QuestionI am 21 years old, and my husband and I want to try for a baby this year. I couldn't have a period when I was younger, so I was put on birth control at sixteen, and I have been on them for a few years before going off of them early in 2010. I haven't had a period since, and every test my gyn runs comes up normal, and they just tell me to stay on the pill. But I know that although I have a period on the pill, I can't get pregnant on it, so its kind of a lose lose situation. I just want to know if there is any way possible that I could still get pregnant with a lack of a menstrual cycle? Or if there is a natural way to regain my cycle without birth control? And I could still be fertile somehow? Thanks so much. Tina, SC
AnswerHello Tina from the U.S.,
The answers to your questions are all NO, except for the last question which is YES. I think the problem is that you are seeing the WRONG doctors and that is why there are no answers. It is obvious to me that you have an ovarian dysfunction. What is causing this is not something I can answer without an evaluation and you have not given me adequate information. Ovarian dysfunction can be from the ovary, thyroid, pituitary or hypothalamus. Blood testing is done to evaluate this but it is possible that your doctor is seeing the levels as normal because he/she is using the laboratory levels and does not have the knowledge to interpret them correctly. For example, in PCO (polycystic ovarian disease) patients, their FSH and LH levels will be within normal laboratory limits, but the patient will have an LH that is at least 2 times higher than the FSH (elevated LH/FSH ratio).
So the bottom line is you need to see the right doctor and that doctor is a specialist in reproductive endocrinology, also known as a fertility specialist. They will be able to help you find the problem and recommend an appropriate treatment so that you can be on your way to getting pregnant.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
