Pregnancy

[redsquirrel]

Any experience or advice any of you ladies have will be greatly appreciated.

My husband and just started REALLY trying to have a baby. So, I bought one of those ovulation kits. It's a urine test stick that tests for the hormone that says you're ovulating.

Well, ever since the show my cycles have been pretty long....like anywhere from 34-40 days. So, I did an online ovulation calendar, and it estimated my ovulation days to be like this past Saturday. Just to have enough time, I started the tests last Tuesday, and done one every 2 days since then. Needless to say, as of today I am not ovulating. This test is supposed to predict ovulation 24-48 hours in advance. I'm starting to wonder if I even ovulate...:(

I'm sure I'm probably overreacting. I'm also supposed to go and have blood work done to have my progestrone levels checked. I had endometriosis about 5 years ago, and have not had any relapses. But, in the same token, I've been off the Pill for almost 2 years, and my husband and I have never "not" been trying. Meaning, we never did any pull and pray, LOL.

Any thoughts?

[Shibby]

Well there was a thread just made about FSH levels. While I was reading some stuff on it, it talked about women with FSH level problems will stop ovulating and producing eggs.

[BENCH355ANIMAL]

Have you been using AAS long? If so, then it is possible you have become infertile. I would pray this isn't it, but it is a well known negative side effect of AAS in women.

[redsquirrel]

I haven't used AAS for almost a year. Prior to that, I used it for about 1.5 years total; taking equal time off as I was on.

As for the AAS & infertility thing, I knew that it is possible, but had never been proven. I haven't used in high doses, or for extended periods of time.

The other thing is my cycles have not been very regular....I mean right around Christmas time I was 2 weeks late. The cycle before that I was about 10 days late. Maybe I just have extra long cycles and hae calculated my ovulation time incorrectly.

Shibby:

I did a search on the FSH thing you talked about. However, the thread I thought you referenced had to do with male testosterone levels????

[Puddles]

Red, I was irregular from the time I started to get my period until 6 months before I concieved. I would often miss periods for months at a time but when I became regular (just before I turned 26) my cycles averaged 38 days to 42. I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disease when I was 21. I had 6 regular cycles and then the week of my 26th birthday I became pregnant. We had used the withdrawl method for most of the time since I was 18 because the pill just made my cycles worse (intermittant bleeding, severe bleeding, bla bla bla). When I got pregnant I thought it was a safe time for my husband to ejaculate inside me based on my cycle history as it was about a week before my period was due. Apparently I ovulated very late into my cycle. We've continued to use the withdrawl method and I haven't had another child but my periods started to be regular a few months after my daughter was born. At first they remained far apart, now as I've gotten older they're quite predictible and average the normal 28 days.

I don't have experience with ovulation tests. I just know my body was totally screwey for quite a few yrs. and it had nothing to do with AAS. Good luck hun. I hope things fall into place for you soon. You might want to look into POD (it's called Pollycystic Ovarian Disorder these days). I forget what tests the dr. did but there's a bunch of info on the net if you google it. When I was diagnosed the dr. said it was likely that I'd never be able to concieve. My daughter was quite a surprise...a very welcome one. :)

[Shibby]

Originally posted by redsquirrel

Shibby:

I did a search on the FSH thing you talked about. However, the thread I thought you referenced had to do with male testosterone levels????

Yea that's right, I was just throwing it out there as something to look into. When I was reading stuff to help answer his thread, there was alot of stuff on women's FSH levels and thier effect.

[dreamgirl]

Hey RS... you'll get there, most of my husband friends wives waited until their late 30's to start trying for a baby and none happened w/o the help of modern medicines. If I remember right, you are even younger than me (I'm 29) so you have better chances of becoming pregnant.

I can't help you with your long cycles. Mine are 28-29 days just like they taught in health class.

Best advice I can give is see a Dr. and talk to them.

The other thing I am thinking is that your bodyfat % might be too low now to get pregnant. The reason us women have a higher fat level is to sustain another life inside us even if we are starving. Yours has been so low because of your training that you may not have been able to become pregnant because of it. The lowest a caliper test has ever been on me was 17% and I was able to get pregnant at that. That could be it so go out for some ice cream!!! :)

[Pumpdogg]

Go to your doctor and get all of your hormone levels checked. They often prescribe clomid for infertility in women, it also has benefits for men. One note, they (doctors) generally always say to have the husband checked first because there is a much larger chance that a problem exits with us (men) than you all, especailly if has has cycled or done other rec drugs as well. It kinda makes are sperm a little retarded sometimes. That would explain or rash behaviour at times.... yes :D Best of luck to ya girl

PD

[bad14u]

RS... all I can say is best of luck to you both! Having a son has totally changed my life and all for the better! It will happen when the time is right and you two will have a beautiful little baby!

[redsquirrel]

Ok...so remember that fertility kit that I bought??? Well, I used it for 2 weeks (7 total tests) and it didn't indicate any ovulation!! WTF!??!?! I started testing 2 days before my projected ovulation time, and a week after. Then I asked sonis about what he thinks, and he thinks that the test maybe cannot detect the LH hormone, or maybe I just don't produce enough of it for the test to pick up?? He said he looked at a couple of the test sticks and the lines that are indicated were pretty close to what a positive is for ovulation, but according to the directions, was not an indication. (The first line has to be darker or the same color as the 2nd one.)

[redsquirrel]

Ok...so remember that fertility kit that I bought??? Well, I used it for 2 weeks (7 total tests) and it didn't indicate any ovulation!! WTF!??!?! I started testing 2 days before my projected ovulation time, and a week after. Then I asked sonis about what he thinks, and he thinks that the test maybe cannot detect the LH hormone, or maybe I just don't produce enough of it for the test to pick up?? He said he looked at a couple of the test sticks and the lines that are indicated were pretty close to what a positive is for ovulation, but according to the directions, was not an indication. (The first line has to be darker or the same color as the 2nd one.)

I am supposed to get my progesterone level checked next month...

[Puddles]

Do you notice any vaginal discharge changes through the month, particularly around the time where you're supposed to be ovulating? Most women who aren't on the pill or other hormone related birth control methods will have thicker and more abundant secretions (like a clear watery mucous base) when they're ovulating.

[GreekTank]

Originally posted by Shibby
Well there was a thread just made about FSH levels. While I was reading some stuff on it, it talked about women with FSH level problems will stop ovulating and producing eggs.

O.K. I want in here! I started that FSH thread

[redsquirrel]

Originally posted by Puddles
Do you notice any vaginal discharge changes through the month, particularly around the time where you're supposed to be ovulating? Most women who aren't on the pill or other hormone related birth control methods will have thicker and more abundant secretions (like a clear watery mucous base) when they're ovulating.

I notice changes, but not like you describe.

Update:

So, my cycles were running like 35-37 days since last September. Well, my most recent cycle was only 27 days. I also just went to the have my blood work done on Monday. Just found out progesterone levels indicated I did NOT ovulate. Nothing I didn't already suspect....but still upsetting. Same results the ovulation kit was telling me.

I have an appointment Monday to go speak w/ my Dr. The practitioner said if I haven't been trying for a year, then the Dr. doesn't want to see me yet. Then I told her we haven't used anything for 3 years....she said they'll see me Monday.

[Puddles]

I'm sorry it's not going as planned but there are many things the doctors can do to help out. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.