PCOS and Finally Pregnant at 34!
I always knew I wanted to have children, but had a sneaking suspicion I would have some challenges getting pregnant. I felt that way because before I was on the “pill” for the 13 years, I had an extremely irregular menstrual cycle.
My husband and I were married November 2006, and decided that I would stop using the pill January 2007 to give my body a few months to adjust before we started “trying”. When June rolled around, we were ready. The excitement came to a halt because after, 8 weeks went by, I had no period and pregnancy tests were negative. Fertility specialists say to wait a year before trying to take action , but I knew something was not right with my body. I did extensive internet research, and diagnosed myself with PCOS. I then went to my OBGYN and she confirmed I had PCOS. In short, with PCOS you do not ovulate, or ovulate very, very rarely, giving you no or rare, unpredictable opportunities to become pregnant.
My OBGYN recommended that I try Clomid to help me ovulate. I started my first dose of Clomid September 2007, and nothing happened. Then took my second, higher dose of Clomid in November 2007, and still no results. In December per my OBGYN recommendation I saw a fertility specialist. The fertility specialist performed a number of tests and recommended that I have two options: IVF or IUI, both which required shots.
I felt that was not the way conception was suppose to happen for me and I wanted to first try an alternative method. Someone told me about acupuncture and I decided it was worth a chance for a few months. I first met with one acupuncturist and he too told me the only way he would treat me was if I did IVF with his treatments. So when I finally met with Carolyn I had tears in my eyes of utter despair and lost hope. She looked at me and understood and said “Look I know this is hard and I will work with you, but with the complexity of your disease I cannot make any guarantee and that I may have to eventually resort to IVF.” She also stated it was important to follow a strict regimen with the diet, herbs and acupuncture program she would recommend as well as a change in lifestyle.
My menstrual cycle started to become shorter at 53, 49 and then 43 days. But, I still was not sure if I was ovulating. June 2008, I decided to go back to the Fertility Specialist to have some test performed and see if the acupuncture was making a difference. Unfortunately, the tests did not appear to show anything different from when the test were performed 7 months previously. And, again the fertility specialist said I had two options: IVF or IUI.
I was devastated that it appeared that all the efforts I put in the past 6 months did not make a change. I decided not to make any decisions on what I wanted to do and to enjoy my birthday a week later. I completely changed my outlook – I had a positive attitude and decided I was “34 and fabulous”. My husband and I we headed to Pennsylvania for July 4th weekend, and I knew I was going to see friends and family members with children – but, I kept a positive attitude. Surprisingly, I was already 25 days through my menstrual cycle – and I ovulated! A few weeks later after continuing to track my temperature and saw that it continued to be high over 14 days, and after 21 days and some pregnancy signs I could no longer ignore, I took a pregnancy test August 2008 and it said “Pregnant”. The day I came in to tell Carolyn, I said: “It has been 6 months…” and that is all I said. Mind you, several weeks before I was really frustrated, impatient and sad. Carolyn understood this but kept me focused by asking about my temps, and herbs. I interrupted her with “wo, forget that stuff…I'm Pregnant!!"
- Valarie Lewis
Engagement Director, Professional Services
(813) 829-9220
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