Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #30 on: December 11, 2006, 03:12:24 PM » by herbalmom

Quote from: BeeyoutifulGirl on December 10, 2006, 04:33:15 PM

HB's links are important to read through!
I also recently read that if a woman has low iron, her body will not accept the sperm (maybe "kill" it?) because it knows that producing enough blood to sustain a healthy pregnancy is not possible. Have you ever had your iron levels checked? Spirulina is a good choice for naturally raising iron levels.

And, if your iron is fine, my first recommendation would be to go through all the recommended cleanses to make sure you don't have yeast, toxicity, etc...

Let us know how it goes :-)

Rebekah

Dandelion root is also great for low iron/anemia & helps to cleanse the the liver.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #31 on: December 11, 2006, 08:34:13 PM » by herbs girl

I haven't had too much trouble in this area-- but I've read great things about MMeadow herbs' tincture that increases fertility--even after 10 years of not getting preg. for one woman!! Look up there website mountainmeadowherbs.com

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #32 on: January 01, 2007, 12:12:40 PM » by born-an-okie

I haven't read this book but I've heard good things about it. It is called Stay Fertile Longer by Mary Kittel. Be forewarned it does contain rather graphic descriptions about the dangers of immoral sex. It is supposed to have a lot of great info for maximizing your fertility including diet and herbs that can be helpful. If anyone has read it I would be interested to know what you think about it.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #33 on: January 10, 2007, 09:04:00 PM » by maideninwaiting

I am rather confused about progesterone and fertility. I have symptoms of Estrogen Dominance and am thinking of using a natural wild yam soy free prog. cream. However, I am afraid to begin it because I've heard that it can improce fertility, but also that it can cause miscarriages and diminish fertility. If you are taking progesterone when you conceive, should you continue using it topically throughout the pregnancy? Is it harmful for the baby? Help! How do you know whether or not to begin taking progesterone for suspected Estrogen dominance?? Huh

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #34 on: January 17, 2007, 03:58:52 PM » by earthymomof2

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and very pleased to see such a great lineup of topics.

I'm just wondering if anyone has struggled with or is currentlly struggling with infertility and had miscarriages. Just wondering what you have done, where has this taken you spiritually. It is such a dear desire to my heart to have more children. I have two beautiful boys and I'm so grateful, but I still feel a sort of emptiness and the desire for more. I've lost 3 that I know of. The first was at 8 weeks after seeing a heartbeat and everything. The last two have been since my 2 1/2 year old's birth. The most recent was almost a year ago and the one before that was nearly two years ago--both at 5 weeks.

I have a pretty strong feeling that I may have some polycystic type tendencies, though testing all comes back negative for that. I have no thyroid problems. I DO have a problem with low progesterone which I use herbs and prog cream or suppositories for. Because of my three losses, a perinatologist did a workup and I have some clotting tendencies as well (not good for developing placentas), so I take aspirin and extra folic along with my prenatal and herbs.

We've been trying for more than 2 years for number 3 and though I'm pretty strong, thanks to my Lord and a very supportive husband, I do ache to be pregnant, carry, birth and nurse again.

Any thoughts? What's up with your situation?

Thanks for letting me share,

Sarah

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #35 on: January 18, 2007, 10:01:48 AM » by earthymomof2

Oops, I posted the above in the women only section, not thinking to check in the pregnancy section to see if anyone had already started a thread.

We drink kombucha and eat a whole foods diet. I feel yeasty right now and seriously want to do a cleanse for that. The holiday season brought with it an abundance of sweets which is not good for this. I think this is why I'm flaring up right now. I'm interested in the Water Cure. I'm just wondering where I can get unrefined sea salt. I can get morton sea salt at Wal Mart. Is this acceptable?

I see many of you are in a very similar boat. We too don't want to take the medical route to conceive, except to preserve an already established pregnancy. I usually stabilize after the first trimester, and I've located a nearby homebirth midwife who is very comfortable with my situation, so that's one thing I have going for me and I'm so happy about that.

God is definately teaching me so much through this experience of inftertility and "hopes deferred".

Thanks for reading.

Sarah the newbie

« Last Edit: January 18, 2007, 10:14:41 AM by earthymomof2 »
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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #36 on: January 21, 2007, 04:31:30 PM » by Janacat

Praise God! I just had another baby. She is a healthy 6 week old! I have PCOS and Hypothyroid. I have been irregular since I began menstruation when I was 12. I had my first at 32 after my first dosage of Clomid/oral progesterone. I really wanted another baby. I had gained 60 lbs and only lost 30. I was not healthy weight range. I went on the South Beach Diet and lost 10 lbs. Stopped taking oral progesterone and took Evening Primrose Oil supplements, mainly for migraine, but also helps other female issues. I had been praying alot. We were planning on Clomid in December after our house was built. But, surprise, I found out I was pregnant in April and had my daughter in December at age 36. I believe, that God laid it in me to stick to the diet and excercise and switch to the Primrose Oil. For me this worked. If you are having issues talk to your health food nutritionist, OB, endocrinologist. Find out what is wrong and then research on your own. Sometimes doctors don't have all the answers! May God Bless you with your heart's desires!

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #37 on: January 21, 2007, 05:48:10 PM » by WithLoveAndJoy

I found an interesting article this morning and posted it in a different thread, but since it has to do with difficulty becoming pregnant, I thought I would post it here. It has to do with eating trans fat damaging a woman's fertility. I thought it a very interesting article. Click to find it here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=430111&in_page_id=1774&ico=Homepage&icl=TabModule&icc=NEWS&ct=5

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #38 on: February 08, 2007, 03:36:39 PM » by MomOf8

Hi,

I have gotten pregnant with my last 5 children while nursing. They have all been about 2 years apart. Well, we have not used b/c and I am surprised I am not pregnant. It has been almost 1 year. I am almost 38. I don't have any problems. My check-ups have been normal. The only complaint is that I have pain in my left thigh that is related to my cycles(no pain when pregnant). I don't know it I should go back to the doctor-he said he thinks I should be able to have more. I guess I would like to know if this is the end and need to move on. Any advice would be great.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #39 on: February 08, 2007, 03:49:13 PM » by healthybratt

Where in your thigh? This could just be normal ovulation pain or it could be indicative of a cyst. If you don't have any other symptoms, I'd lean more towards the ovulation. Mine have hurt during that time for years. (right in the crease of the leg, right where the ovary should be).

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #40 on: February 08, 2007, 06:08:51 PM » by momto6

My sister has 11 children, all about 16-23 months apart and all (except the first

) conceived when she was nursing. The babies have gotten farther apart as she has gotten older - she turned 40 in Dec. I would think that there's still a chance for you to have more, but it may just take longer than you think. Just relax and enjoy your wonderful family - God's timing is perfect.

Blessings!

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #41 on: February 08, 2007, 06:44:11 PM » by freshisbest

I had 3 boys very close together. All I had to do was look at my husband it seemed...I was married at 32 and had the first at 34...after #3 I had about 6 miscarriages. I too, thought I was "done." Then at 43 conceived a girl. No problems whatsoever. I agree you should enjoy your family, get yourself nutritionally sound, and see what The Lord does. 2 cents worth: when I was much much younger I had an infection and the gland right in the crease of my thigh to the right of the hairline (ON the hairline) swelled up and ached. I thought the ovaries were right above this crease. I also struggled with yeast before I knew it was yeast so..my theory was hormonal changes can affect the internal environment and an older body just has a harder time conceiving in not so perfect conditions. And bringing it up to the Dr., at that age, lead them to just tell me
" why are you trying anyway at YOUR age?" So unless you think its a blatant medical issue I'd do what the Lord leads you at home and leave it in his hands. I'm just now 48 and every month I have to admit there's a little mourning going on...call me crazy!!!!!!!!!!

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #42 on: February 08, 2007, 08:01:15 PM » by MotherOfBlessings

You could look into the book Taking Charge Of Your Fertility. While the title does not sound very God-trusting the information in there is vast. I have charted my cycles for a few years and it actually helps me to see what is going on with my body as my cycle progresses. So one does not have to chart just to achieve/avoid a pregnancy. We were doing it to time "things" for a boy. Funny thing is that I am pg and the baby is a boy but my chart did not help at all. Tongue

My fertility signs were so low that I am amazed I am pg.

However, the book talks about all kinds of pains, conditions, and not just pregnancy so I think it still may help you. Your library may have a copy, ours does.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #43 on: February 08, 2007, 08:11:11 PM » by Myjoy

Quote from: colefam on February 08, 2007, 08:01:15 PM

I would agree about this book. We got married and for 2 years didn't get pregnant. I had a couple miscarriages. I found this book and read it and it was a great help to us. I charted four months and got pregnant. I started charting again when my cycles returned four months after my son, and 4 months later, I was pregnant again. We just gave our book to another couple trying to get pregnant and they just told us a couple weeks ago that they are expecting.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #44 on: February 08, 2007, 08:53:39 PM » by ShabbyChic

Two things. First, can you talk with your mom about when she started noticing changes? And second, could you see a chiropractor? Sometimes when there is something out of alignment in your back you feel the pain in other places. I'm speaking second hand, never been to a chiropractor, but my mother is a completely different person since she began seeing one. She is using chiropractics (and eating lots of red meats) with great success to ease the discomfort of PCOS and the beginnings of menopause.

« Last Edit: February 08, 2007, 09:17:20 PM by ShabbyChic »
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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #45 on: February 08, 2007, 09:10:00 PM » by hjm

Most of mine are 15-16 months apart. And then there is this surprise 2 year gap between two in the middle. No b/c nothing. I believe it was just God's break for my body. He knows when we need more and when we need a break.
hjm

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #46 on: February 09, 2007, 11:38:03 AM » by love2bamom

I have 1 child so far, it took 7 months till I became pregnant. Now here I am going into my 7th month again and I just don't know why it takes so long.
I am taking my vitamins and my I just changed my diet to less carbs and more fruits and veggies. I ovulate about 14 days after my period. I am on a consistant monthly cycle and am only a day or so off sometimes. I feel I am healthy, and I am not breastfeeding anymore (my child is 15 months). I quit BF when we started trying. I am thinking of trying a special nght on ovulation night with a glass of wine, because that is what we did and seemed to work on 1st baby. Any ideas?

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #47 on: February 09, 2007, 11:51:54 AM » by SarahK

Try

Ovulation & Fertility

and read back through this thread as HB as merged your question with an already existing topic. Wink

« Last Edit: February 09, 2007, 11:53:13 AM by healthybratt »
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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #48 on: February 09, 2007, 01:21:35 PM » by sarah2be

It has taken me up to a year to get pregnant in the past ( after a miscarriage). I can only say what worked for me...unfortunately it is not very "natural," but it worked the first try...plain robitussin. My sil heard about it on some educational television show and told me about it. I figured it was worth a try. It thins out cervical mucous making it easier to conceive ( if that is the problem). I did not have any other symptoms of female problems. I just took a normal dose on the day I ovulated and about 30 minutes before intercourse. PLEASE be sure NOT to take any robitussin that has any letters after it--such as DM, etc. They can cause birth defects.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #49 on: February 09, 2007, 02:21:34 PM » by BJ_BOBBI_JO

Quote from: Missy on May 09, 2006, 12:00:06 PM

Just a question that I haven't seen on any of the threads yet (maybe, I missed it)

I have been married for several years now and have not used any type of birth control. My cycles have always been irregular from the get go. Two years ago I went to the OB/GYN and he said I wasn't ovulating and gave me Clomid to get it going. Hence, my daughter!

Well, we would like to have another child but I am not sure about going that route again. The doctor didn't know why I wasn't ovulating, nor how to fix it. Has any body been through this before or have any ideas? Thanks so much!

I was also told I did not or rarely ever ovulated. I was married 7 1/2 years before I ever got pregnant. We figured out that I ovulated once every 3 years and mostly only in June.( for many years I kept a record of when my periods started and ended and when I felt ovary pains) Sounds weird I know but thats how it is. I know when I ovulate because it causes a lot of ovary pain.

My hubby and I just left it in Gods hands and did not worry about it. We said if God wants to give us a baby then so be it and if He dont then so be it, because we feel God knows the best what is good for us and knows the right timing of it all. Believing that way put me at ease and gave me comfort and I did not get depressed about it because I knew God was in charge. Its just a thought , it does help in dealing with it all to have those thoughts about it.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #50 on: February 09, 2007, 04:23:01 PM » by Maria/NHM

Quote from: herbalmom on December 11, 2006, 03:12:24 PM

Quote from: BeeyoutifulGirl on December 10, 2006, 04:33:15 PM

Dandelion root is also great for low iron/anemia & helps to cleanse the the liver.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #51 on: March 01, 2007, 02:25:30 PM » by earthymomof2

Has anyone ever tried Traditional Chinese Medicine (acupuncture and chinese herbs) for infertility?

I looked into this over the last year and read a book called "The Infertility Cure" and finally on Tuesday had an acupuncture treatment with a chinese doctor my midwife recommended. A friend and I went together (she's got similar problems).

It was really quite cool. I felt great afterwards.

Has anyone tried this?

Sarah

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #52 on: March 06, 2007, 01:53:12 PM » by happymamaof5

Hi! I'm new to this forum and have already gained lots of help! I would like to ask you all about our infertility. We started trying to have a baby 5 yrs. ago. We tried for a little over 2 yrs. and conceived with our beautiful son who was stillborn in the 37th week due to a twisted umbilical cord. We have tried ever since to conceive again. I charted for a long time and realized I had a short lutual stage and am doing progesterone cream to correct that. I am ovulating around day 14 or 15 now with my period always starting on day 28. I have very good cervical mucous. I have had my tubes checked and they aren't blocked. We are changing our diet slowly to include whole grain foods and trying to eliminate soda! I know, I know --- pop is horrible for you. I read about the water cleanse and am going to start today doing that. I am 5'6 and weigh 130 lbs. What could be the trouble? My gyn said the next step was Clomid and my husband said no. I agree with his decision but would like to carry another baby! We are in the process of adopting 2 beautiful children from Liberia so that has been very exciting for us but I would still like the experience of pregnancy again. We had my husband's sperm tested and it was ok but not the best. Out of 100 sperm, 48 of them were moving but 52 were not. They were not that well formed either. Our gyn said that this was not worrisome to him as it wasn't that bad. Does anyone know any ways to improve the quality of sperm? As you can see, I'm desperate for any sort of information you might have for us! Thanks a lot. Shana

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #53 on: March 06, 2007, 03:15:00 PM » by earthymomof2

I'm so sorry for your loss. That must have been really hard. Cry

Here's a common regimen for the guys:

50mg zinc, 200mcg selenium, 800iu natural vitamin e, 2000mg Vit C and a multi-vitamin (no caffiene, sleep and lots of water). Also, loose fitting underwear, no hot baths, and L-arginine and L-cartanine have been said to help (not sure of doses--you'd have to research that one).

Most of this is found in Fertility, Cycles and Nutrition by Marilyn Shannon.

We're against clomid also (at least for now). My cycle's not too bad either, though I have lots of premenstrual problems (spotting, cramping, emotional stuff) and I tend to ovulate a little early, and probably have some PCOS issues.

Vitex is one of the most helpful herbs. It helped me with a lot of my premenstrual issues a couple of years ago.

Acupuncture seems to me to be one of the most effective "alternative" things that can be done about infertility.

I, with you, have that deep longing (though I do have two beautiful sons) for another pregnancy, another birth, another sweet babe (actually, I'd love two more). I'm struggling right now to know whether to go ahead with more traditional chinese treatments and herbs (had one treatment and two months of herbs) or kind of "give up" for now and just utterly trust God without trying to do anything except do the healthy thing. My husband was very gracious to allow me to go to this particular doctor twice at a large expense, but I'm feeling the desire to keep going to a local, less costly practitioner on a regular basis until I really see some improvements in my cycle and general health. My plan is to approach this with him this evening and see what he says. Praying about this.

Sorry! I just needed to just share a little. This has been heavy on my mind and heart as well. I will pray that God will bless you again.

Blessings,

Sarah

« Last Edit: March 06, 2007, 03:26:48 PM by earthymomof2 »
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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #54 on: March 06, 2007, 06:21:26 PM » by cajunmom

My sister had the same problem. She tried for years to get pregnanat and couldn't... Her cycle had always been spurratic. She went on the South Beach diet (which basically cuts out all bad carbs and refined sugar products), and within six month she was pregnant! Since having her first, she has gone back to her low carb diet and is now pregnant with her second... I don't know if this works with a lot of people, but now my sis' cycle is like clockwork!

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #55 on: March 10, 2007, 09:48:15 PM » by love2bamom

My periods are very regular too. Sorry I have been busy and haven't even checked my replies till now.
I talked to my DH about taking some pills called GLA from Shaklee Inc. in case it was him and not me (supplier said a man she knew who's count was low took them and it raised it to a fairly high count)but he told me "no" and that it would all happen in God's time. I should not get so anxious I guess because he is right, our 1st son came in God's time and we were both strengthened in Christ and changed from bad group of friends meeting good Christian friends that were just starting to have children also. I have to pray harder for patience and faith and let God do what he does best. Thank you Ladies and I will let you all know if God chose for me to get pregnant again.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #56 on: March 10, 2007, 10:35:13 PM » by hedy

Just wanted to add my own testimony to the lower-carb eating. PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) is a common hormonal disorder which often causes lack of or late ovulation. It is linked to insulin-resistance and that is why cutting down on carbs is so helpful. I have PCOS and conceived our first child while trying a low-carb diet. This was after five years of nothing!

It would be much better to try this before Clomid. Other options would be to take cinnamon (helps insulin issues) or an insulin-reducing medication, such as Metformin. (Not "natural", but still worth trying before Clomid.) Of course, you want to be positively diagnosed before trying medication. IMO, Reproductive endocrinologists are better for this than most GYNs.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #57 on: March 13, 2007, 12:09:38 PM » by earthymomof2

I made an appointment yesterday to see a Reproductive Endocrinologist about my hormones. They've been crazy lately and getting worse all the time (at least I'm feeling worse all the time). They had an opening for this coming Monday, so I'm going.

I would love to get some answers---perhaps a firm diagnosis of something.

This morning started our 31st cycle, and I'm just at the point that I want to be more healthy. Conceiveing would be happy side effect of being more healthy.

I'll keep you posted.

Sarah

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #58 on: March 13, 2007, 12:30:48 PM » by drmom

Since I am a midwife I am intensly interested in this subject. While studying to be a Master Herbalist one theme that come thru over and over again is that since many or most of us tend toward estrogen dominance we should direct our diet toward foods less estrogen dominant. Our teacher was a vegetarian. I am not. But the thought was intriging to me. Since I was 48 and having extreme difficulty with early menopausal problems I began to put some of his ideas into practice and behold, my cycle difficulties dissappeared. Well, that interested me. I then began to suggest diet changes, ie. cut out all meat, eggs and dairy for two to three months, to anybody who was having cycle difficulties or not getting pregnant. I am so amazed at how successful it has been with the ladies that have tried it. Some of my clients did not want to cut out the meat, milk and eggs completely. They opted to go hormone free in all their sources. They too have had great success. You can research this idea yourself. I think that our American diet has gotten so hormonized that all we can do to optimize it is a wonderful idea. If you understand that everypart of our body has our hormones, then you will also understand that every part of any animal that we eat, has hormones. So if we are careful with how much we eat or whether or not hormones are added to it, then we stand a much greater chance of having a healthy body.

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Re: Can't Get Pregnant: Female Fertility/Infertility
« Reply #59 on: March 20, 2007, 07:57:57 AM » by earthymomof2

Hey girls,

Well, I went to the repro endo on Monday, and contrary to what I expected, the doc cannot give me a PCOS diagnosis.
Looking at my hormone results from last year, and my cycle history (never been irregular), he cannot say I have PCOS. He is rerunning them on day 3 of my next cycle, just to be sure there are no changes there, but for now I am chewing on the other stuff he told me.

He said the cause of the kind of bleeding I've been having (a week of spotting before my full period...equals almost two weeks of bleeding per cycle) could be one of two things.

1) a hormonal problem
2) a physical problem inside the uterus (like a polpy or fibroid)

He wants to do a hysteroscope. It is a really minimally invasive and can be treated/corrected with the scope as well unless they are very large. The scary thing is, he wants to do it under general anesthesia incase he does find something and can correct it right then and there without having to go in again. The thought of general really scares my husband and I.

I'm wondering if anyone has any info on polyps, and whether it is advisable to have them taken care of, putting infertility aside. I'm not sure we'd want to do it solely for fertility's sake, but if it is advisable for my general health as well (can't say I relish having 2 weeks of bleeding a month like I have over the last year), I think we would do it. And again, he could go in and find NOTHING, so at that point I would have gone under for no reason. My musing: should I take the risk or not?

Prayers and any info/advice appreciated.

Thanks,

Sarah

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