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Last Updated:
Jan 3rd, 2010 - 00:09:53
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Question
I stopped having my periods in 2004 and was told that the only thing they could find was a high testosterone level, and they put me on birth control pills. They also told me that I would never get pregnant, but never gave me any reasons why this was going on. I stayed on birth control until Dec 2006 when my husband and I decided to try to get pregnant. I got a positive pregnancy test Jan 9th and had a healthy baby girl. After her birth, I never got a period again unless I was on the pill. I don't want to be on the pill and I want to get pregnant again, but I was once again told the only problem is a high testosterone level and that is it, and they want me on the pill again to suppress the hormone, which still doesn't make sense since it doesn't let me ovulate on my own. Is there anything I can do to start ovulating again and keep my testosterone level in check on my own without going on the pill again? I would love to stay off the pill and get healthy so that I can have more children.
Thanks,
Heather
Answer
Dear Heather,
There are alternatives to birth control pills for lowering testosterone. Some of these treatments might help you to ovulate on your own. In many women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (you don't say if this is your diagnosis, but it is the most common one) Metformin will lower testosterone levels as well as insulin levels and permit ovulation about 40% of the time. Spironolactone, another drug, will lower testosterone levels.
Some non-drug therapies that improve ovulatory function are fish oil 2000 mg., Vitamin D in some women if your levels are low, and the herb Saw Palmetto. Improving diet with less sugar and more fiber will help, as well as weight loss if you are overweight. In addition, surgical procedures such as ovarian drilling or ovarian wedge resection can help facilitate ovulation.
If you want to achieve a second pregnancy, have PCOS, and do not ovulate with these measures, the fairly simple fertility drugs Clomid or letrozole will help you ovulate 80% of the time when used with Metformin.
If your physician is not familiar with these treatments, a physician trained in the Medical Consultant program associated with the Fertility Care Natural Family Planning method might be able to help you. You can locate one at http://www.fertilitycare.org/mclocations/usa.htm.
Good luck!
Dr. Mary Davenport
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.
© Copyright 2005 by CANFP
The information on this page and web site is for informational purposes only,
and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment by a physician.
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