New here and have some questions

mrscollins#3

Hi-

I have been a lurker for a little while and I have a few questions.

A little background on me: I never started my period when I was a teenager. At 17 my mom took me to her ob/gyn and they ran tests and did an ultrasound. Every thing was there just small and my levels were low. They said I was thin and active and to wait a year then come back if nothing. At 18 they gave me a 10 day dose of pills that would jump start my period. After that the plan was to keep me on BC (had normal periods w/ the bc). Now I'm 25 and have been off the patch for 7 months and nothing has happened. I have never had a period that wasn't induced by drugs and that worries me.

My dh and I are finally getting insurance again after 18 months and planning to go to the dr. when it kicks in. I would like to get blood work done before the drs. visit so at the visit we can discuss any issues.

My question is what exactly should I ask them to test for? What are all the levels called? Has anyone had this issue? And how has it worked out?

Thanks for reading this and for any help you guys can give me!

Leslie

TheCalhoons

Welcome. I hope your stay here is short. Your story sounds just like mine. I was originally diagnosed with PCOS. I am looking for a new doctor now. Sorry no advice. I hope you get some answers fast.

GypsyEsq

I don't know that you can get bloodwork without a doctor's orders but you could always go to GP and ask for a complete blood work up for starters.  Then have any results transferred to your RE.  Many of us have had CD3 bloodwork which tests estradiol and FSH but for that you need to be on CD3 which it sounds like won't happen for you unless induced medically.  Do you have an RE that you want to see yet?  Have you researched whether your new insurance will cover a consult?  If not and you will be out of pocket anyway then you might as well try to get in as soon as you can, before your insurance kicks in.  Just some thoughts.  GL!

Littlemac4

Welcome... I don't really have any advice, but I don't know if you can get blood tests without a doctors request. I would suggest calling a doctor and asking them how to go about it. Good Luck ,I hope you don't have to stay here too long.

AliE2007

Hi Leslie,

 Wow, that is the closest description to my "issues" I have heard. Like you, I never started period (AF), AF only came drug induced and is still that way at 34 yrs old. My doctor in California always said, "we'll worry about it when you want to get pregnant" Ultrasounds always showed that everything was there and looked normal, I just didn't have AF. He never really seemed to have any idea why.  About a year ago my Gyn started me on Clomid to see if that would get me to ovulate, and it didn't. When they did the ultrasound, I had know developing follicles, but I did have a bunch of cysts on my ovaries(they call it a pearl necklace) anyway, Gyn said it looked like I had PCOS and he referred me to a RE. The RE had me do a few more cycles of Clomid at increased doses. At first he wasn't convinced I had pcos, because I'm not overweight, don'y have acne. I feel I have a little excess hair growth, but he says I dont. If you research pcos, those are the most common symptoms but not always. After he swa my ovaries and all the cysts, and I wasn't responding to clomid at all. He put me on metformin which works for alot of pcos girls, but didn't for me. Now we just finished our first IVF and are waiting for pregnany test on Sat.

 If you are ready to start a family, a regular OBGYN might reccomend you see a RE(Reproductive Endocrynologist). Something like Clomid might work for you.  I'm not super knowledgable about everything rearding infertility, but I would be happy to answer any questions that I can for you. The girls on this board know soooo much about infertility issues, and always seem to be able to answer my questions. Best of luck to you!!!!!

Alison 

 

AliE2007

Crazy amount of typos, oops

HarleyQ8

Hi! My story is somewhat similar. I got my first period when I was 17..I had a few cycles & went on the pill. Fast forward 10 years...no periods without the pill.  I have PCOS..I do not ovulate or get a period on my own.  My symptoms are cysts on ovaries, hair loss & acne once I got off the pill, excess hair in places it doesnt belong, and insulin resistance which shows via skin discoloration (under boobs, inner/upper thigh, underarms).  I am currently taking metformin (my dr isnt a fan of clomid) to try to regulate my insulin levels & get me ovulating on my own.  You may want to research PCOS if any/some of those symptoms are things you deal with.  Wishing you the best of luck!