Trying to get pregnant

[Betty B.]

I've been trying to get pregnant for over 2 years now.
My period is irregular, but provera seems to solve the problem.

I've been taking clomid for over a year, starting with one pill, up to 4 pills per day. When this didn't help, my doc put me on Metformin, that drops the sugar level, and is supposed to help me get pregnant. I tried it for a few months, but unfortunately it had no results. Then my doc put me on both pills at once, both 4 pills per day, but  this didn't help either, and then my doc advised me to start with the shots.

My question is: What are "the shots"?
Is it safe?
How long is the process, and how long does it usually take till you get pregnant?
Is it 100% guarranteed?
Does it require taking blood tests every day, or what?

Thanks for your advice.

[blondie72]

I am wondering if it is progesterone shots.  I see a lot of women TTC talking about those kinds of shots.  I am sure it is perfectly safe.  A dr is NOT going to give you something harmful.  As far as it being 100% to work I do not believe anything is 100% to work.  I feel anyone who gets pg it is God's work (sorry if you do not share those beliefs).  God will make it happen when the time is right.  Unfortunatley for some the time is never right.  Don't give up trying though.  If it is meant for you to have a baby then you will.  I feel everything happens for a reason.  There are no accidents and there are no coincedences.  Hang in there.  The worse case scenario is you adopt and to me that is actually a win win situation all around.  I hope it happens for you soon.  Good Luck

[Stacie30]

do you have PCOS? It sure sounds like it. I don't know anything about the shots, but I have PCOS with insulin resistance and tried to get pregnant for 5 years- we tried clomid, we tried metformin- nothing worked- want to know what worked.... The South Beach Diet... it gets rid of your body's insulin resistance. I'm now just about 13 weeks pregnant and consider South Beach a miracle for me. You should try it in conjunction with whatever else you are doing. It's very easy to follow and you aren't giving up all carbs- just some of the worst ones (the ones that turn instantly to sugar in your body). If nothing else, I promise you YOU WILL feel better.... and it worked for me right away (first cycle)

Good luck to you!! I know how hard the TTC roller coaster is.

[cinnamonheart]

Sometimes its a matter of trying too hard  I was on clomid for a year  then I said forget it If it was meant to be it will happen and I stopped worrying about trying to get pregant, It can really stress you out and affect your body,  Now i have 3 children  so it all works out eventually  CHIN UP!!

[ham422]

i agree with cinn. you need to forget about trying and just have fun with it again. trying to hard and thinking about(stress) getting pg can cause your uterus to contract this makes it hard for any baby to attach making a viable pregnancy.good luck and go on vacation. that has worked for eveytone i know.

[Stacie30]

oh- and I think the shots your doc was talking about are gondotropins (sp?) they are more advanced fertility drugs with a higher chance of multiples and are very expensive ($3000 a cycle and sometimes higher).

[Betty B.]

Thank you for replying.
What is this South Beach diet again, i might consider it, and also I never heard of PCOS, but I know the the shots you are talking about, is the one i was recommended by my doc (the advance fertillity drug that costs thousands!) Do you know anything about it?

[Stacie30]

only that they are very expensive, can be very painful (in some instances you have to give yourself daily injections), and put you on a major emotional roller coaster. we looked into them pretty seriously before deciding to let nature take it's course and decided that compounded with the expense, the stress, and the risk of multiples it wasn't the choice for us. That's the point where we decided to take a year and try to get ourselves healthier and then reevaluate what we really were willing to do to try to conceive (we felt we were too emotionally drained to make the decision in the place we were in)

PCOS is Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. It has tons of different symptoms but some of the main ones are: very irregular ( extremely long or absence of) periods, weight gain, unfemale like hair growth on the chin, neck, chest, and /or toes, pain during intercourse (from the cysts that sometimes develop on your ovaries) skin tags on your neck, insulin resistance (thought to play a major role in anovulation)... i am sure there are others- but I can't remember them all. It sounded to me like you have it with the medications your doc was putting you on. I have it and they are the same ones I was on.

South Beach Diet was developed by a Cardiologist in FL who was tired of treating his patients with tons of medication and decided to try to make a diet to improve overall blood chemistry. The idea is not to give up all carbs, but to only eat the good ones (whole grains, fruits, vegetables-pretty much nothing processed or refined). The diet improves cholesterol levels, overall blood chemistry, and gets completely rid of insulin resistance (one of the major problems with PCOS and ovulation). For the first 2 weeks its kind of restrictive while its cleaning out your system (fish, chicken, very lean meat, low fat cheese, peanuts, and a huge list of green vegetables) and then after that it gradually adds back in other stuff (carrots, fresh fruits etc.). It was pretty easy to follow and in the month I did it before I got pregnant (YEAH!!!) I lost 23 lbs. and felt a heck of a lot better too. I highly recommend it. I didn't even have to go and buy the book- i just checked it out from the library. In it there was a story about a woman who had tried everything to get pregnant and couldn't because of PCOS and insulin resistance... and she got pregnant in 3 months.... I figured- it sure couldn't hurt anything and just might help- and sure enough it did!!!! I'm now just about 13 weeks (tomorrow!!!! :o) )Plus it changes your entire view on food and is now easier for me to eat healthy for my baby (because I know what that soda is doing to my blood, and what I'm going to feel like after I have that soda).

Good luck and lots of baby dust to you. I know how hard it is- mentally, financially, and on a marriage. I'm not sure how we made it through 5 years of it. People will tell you "just quit trying- it will happen" and while I do believe that is true- I also know how impossible it is for you to just quit thinking about it because you think then it will finally happen... :o) so hang in there and if you need to talk this is a great board to come to!!! A lot of us are going through or have gone through the same thing you are.

[cinnamonheart]

My sister had to do the injections  she is now pregnant with twins!!  As for the South Beach diet?  Dont be dieting if your trying to conceive, eat healthier, Are you overweight?Is this what you think is holding you back?  Well I am an over weight 37 year old whose husband had a vasectomy (2yrs ago) and some how managed to have a baby 3 months ago. So I hate it when doctors sum it up  to always being over weight, I know they were after my sister (the one who did injections) to loose weight too Maybe this isnt a problem for you but I just wondered why the diet!
And look at us we had a vasectomy!!!!  Things happen when you least expect it  GOOD LUCK

[Stacie30]

it's a completly healthy physician recommended diet that assists with PCOS w/insulin resistance and the blood chemistry. It's not like you're drinking a miracle drink or starving yourself. I still follow the diet (at my doctors recommendation by the way)... its just basic healthy eating.... i got tired of being told i was overweight and needed to lose weight to conceive. while i agree that doctors do use that as a cop out it was NOT WHY I TRIED SOUTH BEACH... i tried South Beach for its effects on blood chemistry. Help me out here Christie....

[nanakay]

anything you eat is a "diet".  the south beach diet is more of a way of life.....a lifestyle change.  it is a healthy way to eat and look at food, how to balance a "good diet".

and besides weight can also effect you getting pg.  so if shedding a couple of pounds is what it is going to take then the south beach is probably one of the healthiest ways to do it.
good luck to you and i hope you get your bundle soon
~nanci

[helen12]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I to have been trying for almost a year I started on clomid 50mg and now I'm on 150mg the doctor tells me it is just hard to know exactly when the egg is ready last month I tried artifical insem and hcg shot and I have been taking protozone pills 1 a day. But still no baby I have sonograms done and I have been having 4 or more eggs but still no baby. I just tried again this past Feb 18th and 19th I was insemenated and given a hcg shoot when I had the sonogram on Friday the doc said there were 6 follicles but one was the biggest at 20.0 mm by 22.00 mm and the others were small but we did the artifical IuI hopefully it will take this time I know it does get tireing and long but you have to stay positive that it will happen for you as for me I'm going to stop after this cycle if no baby. My insurance does not cover any of this and I have spent about 12,000 out of my pocket and funds are running low!!!I'm only 31 no other children so maybe I'll have to sit it out awhile until I have enough funds availiable to try again. But patients is the key and no stress. I will have my fingers crossed I hope you and yours concieve soon.

[helen12]

Hi, I just wanted to say that I to have been trying for almost a year I started on clomid 50mg and now I'm on 150mg the doctor tells me it is just hard to know exactly when the egg is ready last month I tried artifical insem and hcg shot and I have been taking protozone pills 1 a day. But still no baby I have sonograms done and I have been having 4 or more eggs but still no baby. I just tried again this past Feb 18th and 19th I was insemenated and given a hcg shoot when I had the sonogram on Friday the doc said there were 6 follicles but one was the biggest at 20.0 mm by 22.00 mm and the others were small but we did the artifical IuI hopefully it will take this time I know it does get tireing and long but you have to stay positive that it will happen for you as for me I'm going to stop after this cycle if no baby. My insurance does not cover any of this and I have spent about 12,000 out of my pocket and funds are running low!!!I'm only 31 no other children so maybe I'll have to sit it out awhile until I have enough funds availiable to try again. But patients is the key and no stress. I will have my fingers crossed I hope you and yours concieve soon.

[Betty B.]

Stacie, thanks for answering me. Yes I am overweight, and my doc recommended me to lose weight, and I lost 27 lbs already. My metabolism is extremely low (wich by the way is in result to my ovulation problem) and it took me 6 months to lose it. It surely doesnt hurt to try, hu?

So you say no bread, wheat at all?

Wouldnt you call this a crash diet? Because I've been dieting ever since, and after such diets (no starch), I ended up gaining everything back "with interest".

And did you say you lost 23 lbs. in ONE month? That's great! I'm happy for you.
Waiting for your reply,
Betty

[Stacie30]

oh- no. not no bread- just only whole grain stuff (wheat, whole grain cereals) (but not for the first 2 weeks)i have to admit that was the hardest part for me was the no white bread thing. Because I pretty much love anything made with white flour!! :o)

i don't think its a crash diet, but i guess you'd have to read the book to totally understand how it works. there are 3 stages to it.

your situation sounds so similar to mine.... search the web for PCOS and see what you think. I bet you have it.

[Stacie30]

oh and congrats on the 23 pounds. that's great!! I know how hard it is. I myself have another 90 or so to lose so I'm really familiar with the struggle. LOL.

interesting thing with me- for years I've been thinking something was wrong with my thyroid- but every time it was tested it was fine... i got pregnant, had it tested and it was low!!! so now I'm on thyroid medicine too. :o) have they tested your a bazillion times yet?

[Betty B.]

Yeah, my situtation is kinda similar to yours, because we both have PCOS! I did search on the web, and you were right, I do have it.

and guess what, I already did step #1: I ordered the book - south beach diet. I hope I'll succeed in this one. It's interesting though that they didn't mention anything about PCOS on their site, I thought it was a PCOS diet.... but I'm gonna try it anyways...

and abouth the thyroid, I dont know why, but my doc never tested it.... or so I think... I don't think I have a thyroid problem, or else I'd been told.

and by the way, I really appreciate your help and advice...I changed my mind about the shots only because of you guys....you made me decide to wait, and try the diet first...

Iet's hope its gonna work.

[Stacie30]

i've got a really good feeling about it for you!! :o)

it's not a diet designed specifically for PCOS but because it does away with insulin resistance it helps make people with PCOS ovulate regularly with it.

good luck sweetie. i'm pulling for you!!

oh and when you are reading the book and it talks about laughing cow cheese wedges- they really are real- they sell them at the grocery stores and they taste absolutely wonderful on celery. :o)

[SHARR3]

Iam 23 years old and i have pcos . I have been trying to get preg for abot 2yrs and no lunck yet. i went to my endocrine dr recentle and she has put me on met 500mg to try in ovulate i hope it works. has any one taking met 500mg and got preg yet. Well i will be starting it soon today 1/29/08.