Alternative treatments for my infertility?

hi.I am 32 and have been trying to concieve (conceive) for 5 years. I have 2 older children, and my symptoms started about a year and a half ago.  My symptoms are spotting almost my entire cycle.(they have gone from 27 day cycles to 25 day cycles, bleeding went from 5-6 days to 3-4, and only the 1st day is heavy. but my mense occures every month like clockwork). facial and breast hair growth, acne, and complete dry up of my CM (which I used to egt an over-abundance of). I time my "relations" around my usual "o" day. between cd12-14. my spotting usually stops between cd 14-17, then starts back again. Is there any natural therepies our there? or alternative type treatments? I'm feeling kinda "manly" here.....anyone knows of any, please let me know.,
Jeny

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
Your symptoms are consistent with either PCOS or adult onset adrenal hyperplasia.
I would highly recommend that you see a gynecologist because very rarely, the symptoms can be caused by tumors of the ovaries or adrenal glands.  If that doesn't prompt you to go in, also keep in mind that male-pattern baldness frequently occurs too if the process in left untreated.
If you were my patient, I would want to do several blood tests including free testosterone, LH/FSH, DHEAS, 17 hydroxyprogesterone, thyroid and prolactin levels.
I would of course discuss with you what each one is for and whether or not you wanted to have them done.
The other concern is the spotting.  That usually means that there is hyperplasia ( a precancerous condition ) of the uterine lining.  Or polyps or fibroids in the uterus.

Once the imbalance is diagnosed, usually some medications can be used fairly easily to treat the problems and even help you conceive.

I hope you don't wait too long--the baldness is irreversible.

Good luck!
Dr B

[melissa1977186]

I am just starting to try to conceive and had hair growth on my chin and on around my nipples.  I went to a naturopath and she advised that I have a zinc definciency and likely have polycyctic fibrosis (making it difficult to conceive).  I also did some other reading and it indicated that I may have too many artifical sweetners in my diet.  I began taking zinc supplement and reduced my sweetner intake and after only a month I no longer grew any hair on my chin.  Although I still have a few around my nipple area it is decreasing.  I would highly recommend seeing a naturopath!