Re-intro and ? about the next step...
melly918
member
Hi, I posted an intro here last November but for some reason I just didn't stick around. I am predominantly on TTCAL but I think it is time for me to be on here too.
I am 36, had DS when I was 33 with no complications and no prior history of m/c. When we TTC'd for the 2nd time, we conceived right away but lost the baby at 9 weeks last September. We have been actively TTCing the last three cycles but so far, no success. My periods are irregular. After the m/c, it was (in order) 25 days, 29 days, 37 days, 25 days (with spotting three days prior), and this cycle is going somewhere between 23 and 25 because I have been spotting off and on the last five days. Thursday I had what I thought was enough to consider a period then it stopped. This afternoon, it seems to be starting up again so if it continues to flow then I will consider today CD1. It has been the most draining week because I kept thinking I was having implantation bleeding because I had it with the last two pregnancies but I never bled this long.
I heard that doctors suggest those who are over 35 to try TTCing for six months and if there's no success, to go back to the doctor for the next step. My question is...what is the next step? I have no clue at all. I am planning to get the TCOYF book soon, but it seems like many of you are going through a variety of treatments. I don't know what to expect and I am really concerned about the emotional and financial toll, so any input would be appreciated.
I will be visiting this board more to get to know and support y'all. I love the ladies over at TTCAL but the average age seems to be 25-30.
BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12
Re: Re-intro and ? about the next step...
As a general rule, doctors recommend women under 35 to wait a year before going to a specialist, those over 35 to wait 6 months and those over 40 to wait only 3 months. The reason being that the older you are, the less time you have to wait for nature to take its course and it's better to get tested and see what's going on. In your case, since you're over 35 and you have problems with your cycle, I think it would be a good idea to check with your ob/gyn now and get your hormones tested and your uterus/tubes examined via an ultrasound. Better to find out if there's a problem now than wait another year for no reason.
Did you have irregular periods before the m/c? Sometimes m/c's mess up your cycle for a few months but it shouldn't last too long. I hope this helped, good luck!
Yes, I had irregular periods before the m/c. I was on the pill for 10 years and I was perfectly regular with the pill (28 days like clockwork, I know it's all the pill's doing) and after I got off the pill, I believe I was a little irregular but not as bad as recently. After I had DS, I breastfed and was on the mini-pill and I did not have a period until he was 15 months old. I got off the mini-pill and stopped breastfeeding when he was 18 months old because, not only was he losing interest, but I was spotting nonstop for weeks. After I stopped BFing and got off the mini-pill, the spotting stopped and I had cycles but of course they were very irregular before I conceived again in July.
Thanks for your advice that I should see my doctor sooner. I will call next week. I thought I'd have to wait six months from when we started TTCing again in November.
BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12
Hi Melly, it's nice to see you over here!
I agree with PP, I would ask your OB if they could start some testing now just in case. 6 months can go by pretty quick when trying to concieve and in hind sight I wish I knew what I know now! Good luck.
I think it depends on your doctor. I called mine last week and told them my situation. I am 37 TTC#2, had a MC at 12 weeks before that yada yada. The nurse said she would talk to the doctor and call me back. When she called back she said to try for 6 months and then start using OPK and read TCOYF. Um WHAT? I'm not an idiot.
I was already looking for a new doctor and now I am more eager than ever to get out of there.
Welcome to the board and good luck to you!
Wow..that would really irk me too. Good luck, I hope you do find a better doctor.
BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12
Hi there! Did not know you were over here too! Thanks for the advice too!
BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12
Me:40 AMA, DH:36 0% morph, TTC#1;
BFP#1 4/2011, MMC 6/2011 11wks Trisomy 13;
BFP#2 11/2011, CP
FSH: 17.9, AMH: 2.2
IVF#1 w/ICSI: ER 4/3: 5R,4M,4F
ET 4/6 All 4 (1-8A+, 2-8A-, 1-3A) BFP#3
Two weeks of beta hell = Blighted Ovum
IVF#2 Aug/Sept: ER 8/27: 4R,3M,3F
ET 8/30 (1-8A+, 1-6A+)
Beta#1 9/10: 350; Beta#2 9/12: 796; Beta#3 9/20: 9155
Expecting Boy/Girl Twins! My babies were born 4/23/13 at 36w1d!
It sounds like when you're off pills your cycles are mostly irregular, so I would def. check with a doctor if I were you. It might be simple to balance your hormones. Irregular spotting if often a sign that your hormones are out of whack. The time you were on the pill doesn't count b/c you're not ovulating on the pill so not really have a "natural" cycle, you know? The bleeding on the pill is annovulatory.
Good luck and I hope you get some answers and a BFP soon!
DD born 12.21.09, conceived w/ injects and IUI
TTC#2 since Nov 2011
BFP 2.6.12 m/c 6w5d | BFP 5.25.12 c/p
-Back to the RE-
3 medicated IUIs, all BFN
-Taking a break from treatment-
BFP 11.20.12 ~ EDD 7.28.13
My Chart
Welcome back. Do you know if your insurance will cover anything? For me, my insurance would not cover anything until one year of trying unless you had a specific diagnosis. There was no exception for being over 35. That made it important for me to get referrals that included the diagnosis of endometriosis so that I would have better insurance coverage earlier with an RE. The RE ran all of the tests that my OB had already done including the SA for DH. I did waste a little money having the tests run twice.
Good luck to you.
Country Girl - I don't know yet. Thank you for bringing it up as I will need to look into that.
BFP#2 ~ 8/2/11, EDD 4/11/12, D&C 9/12/11 at 9w5d
BFP#3 ~ 4/15/12, EDD 12/21/12 ~ DD born 12/22/12