The infertility specialist performed some additional tests on me including weekly blood tests over the course of two months, and he determined I had a hormonal imbalance. Even though my cycles seemed normal, my hormonal problem caused a very short luteal period - the period between when an egg was released and menstruation started, and the estrogen and progesterone imbalance also meant that the lining of my uterus was not conducive to a fertilized egg implanting, so he put me on a low dose birth control pill for 3 months to stabilize the imbalance, then on a fertility drug, followed by insemination with my husband's sperm to optimize our chances for conception.
Unfortunately, after nearly a year of these treatments, it did not work and we had moral and ethical issues with the next step which would have be IVF.
I also had a niece who like you CrimsonTidegirl had severe menstrual problems in her teens, starting at about 14 years old - debilitating cramps and extremely heavy bleeding for over a week at a time, bleeding so heavy that even with the heaviest pads available, she still bled through, making going to school difficult, and she also had frequent periods (one about every 15-20 days' vs the normal 28 days) to the point she became anemic. She too was put on birth control pills in order to regulate her cycle and it helped her greatly.
Thanks for sharing your story. I am so sorry to hear that the treatments weren’t successful. I also sympathize with you & your husband about having qualms about IVF. I have moral questions about IVF & would make the same decision in your shoes. I will pray for a miracle for you & your hubby, you never know what can happen.
Yes, I was like your niece. In addition to the pain, I bled too much & was also anemic.
Birth Control pills aren’t perfect but unfortunately sometimes they are needed for medical reasons. I wasn’t thrilled about taking them but they gave me my life back & don’t regret taking them. I’m glad they helped your niece.