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Trying to Conceive My First Child

by April
(US)

I have a question, but first I'll give you my basics. I'm almost 36 years old. My husband and I have been trying to conceive our first child since May of last year. I chart every month, so I know when I ovulate. I am taking a ton of vitamins and herbs. I have decided to try taking progesterone.

I went to the doctors last month and they told me that they would not check my hormone/progesterone levels unless I had recurrent miscarriages. That just totally ticked me off. Anyway I just received my Natpro cream today. I have been looking at your site for hours and am still not sure how to take it. I understand the amount, what I am confused about is, do I continue taking it until my period shows, or do I take it for 14 days and then stop? Like I said I am trying to get pregnant. I decided to try the progesterone because my luteul phase keeps changing. I did your questionnaire and I scored a 44. It said anything over 10 and it was a strong probability that I had a progesterone deficiency. The other thing I am wondering, now that I am reading, am I going to experience oestrogen dominance? Really don't want to experience anxiety/panic attacks. I have enough problems I don't really need anymore.

Thanks for you help. I'm just at my whits end. I have decided that if I am not pregnant by the beginning of next year that I am just going to get my tubes tied and quit letting trying to conceive drive me insane.

Comments for Trying to Conceive My First Child

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Aug 19, 2011
 Now what.
by: April

I hope someone can help me. I am on CD 15. I have never ovulated after CD 14. I chart my BBT and my temperature has not really risen, so I'm assuming I didn't ovulate this month. I don't know if I should start using the progesterone or not. What if I didn't ovulate for some reason and I am going to. I'm just at a loss. I've never had this problem since I started charting in July of last year..
Aug 20, 2011
 Trying to Conceive My First Child
by: Wray

Hi April It's extraordinary how hormone levels are not checked unless a woman has a miscarriage. Usually you have to have 3 miscarriages before they do. It wouldn't surprise me if you were conceiving every month, but with a defective luteal phase, miscarrying each month too at your next period. A normal luteal phase lasts 12-14 days, and in all women it's always the 12-14 days before bleeding. I prefer to use the full 14 days to ensure enough progesterone is being used. So supplemental progesterone should follow this pattern, ie start using it at ovulation for the next 14 days, then stop. Bleeding should occur in a day or two. We do have a page on Pregnancy which explains how to use progesterone and how much. Please don't have a Tubal ligation. This website explains why not. And please don't give up, you're ovulating, which means conception is possible, so many women don't ovulate. Or very erratically if they do. Although a lack of progesterone can cause miscarriages, so too does a lack of vitamin D, see here, here and here. This is essential not only for ovulation, but for a successful pregnancy too. It's also vital for the growth of the foetus, please have a test done, see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital websites. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, with a blood level of 70-100ng/ml. Oestrogen Dominance can occur when first using progesterone. The higher the oestrogen level the worse the symptoms. Although unpleasant, it is one indication that oestrogen is too high and should be reduced. Panic attacks are explained on our Anxiety page. Please check whether the herbs you are taking are oestrogenic, many are. Take care Wray
Aug 21, 2011
 I read the pregnancy page
by: April

Dear Wray,
Thanks for your response. So if I am reading your response correctly. I should use the progesterone for 14 days then stop. If bleeding doesn't occur in 2 days do I start taking it again? The pregnancy page says: If bleeding does not start fourteen days later, it is possible that fertilization has occurred. On no account must the cream be stopped at this stage, otherwise it could precipitate a miscarriage. Sorry to keep bothering you, but I want to make sure I am doing this correctly. I don't want to miscarry if I am in deed pregnant. Thanks for your help.
Aug 22, 2011
 I read the pregnancy page
by: Wray

Hi April I don't mind how much you bother me! It is a bit tricky, but if your intent is to fall pregnant, then don't stop using the progesterone after the 14 days. No harm is done if you do this, and if you are pregnant, much good. If you are not, then your period will come, although it might be a bit late. If this occurs, start using it again when you next ovulate. Let me know how you get on. And please take the vitamin D. Take care Wray

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