Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Getting Pregnant at 39 | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
I will be 39 this month, and went off of the pill, which I have taken since 1981 except for two times. The first time I stopped, it took six months for my period to return. The second time, after six months with no period, my doctor gave me a hormone shot. When I recently stopped (end of Aug. 2001) I started "flashing" many times daily. I do want children. A blood test showed a high (67) FSH level. I went for a second test in October--it was day three of a period, the first since I went off of the pill, and the level came down to 21. I have not had any hot flashes for quite some time. I went in for a third test and am nervously awaiting the results.
I have had two different opinions regarding the correlation between the length of time on the pill and the wacky hormone levels and would love any other thoughts on that issue. I have been told that if the levels don't change on their own or with hormone treatment, my option is an egg donor. I am still hopeful!— 1228 in Sarasota, Florida | | | ANSWER |
January 11, 2002 | | | Dear 1228,
Many of us feel so young in our late thirties and even early forties, that we can't believe that we might be past the point of being able to have a baby. We don't feel anywhere near menopause! And with so many older-aged celebrities announcing the birth of their babies, couples are getting a false reassurance about age and fertility. Of course many of those celebrity pregnancies were using egg donors, but they don't publicize that fact. So you are probably seeing in yourself the results of the infamous biological clock. And while the birth control pill in no way causes this problem, it can mask the changes in your cycle that occur near menopause, so you again had a false sense of security that everything was working well.
That said, I have certainly taken care of women with an elevated FSH who had been told they had no chance for pregnancy, but who made liars of us nine months later! Fertility is an inexact science. So while your best chance of pregnancy may end up be using an egg donor, no one can tell you for sure that your last egg won't squeak out next week. It sounds like you are doing the right thing. Collect all the information, talk to your fertility specialist about your options, and then decide what is best for you in your current situation. Good luck to you!— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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