So many questions!!!!

[brandi91]

Hey ladies!!!! I have SO may questions regarding TTC. While I haven't been proactively trying long term, we also haven't been using any protection for over a year. I have PCOS and my period have been completely absent for years. Just in the last few months I've been more actively trying with medications and doctor visits, etc. I just feel like this board may be a better fit for me than the regular TTC board since I am not going to have a normal pregnancy experience.

Some background: I was diagnosed with PCOS about five years ago. My periods were never normal growing up, and for the last several years, my periods were absent unless I was on birth control (which I haven't taken in over a year). I finally went to the doctor, where they have me on 1000 mg of Metformin twice per day.

So, I'm sorry to flood all of these questions on you, but I am desperate for answers...

-My doctor put me on 10 days of progesterone to start a period. On day nine, I got my period! I was shocked because I know that the progesterone starts a period, but I thought it was supposed to start once you stopped taking it from the withdrawal. Since mine started before then, do you think it's a possibility that it happened on it's own? As in, my body was ready to have a period and so it did? I would be so excited to have had a natural one and not one forced by the progesterone! This was my first period in over a year.

-My fertility app says my fertile days would be in the next couple of weeks since I just had my period. Do you think there is a chance that these could actually be fertile days? Or do you think that my period was just forced by the progesterone and happened early? Should I use OPKs? I don't have high LH, just high testosterone. So, I think they'd be accurate...

-Why do you go in on cycle day 3 and 21 for blood work? Just curious.

I think I will be starting Clomid after my next cycle. My doctor just wants to make sure that everything is good to go before then. I can't wait to start lurking around this thread!!!!

Thanks ladies!

 

[Ariannda]

Hey ladies!!!! I have SO may questions regarding TTC. While I haven't been proactively trying long term, we also haven't been using any protection for over a year. I have PCOS and my period have been completely absent for years. Just in the last few months I've been more actively trying with medications and doctor visits, etc. I just feel like this board may be a better fit for me than the regular TTC board since I am not going to have a normal pregnancy experience.

Some background: I was diagnosed with PCOS about five years ago. My periods were never normal growing up, and for the last several years, my periods were absent unless I was on birth control (which I haven't taken in over a year). I finally went to the doctor, where they have me on 1000 mg of Metformin twice per day.

So, I'm sorry to flood all of these questions on you, but I am desperate for answers...

-My doctor put me on 10 days of progesterone to start a period. On day nine, I got my period! I was shocked because I know that the progesterone starts a period, but I thought it was supposed to start once you stopped taking it from the withdrawal. Since mine started before then, do you think it's a possibility that it happened on it's own? As in, my body was ready to have a period and so it did? I would be so excited to have had a natural one and not one forced by the progesterone! This was my first period in over a year.

-My fertility app says my fertile days would be in the next couple of weeks since I just had my period. Do you think there is a chance that these could actually be fertile days? Or do you think that my period was just forced by the progesterone and happened early? Should I use OPKs? I don't have high LH, just high testosterone. So, I think they'd be accurate...

-Why do you go in on cycle day 3 and 21 for blood work? Just curious.

I think I will be starting Clomid after my next cycle. My doctor just wants to make sure that everything is good to go before then. I can't wait to start lurking around this thread!!!!

Thanks ladies!

I would absolutely go in forum blood work incentives you have a period after absent periods and I would opk and status check every chance I got. I know pcos can Reak havoc On people so I'd chart and track and everything else possible

 

[krissie328]

I would be willing to bet it was the progesterone that kick started your period. Where you hasn't had one so long you probably had a large build up of lining and the progesterone was just enough for it to release. This has happened to me in the past as well.

I would take the fertility apps suggested fertile days with a grain of salt. Where you don't get your period regularly it's unlikely you are ovulating. With that said doing opks is not a bad idea. But if you don't want to spend the money take your temp. While it won't show when you are about to o it would at least confirm if you did or not.

I think day 3 blood work is to show baseline levels. But I'm honestly not sure. Cd 21 is to confirm ovulation. It's really only accurate if you o on cd 14. Say if you ovulate cd 18 you should get your blood drawn until cd 25. But for some reason doctors seem to think everyone ovulates on cd 14.

I am currently on clomid ttc #2 with pcos. I conceived ds on Clomid after 8 years of unprotected sex and ttc. So I'm very optimistic we will have success this time.

 

[lisap2008]

Thats correct, progesterone tricks your body into thinking it has ovulated ,then when you stop taking it this triggers your period to start, so it is possible you ovulated.

CD3 blood work usually tests your E2, FSH and LH levels , they should also test your thyroid , CD 21 blood work tests for progesterone if its 10 or higher this indicates you have ovulated.

Do read up on the side effects and risks of clomid, I hope your doctor will monitor your cycle or start you at the lowest dose because us PCOSers can over respond to fertility meds.

 

[Myshelsong]

I am just going to come out and say it, do not believe the fertility app.
Those are designed with a specific person in mind and unfortunately you do not fall within the normal range. That doesn't mean you wont be able to figure it out though!

I suggest, like the ladies above, get yourself some clear blue or online cheap ovulation kits. start taking your temperature every morning and hope to see a smiley face or a dark line. that will let you know you are ovulating.
To be safe you could also start having sex every other day, hoping to catch the egg.

Good luck on your journey, may it be over soon.

 

[brandi91]

Thank you so much ladies for your responses. I don't go back to the doctor until the 28th, so I'll be able to ask more questions then.

I'm most definitely taking those fertility app "fertile days" with a grain of salt! I've been trying to temp and do OPKs. Somewhat confusing, and not 100% helpful! Lol!

I'm sure I'll have many more questions as things progress.

 

[mrsberries]

The reason for day 3 & day 21 is on day 3 they check your estrogen & day 21 they check progesterone ! And defiantly use opt.. my app told me I was ovulating like a week after I actually was, reason being I have a long luteal phase (time between ovulation & period) Not sure if this helps or not

 

[Lues]

Hi,

You say you stopped taking The Pill a year ago. Just FYI, I had taken The Pill for about 15 years, and when I stopped it was a over year before I was getting regular periods, and they were still very long cycles. Probably not related to you because it sounds like you had issues before. (I may have, I don't really remember, I was 18, it wasn't something I thought about, lol). But I thought I'd mention that just in case it's comforting.

The blood tests are for a few things. Day three tests a balance of hormones, FSH, LH, etc, it can also test your standard estrogen/testosterone levels, and I agree that you should be sure it's checking your thyroid as well. (i've known a few people where that was the issue... or part)

The 21 day blood test.... is NOT a 21 day blood test, heheh. That's just it's "pet name". It's REALLY the Seven-Days-After-YOU-Ovulate Test. (which for someone with a 28-day cycle, is day 21). Do not let ANYONE push you into getting it at 21 days. It won't give accurate results.

It'll tell if you seemed to have ovulated. It can also tell you if you potentially need progesterone supplements.

Personally, I liked OPKs better than temping. My TTC journey was a long three years (I'm now 4 1/2 months pregnant, so hang in there ladies!). Temping was too overwhelming to me because it was EVERY day, no breaks, and (for me) the slightest thing could throw it off... a late night, an argument, a night where I peed 4 times, being sick, getting up way earlier or later than usual, etc.

With OPKs, I bought them online in HUGE bulk (although I will warn you, having to reorder them, because you're STILL not pregnant can get emotionally draining! But they helped me, so it was worth it). This way they weren't expensive. I just peed on something once a day, and I knew BEFORE I ovulated, so I could get on the baby-making train. ;-)

I don't know where you're from or what sort of doctor you're seeing, or what options you have, but I HIGHLY suggest going to a fertility specialist. It's a scary term (or it was for me). But it can make all the difference!!

Good luck to you and welcome to the board. The women here are incredibly knowledgable. They helped me many, many times.