Back in October, I announced that I had my IUD removed and that Jon and I were officially not not trying to have a baby. I noted that we had a few goals that we wanted to accomplish before getting pregnant but that we were getting the ball rolling early to give my body a chance to get back to normal.
Call it women's intuition or call it a hunch, but I just knew that getting pregnant wasn't going to be an easy feat for me. Honestly, despite our many goals, that was my main reason for getting a head start on the baby making. Jon took some convincing to really make him understand why, but once he realized I was quite serious and sincere and wasn't trying to get pregnant rightthisinstant he was on board.
My cycle has been wonky from the beginning. Before I went on the pill in college, I only got my period about three to four times a year. Once on the pill, I was completely regular thanks to my daily hormone intake. But then I didn't get my period the entire time I had my Mirena in. I had a bit of spotting the couple of days after having it removed, but looking back on it now, I think that probably had more to do with my pap smear than my period.
I still had my original IUD removal appointment scheduled for February (again, I had a feeling that I would need to be visiting my hard-to-get-an-appointment-with-doctor so I never cancelled it) so I went as scheduled and had a talk with my doctor. I left the office with a PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) diagnosis, a prescription for Provera (to start my period) and a prescription for Clomid (to induce ovulation). I was stunned, to say the least. I wasn't given any "formal" test to diagnose the PCOS, other than having my BMI checked and I've never had any problems with cysts on my ovaries, so I wasn't quite sure if I believed it.
Jon and I talked everything over that night and decided that I would take the Provera to help get my period started, but that I wouldn't take the Clomid until things are a little more stable in our lives and until my body has been given a bit more time to do things naturally. And yes, I love and trust my doctor, but until I have a diagnostic test to definitively tell me that I have PCOS, I'm not going to take any fertility drugs. I'm a second opinion kind of girl through and through!
Wouldn't you know, a few days later, before I even had a chance to get my Provera prescription filled, I finally got my period on it's own accord! And lord, did it come back with a vengeance, and at work, where I was completely devoid of all supplies, of course. (thank god for working with a lot of women, is all I'm saying).
With the guidance of the ever helpful Taking Charge of Your Fertility, I've been tracking my basal body temperature every morning and was able to take my chart to my appointment earlier this week for my doctor to peek at. Same verdict as before though: I'm not ovulating. I discussed things with him and let him know that I'm not comfortable with trying the Clomid at this stage in the game, but would consider it down the road if absolutely necessary.
Jon always laughs at me because I hate taking medicine, but I really feel that taking the natural route at this stage in the game is right for me. It's only been six months and really, this was the whole point of getting things started early. I want to give my body a chance to see what it can do and if it does end up needing a little help down the road, I'll gladly accept it. In the meantime, I've been making healthier food choices, reducing my alcohol intake, exercising regularly and taking my pre-natal vitamins and Omega-3 pills. We're going to see where we are in the August-September timeframe and take things from there.
So...I just wanted to give you all an update in case you were wondering how things are going. I've been putting off this post because I didn't want it to come off as being all "woe is me" because if anything, I'm grateful that Jon and I have this additional time to get our lives together and enjoy being just us before parenthood. (Admittedly, I've also been afraid that some meanies will come out of the woodwork and say, "You weren't really trying anyway so who cares?!", but my blog is for sharing and share I will.)
