A reader asks: Please offer me some guidance…
I am a 33-year-old woman trying to have a baby with my husband of two years. I went off the pill six months ago but nothing has happened yet and I am getting concerned that it may already be too late for me.
I had been on the pill since I started having my period as a teenager and feel as if my body has become too accustomed to using contraceptives. Is this possible?
Each month I am so disappointed when my period comes. My husband tries to reassure me that it will take time but I know my own body and I just don’t feel like anything is happening. Friends who have started trying have become pregnant straight away and while I am happy for them, it only increases my fear that it may never happen for us.
Please advise me on any steps we can take to increase the chances of becoming pregnant. I have heard of medication that can help – should I be looking into it?
At what point do you think my husband and I should start having tests to see if we are able to have children? I’m pretty sure they will not be covered by my health insurance so I want to be sure we have given everything enough time to happen naturally before we resort to such tests.
Dr Anees Fatima MD, DABFM, Family Medicine Specialist at Mediclinic City Hospital writes: The body does not become accustomed to contraceptives, although it may take up to six months for the menstrual cycle and ovulation to return to normal after stopping contraceptive pills.
For conception to happen, the body needs to be producing the ovum. Menstrual bleeding can happen even without the ovum being produced. This is something that needs to be looked at. Having been on the contraceptives for so long, it is possible that ovulation has not yet started with the menstrual cycles. Simple ways to check on this at home would be to monitor basal body temperature, or to get an ovulation kit from the pharmacy and use it to indicate the days of ovulation. This will help in timing intercourse and increasing the likelihood of pregnancy. If both of these methods are showing no signs of ovulation, then you should see a specialist right away.
A year is a reasonable time frame to give yourself when you’re first trying to conceive. Having said this, keeping in mind your age, I would advise you to see a specialist in six months. Maternal age above 35 is associated with more problems with the baby’s growth and development. Your husband should also be checked simultaneously for any concerns.
Disclaimer: This blog is a conversation and is not an alternative for treatment. The recommendations and suggestions offered by our panel of doctors are their own and Gulf News will not take any responsibility for the advice they provide.
