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Will Losing Weight Help Restore Ovulation?
Question: Please help me. I am trying to conceive with no success. I have had scans, blood tests and husband had semen analysis and all has been within normal limits. I am overweight and actively trying to lose weight. The problem is I have seen 2 different fertility specialists and they have really worried me. I have no idea why I am under 2 Fertility Specialists. My first fertility specialist said everything is normal and I can conceive naturally if I lose some weight I was 17 stone 4 lb and I have got down to 16stone 5 pound currently so have been asked to get down to 15 stone. I have been to see a Fertility Specialist today who wants me to have a tube test (the other specialist says I do not need this test as everything is normal). She said today she would refer me straight away because of my age to have IVF but I am too overweight. I really dont want to go down the IVF route My other specialist says I can conceive naturally. I have a good egg reserve and first consultant is not worried at all but second specialist who I saw today said I will never conceive as I have no willpower to lose weight.
Do you see I can conceive naturally and do I need a tube test? I have never had regular sex up until 6 months ago but also never used any protection and never been pregnant.
Another thing that concerns me that the specialist today was not bothered about are my periods have become a little eratic which I will post further down. Specialist today said I dont ovulate but that is a day 21 progesterone and my cycles have only been from 16 days to 31 days so surely this is not enough evidence with periods be all over the place. My eratic cycle has only started since I tried acupuncture which I have now completely stopped as I think this has had a big impact on me.
Clearblue fertility monitor does show peak some months but other months it doesnt and ovulation sticks are never positive. Do you really see I can conceive naturally with weight loss. I am really really upset after todays consultation. I am think of cancel this Specialist and stick with the first Specialist surely I shouldn't be under 2?
JANUARY 2015
23rd January - 27th January (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 24th December – 22nd January = 30 days
FEBRUARY 2015
NO PERIOD
March 2015
4th March – 8th March (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 23rd January – 3rd March = 41 days
April 2015
9th April – 13th April (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 4th March – 8th April = 31 days
MAY 2015
8th May – 12th May (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 9th April – 7th May = 29 days
Started Acupuncture XXXXXXX 2015
3rd XXXXXXX – 8th XXXXXXX (6 days bleeding) 2nd XXXXXXX spotty pink, cycle day 1,2 only pink when wipe, cycle day 3,4 red bleeding but only requiring 1 towel, cycle day 5,6 pink/brown discharge
Cycle 8th May – 2nd XXXXXXX = 26 days
16th XXXXXXX – 21st XXXXXXX (6 days bleeding)
Cycle 3rd XXXXXXX – 15th XXXXXXX = 13 days
JULY 2015
1ST July – 5th July (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 16th XXXXXXX – 30th XXXXXXX = 15 days
Finished Acupuncture
JULY 2015
22nd – 26th July (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 1st July – 21st July = 21 days
I really hope you can help me. Let me start from the beginning I am 39 years of age, never used any kind of contraception and have never been pregnant. I was never sexually active until I was 26 years of age and then it would only be maybe 3 times a year. We have been more sexually active the past 6 months about twice a week. I have only ever had one partner and that is my current husband.
I got married in July 2012 and we decided we wanted to try for a baby. We have never been consistent with intercourse.
I really want to conceive naturally, do you really see this can happen for us? I am overweight. My husband has 20 cigarettes a day and drinks within the alcoholic guidelines (lager or bitter).
I have been to see fertility specialist. She suspects I have polycystic ovaries and hence do not ovulate. I have had vaginal swabs and an internal examination today. (Everything has come back normal). Ultrasound scan is also normal. Blood results are as follows: Estrogen 115, LH 1.7, FSH 5.6
Husband semen analysis is also good. With a 5% morphology which specialist says has to be above 4%
My bmi is 45 and she wants it down to 30 before commencing any type of treatment which she said will probably be tablets to make me ovulate. I have currently lost 8lb.
I am worried if I don't lose weight I will never get pregnant. Clearblue fertility monitor in the past has shown ovulation and some months no ovulation do you think I could keep try to use this.
1. If I lose weight can I reverse things naturally and start to ovulate?
2. Are my bloods normal?
3. Do you agree the fertility monitor is a good diagnosis for ovulating?
4. Do you see I can conceive naturally?
5. Any suggestions please to help me achieve what I really want.
6. Am I stressing out too much?
7. Why do you see such a change in my cycle? I don’t see Fertility Specialist for another 3 months as she wants to give me time to lose weight.
8. HSG was requested but I can’t have due to anaphylaxis to Iodine, is there any other way of telling if my tubes are blocked please? DO I really need this
If Clearblue fertility monitor shows 3 bars do I:
1. Ovulate
2. Release an egg
3. Should I conceive naturally
Do you see I can conceive naturally and do I need a tube test? I have never had regular sex up until 6 months ago but also never used any protection and never been pregnant.
Another thing that concerns me that the specialist today was not bothered about are my periods have become a little eratic which I will post further down. Specialist today said I dont ovulate but that is a day 21 progesterone and my cycles have only been from 16 days to 31 days so surely this is not enough evidence with periods be all over the place. My eratic cycle has only started since I tried acupuncture which I have now completely stopped as I think this has had a big impact on me.
Clearblue fertility monitor does show peak some months but other months it doesnt and ovulation sticks are never positive. Do you really see I can conceive naturally with weight loss. I am really really upset after todays consultation. I am think of cancel this Specialist and stick with the first Specialist surely I shouldn't be under 2?
JANUARY 2015
23rd January - 27th January (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 24th December – 22nd January = 30 days
FEBRUARY 2015
NO PERIOD
March 2015
4th March – 8th March (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 23rd January – 3rd March = 41 days
April 2015
9th April – 13th April (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 4th March – 8th April = 31 days
MAY 2015
8th May – 12th May (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 9th April – 7th May = 29 days
Started Acupuncture XXXXXXX 2015
3rd XXXXXXX – 8th XXXXXXX (6 days bleeding) 2nd XXXXXXX spotty pink, cycle day 1,2 only pink when wipe, cycle day 3,4 red bleeding but only requiring 1 towel, cycle day 5,6 pink/brown discharge
Cycle 8th May – 2nd XXXXXXX = 26 days
16th XXXXXXX – 21st XXXXXXX (6 days bleeding)
Cycle 3rd XXXXXXX – 15th XXXXXXX = 13 days
JULY 2015
1ST July – 5th July (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 16th XXXXXXX – 30th XXXXXXX = 15 days
Finished Acupuncture
JULY 2015
22nd – 26th July (5 days bleeding)
Cycle 1st July – 21st July = 21 days
I really hope you can help me. Let me start from the beginning I am 39 years of age, never used any kind of contraception and have never been pregnant. I was never sexually active until I was 26 years of age and then it would only be maybe 3 times a year. We have been more sexually active the past 6 months about twice a week. I have only ever had one partner and that is my current husband.
I got married in July 2012 and we decided we wanted to try for a baby. We have never been consistent with intercourse.
I really want to conceive naturally, do you really see this can happen for us? I am overweight. My husband has 20 cigarettes a day and drinks within the alcoholic guidelines (lager or bitter).
I have been to see fertility specialist. She suspects I have polycystic ovaries and hence do not ovulate. I have had vaginal swabs and an internal examination today. (Everything has come back normal). Ultrasound scan is also normal. Blood results are as follows: Estrogen 115, LH 1.7, FSH 5.6
Husband semen analysis is also good. With a 5% morphology which specialist says has to be above 4%
My bmi is 45 and she wants it down to 30 before commencing any type of treatment which she said will probably be tablets to make me ovulate. I have currently lost 8lb.
I am worried if I don't lose weight I will never get pregnant. Clearblue fertility monitor in the past has shown ovulation and some months no ovulation do you think I could keep try to use this.
1. If I lose weight can I reverse things naturally and start to ovulate?
2. Are my bloods normal?
3. Do you agree the fertility monitor is a good diagnosis for ovulating?
4. Do you see I can conceive naturally?
5. Any suggestions please to help me achieve what I really want.
6. Am I stressing out too much?
7. Why do you see such a change in my cycle? I don’t see Fertility Specialist for another 3 months as she wants to give me time to lose weight.
8. HSG was requested but I can’t have due to anaphylaxis to Iodine, is there any other way of telling if my tubes are blocked please? DO I really need this
If Clearblue fertility monitor shows 3 bars do I:
1. Ovulate
2. Release an egg
3. Should I conceive naturally
Brief Answer:
Lose weight and then sonosalpingography
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, I totally understand your stress and anxiety.
See first thing is to be positive about your fertility potential because trust in treatment can do miracles.
So in case the new doctor is making you freak out then you can stick to the first doctor and moreover she is right in giving you a fair trial at least for a few cycles and then move on to a higher treatment.
It is rational and is according to the international guidelines so stick to the original doctor.
Fertility monitor is good and usually gives fair results most of the times so you can use it.
Your blood work is normal so trying naturally after medicines for ovulation induction is definitely possible and more so if you lose weight.
I know you are tensed and anxious but that will not yield results so stop worrying and start acting in the direction of weight loss.
HSG is not needed yet so rather rely on fertility monitor and in case you really want to see the patency of your tubes then you can try sonosalpingography which used saline for testing instead of XXXXXXX and Ultrasound to see the patency.
Discuss this with your doctor in case you want but best option for you right now (as you are not going to see her for another 3 months) will be to lose weight and try naturally.
I'm always available on this forum and help you with your health issues.
All the best.
Lose weight and then sonosalpingography
Detailed Answer:
Hello dear, I totally understand your stress and anxiety.
See first thing is to be positive about your fertility potential because trust in treatment can do miracles.
So in case the new doctor is making you freak out then you can stick to the first doctor and moreover she is right in giving you a fair trial at least for a few cycles and then move on to a higher treatment.
It is rational and is according to the international guidelines so stick to the original doctor.
Fertility monitor is good and usually gives fair results most of the times so you can use it.
Your blood work is normal so trying naturally after medicines for ovulation induction is definitely possible and more so if you lose weight.
I know you are tensed and anxious but that will not yield results so stop worrying and start acting in the direction of weight loss.
HSG is not needed yet so rather rely on fertility monitor and in case you really want to see the patency of your tubes then you can try sonosalpingography which used saline for testing instead of XXXXXXX and Ultrasound to see the patency.
Discuss this with your doctor in case you want but best option for you right now (as you are not going to see her for another 3 months) will be to lose weight and try naturally.
I'm always available on this forum and help you with your health issues.
All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
None of the specialists will give me ovulation induction tablet because I am 39. Do you think if I show them I can lose weight I will be able to have them?
Even if I had PCO can I reverse this with diet and conceive naturally. I am determined to lose weight.
Clearblue fertility monitor if it shows 3 bars do I ovulate?
Even if I had PCO can I reverse this with diet and conceive naturally. I am determined to lose weight.
Clearblue fertility monitor if it shows 3 bars do I ovulate?
Brief Answer:
PCOD will improve and monitor is accurate
Detailed Answer:
Yes dear definitely you can take ovulation induction if you lose weight and weight is not a contraindication for induction at all.
Clear blue fertility monitor is quite accurate and reliable.
Your PCOD status is probably due to your weight only which might improve to normal or near normal after losing weight.
So crux is your focus should be on losing weight which will solve all the riddles and confusion.
All the best dear.
PCOD will improve and monitor is accurate
Detailed Answer:
Yes dear definitely you can take ovulation induction if you lose weight and weight is not a contraindication for induction at all.
Clear blue fertility monitor is quite accurate and reliable.
Your PCOD status is probably due to your weight only which might improve to normal or near normal after losing weight.
So crux is your focus should be on losing weight which will solve all the riddles and confusion.
All the best dear.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you so much I am much more hopeful. Maybe when I have lost weight and the Consultant has seen I can lose weight he will give me ovulation induction.
What are your thoughts about acupuncture do you think it could be that was has made my cycle all over the place as explained above. As it seems to have only started since I had acupuncture
What are your thoughts about acupuncture do you think it could be that was has made my cycle all over the place as explained above. As it seems to have only started since I had acupuncture
Brief Answer:
Unrelated to acupuncture most probably
Detailed Answer:
No in my opinion it was more of a coincidence than a cause but still it's good that you stopped that because at times there are certain side effects of this therapy which cannot be measured or quantified.
So is best avoided.
Unrelated to acupuncture most probably
Detailed Answer:
No in my opinion it was more of a coincidence than a cause but still it's good that you stopped that because at times there are certain side effects of this therapy which cannot be measured or quantified.
So is best avoided.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you very much
Brief Answer:
welcome
Detailed Answer:
Most welcome dear.
I really wish you to have a healthy baby soon
welcome
Detailed Answer:
Most welcome dear.
I really wish you to have a healthy baby soon
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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