What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

This is TMI and for me to post online something like this is hard - i have no issues right now with being CF but i want to know now before DH get's older if we can't have kids.

I haven't used protection in six years while dating my husband and now we have been married for two years. We haven't taken many direct hits but i think "most" people would of been pregnant already.

We do not plan on having a child yet but I will be 31 in April and he will be 37 and even though I have no issues being CF right now DH wants a child in a few more years and I am thinking I might have issues and should investigate now before we are really ready. Any advice on what to do or what to ask?

I need a new GYNO because my old one never listened to me. Is there anyone specific i should go to?

TIA

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

I would just talk to your new OB/Gyn. They can do some blood work, but most Dr's (and insurance companies) want you to actively try for 1 year before they begin testing.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

Yea definately go to your gyno and see what they say. They should do a few blood tests and see if your hormone levels are "normal" and what not..

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

First go get checked out by a gyn. I really think unless you know of issues already present meaning irregular cycles..etc..then when you are ready to try, try for about 6-12 months and see what happens. If after that you are still having issues, I would consult with a RE.

Also, from personal experience don't wait too long to try. At 37 my gyn told me when I'm ready I should start trying. I wish he would have told me how much my fertility declined already and the cost of waiting. I will regret waiting as long as I live.

Having said that, having kids is a personal decision and no one should pressure you. You will know when you are ready but you should always see a doc once a year and get a pap, breast exam and have an honest conversation about your reproductive years.

eta: what makes you think you will have issues? I would start temping and monitoring your cycles. Taking Charge of your Fertility is a great book to read. There are only really 3 days a month that you are fertile and if you miss those you won't get pregnant.

Message edited 2/17/2010 6:03:28 PM.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

well good question on why i think i might have an issue. My mom built in my head since I was child that i might be not fertile because i had wide hips as a baby and they thought that i had a fracture. So they did a lot of xrays and the protection they had would fall off because i would squirm. I never though anything of it until i realize its been like 9 years of dh and I not using protection and my friends would call me lucky but i am wondering if its not luck but what my mom used to say that they "fried" my ovaries.

Plus your right i don't want to wait to find out that it might take us a few years of trying because i know dh really wants a kid before 40 and that is only a few years away.

I will try to find a good gyno who will listen to me and hopefully i can talk too, maybe i can see if I can get tested. If not maybe i can see if we will actively start by the end of this year since it might take a while.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

I would also go to a new OBGYN and have them check you out, tell them about your thoughts. I also agree that they say you should be trying for about a year before going to a RE. I am over 35 so my GYN has been telling me from the time I got engaged not to wait too long. That being said the first thing my RE asked me was how long i have been trying without any protection. (1+yrs) He said we should have had a pregnancy in that time. DH should get tested as well.
If it makes you feel better my father had massive amounts of radiation as a child leaving him disfigured and he still had 2 healthy children.
Hopefully you do too.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

Well - my response would really depend on if you typically use the pull and pray method or if you really use nothing at all. If you PNP, like my husband and I did for many years, it actually is a very effective form of BC. After really trying for 2 months (timed intercourse with an OPK) we conceived my son. This time around we weren't so lucky and as it turns out DH has some minor probs, but I believe that this is a more recent development. I think all those years we would have gotten PG if we had tried to.

They can definitely do some bloodwork to check your hormone levels but that probably wouldn't tell you if there is anything specifically wrong with your egg quality due to the xrays you had as an infant. Unfortunately I do think you really need to start trying to find out. It's such a catch 22 if you are concerned, but also aren't quite ready to start a family yet.

Good luck!

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

There could be male factor issues as well so if you are going ahead and checking things out, get him checked as well. Male issues are relatively easy to overcome. Female issues, not as easy.

Of course, whenever you are ready to pursue it.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

thank you all - you have given much insight on what to do!

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

I dont know who your current OB/GYN is but if you are looking for reccomdations.. I reccommed Lustberg in the Huntinton area. When i was in the same sitation he did a lot of tests on me and we found problems to be solved. You just ask him to do a full work-up on you.

I do believe that there are people and places out there, that seem to not care. Lustberg can have a bad day, but he is a really good doc.

Maybe someone else can reccomend someone else if he isnt in your area.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

i am in lindenhurst area but i am willing to travel if someone is good. I haven't found a good dr in so long.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

I travel to him from West hempstead.

He is good and i stick by him. I have been seeing him since 1999. He become much better after he left Suffolk OB/GYN for his own practice.
MY bff is currently pregnant with twins and seeing him. Let's just say in her words.. the nurses at huntington hospital are very cautious around him. No one wants to do anything to upset him. He does put his patients first and from what i have seen the best care.

Like i said though, somedays he has a bad day and his bedside manner is a little bad... but he never lets that interfere with you and what you are trying to achieve.

Re: What do you do when you think your infertle? TMI

To be honest I had unprotected sex for like 8 years (with a serious boyfriend for the first 4 and then with my now husband for the rest) and I NEVER got pregnant accidentally but then did get pregnant (naturally) on my very first attempt. So, I wouldn't really just assume you will have a problem and start investigating... I mean, by all means go to the gyno and stay current- but I don't think you should start with any kind of testing at this point.