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Trust Your Instincts
Question
I have been diagnosed with Pre Menstrual Disphoric disorder, which is really affecting my life and now starting to affect my marriage as my poor husband has to put up with me being completely irrational and a time bomb for the full week leading up to my periods.
We are trying for our second child in the hope that after the baby is born I can get a more permanent solution. We tried for four years for our first child, losing one in the process. I have had laparoscopy and dye tests which all were ok and my husband has also been tested with a positive outcome.
I do tend to completely focus on getting pregnant which I know is not a good thing, but can’t seem to help it. My husband is quite relaxed and says it will happen when it happens. I am worried that the hormone imbalance that I have is causing the problem with getting pregnant but can not seem to get a straight answer from my gp.
Thanks.
Trisha
Answer
Last Updated: January 31, 2022
Your instincts may be quite correct. A hormonal imbalance can be at the root of your Pre Menstrual Disphoric Disorder, and also the reason it took you to four years to conceive with your first child, and related to the miscarriage you experienced.
Inadequate progesterone levels can be the common thread to all three of these problems. For this reason, I would recommend investigating it now, rather than waiting until after you have your next child.
The first step in diagnosing would be to chart your cycles in a very precise way. By learning to observe your cervical mucus in a very specific way, and keeping records, you will have a revealing insight into your hormonal state.
The quality and duration of the mucus, length of the luteal phase, and characteristics of the menstrual flow will all assist a physician with a trained and experienced eye in interpreting, and identifying the probable cause of your problems. It will also permit the physician to time hormonal tests very precisely based on your specific cycle, which is the only way to get an accurate hormonal evaluation, and diagnosis.
Treatment can then also be timed to coincide correctly with your ovulation and luteal phase, which is the only way it can be effective.
This is the path to a solution to your physical and mood problems, as well as your fertility problems, and lowering your risk of miscarriage, and preterm labor (you do not mention if that was an issue, but can be related to these other things you mention).
To not waste time, I would consult an NFP Practitioner so that you can quickly and accurately begin to track the specific information you will need about your cycles, so that you can take the next step of taking those records to consult with a physician expert in interpreting. The NFP Practitioner will be an invaluable resource to you in guiding you through this process.
We have lists on our website of both the NFP Practitioners, and Medical Consultants in California, and on our links page you can explore resources outside of California.
Your instincts are serving you well!
Sheila St. Joh
Inadequate progesterone levels can be the common thread to all three of these problems. For this reason, I would recommend investigating it now, rather than waiting until after you have your next child.
The first step in diagnosing would be to chart your cycles in a very precise way. By learning to observe your cervical mucus in a very specific way, and keeping records, you will have a revealing insight into your hormonal state.
The quality and duration of the mucus, length of the luteal phase, and characteristics of the menstrual flow will all assist a physician with a trained and experienced eye in interpreting, and identifying the probable cause of your problems. It will also permit the physician to time hormonal tests very precisely based on your specific cycle, which is the only way to get an accurate hormonal evaluation, and diagnosis.
Treatment can then also be timed to coincide correctly with your ovulation and luteal phase, which is the only way it can be effective.
This is the path to a solution to your physical and mood problems, as well as your fertility problems, and lowering your risk of miscarriage, and preterm labor (you do not mention if that was an issue, but can be related to these other things you mention).
To not waste time, I would consult an NFP Practitioner so that you can quickly and accurately begin to track the specific information you will need about your cycles, so that you can take the next step of taking those records to consult with a physician expert in interpreting. The NFP Practitioner will be an invaluable resource to you in guiding you through this process.
We have lists on our website of both the NFP Practitioners, and Medical Consultants in California, and on our links page you can explore resources outside of California.
Your instincts are serving you well!
Sheila St. Joh
Answered By:
Sheila St. John
Sheila St. John is the Executive Director of the California Association of Natural Family Planning, coordinating the non-profit’s education and advocacy efforts throughout the state. Initially attracted to NFP as a healthy, effective method for planning families, drug, device and surgery free, her passion for NFP has grown over the last 42 years as she has journeyed with the over 900 couples she has personally instructed in its use, and been privileged to witness its role in overcoming infertility, women’s health, and the transformation that occurs in lives of men, women, and families, when we embrace God’s design for love and life.
