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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

anyone get preg during perimenopause?

18 replies

dizzy36 · 30/09/2006 16:10

success stories anyone? I am 38, been trying for nearly 3 years, just been told am in perimenopause stage of my life due to consistently elevated fsh levels (apparently been high since April 2005 but clinic I use didn't think I needed to know, or something!)
So now here I am being told that there is a very slim chance that I will conceive by some professor who only flicked through my file.

if there are ladies out there having babies while in this phase it will give me hope

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westerngirl · 01/10/2006 21:07

Hi
don't know if this is really true, but mil told me she experienced flushes around 38, fell pregnant, had baby and then had ANOTHER baby at 41. hospital pregnancy tests negative but docs eventually positive. good luck.

Elibean · 02/10/2006 09:27

Well, I had to have a lot of help - so not me, but my sister's best friend had twins (naturally) at the age of 49 after thinking she was in menopause.

That said, I'd say it sort of depends on how high your fsh levels really are...'high' to one clinic can be 'ok' to another. Wishing you loads of luck!

dizzy36 · 02/10/2006 13:30

what kind of help did you have elibean and was it with your first child?

I have had 3 iui and 4 months of chlomid. since been told that I should not have been prescribed the chlomid as it wouldn't work for me due to my elevated fsh.

prior to last month my fsh has been around 13 but gradually going down. last month it was 20!. I am convinced its due to the chlomid and my gynae has decided that I am in perimenopause. This month gone down to 13 again.

p.s have 1 ds and the doctor had the cheek to tell me to forget about IVF and enjoy the child I had, just because I had one month where my fsh went way high. I have managed to conceive twice naturally (last was an mc) so am not going to give up hope yet.

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Elibean · 02/10/2006 13:50

dizzy, I had several miscarriages in my late 30s/early 40s - all natural pregnancies. I also had one IVF and several stimulated cycles (Gonal-f, not clomid) none of which worked for me. I then, after a lot of soul searching, tried donor eggs, in case the issue was egg quality (my fsh was about 10-11 at the time), got pregnant, and miscarried yet again - at that point, I saw a different doctor and was finally told I probably had an immune issue (this was all new at the time) which was causing the miscarriages.

By the time we had got our heads around all that, my FSH was higher (17) and my response to meds lower: I was 42 and had been TTC for years and years. So as it was our last ditch attempt, more for closure and peace of mind than with any hope of a baby, we threw the book at it: immune treatment (heparin, aspirin, steroids) and donor eggs. I have the most beloved dd from all that help...but as you can see, it was a LOT of help. And to my ongoing amazement, I'm expecting a second (and last!) dd soon via the same route.

An fsh of 20 is pretty high, but its possible to have a one-off bad month - even if not on anything. If your usual is 13...most clinics that I know of would say that your best chance of conceiving successfully would be naturally or by IUI (IVF bashes already fragile eggs around quite a bit). On the other hand, most will treat women - especially under 42 - with an FSH of up to 15. They vary a lot though, if you really want to try IVF it would be worth ringing around a couple of other clinics to see what their fsh cut-off is.

Also, some clinics are keen to avoid Clomid with older women - it can thin the uterine lining, and has more side effects than the 'big gun' meds. But there are pros and cons, of course.

HTH a little...its such a painful journey, wanting to be pregnant and not being able to be. And I don't think its that much less painful if you already have a child - just different. Wish you loads of luck!

indignatio · 02/10/2006 13:58

A friend was tentatively given the diagnosis of perimenopause - she was vegetarian and the consultant (worded beautifully) suggested that she start eating meat - after 3 miscarriages (over 2 years) she gave birth to a ds - and is now thinking about going for another one.

pooka · 02/10/2006 14:16

Not me but a friend had 2 babies after being given tentative advice that was peri-menopausal. One at 41 and other at 43 I think.
No assistance either.

OttercumCoypu · 02/10/2006 14:30

i was told i was perimenopausal 5 years ago and have had 3 pregnancies since. FSH levels do BOUNCE though and can go down as well as up. Are you having treatment?

Wags · 03/10/2006 10:43

Hi, I am pooka's friend!! I had my first DD when I was 41 having seen the specialist as I was having no periods and menopause symptoms. My FSH level was 12 which he was very pleased with, I think he thought it would be higher. He said it was highly unlikely I would concieve naturally but very likely I could with clomid. We weren't sure whether to try or not and had a 3wk USA trip planned so Clomid went into the medicine cabinet and we were going to make the decision on return from holiday. Anyway, next period never came and I was pregnant, Clomid still sitting in cabinet. Consultant laughed 'I said highly unlikely not impossible' he told us!! We were thrilled obviously, had already spent too much time 'thinking about it'. Periods returned as normal when dd was 6 months. I was still breast feeding then, but hadn't had 'normal' periods for a few years. DH wanted another, I wasn't sure but kind of assumed that it wouldn't happen anyway. Periods then became irregular again but after a night of 'passion' (someone remind me what that is now) I fell pregnant with my DS. I concieved him on day 7 of my cycle!! DD was 14 months old. Since DS my periods hadn't returned, so back to consultant and my FSH levels are now in the 50's. Although that was at the beginning of the year and since then I have had 3 periods. My consultant was very positive although he still laughs when he sees me and says that he can't quite belive I have TWO children now! I hope you find a good consultant and that things work out for you.

dizzy36 · 03/10/2006 11:27

thank you so much for all your comments, you have given me hope

otter.- I have had treatement and was on the verge of doing ivf which is when my fsh went up to 20.

I tried chlomid but didn't work for me, in fact I am convinced its what caused my fsh to go so higher...it didn't agree with me while I was on it.

I really didn't want to try ivf as I felt it might reduce my fertility even further. Doctors have written me off because of that one fsh of 20. last month down to 13 and am working hard to bring it down even further (as per zita wests book!)

Did anyone make any changes in their lifestyle to enable them to conceive. any tips would be very welcome!

Can't beleive how happy I am that it is possible for me to conceive...was quite down after the consultant told me it would be nigh impossible. He only flicked through my file and I'd never met him before! Calls himself professor as well which sounds a bit ominous!

OP posts:
Booboobedoo · 03/10/2006 11:52

Hi dizzy.

My aunty was apparently menopausal, and got PG (her first) at 45.

As far as I know, they hadn't been using contraception for years, as they thought they were infertile.

My cousin's 14 now, and beautiful.

Good luck: I know what a hellish experience ttc can be.

pooka · 03/10/2006 13:08

I KNEW you'd find me on this one, Wags!!!!!!

sunshine2008 · 10/09/2008 05:12

Hi,

I am 48 years old, never had any children and Estrodiol levels vary (last time 57), LH around 40, FSH around 140. If I wanted to conceive, is egg donor my only option? Anybody have any experiences with fertility clinics offering this treatment? Having regrets.

Buda · 10/09/2008 06:46

sunshine - from what I know from my experience (am 44 have one DS through IVF, last attempt 2 years ago failed) - donor eggs may well be your only option.

I am not in UK so don't know abut clinics in UK (assume that is where you are) but I have read of people travelling abroad for treatment with donor eggs. Spain is one possibility.

sunshine2008 · 10/09/2008 17:15

Thanks Buda! Sorry, but what does 'BD' mean? I'm currently in Australia, options for donor program very limited here (long waiting lists and must find donor yourself). Do you happen to know the name of the clinic in Spain? thanks so much!

Buda · 11/09/2008 11:20

Hi sunshine - sorry don't know name of clinic in Spain - just remember having read somewhere recently about someone in UK having IVF with donor eggs and she went to Spain. Have also read of people going to Russia. I am in Budapest so I know that it is not done here.

Not sure what you mean about 'BD'.

zippitippitoes · 11/09/2008 11:26

there are quite a few clinics in spain

they have a latger cut off date than the uk age wise and donors because they dont have anonymity there

i looked into it last year

there are forums where lots of people have been are going

zippitippitoes · 11/09/2008 11:28

i looked in my bookmarks fertility friends is one site you could look for info on

flutterbymee · 21/06/2014 06:44

At 38 I was told it was highly unlikely to have a baby. Fertility clinics and clomid did not help. We gave up on the idea and at 41 I got pregnant on my own. That pregnancy ended in a miscarriage but after one menstrual cycle the following month I was pregnant again and now have a beautiful 2 yr old son! My doctor has said for the past 18 months I'm in peri menopause and I sure had all the symptoms! I am now 3 weeks away from 45 and having a healthy pregnancy! Again with no treatments or clomid. It is definitely possible!

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