QuestionQUESTION: Hi Edward,
I'm 27yrs & my husband is 33 we have been trying to concieve for last 2.5yrs we are married for 2.5 yrs.. We have seen different doctors and have done all the necesary tests for both and as per the doctors all the reports are absolutely normal..I get regular periods which last for 4-5 days.. now the doctor has prescribed Duoluton L.for 21 days which happens to be a contraceptive!! can you please tell what role will it play in infertility?
I'm desperate to get pregnant...
Regards,
Rashmi.
India,Maharashtra.
ANSWER: Hello Rashimi from India,
I am always perplexed about how doctors treat their patients in other countries, especially India. I get lots of letters from India, and frankly, have to question their qualifications.
Duoluton is a birth control pill. I have absolutely no idea why your doctor is using this, unless he is preparing you for an IVF cycle. In IVF, we use the birth control pill for 3 weeks prior to the start of the IVF cycle to down regulate the ovaries, help to schedule the IVF and to help make the ovaries respond better. If he were doing IVF, he should be telling you this becuase it is an expensive and elaborate procedure. Other than that, I have no idea for his method.
Since you are over two years trying for a pregnancy, I strongly suggest that you see an infertility specialist if you are not seeing one now. An infertility specialist would be someone who can do and is doing IVF, in addition, to other treatments.
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
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Edward,
Thank you for the prompt response..
I have already seen an infertility specialist who had prescribed laproscopy which was quiet expensive so we tried the curent doc. as a second opinion.. when I checked with him why he has prescribed Duoluton he said that it will help in getting the harmones to a neutral level nad thus wil help further treatment.. He will be calling us for check up in next cycle 3hrs after targeted intercourse to check if sperms are meeting.. please advise.
Thanks & Regards,
Rashmi.
AnswerHello Again,
You need to go back to an infertility specialist. Your new doc is giving you bad advice. Sure, the birth control pill will level out the hormones (because it suppresses the ovary completely), but these will return to their previous state immediately upon stopping the birth control pill, so it does nothing for your fertility.
In terms of a checkup 3 hrs after intercoruse to "see if the sperms are meeting", I presume he is referring to a post-coital test, which is hardly ever done anymore, and checkes to see if the sperm are getting into the cervical mucous or if the mucous is hostile. It does NOTHING else. It does not see if the sperm is meeting the egg because that is completely impossible without doing IVF and actually putting them together.
I think you are seeing the wrong doc and he is leading you astray.
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
