Post by pantaloons55 on Aug 11, 2014 13:26:04 GMT -5
Hello all,
Just thought I would (finally) introduce myself as I've been lurking here for quite awhile.
About me:
I just got married (July 26th) to a wonderful man whom I love dearly and have been with for nearly 8 years now (which is kind of wild when I think about that). We're both 32, and have a home in the suburbs in that Great White North country right above most of you folks
I have a good job, and he's working part time and trying to wrap up some schooling that he does at his own pace. We're in the home stretch now but it is tough because he does need to work p/t for the school bills, but eventually we'll get to the place where he will be working full time in his career.
The airy-fairy plan was to start TTC asap after the wedding. It would have been perfect timing cycle-wise, and I was so relaxed (finally) and we had a cottage (with hot-tub) to ourselves for a week, it was gorgeous. But on our honeymoon, he had a mini-freak out and said he wanted to wait on the TTC until he was working in his career. Which I completely understand, but I'm also very aware of my age and the possibility of problems (my mother's had very early menopause). No guarantee for me, I know, but its still in the back on of my mind. LOL... anyway, so there was that, and I also kind of wish he hadn't taken quite that exact moment to decide this (right in the middle of the deed -- on the honeymoon), but I suppose its also kind of funny too. We aren't using any pills or barriers, but we aren't actively 'trying' either, if you get my drift, so who knows, things may end up happening anyway, but we will be perfectly fine if that happened.
August is another crazy month for us, and we hope that he will indeed be working in his career by the end of the year, so I'm happy to give him some space, and we'll see how he feels in a few months' time. It will also give me time to get back on track with charting which I have been doing for about 9 months (prep) but totally dropped off over the last month. Between the pre-wedding stress and the post-wedding oversleeping, I really haven't temped properly in about a month.
For now though, we're still enjoying the post-wedding high and warm-and-fuzzies, and the rest of our dwindling summer. I just wanted to get myself properly introduced, as I some of the threads I have been reading, I have had a few questions pop up in my head. At least now I will feel a bit better about asking them. I'm sure I'll become more active once we are actively TTC.
Post by starburst604 on Aug 11, 2014 14:17:11 GMT -5
Welcome and congrats on your marriage!
As far as your mom's early menopause, doctors do take that into heavy consideration when determining your fertility. At your next gyn appointment, perhaps they would be willing to run a few bloodtests to check ovarian function based on your history? It could give you some answers and set your mind at ease. In my case, I was having periods and ovulating regularly so had no reason to think I couldn't conceive, but testing showed otherwise (diminishing ovarian reserve, high FSH and low AMH). I wish I had know that sooner, because often those things are present for a while before any symptoms show.
As far as your mom's early menopause, doctors do take that into heavy consideration when determining your fertility. At your next gyn appointment, perhaps they would be willing to run a few bloodtests to check ovarian function based on your history? It could give you some answers and set your mind at ease. In my case, I was having periods and ovulating regularly so had no reason to think I couldn't conceive, but testing showed otherwise (diminishing ovarian reserve, high FSH and low AMH). I wish I had know that sooner, because often those things are present for a while before any symptoms show.
Wow, I really hadn't thought of all that. I always thought it was worth considering that's for sure, but the Dr's seemed unconcerned. I can't remember for certain, but I was sure that I had mentioned this to my GP when I saw her last (June), and she said to just see what happens in the next few months -- because at that time, I was thinking we were going to start TTC asap. My Mom started early menopause in her late thirties. I don't believe this happened to her mother, and her sister is a whole other story. She was born completely without a uterus and vagina (had the external bits, but not internal -- a whole other ball of wax that I fortunately do not have to contend with) so its hard to say on that one. She did have ovaries obviously that allowed her to develop normally aside from that, and seemed to begin "menopausing" symptoms (really, hormonal shifting I guess, as she never had a menses) around a normal time, but its difficult to know for sure when it began.
My Dr hasn't referred me to Gyn yet -- not usually until I get pregnant or specifically ask for one about a specific problem, (or infertility) as I'm in Canada and they do seem to try to limit referrals and testing unless they are warranted. My Dr is also pretty laissez-faire about everything, so I may push a little harder on this issue and see what she says.
And please, if anyone else wants to toss me some pearls of wisdom, but all means, join in! I have to admit, I'm a bit more sensitive to the infertility issues as all 3 girls I work with are currently experiencing it, so I'm not only aware of that very real possibility, but also (ever so slightly) concerned that I need to get on this sooner than later.
Anyway, thank you so much for the welcome and advice Starburst (and marriage congrats) its really appreciated.
As far as your mom's early menopause, doctors do take that into heavy consideration when determining your fertility. At your next gyn appointment, perhaps they would be willing to run a few bloodtests to check ovarian function based on your history? It could give you some answers and set your mind at ease. In my case, I was having periods and ovulating regularly so had no reason to think I couldn't conceive, but testing showed otherwise (diminishing ovarian reserve, high FSH and low AMH). I wish I had know that sooner, because often those things are present for a while before any symptoms show.
Wow, I really hadn't thought of all that. I always thought it was worth considering that's for sure, but the Dr's seemed unconcerned. I can't remember for certain, but I was sure that I had mentioned this to my GP when I saw her last (June), and she said to just see what happens in the next few months -- because at that time, I was thinking we were going to start TTC asap. My Mom started early menopause in her late thirties. I don't believe this happened to her mother, and her sister is a whole other story. She was born completely without a uterus and vagina (had the external bits, but not internal -- a whole other ball of wax that I fortunately do not have to contend with) so its hard to say on that one. She did have ovaries obviously that allowed her to develop normally aside from that, and seemed to begin "menopausing" symptoms (really, hormonal shifting I guess, as she never had a menses) around a normal time, but its difficult to know for sure when it began.
My Dr hasn't referred me to Gyn yet -- not usually until I get pregnant or specifically ask for one about a specific problem, (or infertility) as I'm in Canada and they do seem to try to limit referrals and testing unless they are warranted. My Dr is also pretty laissez-faire about everything, so I may push a little harder on this issue and see what she says.
And please, if anyone else wants to toss me some pearls of wisdom, but all means, join in! I have to admit, I'm a bit more sensitive to the infertility issues as all 3 girls I work with are currently experiencing it, so I'm not only aware of that very real possibility, but also (ever so slightly) concerned that I need to get on this sooner than later.
Anyway, thank you so much for the welcome and advice Starburst (and marriage congrats) its really appreciated.
Sadly, a lot of docs are pretty relaxed about fertility, and really a lot of the time there is nothing wrong anyway. I don't mean to scare you! I just wish I had done a few things differently in regards to my own journey (seen an RE rather than a gyn after 6 months of trying). At 38 the clock is ticking big time for me.
Wow, I really hadn't thought of all that. I always thought it was worth considering that's for sure, but the Dr's seemed unconcerned. I can't remember for certain, but I was sure that I had mentioned this to my GP when I saw her last (June), and she said to just see what happens in the next few months -- because at that time, I was thinking we were going to start TTC asap. My Mom started early menopause in her late thirties. I don't believe this happened to her mother, and her sister is a whole other story. She was born completely without a uterus and vagina (had the external bits, but not internal -- a whole other ball of wax that I fortunately do not have to contend with) so its hard to say on that one. She did have ovaries obviously that allowed her to develop normally aside from that, and seemed to begin "menopausing" symptoms (really, hormonal shifting I guess, as she never had a menses) around a normal time, but its difficult to know for sure when it began.
My Dr hasn't referred me to Gyn yet -- not usually until I get pregnant or specifically ask for one about a specific problem, (or infertility) as I'm in Canada and they do seem to try to limit referrals and testing unless they are warranted. My Dr is also pretty laissez-faire about everything, so I may push a little harder on this issue and see what she says.
And please, if anyone else wants to toss me some pearls of wisdom, but all means, join in! I have to admit, I'm a bit more sensitive to the infertility issues as all 3 girls I work with are currently experiencing it, so I'm not only aware of that very real possibility, but also (ever so slightly) concerned that I need to get on this sooner than later.
Anyway, thank you so much for the welcome and advice Starburst (and marriage congrats) its really appreciated.
Sadly, a lot of docs are pretty relaxed about fertility, and really a lot of the time there is nothing wrong anyway. I don't mean to scare you! I just wish I had done a few things differently in regards to my own journey (seen an RE rather than a gyn after 6 months of trying). At 38 the clock is ticking big time for me.
Ok, so that's good to know about Drs. I'm definitely not going to panic (yet) but I read up more on that regarding mother's menopause, and its certainly given me some food for thought. I asked my Mom and she said that she started at 38 and was fully through the process by 40, so its very good information to have regardless -- especially since I'd like to try for more than one!