I'm new and need some advice!

[verycherry26]

Hello there!

I'm new to these forums but have been reading posts on here for a while now and have already read some really interesting and helpful posts. My boyfriend and I have been together for 3 years now and have decided to start TTC!

It all sounds great in theory but I just know we're going to have problems and just wondered if anybody could reassure me or offer some advice!

I have real problems with massively irregular periods. I haven't come on since last November and before that there was a 3-4 month gap and the same before that. In fact, I have never been regular at all and always had massive gaps between periods like this. I have recently had a blood test and was diagnosed with an underactive thyroid gland and have been on tablets for 3 months but they have made no difference.

Has anybody else been in a similar situation? I'm going to the doctor on Thursday but I don't even know what to expect!

Any advice would be good and apologies for such a long introductory post!

Well first of all welcome to Mumsnet. Most people are very friendly here.

Sounds like you could have a couple of problems going on - if your thyroid is underactive obviously that will hurt your fertility temporarily and you need to have your blood tested to see whether you have thyroxin at an appropriate level. However you may also have another problem going on which is stopping your periods.

Your GP will probably want you to document your cycles and also go in for what's called a day 21 test - which is a blood test 21 days after your next period - to establish if you are ovulating.

If and when you have been trying for a year, or six months if either of you is over 35, you will be referred to a gynae who will discuss stimulating ovulation after checking out whether you are ovulating or not.

Don't worry, chances are this is just the thyroid problem mucking about with your cycles

Thank you for the reassurance. I had a blood test recently and my thyroxin levels were fine. Do you really have to wait a year before they investigate? That is so annoying. I have been to the doctors about my irregulare periods so many times and they all just said it was one of those things and wouldn't be a problem until I started trying for children.

I suppose I will have to see what he says.

Thanks again! x

Usually they will ask you to try for a year - simply because the average time a couple will take to conceive is 13 months so until then, you are just normal. Sorry, I guess that's not what you want to hear but limited resources and all that. It's great your thyroxin levels are now good.

Have you heard of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, might be worth having a read and seeing if that could be your problem, in which case you could ask for a referral to a gynae who can prescribe Clomid and also check out what's exactly going on in your ovaries with a hysteroscopy.