Don,t think I will concieve feeling very negative

[lostittoday]

Hi
Have been ttc for almost 8 months.
The problem is that my cycle has been very irregular.
AS soon as I started ttc my cycle went awol for 3 months.
Blood hormone tests were carried out last November and thyroid function was also carried out.
Test found that I had a underactive thyroid and fsh was high.
I was started on thyroxine and af came back in December 07.
My cycle has continued to be irregular with the last 3 cycles been 23days, 33days, and then 62days.
I have had a ultrasound done last week to check for polycystic ovaries and the sonographer told me there was no sign of it.
I also had fsh checked again in January and it was 7.
I am just feeling so negative at the moment though as I have a niggling feeling that I could be in menopause.
early menopause is in the family between the ages of 38 and 40.
My sisters periods were no more by the age of 40.
I am 37 years of age.
My doctor thinks that the fact that fsh was just 7 indicates I am not in menopause.
She also seems really vague when I ask about a test that can tell me for sure if I am or not.
I have just had some more hormone tests done this time they are checking my estrogen level which my doctor says can give her an idea if I am likely to go into a early menopause but not actually if I am in it.
Anyway I am feeling so helpless atm and am worried to death I won,t have anymore dc's.
I am going to ask for a referral to a fertility specialist regardless of what the latest test shows.
Do you think this is the right move for me.

Hi lost it,I think I posted on thread before when you were going for scan.
I think the thyroid thing will have had a big effect which will take a while to settle but it will.
The fsh is reassuring and just about excludes menopause,may be worth having it done again in a few months.
I would definitely push for a referral to a gynaecologist with an interest in hormones/fertility and don't take no for an answer, it really doesn't matter what your oestrogen shows with an irregular cycle,thyroid probs and difficulty concieving you will benefit from specialist input and thin they will be able to help so don't lose hope.
Hormone levels are really difficult to interpret esp when you have irreg cycle so think you need an expert to look at everything and work out where to go.
(am gp btw and would not hesitate in referring you to be seen)

I don't know much about the investigations you have had sorry but I didn't want to read and run without saying I think you should ask for a referral, hope you get to see something helpful who can explain things properly. Good luck.

Wiredtothemoon

My latest check shows thyroid function as being normal now at 0.2.
Could it honestly still be causing problems with my cycle, and conception.

Are you are a gp what does btw mean.
Sorry for sounding a real dope.

btw is shorthand for 'by the way'

yes am gp and btw was by the way!
I think the upset to your system getting your metabolism back to normal after starting the thyroxine can last for a while but good that the test is normal.
What is difficult to test when your cycle is erratic and long is whether you are ovulating cos you just can't do the test at the right time,if you were 30 and no history in the family of early menopause then I would be saying give it a few more months and hopefully body will all settle down but cos time is of the essence (you are same age as me!) I think you need to be seen to see if there is any help which might be offered,it is a really complex area and needs an experienced person to interpret the results.
If I were in your position I would be concerned but still optimistic that either things will naturally settle or that there will be help available either in tweaking thyroid levels or giving things which can increase frequency of ovulation.
fsh level is very high when menopause has happened so 7 is good.

I also meant to say,how many dc do you have just now and also did youput a lot of weight on before starting the thyroxine,you often do if thyroid underactive and the extra weight can then result in some disruption to hormones etc.

I have one dc.
I was quite overweight but I have recently lost almost 2 stone.
However that was down to my diet eating too much rubbish.
I have been cutting it all out and that is how I managed to lose it.
I am now 10st and I am 5ft 2.

I find my gp a bit vague on all of this tbh.
She advised me to wait regarding a referral.
She said the latest hormone checks will determine what to do regarding a referral.

If I haven,t been having blood tests done at the right times could the results be meaningless.
Obviously I don,t where I am in my cycle so unsure as to when to have them done.

Well done for losing 2 stone!
To check for ovulation you usually get a progesterone level done aiming for 7 days before period due so if you have it done but then period doesn't come for another 3 weeks say then the result is meaningless,the level peaks after ovulating then falls again,in a totally erratic cycle then you can't predict at all when the peak may be so you are just stabbing in the dark.
If your cycle stays very long then even if ovulation is happenng it may not be happening very often so still may need some help.
I think hormone/fertility experts often try ot really fine tune the thyroid hormone levels so the tsh and the free thyroid hormone are at optimum levels.
I'm probably a bit vague on it all too cos it can get v complicated,that's why you need specialist input.
Could you afford to go private if gp was still not agreeing?
even for one consutation with a copy of all your results and dates of your periods etc.

Whereabouts are you and do you have a family planning clinic near you cos they may also be helpful if getting nowhere with gp.

wiredtothemoon

I may consider going private even if its just for a first consultation.
Have you any idea how much it is.

will depend where you are,usually £150 ish for consultation.
You can phone your local private hospital and ask,they may also be able to tell you who on the staff has interest in gynaecological endocrinology or fertility.
Good luck with it,you must feel a bit like you are banging your head against a wall.