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Infertility

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Irregular periods, possible infertility

11 replies

RG9895 · 20/10/2022 21:20

Hey, I am new to mumsnet and just recently been advised I may struggle to have children.

I have periods every 2 months, I have around 5-6 periods a year. I was told to have children if I am able or to go on the pill so try to regulate my cycle which doesn't make sense to me as I didn't think this was a period but rather a withdrawal bleed.

They have also advised I might not even be ovulating and to start ovulation tests to find out.

Has anyone else had a similar situation, was you able to get pregnant without help?

They also told me irregular periods can be dangerous if my uterus lining isn't shredding regularly as this can build up and become cancerous. Again, never heard anyone say this before.

I was thinking of getting a second opinion but not sure.

The good thing is they have put notes on my file so that we can get help after 6 months rather than 2 years on the NHS.

Anyone that has been through similar or has any words of advice or wisdom please share! Thanks Blush

OP posts:
WafflesNCream · 21/10/2022 15:09

Hello @RG9895 ,
The doctor should do a scan and check the bloods to determine what’s causing your periods to be so irregular. Very often it’s because of PCOS. Once you know what’s going on, you can start making lifestyle changes to regulate your cycles and/or get medical help.
Going on the pill is just going to mask the symptoms and it isn’t really an option if you’re TTC.
Did you see a specialist about it? If not, it may be a good idea to ask your GP for a referral to gynaecology or endocrinology.
Don’t worry - I’m sure it’ll work out for you ☺️.
My periods have been irregular since I stopped taking the pill. The first doctor I went to see about it fobbed me off and told me not to worry. I got the second option and it turned out to be PCOS. Still not pregnant, but at least I know what the issue is and how to fix it.

RG9895 · 21/10/2022 15:56

@WafflesNCream thank you for your response! Yes I was referred to both Endo & Gynae who told me my scans are clear and so are my bloods. I do not have PCOS and this is in fact just my body...which I do believe to be a load of shite! I agree the pill will just mask my issues and not something I wish to do nor does my body agree with this. I was going to get a second opinion but when I looked into private the lady that saw me at the NHS was the same consultant there...

I feel a bit stuck and not sure where to go from here. I guess we just try and see what happens in 6 months and then go to the GP.

Was just wondering if anyone else had the same experience as most people get an answer saying PCOS or Endometriosis etc. I can't quite understand how this is just my body...🤔

OP posts:
slug · 21/10/2022 16:09

I had something similar. Incredibly irregular periods. I could go 6 months between periods at time. With that in mind we were sure it would take us ages to conceive. I used ovulation testing kits and got pregnant the first month we tried.

WafflesNCream · 21/10/2022 16:11

@RG9895 Ah I see. Sorry, I only have experience with PCOS, so cant help. Hopefully there’s someone with a similar issue. Fingers crossed x

RG9895 · 21/10/2022 16:20

@WafflesNCream thank you! Best of luck to you as well x

OP posts:
RG9895 · 21/10/2022 16:21

@slug wow amazing! Congratulations! Fingers crossed this could be me, the Drs arent sure if I am ovulating so I am waiting for my next period...whenever that may be and then I will do ovulation tests daily as I have no idea when I might ovulate if I do. Do you know why your periods are so irregular?

OP posts:
slug · 21/10/2022 16:34

Yes, well, it was a bit of a surprise to be honest. We were expecting it to take months if not years to conceive. Ours was a very hastily arranged wedding as a result.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/10/2022 19:55

You need a second opinion and I would go to another hospital gynae dept (perhaps one in your nearest city). I think you’ve been well and truly fobbed off to date.

How was it determined that PCOS is apparently not an issue here?.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 21/10/2022 19:58

I would consider contacting PALS about your treatment to date.

Ovulation predictor kits are not all that helpful at all to use if the menstrual cycle is irregular.

Stelladaisy · 21/10/2022 20:01

I’ve been recommended acupuncture for this - I’ve heard it’s good for it

somethingluscious · 21/10/2022 22:57

I had suspected PCOS, but was never confirmed. Over 10-15 years my cycles varied from 5-6 a year to 9-10. As a teen I had 35 day cycles so wouldn't expect more than 10 cycles a year with things going well. After the pill or pregnancies it takes my body years to regulate again.

With my first child I lost a good amount of weight while ttc, eating low refined carb and a balance of weight training and cardio. I gained weight in my first pregnancy and with my second took clomid via infertility clinic who told GP to prescribe, which forced me to ovulate earlier but was a similar 9 months ttc. They would have discontinued clomid after 9 cycles, but I had a low 50mg dose. Others bump it up by 50mg at a time if no response. I don't think I needed clomid, but it may have made a more successful & supportive luteal phase.

The tricky thing with irregular cycles is knowing when you ovulate. If I get past a 40 day cycle it gets very difficult. I have never conceived with a longer cycle, though people do. It's harder because it is harder to pinpoint your fertile window. I read the book taking charge of your fertility. I was only able to conceive once I got down to to a 33-38 day cycle and knew I was hitting a fertile window of cycle day 18-26. Even that is a wide window to try to hit and sustain. Anything beyond that and I waited for the next cycle hoping it would be shorter. Longer cycles tended to be anovulatory. I tracked by bbt & I use an Ava bracelet now just so I know my bbt temps are as accurate as possible.

Both my primary & secondary infertility were unexplained, so the (two) cycles they ever did blood tests on at fertility clinic my day 2-5 bloods and progesterone levels a week after ovulation came back as normal. They also tested my husband's sperm both times as that can be a contributing factor.

Irregularity doesn't make it impossible to conceive, but you need to know what is going on with your cycle to know when you are ovulating so should have sex more regularly. Even then we would nail the fertile window & not conceive.

LH tests may be quite disheartening with a longer cycle. I have cycles where my LH doesn't quite peak then gets there a few weeks later. They can be useless if it is PCOS as LH can be elevated, but they help me as I do a baseline LH test after a period then can track the LH up towards when I am likely to ovulate. Cycle to cycle, I have never known when that will be. LH tests give an indication that ovulation may be about to happen or your body is trying to ovulate. I think from the last 12 months with LH tests sometimes the LH spike has been been too late for us to time things.

Your day 2-5 bloods with high free testosterone & estrogen dominance would be an indication of PCOS. You can have the syndrome without ovary issues (many follicles trying to mature, but none being dominant & releasing an egg). That was never an issue for me other than irregularity or competence in ovulation & luteal phase.

Low refined carb diet with more protein & fat, plus exercise helps regulate my cycles (so likely insulin resistance, but not necessarily PCOS), but too intense cardio exercise has also had a negative impact in the past where my cycles stopped.

With my first daughter they would have tried IUI to basically bypass & control the cycle, but we conceived after I had a laparoscopy and the first cycle I was temping & being more aware of my fertility signs.

The wait for fertility investigation wasn't a bad thing when I was about 28/29 years old as we had about a 6-9 month wait, which actually helped me understand better what was going on with my body & I had more menstrual & cycle history to tell the fertility clinic about.

How old are you and when did you come off hormonal contraception if you were taking this previously?

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