Fertility Update – Lab Results, Hormones, and Timelines

It has been a while since I’ve given a fertility update. Since my last post in February (you can read that here), there hasn’t been much to share. Results and information have slowly trickled in, but it wasn’t until recently that we finally had the missing piece and, with that, some direction.

Lab Results

I’m pretty sure that our doctor (who is amazing) tested for everything under the sun. My thyroid tests came back as normal. I was really deficient in Vitamin D, so I have been taking 10,000 IU a day. I did test positive for Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) though. This is an autoimmune disease where the body makes antibodies that attack it’s own cells. One of the major symptoms of untreated APS is early recurrent miscarriage. So, this gives us some direction for treatment and I will start taking a baby aspirin and then once I’m pregnant, then they will switch me to a medication called Lovenox.

Hormones

My progesterone and estradiol continue to be below optimal range. So, my doctor is having me start on hCG shots in the luteal phase of my cycle. The idea of having hCG injections is that it will trigger your body to naturally create more progesterone and estradiol. My testosterone was also well below range, so I am taking a special compound daily to get my levels up. There is very little conversation about women with Low T, and perhaps that is another post for another time, but it is such a big deal! I have only been taking testosterone for a week and I already feel a difference.

Timelines

So, we are closing in on when we will start trying again. And I have to say, I’m hopeful. It has been a long time since I have felt faith or even hope for this. But, something clicked recently, and I was able to exhale and say, “lets do this again.”

Meanwhile…we are switching our diet to Paleo because our doctor recommended that to help with the APS diagnosis. Bless us.