Fertility at 39 years old

[sawilliams]

I am curious how long I should try to conceive without seeking a second opinion. I am 39 (just turned 39 last month). My husband is 43 yrs old. We both have children from previous relationships, my youngest is 13 yrs old and I had no issues with my first two pregnancies. I have 3 small uterine fibroids that have been monitored for several yrs with very little growth. (My GYN insists my fibroids are insignificant in regards to my fertility). My uterus is retroflexed.
I stopped my BCP (after 13 yrs) in April and have had normal, regular cycles (every 24-26 days) since. I had a preconception appt. with my Gyn. in May and he said time was really not on my side but there was no reason to think I would not be able to get pregnant. I have taken the home FSH test, which was normal. I am tracking my cycles, using home ovulation tests (getting positive LH surges usually around day 11-12) and also using Preseed lubricant ( I have a moderate amt of CM that is easy to observe the changes as it becomes “fertile” CM). The last two cycles we have tried every day during the recommended fertile days before/during and after the LH surge.  I know it has only been 3 months, but I am wondering if we are doing something wrong or if there is something wrong. We do not want to take an aggressive approach to conceiving (IVF etc..) but I wonder if there may be something minor that needs tweaking to help us out. The only abnormal issue I have had was mild thyroid dysfunction (hyper) a year ago, no treatment required and my levels returned to normal after a few months. The only medications I take are Adderall XR 15 mg and Prevacid and an occasional Benadryl and Zyrtec.

[Mariana101]

I did not read the post before answering!! CONGRATS!!!!! I really hope it ALL goes well :) WOW!!!!!! Isn't it AMAZING!!!!!
I really hope it works because IVF is awful for a lot of older women :(

[Mariana101]

I will give it only 6 months. I started IVF at 40. I have a 16 year old girl from a previous marriage but let me tell you the EGGS DO MATURE FAST!!! It is really frustrating. I had 4 failed IVF and one very recent natural pregnancy (after those IVF, go figure)...that ended up in a missed miscarriage because of chromosomal problems.
Don't wait too long and enjoy it before you need to start IVF because it is a very stressful process.... but we will give you all the support you need :)


Good luck:)

[nshapland]

Oh, I didn't read your post from two hours ago...CONGRATULATIONS!
I'm so happy you had a better experience than I did. Good luck and take care of yourself : )

[nshapland]

My ob did an FSH test to see where I was fertility-wise when I was 39.  It was 9.5 which is borderline high (you want it to be under 10) so she said try a month and then head to an RE.
Given my experience in trying for child #2 starting at age 39, I would say you need to be aggressive.  I did end up getting pregnant on my own in Jan (no medications, etc) but miscarried at 8 weeks. I was going to start IVF in May but we had a trip to Maui planned at the beginning of June that my husband did not want to miss. My dr said not to worry, things wouldn't change in two months --but they did. My FSH went from 9.5-11.7 in a two month period.  When I finally did move to IVF I got way fewer eggs than the dr expected based on my counts from May and June.
The point is, at 39 no one knows how quickly things can change. I'd suggest at least getting your FSH checked and an antral follicle count.  I would definitely not suggest trying 6 months on your own. Just my opinion...there are others out there.
Good luck to you!

[sawilliams]

UPDATE: Apparently my age, fibroids and ? thyroid issues are not a problem! BFP .... EDD 4/30/11.

[mhv]

I am just chiming in to to agree with happynifer.  You can give it 6 months and then contact an RE, or you if you are impatient, you can call now : )

Good Luck and Tons of Baby Dust!

[sawilliams]

Thanks for sharing...do you mind me asking, how old are you? Did you have IUI or IVF to conceive? Good luck on your pregnancy!!!

[happynifer]

sounds like you are doing everything "right"
recommendations for seeking additonal medical help are 1 year of TTC except if you are over 35, then 6 months.
so give it a few more months and make an appointment if you need to.
your doctor can do "day 3" blood work to look at your hormone levels that best look at your egg reserves, as well as your thyroid, etc.
there may be something easy to go after
you also may want to have another ultrasound of your fibroids.  i have 3 small ones removed after 7 years of TTC and not knowing they were there despite seeing an RE for injectible/IUI cycles. during that time i had 3 early (4-5 week) m/c that were likely implantation issues (which may hav been from my fibroids) and am now 18 weeks pregnant.
not sure when the last time you had them measured, but they may have gotten bigger...
good luck and baby dust!