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[omgacademe]

As I expected, my progesterone levels are probably too low to get pregnant.  The doctor said that there is a slight chance I might get pregnant as some point but unless we want to try Clomid, we should start looking into adoption agencies.  We've decided not to use any fertility drugs, including Clomid.

Did your doctor talk to you about taking progesterone supplements? I've read that it might be helpful for luteal phase defects.

No, she didn't mention progesterone supplements.  That's probably because we mentioned at the start that we weren't interested in fertility drugs.  I'll have to think about that one.  Thanks!

[msparticularity]

As I expected, my progesterone levels are probably too low to get pregnant.  The doctor said that there is a slight chance I might get pregnant as some point but unless we want to try Clomid, we should start looking into adoption agencies.  We've decided not to use any fertility drugs, including Clomid.

Did your doctor talk to you about taking progesterone supplements? I've read that it might be helpful for luteal phase defects.

No, she didn't mention progesterone supplements.  That's probably because we mentioned at the start that we weren't interested in fertility drugs.  I'll have to think about that one.  Thanks!

First, I just want to say I'm so sorry you're going through this. I really, truly understand because a large part of my infertility had the same cause as yours--low progesterone.

I know you said you didn't want to take any kind of fertility drugs, including Clomid, so please just ignore the rest of what I'm saying if this is stuff you already know all about. I'm only putting it in here in case any of this is news to you. I took Clomid, and hated the side effects, but I did get pregnant on it--my daughter just turned 21 :).

-About 30% of women who take Clomid get pregnant.

-If Clomid is going to work at all it will likely do so quickly (3 cycles or less for over 50% of the women who become pregnant on it) and at the lowest dose (50 mg for 75%).

-Overall, your chance of multiple births without any fertility drugs is roughly 3% (less if you're white, more if you're African American, Latina, or Asian). Clomid does seem to increase the chance of twins (up to a 10% chance by some accounts, but more like 7-8% in the studies). Increased chance of multiple births beyond that (triplets) resulting from Clomid is generally considered to be 1% or less. There don't seem to be any systematic studies of whether multiples beyond twins are related to dose, but there is some anecdotal evidence that it may be so--too high a dose of Clomid over-stimulating the ovaries.

-Twins are harder in some ways, and easier in others. My friend had twins at the same time that I had my daughter, so we got to compare a lot. It was sometimes harder on her just because it's harder to physically manage holding onto two babies, keeping track of two when you're out, and so on. However, she noticed how much easier she had it than I did in terms of entertaining a growing child--twins provide each other comfort, companionship and entertainment. A single child relies completely upon the parent for this.

-I had a history of ovarian cysts, but did not have any additional problems while on Clomid.

In any case, good luck!

[keineidee]

I want to speak out against hysterectomies for non-malignant ailments.  Fibroids and other uterine problems can be corrected using interventional radiology.  Don't fall for it from your OB/GYN (mine told me that her medical malpractice insurance didn't cover fibroid removal, only hysterectomies).  A bit of research, a bit of drive out of state, and I had intrauterine embolism (5 day recovery) in place of a total hysterectomy for bleeding fibroids (9 week recovery, and you are free to imagine the cost and other differences).

Feel free to PM me for more info.

I have also had uterine fibroids removed via minimally invasive surgery. I will gladly share my experience with anyone via PM.

Did you have a myomectomy?

I had a robot-assisted laparoscopic myo, yes.

No one does that where I live.

Nor where I live.  They don't even do the embolism here.  However, it mattered not at all to me; the hysterectomy was welcome, since I kept my ovaries (so no early menopause) and got to dispense with periods.  I noticed no difference to either my sex drive or my orgasms.  (Sorry if TMI.)

FWIW, I am having a hysterectomy for non-malignant ailments in April. Have had 3 other procedures over the last 10 years, including UAE. (I started young.) Everything worked for a while; everything came back (fibroids, endo, adeno). I certainly understand the desire for conservative treatments, but sometimes you have to go for (what the most recent IR I consulted called) the "gold standard."

llanfair, thanks for the info--not TMI for me!

Now I just have to find out about those robots. I'm at a major university med center so there's  decent bet some of them are rolling around...maybe I can take one home and reprogram it to have dinner ready every night.

[psychdiva]

Now I just have to find out about those robots. I'm at a major university med center so there's  decent bet some of them are rolling around...maybe I can take one home and reprogram it to have dinner ready every night.

Why stop there?! There's laundry to be folded and papers to grade.

"Robot, hold office hours for me."

"Robot, attend that faculty meeting for me."

;-)

[inthelab]

Now I just have to find out about those robots. I'm at a major university med center so there's  decent bet some of them are rolling around...maybe I can take one home and reprogram it to have dinner ready every night.

Why stop there?! There's laundry to be folded and papers to grade.

"Robot, hold office hours for me."

"Robot, attend that faculty meeting for me."

;-)

Now I know why there are robots for male surgery but none for female surgery around here!!

[gennimom]

Omgacademe, I'll chime what MsP said. I did get pregnant on the second month of Clomid but miscarried later (for unrelated reasons). Over a year later I tried again, but failed for four cycles. After I stopped the Clomid, I noticed that my cycle (that was short like yours) was actually normal. It stayed that way for four months, right up to the time I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. She is three now.

Clomid is the first line of defense against infertility. I also didn't want fertility drugs and certainly wasn't going through IVF or any other treatment to get pregnant, but my doctor said Clomid wasn't that bad and that I should give it a try. I'm glad I did. Even though I didn't get pregnant on it, I firmly believe I wouldn't have gotten pregnant at all if I hadn't tried it. My doctor also told me that twins were the most common multiple she had seen on Clomid and in her experience, triplets weren't caused by the Clomid, because 2 of the 3 were always identical, which means a split egg after conception. Clomid doesn't cause that.

[keineidee]

Now I just have to find out about those robots. I'm at a major university med center so there's  decent bet some of them are rolling around...maybe I can take one home and reprogram it to have dinner ready every night.

Why stop there?! There's laundry to be folded and papers to grade.

"Robot, hold office hours for me."

"Robot, attend that faculty meeting for me."

;-)

Now I know why there are robots for male surgery but none for female surgery around here!!

Really? Hm, I wonder if the robots look like this?

Time for a little consciousness-raising--or at least an erase and reformat?

[inthelab]

I don't care what the robot looks like; can it come and help me out while I'm handicapped?

[keineidee]

I don't care what the robot looks like; can it come and help me out while I'm handicapped?

Yes! We can do a timeshare. I won't need it till April, so I'll just send it to you as an attachment.

[inthelab]

I don't care what the robot looks like; can it come and help me out while I'm handicapped?

Yes! We can do a timeshare. I won't need it till April, so I'll just send it to you as an attachment.

Great. Hopefully, won't need it any longer come April.

[london1]

After asking myself each month, "don't these things come in anything stronger than super plus?" and after posting my perimenopause frustrations on the Fogey thread, several forumites suggested the possibility of fibroids to me.

When this cycle ends (will it ever end?) I am making an appointment with my doctor.

[keineidee]

After asking myself each month, "don't these things come in anything stronger than super plus?" and after posting my perimenopause frustrations on the Fogey thread, several forumites suggested the possibility of fibroids to me.

When this cycle ends (will it ever end?) I am making an appointment with my doctor.

Good luck! And prepare yourself for the T-V Ultrasound.

[secretweapon]

After asking myself each month, "don't these things come in anything stronger than super plus?" and after posting my perimenopause frustrations on the Fogey thread, several forumites suggested the possibility of fibroids to me.

When this cycle ends (will it ever end?) I am making an appointment with my doctor.

Good luck! And prepare yourself for the T-V Ultrasound.

Oh, that one's fun!

[britmom]

This is more a vent than anything else, but what the heck is going on with my cycles?! I used to be so predictable, I would know what time Aunt Flo would arrive to within a couple of hours. Since I came off the Pill this summer they've been anything from 23-30 days, with terrible, terrible PMT and other stuff (which I've never had.) I've been on and off the Pill since I was 20, and have never had these problems before. Is this a sign of me getting old? My Mum went through the menopause at 39. I'm still 6 years off that, but.....

[psychdiva]

prepare yourself for the T-V Ultrasound.

I'm imagining it'll be like the part of a pelvic exam where the doc inserts a speculum. Same? Different? I'm scheduled for a t-v soon, so a preview would be appreciated. Thanks.