getting to the bottom of things
One of my adoring fans (har har) commented on my previous entry, and wanted to know the “root” of my infertility. I began to reply, and then realized that (a) the reply would be too long, and (b) it would better suit an actual entry so it’s more easily accessible.
My infertility goes back many years…
In 2000 I had a tumor removed off my right ovary. It had actually been there since birth. You see, I suffered from a rare thing called Vanishing Twin Syndrome. A vanishing twin is a fetus in a multi-gestation pregnancy which dies in utero and is then partially or completely reabsorbed by the mother. In some REALLY rare cases, one fetus absorbs into the other. In my case, my twin tumor had hair, a penis, fingernails, and teeth.
Then in 2004 I had my right ovary & tube removed because it had twisted 180 degrees and adhered to my pelvic wall. There was no salvaging it. It was emergency surgery…I had been bleeding internally for 4 months.
In early 2006 I was diagnosed with a pituitary adenoma with prolactin levels OVER 3 times higher than a pregnant woman. I had never been pregnant. By this point we had been TTC for only a few months.
By early 2007 I had gotten my prolactin levels down and my OBGYN discovered that I haven’t been ovulating. At least not in the last few years.
So…March 2007 I started on 1500mg of metformin per day. Still nothing.
I’m now on round # 2 of Clomid at 50mg. Still taking the metformin.
And that about sums it up folks.
Hey Erin,
Thanks for writing this post, it’s like a summary of the “about you” page, heheh
I so sorry you have to go through two surgeries (((HUGS))). Your Prolactin level of 300 iu is really high. To get pregnant, the level should be below 20 iu or 22 iu. Is your pituitary adenoma under control now?
My friend who has hyperprolactinemia, her level is about 75 iu. She has been trying to get pregnant for nine years!
And she’s still trying. I’ve heard of another lady who also has high prolactin and she got pregnant with bromocriptine, and her baby was normal. 
I hope we’ll both get our BFPs soon (((praying hard))).
Yeah, the adenoma is gone now. In fact, I now have “empty cella” … which basically means that the drugs I took to get rid of the adenoma also got rid of part of my pituitary.
My levels are ranging between 6-14 iu right now… so I think it should be okay.
Hiya. Sorry, I had to laugh at the “empty cella”.
But I am so glad your level is fine now (((hugs))).
You’ll be pregger soon, you’re still young. You’re still a baby when it comes to the TTC age. I’ve seen women who are past the age of 45 and still TTC’ing.
Oh, I hope we won’t have to wait that long to become mommies!!! Noooo….
I think we’ll be fine. Keep our chin up! Be Happy!
Erin – I’m curious. After 2 years you would think your doctor would use other methods besides Clomid and Metaformin? Are you just going to you OB or are you seeing a specialist. I went to my OB for a year (I was over 35) and then saw a specialist. He was very frank and helpful and got to the root of the problem. I wish you lots of luck and hang in there…I know I know you are probably tired of hearing that….but I think you are probably a very strong woman judging from your plight……keep at it…and get another opinion, and another and another….Clomid doesn’t work for everyone and doctors are too quick to prescribe in my opinion.
bakinbit – Unfortunately I’m only seeing an OB. The closest specialist to me is 12 hours away. I already have to drive 1 1/2 hours to see my OB! My OB says that if I still don’t have a BFP by Christmas, that he will refer me to a specialist. Argh. I think that if this is not the month for me, I’m just going to call my OB and cry and whine until he gives me a referral. You’re right…2 years is a long ass time.
Wow that’s a bummer about a specialist being so far away because it really helped me and they monitored my ovulation very close. I had had two miscarriages so I was able to GET pregnant just couldn’t keep them. After tons of tests, the specialist had me do some type of Hormone shot which super charged my ovulation (shots like they do before IVF) and that’s all it took. Good Luck!
My prolactin levels are also high and i only started two months ago im currently taking pyridoxine but the milk in my breast is still alot i dont know if i should just take clomid and see what happens.
You should talk to your doctor about it. Never take clomid unprescribed.
Hey Erin,
Congrats on your BFP!! I haven’t been writing for a while. When I finally came to writing, I checked all my comments and thought of you again.
I’m so happy for you.
(((HUGS)))