Trying to Conceive Forum

by **BethH** » Fri Apr 21, 2017 2:22 pm

Hello ladies

A little about me: I'm 28 & DH is 30. We've been ttc since January 2016 and we've recently seen a fertility specialist for work up.

DH's SA had great volume, motility and concentration with low morphology.

I have regular cycles approximately 25 - 28 days. I always spot 2-6 days before AF and my periods have been light since going off the pill. My testing was mixed: normal cavity, tubes are open. Good AFC and FSH but my AMH is low for my age (10, they said it should be above 16) - but the doctor told me quite clearly that he was not worried about this.

We're currently in the middle of our second monitored natural cycle (because my first monitored cycle was totally wacky). I brought up the issue of a possible luteal phase issue with my spotting. The doctor prescribed me Prometrium suppositories, 200mg in the the morning and 200mg at night. I just started them last night. I have a pregnancy blood test scheduled for May 3rd.

There were a couple cycles where I thought I had vvf bfps (possible chemicals?) but without a blood test there was no way to know for sure.

Phew, that was a lot of info!

I was wondering if any of you ladies have experience using Prometrium for a possible luteal phase defect?

by **NewStory** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 12:50 am

Hello BethH,

Firstly, sorry you're going through this TTC for over a year is no fun!

Yes I've been through similar, we did 3 monitored natural cycles before I had a lap that showed endo. May I ask what monitoring they're doing?

For us I has 3 or 4 ultrasound scans for baseline, follicle count and lining check and to confirm ov. And blood work on days 3 and "21" They also put me on progesterone in the LP from 3dpo to 13dpo as I had 2 CPs and an early miscarriage, I also sometimes spot for a day or so before AF but this has stopped since my Lap (I also had a D&C during that procedure so maybe that helped?)

I found the progesterone gave me a few symptoms... higher temps, fatigue but also insomnia/vivid dreams, moodiness and some cramping. Also the discharge is gross so if it's suppositories wear a liner lol :/ So far I haven't got a bfp and we have been advised to try naturally for 6 months after the lap - this is month 4 - and then we've decided we'll go for IVF although the FS suggested medicated cycles first.

Have you been told what the next steps are? I'm wishing you all the very best and I hope you get a BFP or at the very least you get some answers. FX for you x

by **BethH** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:25 am

Hello Newstory

My monitoring sounds similar to what you've been through - baseline ultrasounds, including a sonohysterogram and blood work to confirm O.
You're right! The discharge is gross. I actually feel very muted, like my emotioms are restricted. I don't feel very happy and it's easy for me to be grumpy/mean.

Thanks for your encouragement! I hope you are successful without IVF but it's good that you have a plan!

Our RE suggested Femara but we're actually getting ready to move so we will need a new RE in our new city.

If you don't mind me asking what symptoms made them think you had endo?

FX'd for a BFP for you this cycle!

by **NewStory** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 5:42 am

Hi Beth - yes i very much understand about the moods/emotions I think the progesterone pretty much heightens any pms and also gives some lovely phantom preg symptoms for good measure :lol:

but if it helps then it's worth putting up with IMO.

Regarding the Endo TMI alert... I got a really good doctor who suspected it after we were ttc over a year and my periods had been gradually getting more painful, sometimes I faint and she thought this might be related (I never linked the 2 before because I have low BP anyway.) I had bad periods as a teen and had a lap to investigate then and it was clear, I then went on BCP for 10 years and that helped but when I came off it for TTC the period pains gradually got worse. I get stomach/bowel.issues during AF and I also getting cramping at Ov, sometimes have pain during BD but not all the time and can also get fatigue when I have pain.
In retrospect it sounds obvious but because I'd had a clear Lap when I was younger and the symptoms kind of crept in after BCP I didn't flag it myself. It took a very good Doctor to ask the right questions and thankfully it hadn't done too much damage. My next step is to get checked for any immune issues before fertility meds/ivf
If you have any symptoms at all I'd suggest talking to your ob/gyn or RE about it. It could save a lot of time and pain!

Again, I hope all goes well for you. You're not alone in this x

by **BethH** » Mon Apr 24, 2017 4:02 pm

Hi Newstory - not tmi, thanks for sharing! I am happy that you have a doc that's so on the ball

I appreciate the support! I'm feeling less crazy today so I'm hoping my body is getting used to the extra hormones. It would really be something if after almost 16 months of trying that this did the trick! We shall see....