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Suggest Treatment For Difficulty In Concieving
Question: I am trying to conceive and have been for 6 months. I have had all blood tests and ultrasound scan all is normal. I have seen a fertility specialist he wont start any kind of fertility treatment until my BMI is 35. My BMI.is currently 40 so I am trying my best to lose weight. I am 40 years of age and worry I will never be a mum. I have started having mild pink bleeding around day 14-17 of my cycle this is unusual for me. My consultant isnt worried and says relax and I will get pregnant naturally. Husbands sperm count is also fine. Do you see I conceive and how do I know I definitely ovulate? I have bought a clearblue fertility monitor which only ever shows low and high fertility and never a peak. My consultant says I do ovulate and to ignore ovulation tests as it causes more stress. What are your thoughts please? All I want is to be a mum and I am getting very depressed and upset about things.
Brief Answer:
Information on increasing likelihood of conceiving
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It is better to have a lower BMI, as your fertility specialist suggested, but it is still possible for you to conceive if you have regular cycles, and I see that your ultrasound report is normal.
Women usually ovulate around 14 days before their expected period. So if you have a 28 day cycle, counting the first day of the period as Day 1 of the cycle, you will likely ovulate around day 14.
The woman's egg only lives for around 24 hours (12-24 hrs), so it is best to have sperm in your tract to fertilize the egg a day before or during ovulation. Sperm live for 1-2 days.
Symptoms of approaching ovulation are increasing amount and thinness of the mucus that comes out of the vagina. When it is at it's thinnest, it is usually a sign that ovulation is happening.
Rather than having intercourse 3 times a week all month for purposes of trying to conceive, try to focus increased intercourse frequency around that mid-cycle time (days 12 - 16). Having intercourse every day or every other day during this time might help. Ask your husband to avoid masturbation for the 3 days leading up to the days of more frequent intercourse to increase the sperm count (even though his sperm count is fine). If having intercourse as frequently as every 1-2 days is a problem for your husband, some couples have been successful having the husband masturbate into a cup and drawing the semen up with a small medicine syringe (no needle!) and inserting the syringe/semen into the vagina this way.
I wouldn't make too much of the ClearBlue ovulation detector. I can tell you it never worked for me (and I had my first baby at age 39, almost 40).
Anything you can do to increase your general relaxation can be helpful with conceiving.
To help decrease your weight, cut out sweets, and food and drink with added sugar. Decrease simple carbohydrates such as refined white flour. Increase vegetables. Healthy oils and proteins are fine. Weight loss is easier said than done, but even a small decrease in weight may be helpful.
I do hope this information helps. I am rooting for you!
Information on increasing likelihood of conceiving
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
It is better to have a lower BMI, as your fertility specialist suggested, but it is still possible for you to conceive if you have regular cycles, and I see that your ultrasound report is normal.
Women usually ovulate around 14 days before their expected period. So if you have a 28 day cycle, counting the first day of the period as Day 1 of the cycle, you will likely ovulate around day 14.
The woman's egg only lives for around 24 hours (12-24 hrs), so it is best to have sperm in your tract to fertilize the egg a day before or during ovulation. Sperm live for 1-2 days.
Symptoms of approaching ovulation are increasing amount and thinness of the mucus that comes out of the vagina. When it is at it's thinnest, it is usually a sign that ovulation is happening.
Rather than having intercourse 3 times a week all month for purposes of trying to conceive, try to focus increased intercourse frequency around that mid-cycle time (days 12 - 16). Having intercourse every day or every other day during this time might help. Ask your husband to avoid masturbation for the 3 days leading up to the days of more frequent intercourse to increase the sperm count (even though his sperm count is fine). If having intercourse as frequently as every 1-2 days is a problem for your husband, some couples have been successful having the husband masturbate into a cup and drawing the semen up with a small medicine syringe (no needle!) and inserting the syringe/semen into the vagina this way.
I wouldn't make too much of the ClearBlue ovulation detector. I can tell you it never worked for me (and I had my first baby at age 39, almost 40).
Anything you can do to increase your general relaxation can be helpful with conceiving.
To help decrease your weight, cut out sweets, and food and drink with added sugar. Decrease simple carbohydrates such as refined white flour. Increase vegetables. Healthy oils and proteins are fine. Weight loss is easier said than done, but even a small decrease in weight may be helpful.
I do hope this information helps. I am rooting for you!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My BMI was 44 I am working hard to get it down. You really see the key is to keep trying and I should succeed? I dont have a clue how to check for ovulation.
Another question is sometimes the day after intercourse I have a little bit of pink bleeding. I am worried about that.
Another question is sometimes the day after intercourse I have a little bit of pink bleeding. I am worried about that.
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If you can't check for ovulation by seeing signs of increased mucus, just try to increase frequency of intercourse (once ever day or every other day) during days 12 - 16 of your cycle. First day of period is day 1 of cycle.
The pink bleeding may be from the ovary bleeding a little bit when the egg ruptures off of it's surface. This is not concerning.
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If you can't check for ovulation by seeing signs of increased mucus, just try to increase frequency of intercourse (once ever day or every other day) during days 12 - 16 of your cycle. First day of period is day 1 of cycle.
The pink bleeding may be from the ovary bleeding a little bit when the egg ruptures off of it's surface. This is not concerning.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
my cycles vary between 28 and 31 days. you really do see I can be a mum. i worry i could have blocked tubes and everything. intercourse sometimes hurts in different positions but not others is this normal
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If your cycles vary between 28 - 31 days, having intercourse days 12 - 16 should cover the ovulatory time.
I would not think your fallopian tubes or other anatomical structures would be abnormal if your ultrasound was normal.
Some women find certain intercourse positions more comfortable or uncomfortable than others. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is an anatomical problem.
If your husband is willing, perhaps you can mark on your calendar the days that increased intercourse is needed and then have him keep track of these things rather that you worrying about it. And then try to put it out of your mind. Relaxation rather than stress increased conception likelihood.
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If your cycles vary between 28 - 31 days, having intercourse days 12 - 16 should cover the ovulatory time.
I would not think your fallopian tubes or other anatomical structures would be abnormal if your ultrasound was normal.
Some women find certain intercourse positions more comfortable or uncomfortable than others. It doesn't necessarily mean that there is an anatomical problem.
If your husband is willing, perhaps you can mark on your calendar the days that increased intercourse is needed and then have him keep track of these things rather that you worrying about it. And then try to put it out of your mind. Relaxation rather than stress increased conception likelihood.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
thank you so much
Brief Answer:
Good luck to you!
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad to help where I can. I hope you have success soon!
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Good luck to you!
Detailed Answer:
I'm glad to help where I can. I hope you have success soon!
Best regards,
Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh, MD
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
i worry I dont ovulate do you really think I do. nothing seems to show my ovulation up like fertility monitor and ovulation sticks x
Brief Answer:
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If your ultrasound scan shows evidence of ovulation, and PCOS has been ruled out, then you should be ovulating. Also, the fact that you have monthly periods that are fairly consistent is another sign that you are ovulating. Women who don't ovulate either skip periods for months, or have very irregular type cycles.
Please give up using the fertility monitoring devices. They are rather inaccurate. As I noted previously, they never worked for me, and I did get pregnant and have a baby. Just throw them away.
The less you think on it (other than controlling your weight), the better your chances as stress can interfere with the whole process.
Information.
Detailed Answer:
If your ultrasound scan shows evidence of ovulation, and PCOS has been ruled out, then you should be ovulating. Also, the fact that you have monthly periods that are fairly consistent is another sign that you are ovulating. Women who don't ovulate either skip periods for months, or have very irregular type cycles.
Please give up using the fertility monitoring devices. They are rather inaccurate. As I noted previously, they never worked for me, and I did get pregnant and have a baby. Just throw them away.
The less you think on it (other than controlling your weight), the better your chances as stress can interfere with the whole process.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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