Hello! Newbie Intro & Question

[dasch14]

Hi Ladies! I've been lurking over on the dump and followed you all over here. Been waiting to intro until I learned a little more.

DH and I got married this summer! We're 31 & 30. We live in Illinois.

I went off BCP in October. We're still in the NTNP stage. We're not in a big rush to conceive. It's nice to just be married and enjoy our time together.

Some health background on me: I have Hoshimoto's Hypothyroidism. Its been well controlled for at least 15 years and I've been seeing an endocrinologist for the last year and a half.  My periods have always been wonky even on BCP. Since going off BCP I've had pretty regular cycles between 26-28 days. However, I've had a lot of mid cycle bleeding. Sometimes spotting, sometimes a flow/light flow (needing a liner or lite tampon), sometimes its after intercourse, sometimes not related to sex. It's more noticeable during the last two weeks of my cycle. 

I went to the doctor a couple weeks ago and had an ultrasound after I called and talked to nurse about all this bleeding. The doctor said everything looked good, lining was as it should be, no polyps, and evidence of regular ovulation. But she couldn't tell me where this blood is coming from.

She said if it continues we could do hormone testing or go to the OR and put a camera up inside there (yikes!).

So my question: Should I go do the hormone testing or the camera? Or just wait a few more cycles? It's just still so early in the game I feel like all this testing could make me stressed just to still have no answers except "Your body bleeds randomly". I'd hate to "wait it out" though just to find out later that something was wrong all along.

But with all this bleeding am I even going to be able to get KU?

Thanks so much for your ideas!! I'll try my best to check in often and give support (I don't get on the internet all that much).

Also, can someone give me instructions on making a signature? Thanks!

[Unknown]

Welcome! If you've been on birth control for 15 years it might take some time for your cycles to regulate. When was the last time you had your Thyroid panel done? I'm not familiar w/ the camera test your dr mentioned. Did he mean an internal sonogram (those are totally NBD) or an HSG? ETA: which at this point is unnecessary. If you are ovulating and are trying for one year then additional test would be recommended.

Are you charting your cycles? If not, I recommend you start to determine if you are actually ovulating. I have irregular cycles myself, and have to chart.

goodbyecb.proboards.com/thread/1060/creating-signature

Good Luck!

[ohinvrtedworld]

Welcome! There are some ladies who probably can advise better than I can about testing. Just wanted to wish you luck!

[joy]

Welcome!

I've never heard about the camera, either. Can you give us some more info?

[dasch14]

Thanks Unknown (LOVE your avatar BTW) I had my thyroid tested in November and I'm due again in May. If I've still got nothing by then I was thinking about asking for a referral from my Endo to an RE, but we'll see.

I'm not sure what the camera deal was. I didn't get any details because my doctor just kept saying everything from my vaginal ultrasound looked great. But I agree I feel like it's too early for all of that jazz.

I haven't been temping yet. I just wanted to give my body some time to adjust after BCP. Plus, the timed sex was not working for H. For example, I've said, "Hey I might be ovulating at the end of the week" and then when we HIO at the end of the week he'll go for an hour with no finale. That's happened at least two cycles. If I don't mention anything he's fine. So I feel like me knowing for sure that I ovulate might wreak havoc on our timing. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep from telling him. But I do see the value in temping, so maybe next cycle I'll start.

[JulietRose]

Welcome! I've always had irregular cycles as well with mid-cycle bleeding and spotting. I have hypothyroidism and PCOS. So you may want to be tested for PCOS just in case. It caused a lot of weight problems, irregular periods, no ovulation, and spotting. I hope you are able to figure this out!!!

[Ruca]

I don't really have any advice but just wanted to welcome you!

[getzystark]

I don't know much about testing, but welcome!

[joy]

Temping doesn't mean you have timed sex...

[dasch14]

Thanks JulietRose how do they test for PCOS? Would my doctor have noticed something on my ultrasound if that was the case?

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

[cateyes]

Feb 5, 2015 12:06:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Thanks JulietRose how do they test for PCOS? Would my doctor have noticed something on my ultrasound if that was the case?

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

It does help you become more aware of your cycles and know if you are actually ovulating, when you are "late" and when to expect your period. It cannot actually help you time sex, as the shift happens after you ovulate, so when it is too late to have sex. It does however tell you if you are actually having sex in your fertile window (FW) or even if you have a FW (not ovulating=no FW). 

[cateyes]

Feb 5, 2015 12:06:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Thanks JulietRose how do they test for PCOS? Would my doctor have noticed something on my ultrasound if that was the case?

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

And to the first part-your doctor would do a vaginal ultrasound to check your ovaries for the "string of pearls", check your hormone levels for higher testosterone, LH and FSH, and AMH numbers, and then also look at your cycle length history. 

[JulietRose]

dasch14 The u/s would only pick it up if you have cysts, etc. They would do a hormone panel and check to see if you have really wonky hormones and elevated testosterone. They prescribed my spironolactone before ttc (I stopped taking it 1 year before starting to ttc because it can seriously fuck up a fetus) and they then put me on Metformin and everything is better now.

[JulietRose]

Feb 5, 2015 12:19:20 GMT -5 cateyes said:

Feb 5, 2015 12:06:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Thanks JulietRose how do they test for PCOS? Would my doctor have noticed something on my ultrasound if that was the case?

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

And to the first part-your doctor would do a vaginal ultrasound to check your ovaries for the "string of pearls", check your hormone levels for higher testosterone, LH and FSH, and AMH numbers, and then also look at your cycle length history. 

All of this. Couldn't have said it better cateyes!

[Unknown]

Feb 5, 2015 11:37:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Thanks Unknown (LOVE your avatar BTW) I had my thyroid tested in November and I'm due again in May. If I've still got nothing by then I was thinking about asking for a referral from my Endo to an RE, but we'll see.

I'm not sure what the camera deal was. I didn't get any details because my doctor just kept saying everything from my vaginal ultrasound looked great. But I agree I feel like it's too early for all of that jazz.

I haven't been temping yet. I just wanted to give my body some time to adjust after BCP. Plus, the timed sex was not working for H. For example, I've said, "Hey I might be ovulating at the end of the week" and then when we HIO at the end of the week he'll go for an hour with no finale. That's happened at least two cycles. If I don't mention anything he's fine. So I feel like me knowing for sure that I ovulate might wreak havoc on our timing. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep from telling him. But I do see the value in temping, so maybe next cycle I'll start.

Going off BCP can cause you needing a med adjustment on your Synthroid, so you might want to mention to your Endo you are off it (Oct-Nov isn't long enough to see if you need a med adjustment). Why would you request a referral for an RE?

[joy]

Feb 5, 2015 12:06:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

Temping confirms ovulation.  That's truly it.  The goals of temping are this:

1. Identify ovulation day
2. Determine if you had sex in your fertile window (5 days before ovulation to one day after)
3. Confirm your luteal phase length
4. Allow you to know when to test for pregnancy or expect your period

You are free to use this information as you want, but it in no way means that you must schedule sex or are "taking the mystery" out of getting pregnant or are impatient or any other number of things.

Temping is useful for all women, not just those trying to get pregnant.  I will temp until menopause.

If you want to use it to time sex, then more power to you, but that's definitely not its purpose.

[icequeen]

Welcome and congrats on your marriage! DH and I were also born and raised just outside of Chicago. I just wanted to wish you good luck and hope you get your cycles figured out with the doctor and by charting and temping.

PS I also have never heard of the camera.

[dee]

I don't have any advice, but hi and welcome!

[cnf2013]

No advice here, but hi and welcome!

[ceejay]

Hi and welcome from a fellow Illinois resident!

I don't have any advice, but want to wish you luck!

[Deleted]

Hi,
I'm agreement with the other girls. Since you've only been off BCP since October I would give it a little more time for your body to readjust.
I have a history of midcycle bleeding. They decided mine was caused by a combination of medication and chronic follicular cysts (not PCOS). I had to switch BCP a few times in an effort to regulate my cycles before TTCing. My first couple cycles I still experienced midcycle bleeding but at 7 months it seems to have disappeared.
Definitely start temping it has helped ease my anxiety significantly.

[pismoduo]

Feb 5, 2015 12:34:58 GMT -5 joy said:

Feb 5, 2015 12:06:38 GMT -5 dasch14 said:

Joy - I always thought temping did two things: 1 help you become aware of your cycles and 2 help you time sex to best hit your fertile window. Is that incorrect?

Temping confirms ovulation.  That's truly it.  The goals of temping are this:

1. Identify ovulation day
2. Determine if you had sex in your fertile window (5 days before ovulation to one day after)
3. Confirm your luteal phase length
4. Allow you to know when to test for pregnancy or expect your period

You are free to use this information as you want, but it in no way means that you must schedule sex or are "taking the mystery" out of getting pregnant or are impatient or any other number of things.

Temping is useful for all women, not just those trying to get pregnant.  I will temp until menopause.

If you want to use it to time sex, then more power to you, but that's definitely not its purpose.

Hijacking to ask about the bolded - I always get confused on this. So the window would be 5 days before O, the day you O (day before temp spike) and the day after (the day of the temp spike), right? I always thought it was this, and then I read somewhere recently (while trying to see if my horrible timing last cycle was as bad as I thought) that day after O isn't in the window.

[pismoduo]

Oh, and hello and welcome OP!

[wirt2cute]

Hello and welcome.

[kellybenelly83]

Feb 5, 2015 21:46:57 GMT -5 pismoduo said:

Feb 5, 2015 12:34:58 GMT -5 joy said:

Temping confirms ovulation.  That's truly it.  The goals of temping are this:

1. Identify ovulation day
2. Determine if you had sex in your fertile window (5 days before ovulation to one day after)
3. Confirm your luteal phase length
4. Allow you to know when to test for pregnancy or expect your period

You are free to use this information as you want, but it in no way means that you must schedule sex or are "taking the mystery" out of getting pregnant or are impatient or any other number of things.

Temping is useful for all women, not just those trying to get pregnant.  I will temp until menopause.

If you want to use it to time sex, then more power to you, but that's definitely not its purpose.

Hijacking to ask about the bolded - I always get confused on this. So the window would be 5 days before O, the day you O (day before temp spike) and the day after (the day of the temp spike), right? I always thought it was this, and then I read somewhere recently (while trying to see if my horrible timing last cycle was as bad as I thought) that day after O isn't in the window.

Your egg can live 24 hrs after release, so theoretically, it could be fertilized, therefore you are fertile 1 day after O date. The chances are lower though.


OP: Temping will not predict when you are ovulating, if you use the most popular app, Fertility friend, it will confirm you ovulated 3 days after the fact, so you cant really tell your DH that you will ovulate a certain date based on your temps. you will know afterwards if you hit any days in your fertile week.

"I had my thyroid tested in November and I'm due again in May. If I've still got nothing by then I was thinking about asking for a referral from my Endo to an RE, but we'll see."
I am also confused as to why you would ask for an RE referral?  if you've still got nothing as in no pregnancy? Because you have to wait 1 year at your age before going to an RE, even with a thyroid issue.

For now I would give your body more time to adjust since coming off BC, I would get the blood redrawn for your thyriod since its possible as Unknown said that it is messed up after coming off bcp. Did you tell your DR you have gone off it?