friend has infertility with "unknown cause" - what next?

[flowmom]

I'm trying to help my close friend who has been TTC for over a year now. She's had the full fertility testing that's available here in Canada and now they are recommending IVF, which she feels is premature ("male problems" have been ruled out). She's 36 and healthy, no reproductive problems in the family. She eats a healthy omnivorous diet but still indulges in coffee and alcohol in moderation. Hoping that someone might be able to help here:

• she's had her thyroid function tested but only TSH I think - should she ask for the "free T4" test or look into the possibility of having subclinical hypothyroidism? She is slim and energetic so doesn't seem to be likely to be hypothyroid though.
• she feels that her CF isn't eggwhite in nature but at the fertility clinic they dismissed that as a likely cause - should she be concerned about that?
• is there peer-reviewed literature indicating that stress is a likely cause in cases like this? she tends to be a bit high-strung...
• anyone know the stats on what her odds of conceiving are at this point?

What's the next step?

[Music-mommy]

I ttc for over 18 months with both my pregnancies. actually the second one, I got pregnant a month after deciding it was time (Kali was 13 months) , then miscarried at 13 weeks, and had to wait another 18 months or so after that before getting prego again.

She could try visiting Lorne Brown, he specializes in infertility and is a chinese doctor. I went to see him and he did mostly acupuncture and herbs.

I think stress is a huge factor...

[flowmom]

I didn't realize that was your experience, music-mommy...that must have been hard. It's encouraging, though, that you were eventually successful in making two wonderful children!

[cristeen]

This may seem like an obvious question, but is she ovulating? If not, there's the problem (well, a major symptom at least), and if she is, then have they tried IUI? I would want to try that before going to IVF.

[flowmom]

Originally Posted by cristeen

This may seem like an obvious question, but is she ovulating? If not, there's the problem (well, a major symptom at least), and if she is, then have they tried IUI? I would want to try that before going to IVF.

No they haven't tried IUI, I'm not sure if they've been offered that. I believe that she is ovulating - they've done lots of testing, etc.

[Pookietooth]

She might want to look into spiritual issues. Spirit Babies is a book about how to communicate with your unconceived children. It's later or I'd go on...

[smudge]

Sometimes they never do find an answer. A good friend I worked with has/had "unexplained" fertility and did 6 or 7 IUI's with no success. She and her DH finally went on to adopt two beautiful DC from Vietnam.
Another good friend of mine got pg at 17, delivered a healthy baby boy and never could get pg again- despite everything coming up normal.
So, I think in your friends' situation, the important thing is to try and let it all go. Yoga helped me ALOT when I was going through all the IVF crap. Once I decided to let it all go, I got an inner peace. I also did meditations. I found a great CD from this website:
http://www.anjionline.com/
I would do my yoga and then while in 'corpse pose' I would listen and do the meditation. Anytime I felt stressed I would start my CD. I really felt it helped decrease my stress.

[mamaana]

Hi Ksenia

First off, to your friend. I've BTDT.

It took us 7 years to conceive Nikola. We were and stll are in the unexplained category so we are preparing for IVF or IUI next month (depends on funds).

No matter what you have heard, stress is a HUGE factor. I know whenever I heard that "you just gotta relax" I was ready to tear off heads, but it is true.

I internalise stress so it's even worse. We had 3 unsuccessful IUIs. I went through accupuncture, NDs, herbalists, specialists. The list goes on and on.

We had completely given up and were preparing for IVF and I found out I was pregnant. I was also sick with a horrible flu for 2 weeks the month we conceived and I'm positive my supressed immune system allowed me to get and stay pregnant. I don't know how, but any subsequent time I got pregnant, I had been sick before O ( I also mc each time but that is another story).

Back on topic, your friend needs to deal with the stress, even if she claims not to feel it. Yoga, meditation, whatever. I also saw a reproductive psychatrist at BC Womens and it really helped to cry on her shoulder.

Good luck to her and she's lucky to have such a concerned friend.

[bobandjess99]

It's weird to hear people talking about being sick to get pg. After 4 years of TTC, with me ovulating and everything, the one time i got opreggo was right after i had the worst, horrible flu.....including a ridiculously high fever of 104 for 2 days.....I have often wondered if that somehow allowed me to get preggo, but have never found anything to support that......although I have read that taking antibiotics during ovulation increases your chances of pregnancy?

[Pookietooth]

Another good one is "The Whole Person Fertiliy Program" because it addresses non-physical aspects to fertility.