Hi everyone,
This is my first time ever posting! I'm 34 (nearly 35) and came off the contraceptive pill last year after a long time on it to try and start a family. I was on Yasmin or similar as I've always had hormonal acne problems. Over the years I kept going to the doctors to look at changing my pill as I was getting spotting, low moods and had low libido. But kept hitting a wall.
Anyway, have been TTC for about 8 months now with no luck. Coming off the pill has flared up my skin again - particularly around my neck but also on my chest and back. I have been using an OPK and I am ovulating around day 20 (a blood test also confirmed I am definitely ovulating - although I think it was done at the wrong time as doctor didn't seem to understand my short luteal phase issue). I then have spotting from around 5DPO until my period - my cycle is between 28 and 31 days. So I have a very short luteal phase.
I'm lucky that my GP did a blood test two months ago and confirmed I was ovulating (I'm still a bit skeptical as the timing of the test was wrong due to my short luteal phase - but now I'm measuring my BBT to double check so fingers crossed) but also they checked my thyroid. Which was 4.3 - on the margins of ok but when TTC they say you should be 2 and under. I've been put on 50mg of Levothyroxine and I'm waiting on a blood test to see the result this week. I know I'm lucky in that regard, as I've read so many posts from people battling to get the thyroid meds for subclinical hypothyroidism.
However, my cycle hasn't changed despite being on Levo for nearly 7 weeks - l did ovulate earlier last cycle, on day 18 but then this cycle I'm on day 19 and no sign yet. I'm also still tired, still have bloating and still feel a bit yuck. I can't help thinking I also have an estrogen imbalance with my skin flaring up.
Is there anyone who had similar and can offer any words of wisdom? My current thinking is to either a) wait it out and hope the thyroid drugs work and my skin calms down b) do a big diet overhaul - I'm pretty healthy and have cut out alcohol mostly but I've heard cutting gluten and dairy can help c) try and get referred to an endocrinologist although that could take months d) pay for a private fertility consultation e) I've heard acupuncture can help. (as you can tell I've read and researched a lot but still not sure what is best!)
Thanks so much for reading that essay - any advice or hearing from people in similar positions would be great :)
xxx