Hormone imbalance and a wish to be pregnant
Dear Dr Mitchell
I was told three years ago (couple months after I had a miscarriage) that my hormones are imbalanced and that will decrease my chances of conceiving. This I have proven to be true after many trials.
However, I would like to have a baby now and I am asking you what can be done. I am 23. I know I am pretty young but I am scared of never being able to conceive, which is why I would be grateful for your advice.
Dear Trying for a baby,
Hormonal imbalance is a common cause of infertility. This causes failure to ovulate (release an egg every month). Ovulatory factory contributes to infertility in 15 per cent to 25 per cent of patients.
Having tried consistently for three years without any success, you should definitely be investigated for the underlying causes of your hormonal imbalance.
Factors that contribute to failure to ovulate include stress, strenuous exercise, anorexia nervosa, polycystic ovarian disease, elevated prolactin levels and premature ovarian failure. Polycystic ovarian disease is characterised by the presence of multiple small follicles in the ovaries, excessive weight gain, irregular periods and infertility.
The good thing is that most of these conditions can be treated once the diagnosis is made. Additionally, you are 23 years old which is quite young, so your outcome should be good.
Women who do not ovulate may complain of lack of menses, irregular menses or heavy menstrual flow. Additionally, the feeling of impending menstruation and dysmenorrhoea, which is painful menstruation, are typically absent in women who do not ovulate.
Ovulation may be confirmed by doing the basal body temperature each morning getting out of bed. A rise of 0.4 to 0.6ºF at mid cycle is in keeping with an ovulatory cycle. A serum progesterone, biopsy of lining of the uterus or a urinary leutinizing hormone (LH) test may also be done to confirm ovulation.
The important thing though is to be thoroughly evaluated by your gynaecologist to determine if there are other causes of your infertility. Your consort will also need evaluation since male factors contribute to infertility in as much as 40 per cent of cases.
Dr Sharmaine Mitchell is an obstetrician and gynaecologist. Write to Dear Dr Mitchell, c/o all woman, Jamaica Observer, 40-42 1/2 Beechwood Ave, Kgn 5.
