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Achieving Pregnancy : Evaluation and Treatment Last Updated: Sep 10th, 2007 - 18:59:21


Good Fertility Workup Needed
Answered by: Dr. Davenport
Jul 12, 2007, 13:28

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Question

I have low thyroid and I am taking levothyroxine, 50 mg daily. I am worried, since we have been trying for a baby for around 2 years now. I am 31 already. Even after taking thyroid substitution, my periods are still irregular and I am unable to find the ovulation day.

I tried OPK and also BBT. My OB/GYN says I just should keep trying. My periods are very prolonged as per my view but my OB/GYN says it should be fine. It is like this, Jun 2nd to 5th I will have very light vaginal dischage in pink or in brown.. and for these days I don't even need a panty liner.... then my regular period starts and I have always had periods for 6-7 days. Again from the 8th day onwards to another 3-5 days (it varies each month) there will be a slight discharge and it can be a heavy blush if I am exercising....

Could someone please help me on this...

Shawna

Answer

Dear Shawna,

You do not fully decribe the fertility tests your doctor has recommended, but it does not sound like you have been adequately worked up. You need a reliable system of charting your cycles (Creighton, Billings, Marquette, CCL, MyFertilityCycle.net). You need to be able to identify the peak day, or day of ovulation. If you are not able to, you need more formal instruction from a good NFP instructor.

In addition, you need progesterone and other hormonal tests to evaluate if you are ovulating or if you are ovulating adequately. If you spot or bleed more than 7 days, you need at the very least an ultrasound, and possibly a biopsy, hysteroscopy or D and C. Without knowing your TSH or Free T4 levels, I cannot say if your thyroid dose is adequate. I would recommend that you consider being worked up by a physician who is a medical consultant with the FertilityCare method of NFP, which trains and credentials physicians in infertility testing and treatment.

Mary L. Davenport, M.D.


Mary Davenport, MD

Dr. Mary Davenport is an obstetrician-gynecologist in private practice in El Sobrante, California. She graduated from Tufts University School of Medicine and completed her residency at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Davenport is also a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has an NFP-only medical practice and is a Medical Consultant in Natural Family Planning. She is a board member for CANFP and the American Association of Pro-Life OBGyn's.


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