Health problems and possible fertility woes: In need of advice.

TrishaSantiago · December 2012

Hello everyone! My name is Katrina for those who don't know. I've posted on this subject before but that was awhile ago. So within my short 20 1/2 years of being alive, I've been diagnosed with PCOS, Hypothyroidism, Lupus and Pre-Diabetes. I know that's a lot. I've been dealing with the PCOS the longest (since I was 12) and my only medications for it are The Pill and Metformin. I'm on Levothyroxine for my thyroid and I'm not on anything for the Lupus. Before I was recently diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Lupus, I decided that I would start getting my body into "Baby Making Shape". I wanna get off The Pill in 2013 and somehow get my periods to regulate naturally. My major concerns with my health all deal with fertility and pregnancy. I'm absolutely terrified that I'm doomed to be childless. My ideal time to start trying would be in about 3-4 years. Is there anyone out there who can share some words of wisdom?

bumpuser794640 · December 2012

First, I'm sorry that you have these health problems to deal with. It's not ideal, but you can work with what you've got.

My first bit of advice is not to borrow trouble. You have no way of knowing whether your PCOS will affect your ability to conceive - plenty of women with PCOS can conceive naturally without the aid of fertility drugs, and it can take a perfectly healthy couple up to one year to conceive, even with perfect timing. It is great that you are already on Metformin, as that will help keep some of your hormones in check.

Secondly, I would discuss with your doctor when the best time to get off the pill in preparation for TTC would be. Since you have PCOS, they might suggest you get off 3-6 months before you plan to start trying, to give your body some time to regulate on its own. This can take some time. They may also have some advice concerning your Lupus and pre-diabetes. They will probably suggest altering your diet and exercise routine in order to reach a healthier weight before TTC. You will probably want to try charting your basal body temperature (BBT) in order to see when/if you're ovulating once you discontinue your birth control pills.

Take some deep breaths - I know this line is cliche, and hated by many (including myself at times), but you have plenty of time to have children - you're not even 21!

DebateThis · December 2012

Don't go off the pill until you are ready to conceive, especially if you don't want to TTC for 3-4 more years. Speak to your physicians regarding TTC with your specific medical conditions, but please do not borrow trouble. None of your diagnoses inherently renders you infertile and you're WAY cart before the horse.

There's more information here regarding PCOS/Lupus/TTC: https://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_about.aspx?articleid=4064&zoneid=2

Good luck.

nlscroggins · December 2012

GnomeSweetGnome:
First, I'm sorry that you have these health problems to deal with. It's not ideal, but you can work with what you've got.
My first bit of advice is not to borrow trouble. You have no way of knowing whether your PCOS will affect your ability to conceive - plenty of women with PCOS can conceive naturally without the aid of fertility drugs, and it can take a perfectly healthy couple up to one year to conceive, even with perfect timing. It is great that you are already on Metformin, as that will help keep some of your hormones in check.
Secondly, I would discuss with your doctor when the best time to get off the pill in preparation for TTC would be. Since you have PCOS, they might suggest you get off 3-6 months before you plan to start trying, to give your body some time to regulate on its own. This can take some time. They may also have some advice concerning your Lupus and pre-diabetes. They will probably suggest altering your diet and exercise routine in order to reach a healthier weight before TTC. You will probably want to try charting your basal body temperature (BBT) in order to see when/if you're ovulating once you discontinue your birth control pills.
Take some deep breaths - I know this line is cliche, and hated by many (including myself at times), but you have plenty of time to have children - you're not even 21!

pretty much sums it all up. good luck to you, op!

starshineamator · December 2012

I have PCOS as well, and I lost 70 lbs. before going off the pill. Losing weight and getting into the normal weight range is definitely a way to control the symptoms, and it worked for me. I had regular periods for the first time in my life the past three years since I went off the pill, even though I did gain a few lbs. back once I went off (which I and the dr expected would happen). I wasn't actively trying to conceive but wasn't trying to prevent it either, and I am pregnant now for the first time. So it did take a few years for me to get pregnant, but I didn't spend those years anxiously trying either, and I think the low-stress and my acceptance of my life without kids (Spouse and I were fine with not having any if it turned out I wasn't able to get pregnant) is what allowed my body to actually get pregnant. I stressed about it a lot when I was younger and I'm so glad that I haven't been over the past few years, honestly. Though it was a bit of an adjustment when I realized that I WAS pregnant, because I was convinced and ok with the fact that I never would be!

DebateThis · December 2012

starshineamator:
Ilow-stress and my acceptance of my life without kids (Spouse and I were fine with not having any if it turned out I wasn't able to get pregnant) is what allowed my body to actually get pregnant. I stressed about it a lot when I was younger and I'm so glad that I haven't been over the past few years,

Hmm Stress doesn't make you infertile. And relaxing won't get you pregnant.

TrishaSantiago · December 2012

Thank you so much!

Mysterious_wife · December 2012

Gnome and Debate gave wonderful advice. I also suggest changing your SN. Having your full name on here is dangerous.

starshineamator · December 2012

DebateThis:
starshineamator:
Ilow-stress and my acceptance of my life without kids (Spouse and I were fine with not having any if it turned out I wasn't able to get pregnant) is what allowed my body to actually get pregnant. I stressed about it a lot when I was younger and I'm so glad that I haven't been over the past few years,
Stress doesn't make you infertile. And relaxing won't get you pregnant.

https://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/06/15_stress.shtml

https://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2010/nichd-11.htm

DebateThis · December 2012

greengirl09:
starshineamator:
DebateThis:

starshineamator:
Ilow-stress and my acceptance of my life without kids (Spouse and I were fine with not having any if it turned out I wasn't able to get pregnant) is what allowed my body to actually get pregnant. I stressed about it a lot when I was younger and I'm so glad that I haven't been over the past few years,

Stress doesn't make you infertile. And relaxing won't get you pregnant.

https://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2009/06/15_stress.shtml

https://www.nih.gov/news/health/aug2010/nichd-11.htm

Good effort, except that the first article is based on research conducted on rats and birds...and the second article draws from a very small study group where people are using tobacco and alcohol to cope with stress. Neither of these studies say that relaxing gets you pregnant, but being a booze-hound might hinder your efforts.

Agree with this. There are also a few other reasons why these studies aren't inherently the proof you're looking for that your supposed stress levels made you "infertile", Starshine.

First - the Cal study talks about GnRH and chronic stress. In humans it takes an incredible amount of stress to inhibit that and thus impair ovulation. I say this all the time, but rape victims and women in war zones conceive with a decent amount of regularity, and the average American's stress load cannot compare to that.

Second - the NIH link talks about a sample set of women ranging in ages from 18-40 which many infertility specialists would argue is a flawed age range since women over the age of 35 already have an alarmingly high rate of infertility that has nothing to do with their stress levels and everything to do with advanced maternal age. That link talks about "all else being equal" when in fact an 18 year old woman and a 40 year old woman AREN'T equal reproductively.

Third - there have been more accurate/controlled studies regarding saliva tests and cortisol levels in infertiles (as an actual diagnosed group as opposed to just a random sample of women) since that one was published, and they have determined that saliva cortisol levels are NOT associated with any decrease in fertility (or, more specifically, any less eggs retrieved during IVF).

Fourth - this gets mentioned in just about every new study, but there is no reliable way to ascertain exactly how much "stress" an individual feels. Even if you expose 300 women to the exact same stressful situation (which is arguably unethical) they will each exhibit different responses and different levels of stress hormone releases.

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