How to know if you'll have fertility issues if you're not TTC?

[Smiley124]

My husband and I were thinking about TTC this year, but we have since decided that we're not quite ready. However, I do sort of feel the biological clock ticking (I'll turn 30 this year, he'll turn 31). I know we're still young, but at the same time I know the longer we wait the more potential problems we could have. Not to mention the fact that we have no idea if we'll have fertility problems, which scares me. So, I guess my question is this -- are there tests we could have now that would indicate whether or not we'll have trouble conceiving later? I'd hate to wait a couple more years and then find out that we'll have a hard time conceiving (if at all). TIA!

[Asha]

are you periods regular?

do you have clotting or brown blood while on your period?

are you charting?

i am not sure a doc will give give a referral for the blood tests unless you have been actively ttc for at least six months or you are older.

btw, age is only one part of ttc. we started ttc when i was 27, and now almost 2 years later we still don't have a baby.

[jessied1025]

The questions asked by Asha can give you a good idea if you ovulate regularly.

Also, in regards to getting tested for fertility issues, doctors won't see you until at least 6 to 12 months of actively trying. DH and I are going on our 11 cycle of trying. My doctor won't see me or start testing until 12 months.

[suzfuzsunflower]

How do you know? There are several signs like the ones that Asha listed. And then there are some people who ovuate regularly, and either their DH has a problem or they have unexplained infertility.

I knew that we were going to have problems before we tried due to long irregular cycles, too much bleeding, no ovulation shown by charting. I am 24 and have been trying about a year and a half.

Regarding when your doctor will begin infertility testing - the posters above are correct: 6-12 months of trying, although if you clearly have signs of problems, your doctor may choose to start testing earlier, as my doctor did.

[ThreeYell]

Stop any hormonal BC, if you're on any, and start charting. Read Taking Charge of Your Fertility. The more information you have about your body before you TTC, the better.

[Susan]

Not to sound dumb, but is the clotting and/or brown blood during your period a good or bad thing?

[BTB]

Sol - generally that's considered a bad thing if it's more than a minimal amount.

OP - there are no tests which can pronounce a couple fertile, not even at the time they're experiencing problems. Because of the high rate of unexplained infertility, tests are useful when they indicate a problem. There's no test to indicate the absence of all problems. If you are healthy, have regular periods, and no known gynecologic problems; likewise your DH is healthy without urologic issues, it's best to think positively until there's reason to suspect a problem or you'll drive yourself nuts. :)

FSH/LH can be measured as a test of ovarian reserve, and a test currently under study for predicting how long a woman's reproductive span might last could be approved by the FDA as early as next year. However it too is not determining fertility but the approximate length of time remaining until menopause.

[Smiley124]

Thanks for your replies. I have no reason to think we'll have fertility problems - just an irrational fear. I really wish we could get tested because having kids is important to us, and any forseeable problems would likely change our timeline. I guess we'll let nature take its course and hope for the best!

BTW, I have tried charting, but I work and sleep VERY irregular hours and it is very difficult to do. I will try to start back up, but based on my regular period, I would assume my cycle is pretty darn normal (I am not on BCP).

Here's another question though -- can fertility issues be genetic? I know my MIL and FIL had a very hard time conceiving DH and weren't able to have any other children. I don't know the specifics of why and it's not something DH or I am willing to bring up with them (sensitive issue and they are neurotic!)

[Asha]

BTW, I have tried charting, but I work and sleep VERY irregular hours and it is very difficult to do. I will try to start back up, but based on my regular period, I would assume my cycle is pretty darn normal (I am not on BCP).

i can't chart easily either bc its been months since i have slept through the night. have you tried otc ovulation kits?

[Smiley124]

have you tried otc ovulation kits?


never heard of them actually... off to google I go!

[Scooter]

never heard of them actually... off to google I go!
And then check out another current thread: OPKs (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=22736), which might answer some of your questions.
;)

[mimieliza]

I think the short answer is... you can't. I really thought we'd have trouble conceiving. I have crazy irregular cycles - anywhere from 35 days to 90 days or more with no rhyme or reason. My mother has similar problems and it took her five years to have me, with fertility treatments (and I'm an only child).

I charted and used OPKs, and I got pg on our second cycle trying. I was so surprised and amazed. So it kind of goes both ways - even if there are clear signs you MIGHT have a problem, it doesn't mean you will. And, even if there are no signs of a problem, you might have trouble.

I understand the fear, though. I was anxious to start TTC just in case it did take a long time.

[DallasLady]

I like to always remind people that the woman is only half the TTC equation. There are just as likely to be issues with the man as there are with her. Don't think "Am I fertile?" think, "Are we fertile?" Women tend to think that conception is all on us, and that's not true.

Sperm analyses are relatively inexpensive and any doctor can order one. Docs who don't have experience with them don't always know how to read them, though, so when you get the results do some research on what the results mean (or come back here and ask!)

We were diagnosed with MFI (male factor infertility). If we'd focused all our energy on me, we would have never had any idea what was going on or why I wasn't pregnant.

[Ericka_Jarett]

If I were you I would try charting again and see how it is for a few months, many women have regular cycles but don't always O.

When I first went to my OB/GYN practice my cycles were almost non-existant. I was getting a period 4 times a year. The doctor wanted to rule out PCOS, so I had an u/s to check my tubes and we got the all clear, my cycles went pretty regular after that (1 every month) but they went 33 days long instead of just the average 28 days. After charting I found that I O'd at CD22 (didn't necessarily O every month though) not CD15, like the doctor suggested I should be. But knowing what my body did allowed me to know that I was in fact Oing and gave me the ability to show the doctor when I was.

I knew for us male issues were not a problem since hubby has a son from previous marriage and there was another pregnancy but it resulted in miscarriage. I knew I didn't have a problem either, just timing for us.

30 definately is not too old to have a baby, I got pregnant with my first at 30 (almost 31), my 2nd at 31 (almost 32) but would like to have all my kids before I am 35, because I already have enough high risk issues without adding "advanced maternal age" to the list.

Good luck to you.

[la_bride_2004]

I like to always remind people that the woman is only half the TTC equation. There are just as likely to be issues with the man as there are with her. Don't think "Am I fertile?" think, "Are we fertile?" Women tend to think that conception is all on us, and that's not true.

Sperm analyses are relatively inexpensive and any doctor can order one. Docs who don't have experience with them don't always know how to read them, though, so when you get the results do some research on what the results mean (or come back here and ask!)

We were diagnosed with MFI (male factor infertility). If we'd focused all our energy on me, we would have never had any idea what was going on or why I wasn't pregnant.

Amen and a big "ME TOO" here.

[sophonisba9]

I was sort of worried about infertility having a genetic factor, though my periods were usually pretty regular. Based on what I've been able to piece together from various things my parents have said over the years, they had a really hard time getting pregnant and I am an only child, but not by their choice. They tried for years before I came along and years after me. DH and I stopped actively protecting against pregnancy, but didn't actively try to get pregnant and 4 months later I was pregnant. I'm not anticipating any difficulty the next time either.

[Asha]

I knew for us male issues were not a problem since hubby has a son from previous marriage and there was another pregnancy but it resulted in miscarriage. I knew I didn't have a problem either, just timing for us.

that is a myth. just because either a man or woman has had a child before doesn't mean they won't have issues with infertility the next time around.

[jimmysgirl424]

are you periods regular?

do you have clotting or brown blood while on your period?



Okay...now I am worried. I currently manipulate my cycles so that I have only 4 periods a year using birth control pills. I can't remember a cycle since I started doing that where I haven't had clotting and anything but brown blood. :( (FYI, I am not taking the Seasonale pill; my doc told me it was okay to do this with any BC pill)

How worried should I be? Are my periods like that because of my manipulating them? I don't remember having periods like that before I started doing this.

[Tonysweetie]

I'm with Jimmysgirl except I don't take any BCP, I chart. Most of my periods start off with brown blood and work it's way to red then back to brown adn it ends. I get lots of clotting too. :(

[Asha]

jimmysgirl & tonysweetie - oh gosh, i didn't want to alarm anyone. i actually had no clue that brown blood and clots should be investigate further until reading up on ttc. i would mention it to your gyn.

jimmysgirl - did you have brown blood and clotting when you were taking bcp's normally?

i actually didn't have brown blood and clots when i was on the pill. it wasn't until after i stopped that i had that. i have no clue what it was like before i was on the pill bc i didn't pay much attention to it.

[jimmysgirl424]

jimmysgirl - did you have brown blood and clotting when you were taking bcp's normally?



No, I believe I had fairly normal periods before then. Its just now that I started taking my bc to prevent AF from coming every month, I have seen a really big difference in my periods when I do get them. Well..I finish off this pack this Sunday and will hopefully have a period sometime next week. My doctor's office told me to wait till I had two periods before trying to conceive, so maybe next month's will be more normal? :confused:


Tonysweetie I've seen you over in these threads recently. Are you and DH TTC yet? I remember you posting about your DH's bachelor party over on the WC! I would totally love it if you and I ended up being pregnant at the same time or close to it! :D

[Elle]

Also, in regards to getting tested for fertility issues, doctors won't see you until at least 6 to 12 months of actively trying. DH and I are going on our 11 cycle of trying. My doctor won't see me or start testing until 12 months.
I call bullshit on this. This pisses me off. :mad: To do this to a couple who want a baby is unfair. The anguish of trying month after month and still getting your period is indescribable. You must be devastated. After 5 months of TTC, and 8 months of charting, I was crying and a BD addict, but in a clinical, depressing, boring sort of way. NOT good for a marriage.

We started trying in February 2005, and was diagnosed in October. To this day I still say to myself, "I could have had a baby in November 2005;" or "If I had gotten pregnant in February, a baby would be almost a year old;" and etc. Imagine if I waited a whole year????

WADR, why didn't you lie to your doctor and tell him/her you had been trying for longer? At least your doctor could write a prescription for your DH to get a SA after at least 4 months. I'm sorry--please don't think I'm getting mad at you. It's just that now I see fertility as a delicate system, requiring a set of checks and balances that must be in place to work properly. I feel your pain.

OP, unfortunately, your doctor won't do tests on you until you've been TTC for a while. That's one of the reasons infertility sucks.

[Asha]

i don't think it is anyone's best interest to lie to a dr. about how long you have been ttc. i do agree that basic blood work should be standard, but some of the other tests are quite invasive and really no one should go through those unless there is a real problem. in addition to that, i don't think it is right for people to take advantage of their insurance companies to pay for testing and procedures that are not needed. it puts a burden on the rest of the policy holders and if too many people do this it will raise rates.

belle - i completely understand your frustration and pain. we have been ttc for two years now. though, quite honestly i didn't worry about anything for about a year bc i thought it was normal to have to wait for a baby.

[taffers]

Not to sound dumb, but is the clotting and/or brown blood during your period a good or bad thing?


I'm sure it's a case-by-case basis type of thing, but I had clotting during my period when I was on the pill (I was on Lutera), and I told my doctor, and she said it was fine because it often occurs with a low dose pill.

On the other hand, my good friend was clotting, and her doctor did an ultrasound to rule out ovarian cysts...she didn't have any though. :)

It's probably best to mention it to your doctor, even though you are most likely just fine.

[Tonysweetie]

Tonysweetie I've seen you over in these threads recently. Are you and DH TTC yet? I remember you posting about your DH's bachelor party over on the WC! I would totally love it if you and I ended up being pregnant at the same time or close to it! :D

We are about 7 months away from TTC. :) That would be awesome if we were PG together!!! :) Stop by my journal for details, hehe.