Dumb question about ovarian reserve

[zez]

Hi
This is probably a very stupid question.

I have been ttc for 10 months with no luck and all of this time I have had irregular periods sometimes going 3 2 months without one.
Other times when I have had my cycle I have gone anywhere from 23 days up to 62 days.
I am currently on cd 49 with no period again.
I do have a underactive thyroid and I know that can play havoc with your cycle alhtough to be honest I am fed up of that been blamed now.
I have become very anxious of late worrying that I may be going into early menopause as my mom and 2 sisters went thorugh theirs early between the ages of 38 and 42.
I am 37 so I do know its a possibility and this thought is not helped by the fact that my periods are so irregular.
I had a day 21 progesterone test done on this cycle I am on now and it showed very low progesterone at 0.7.
This again has worried me as it obviously shows I didn,t ovulate.
Does anybody know if as long as a women is getting periods even if they are irregular sometimes even missing a month or 2 that there is still egg reserve.
Can irregular periods be a sign of diminshed ovarian reserve.
Do you still get periods without a healthy ovarian reserve or if no eggs are left.
Sorry if these questions sound ridiculous but I have all of these thoughts going around in my head which I need to get down.

[kp1212]

Hi Jez,
I have high FSH at 37 years old and the RE feels decreased ovarian reserve/diminished egg quality.  I do have pretty regular periods though (every 27-32 days or so) and seem to be ovulating.  I am considered "perimenopausal" and am the only woman in my family (including mom, aunts, even twin sister) who had this happen.  
Hope that helps shed some light.
My advice...see an RE for testing, etc. and get your questions answered.  It is sooo not fun to be "in the dark".
Good luck to you.

[aniram]

Definitely go to RE and have them check FSH level.

[amcsweeney]

My cycles in the last two years were all over the place as well.  Last year I had a cycle that lasted 120 days.  I went to an acupunturist 3 months ago who specializes in fertility and she has been able to get my cycles pretty regular (between 25-28 days).  I went because my fertility clinic had called me one day and said I should think about getting an egg donor based on one test.  I was so annoyed that I wanted to try other options first.  Since then my cycles and numbers have been pretty much normal and the fertility clinic is now optamistic about my chances on conceiving.  I'd ask lots of questions, not lose too much hope based on just a few tests, and maybe pursue other avenues at the same time, such as acupuncture.

[sasparilla]

Well, usually at a fertility clinic there is a RE as the main Dr.  Ask them if they can prescribe you something to bring on AF (Aunt flo, your period).  If youre not ovulating, then of course youre not gonna get preggers.. they really should be adressing that And it really is madatory that your FSH gets tested on CD 2 or 3.  Maybe you might want to make a list of questions to ask them.  I did for my first appt., but then again I was REALLY fed up with being jerked around by my ObGyn and wanted some serious issues addressed and right now!  So.. i chose IVF to just go ahead and get it all over with.
Also, have they drawn blood to check for any levels?

[zez]

Thanks.
I am under a fertility clinic and have an apointment on the 27th of june where I will be able to discuss the day 21 test that came back with low progesterone.
I really feel in the dark I have not got a clue how I stand, I don,t know if I am ovulating, if I have a healthy ovarian reserve etc.
I have had some hormone tests done checking fsh etc but I didn,t realise at the time they had to be done on certian days of your cycle and my doctor never advised me about that.
I feel so upset and annoyed about it all.
The fertility clinic wanted me to have a day 2 test also but I have had no period again so I haven't been able to have it done.
I phoned up the clinic today to seek advice on when I should have this test if no period but they told me to wait for my appointment and see what the gyno suggests.
Do you think I would be better off under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist rather than the fertility clinin especially as there is also thyroid problems.

[sasparilla]

I would go to an RE and get your FSH checked.. also have them check your antral follicles on caycle day 2 or 3.
I know i have low ovarian reserve and all the women in my family started menopause in their early 50's.  I even had an aunt that naturally (no Dr. involvement at all) gave birth at 42 years old.  I seem to be the only "problem" woman in my family.  
An RE can really give you most of the answers you are looking for.. good luck!