Infertility Q

[eglover910]

Hi,

I am 29 years-old, going on 30 in September.  My husband and I are trying to have a baby without much success so far.  I am naturally thin (5'2" and 98 lbs.).  When I was younger, I was a serious ballet student, taking class five days per week, but I stopped that serious regimen when I was about 22.  Now I am lucky if I get much exercise at all, besides walking to and from work (I live in NYC).

I have never menstruated regularly.  I did not get my first period until I was nearly 15 years old.  After that I was very irregular and would skip two or three months then bleed for two weeks and wind up with a sinus infection or some other sickness because I was so anemic.  When I was seventeen, I had my first ovarian cyst rupture.  More cysts formed and my doctor put me first on provera then on the pill to when I was 19 regulate my period and the cysts.  I stayed mostly on the pill (Estrostep FE for the majority of the time) for the next ten years until I stopped taking it this February.  Since then I have only had my period twice, once was normal and the other only came after another ovarian cyst rupture that sent me to the ER.

During the years I was on the pill, I would stop taking it from time to time to see what would happen.  But when I would go two or three months without a period, I would get scared and get back on the pill.  I have tried alternative therapies, such as Black Cohosh and Yam extracts, Chinese herbal treatments, diet changes, but nothing has worked.

My doctor has done all the hormone tests and she says everything is normal on paper.  But I am just so frustrated.  No one can tell me what's wrong with me!  My doctor says I will have to take Clomid to get pregnant more than likely, but I am scared of the side effects and the prospect of multiple babies.  I am worried that the Clomid will just make the cysts worse, and who wants to make a baby when in excruciating pain from a ruptured cyst?

Has anyone else had a similar experience?  Has anyone else been able to get pregnant the good old fashioned way after dealing with this stuff?

Thanks!

[eglover910]

Thanks Joy for all your help!

[JoyRenee]

I have PCOS and most people believe that a woman with PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) means that you're overweight and have major hormone problems. But there are slim, anemic women who are diagnosed with PCOS too. I really think you should check out soulcysters. net and look through their SLIM PCOS forum. I actually don't know what it's called exactly but you will find a LOT more women who can relate with you than here.

And if you are unable to get a PCOS diagnosis, Clomid usually gets you pregnant within 2 months. I have heard you should not take Clomid for more than 6-8 months. So you could always try it for a couple of months and see what happens!

Have you tried to gain weight? Or is it really hard for you to gain?