Trying to Conceive

Should I fight it?--read more

Every woman struggling with infertility has heard the advice, "Relax!" Usually this is followed by a string of expletives, at least in the woman's mind.

Well, research out of Emory University is indicating that stress really might be the cause of infertility for a significant number of women. The Corpus Callosum breaks it down in detail, most of it scientifical-like. Here's the helpful summary part, though I think it is worth going through all the scientifical part:

[R]egulation of the main hormones that control the menstrual cycle comes from the pituitary. The pituitary is controlled by the hypothalamus, which is part of the brain. The hypothalamus is controlled by input from a variety of sources. The transmitters involved include dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, endorphins, glutamate, and aspartate.

It follows that a profound dysfunction in any of those transmitter systems can have an effect on fertility. Stress, of course, can affect many of those transmitter systems. So it would not be terribly surprising to find that stress can have a negative effect on reproduction.

One irony here, is that infertility is often treated by massive doses of hormones. That in itself can be stressful. (If that is not obvious, take my word for it, or better yet, talk to someone who's been through it.) So in a way, hormone treatment is inherently an uphill battle. You may succeed in forcing some on the hormones to do what the textbook says they should do, but in so doing, you actually add to the stress that probably is the root of the problem to begin with.

So, I do not know how what the response rate would be, if cognitive-behavioral therapy were tried for the entire population of women with FHA [functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, or stress-related lack of menstruation--L], but it sure would be nice if it turned out that a simple, elegant, and inexpensive treatment could eliminate the need for much of the expensive and stressful hormone treatment that currently is being used.

Wouldn't it just, though? I never went the fertility treatment route--Louisa came along and ended both my secondary infertility and my ability to have more kids in one fell swoop, the stinker--but I know enough friends who've gone through it to have heard about the hell hormone treatment can be.

As far as we can tell everything went like clockwork at the hospital today. Got home around 1 o'clock this afternoon, no post op problems.

The L&D nurses at Providence are the kindest, best people. Turns out I had the same nurse today as I had almost two years ago for the first D&C, lovely woman. They were all so appropriately sympathetic and sensitive. Can't express enough how much that meant to me--having the right words at the right time when grieving is a balm to the soul. God Bless nurses everywhere. Gotta send them a card.--read more

Found out yesterday via ultrasound that I'd lost my pregnancy, it looks like I lost it around 8 weeks, this would have been my tenth week. I'm going in this morning for a D&C. This is just like the miscarriage I had almost two years ago. --read more

my husband and i have been trying to have a second child for the past 3 years is there anyone that can give me any good tips that will help us concive another child

Keyhole surgery protects future fertility:

The team reports that after keyhole [aka laparascopic] surgery, the number of dominant follicles was reduced by 60 percent, the number of eggs was reduced by 53 percent and the number of embryos was reduced by 55 percent. The number of high-quality embryos in the affected ovary was reduced by 52 percent.

However, fertilization rates and the rate of high-grade embryos were similar to that produced by the intact ovary.

The team concludes that "the fertilization rate and rate of high-quality embryos are not influenced by excision of previous endometriomas."

Translation: The operated-upon ovary does have a decrease in the number of eggs it has remaining. But it doesn't seem to affect the chances of the woman getting pregnant after surgery.

I have been trying to conceive for a few months now with out any luck. I was just wondering is it possiable to conceive close to when your period? If you are going to start have it come for like 2.5 days very light for normal when you have long heavy periods could you be having a baby? Could you have conceived so your period stop.--read more

I'm wondering if there are any Moms out there who were "late bloomers"? Like, having your first child after age 35? I have finally felt peace about trying to conceive now that I'm better adjusted to our DD5, adopted almost 2 years ago. I am 37, as is DH. I'm healthy and a tad overweight. No blood pressure problems, female problems, etc. Out of the blue about two weeks ago, I just had this "feeling" that it was the right time now to have a baby and I shouldn't fight it. I feel like not having a bio until we adopted is "the plan". Sounds stupid when I type it out, but it is just a peaceful, very content feeling I have. And I feel that if we do not conceive, that will be OK too.--read more

This coming week would have been my due date if I hadn't miscarried last fall. I thought I'd "gotten over it" until last week when I realized that I'd have been close to my due date by now if things had worked out.--read more

This is my first time on this web site.
So I thought I would introduce my self; I am 28 with 4 childeren step daughter 9, daughter 5, son 2, daughter 3 months ( sort of she was born 3 months premature)--read more

Many years ago I heard an infertility Dr. on the Today Show comment that every couple that comes to him with an unknown problem he will send home to try for 3 months w/o any caffine. It seems that for some caffine will work as birth control. Just cutting down won't work....100% caffine free, means no chocotale, no coffee, Pepsi, Orange Crush, Mountain Dew, etc.--read more

So, I have a 2 year old son, coming up on 2 and 1/2. He is a cutie. Really. People, strangers, comment to me all the time about how cute he is and what a flirt he is and isn't he so adorable...(Hey, I know many of you get the same comments, but I like to think he is exceptional!) --read more