Irregular cycles, trying to conceive
Question
Hi
I have just turned 40 years of age and my husband has just been for a vasectomy reversal after 3.5 years!! Before he went for the reversal I went to the Gynae for a check up to make sure all was in order before we spent all that money! She advised me I had fibroids so put me in hospital for a Laparoscopy, hysteroscopy? And a D and C to make me more fertile. She said at the time of the operation I was ovulating and said all was 100% and the fibroids were not “interfering with nature”. This was three months ago and before that I knew my body like clockwork – I could feel I was ovulating and then when I was due to have a period. Now I am all over the place from 23 days to 33 days! I feel like I am going to have a period with sore breasts, etc but then all I do is brown spot for about 5 days and have the normal period symptoms of ab pain etc. Is this cause for concern? I seem to be engrossed in the thought that this was the wrong thing to do, and that this is now sending me into menopause since I have interfered with nature! Am I being neurotic and could this just be stress as I am now so aware of the fact that I am desperate to fall pregnant? I was 7 days late last month and went back to her – she gave me a scan and assured me I was far from menopause! And 2 days later after she had sent me for a pregnancy test as she said there was a thickening in the uterus which could be an early pregnancy or just a late period – it turned out to be the latter.
Look forward to your reply
Answer
Last Updated: August 27, 2023
There are several things that may be causing your change in menstrual cycle. Certainly, the D & C will thin the endometrium, and lead to less bleeding, at least for awhile. It may take a few months for your periods to return more towards normal. You mentioned stress, with your desire to become pregnant, and that can also contribute to the irregular cycles. Also, after a woman turns 40, her cycles become more irregular. So, you have several factors that could be involved.
The charting involved with Natural Family Planning can be extremely helpful when desiring pregnancy, especially if there is concern for limited fertility. With the modern NFP methods, the quality of cervical mucus is monitored, and the days of greatest fertility are known. After a reversal of a vasectomy, there may be a lower effective sperm count, so optimizing the quality of your cervical mucus, and knowing the day of peak fertility is very important. Another factor that may be important in your case is timing the testing of your hormones, according to your day of ovulation. A low progesterone level after ovulation may lead to the spotting you were observing. So, if you are not already charting, I would highly recommend it.
I wish you well as you plan to build your family.
Dr. Lynn Keenan
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