have to agree with Attila - sorry, didn't notice this was in conception when I posted) but I would push for a different consultant if you are not happy with the one you have.

If you are in London, I have the most fabulous gynaecologist but he's not a specialist in fertility so I'm not sure if he'd be what you are looking for.

Original poster

thelady · 17/12/2006 20:19

Thanks for the suggestions re. ttc. Unfortunately there is only one gynae at the local hospital, and my GP is reluctant to refer me elsewhere (90 minutes each way)....

I've not had FSH/LH tested at all - I was put on Clomid by this gynae without any real explanation of why, and my progesterone levels are checked on or around day 21. Supposedly I'm ovulating, though how I could be ovulating then with an average 45 day cycle I don't know!

I'm 30, so time isn't quite as critical as it might be, but perhaps I do need to rock the boat a bit harder!

OP posts:

AttilaTheMeerkat · 17/12/2006 22:00

Hi thelady,

Would ask your GP to refer you to the larger unit even though its a 90 minute journey each way. The service you are getting currently is poor to say the least.

You should not have been blithely put on clomid without either a diagnosis, an explanation as to why or proper monitoring. They haven't even tested your LH and FSH levels to date (two hormones that are crucial to the whole ovulation process happening to start with). With a current 45 day cycle the chances are you are not ovulating regularly - it needs to be fully determined why. Often hormonal imbalances are to blame.

Would start rocking that boat a bit more!. You will need to be persistant in order to get answers.

Original poster

thelady · 19/12/2006 00:17

OK, thanks for the gentle nudge.... I'll see what can be done in the New Year. Probably a letter to the GP will work, as she's really very good....

OP posts:

gingernut · 19/12/2006 00:32

the lady, I can't help wrt your periods, but just wanted to say that although lubricants are considered to be not friendly to sperm it didn't stop me conceiving. We were using KY jelly. Did try egg white (?) when I read that KY wasn't good for sperm but gave up as it was so messy! So went back to using KY and then I conceived.

Good luck.

Original poster

thelady · 19/12/2006 21:19

thanks Gingernut! I need all the encouragement I can get right now....

Still, as a very good friend of mine said: at least the practicing is fun. I've got a silly grin on my face today (and DH can't stop smirking) after being jumped at some unearthly hour of the night (about 1.30am!!) last night.

We're hoteliers, and have very little time together, so we try to be accommodating whenever we can ;-)

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