Multiple fertility issues?

MEJOHNSO · February 2016

So I have known I have PCOS for about 8 years now and knew that TTC wouldn't necessarily be easy. However, I recently started seeing an RE and additional testing revealed that I also have low progesterone, which she said may make it difficult to maintain a pregnancy. To top it all off, DH's semen analysis came back with a low count. Like too low even for IUI. She even suggested using donor sperm or just going straight to IVF. Has anyone else had success getting pregnant with similar issues or multiple issues? Especially without IVF? At this point, I'm almost ready to go to straight to adoption because it just seems like the road to having a biological child is long and filled with roadblocks for us. Thanks in advance for any thoughts you all may offer.

HoneyBee973 · February 2016

Don't give up yet. I am pretty sure if your RE thought it was impossible for you to have a biological child, he/she would say so. Infertility is a hard and long road, if you feel adopting a child is what feels best for you and your family that's perfectly fine. That's a decision that only you guys can make.

I had low progesterone, my RE prescribed necessary suppositories, fast forward and I have a 2 month old sleeping in her crib as I am typing this.

Good luck on your journey. Stick around, there are some very wise and full of great advice women here.

thecuddleeffect · February 2016

Don't give up!

I have PCOS and hypothyroid, and my husband has azoospermia (meaning his sperm count is literally zero). My husband had surgery to see if there were any hiding sperm. They found a VERY small number. But with the amazingness of science we have 4 biological children (2 are in heaven, but they are still ours biologically and in your case thats what matters!) One is 22 months and the other is cooking away 26w!
If you feel called to adoption, then by all means push towards that route, but there are many many options still available to you. There are even some options for your DH if he has more testing that could raise his counts.
When you do IVF you are put on progesterone supplements any way, and those levels are monitored closely. Because this is a known issue, it will be able to be handled and maintained right away.
Not going to be puppies and rainbows and tell you it wont be hard at times, but I promise you, it will be worth it.

AprilZ81 · March 2016

Low progesterone is actually easily treatable. You need to closely monitor for ovulation, but roughly 3 days after you ovulate you can start taking progesterone supplements (oral, vaginal suppositories or injectable). If you start it too soon it won't do it's job. It will artificially lengthen your cycle, so if you aren't pregnant you will want to stop it so your period will start.

If you do get pregnant you would continue taking the progesterone throughout most of the first trimester. The placenta takes over progesterone production around week 9 I think and then around week 12 you would start going off the progesterone.

Also, make sure they are taking your progesterone levels at the correct time. A lot of time doctors will call it CD21 blood work, but if you don't ovulate on CD14 the number is meaningless. You actually want to test progesterone 7 days after ovulation. If you ovulate naturally you want the level to be above 10 to support a pregnancy and if you are on Clomid or Femara they usually want it above 15-20 to support a pregnancy. Anything above 5 just shows that you ovulated.

As for your husband, it takes about 3 months for a man to generate new sperm. If he was sick, injured or under extreme stress it is possible that the low count was a fluke. I would wait a few months and then ask for a new test. There are also supplements he can take to help and there are some studies that show Clomid can also help men with their Sperm count. Don't lose hope yet!

I also recommend visiting www.thencomesfamily.com and the Getting Knocked Up and/or the Trouble Trying to Conceive/IVF message boards. Those boards are much more active and have a lot of women who also have PCOS and a host of other diagnosis's that you can learn from.

callitcompulsive · March 2016

hi @aprilz81, I "know" you from TCF! (lastnamewithheld) That's where I hang out most days.

small world

Sorry, OP, to answer your question: I was in a similar boat, as my H's sperm count/quality etc was too low for IUI or TI so we opted for IVF. We're kind of hung up on biological children, so that's the route we went. I also have PCOS (or so the RE says.) Also, there are progesterone supplements to correct the low progesterone issue. It's a lot of information and like @thecuddleeffect said, it's not easy, but (allegedly) it'll be worth it in the end.

GL moving forward.

GABride2010 · March 2016

Hi @callitcompulsive! I "know" you also from TCF.

OP, I have PCOS, and my H has a varicocele. We are new into our TTC journey (Cycle 3 and right at Month 5). We have not any testing done yet (like SA). We want to try naturally until my annual appt in May and see what my cycles are doing. Depending on what my cycles do and if I get pregnant in the next few months or not, then we may seek a referral to an RE. PCOS is not a fertility death sentence, but it can make achieving pregnancy more difficult. Good luck, and we are always here if you have questions or need to chat/vent.

Multiple fertility issues?

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