irregular cycle = no ovulation

[Tamara J. Vecsey MHLP]

Emily wrote that she has irregular cycles. Very irregular cycles
and her doctor suggested she might not ovulate or just every once
in a while.

Well, my story is that I have very irregular periods (maybe once
a year) I have to take Provera to get my cycle to start. My
doctor told me that I didn't ovulate or if I did it was very
rare. He told me this did not mean I couldn't get pregnate it
just ment that I would most likely have to take fertility pills or
shots to get pregnate.

Well, suprise suprise, we are (hubby and me) 22 weeks pregnate
and all by using the old fashioned method, (you know) sex and more
sex. :) My doctor said it was most likely the provera which helped
to regulate me enough for my body to ovulate (once) and my husband's
sperm count was high... so a very happy out come for us (so far..
just normal worries now about baby, delivery and is everything okay
with baby and so on and so forth).

I saw doctor after doctor, and each one would tell me something
different.
1. You will never get pregnate, 2. You could get pregnate, but I don't think
you are a good canadite, 3. Sure you can get pregnate, just keep trying,
you are just stressed out... don't think about it (Right!)
4. (and final) Well, you condition is called Stein Levental Syndrom and
here is what you need to take to control your mood swings, somewhat, not
completely but it will help control your current symptoms, and regarding
your concerns about having children, I think that you need to stay
on this medication (provera) for at least one year, and then we can
evaluate you condition. Well, I have to tell you as far as I am
concerned provera is a wonder drug and I love it. I have alway
had problems controling my moods and for a while thought that I
was nuts and should be locked up. I just hated when my period would
start because I felt as if I was going to die! Come to find out
why I felt this way is because I have all of the hormones that make
my period come on except they are not in the correct levels. So
my body would do everything except expell at the end of the cycle. So
my cycle would start all over with that old blood still inside. (sorry
if I am grossing anyone out) but, anyway by the time (one a year) my
period would come on I was about ready to explode (really) and it
always looked like I was bleeding to death. But I never died so I
assumed it was "normal" for me to be this way. Wrong, but all
the doctors I saw would never look past the sobbing women in his
office to see if there was any physical condition causing me to act
crazy. Until my wonderful Dr. Greenburg. He is young and listens to
what I told him... and then checked into his books and found out
what was causing me not to ovulate. (it took him about 4 months
but after 5 years of looking for someone to listen.. it didn't seems
long).

Sorry, the message is so long... I just wanted to tell ?Emily that
yes you can get pregnate and find a good doctor who will listen to
you and you'll be pregante before you know it.

T.J.

[Leah and Shawn Johnson]

Not necessarily. One thing you might check for is if the irregular cycle
runs in the family. For me it does....and in spite of cycles 28-180 days
long (my mother and I were the same in this regard) I have 5 siblings and
a daughter (birth story to come later.....probably tomorrow), all without
any medical intervention of any type. (I believe all of us were
unplanned, for that matter.) Couldn't hurt to look into it.

Leah Johnson
(whose LMP was five weeks off)