not so good news(again)

L

lorihart

Cathlete
Hi everyone,
I just posted this in the baby forum but I wanted to vent here as well.
I will sum it up as best I can.
Me and my husband having been trying to have a baby.We ended up having to get his sperm counted tested and it came back low.We then had to get it retested and the results stayed the same.
Now everything is getting very complicated.They want to do test, see specialist...etc.In the meantime, we asked him what we could still be doing to help increase the chances of having a baby.He gave us the low down and I then asked him if my workout schedule would have any roll in this.
He thinks that I should give up working out entirely!;( I don't know what to think of this.I guess it all boils down to how bad I want a baby.
How can I give up something that is so important in my everyday life? Its going to feel like a missing piece.But I can't make my husband go thru all of this testing if I am not going to do my part, can I?And it is not as if we are talking about a couple of weeks or monthes..we could be talking years.
I guess I wasn't expecting to hear those words.Maybe I would of never asked if I thought that was what he was going to say.Any words of encouragement would be great.
;( Lori
 
;-) I guess what I don't understand is what working out with have to do with your chances of conceiving? Am I missing something? Good Luck! Give it time and you will be expecting!
 
I guess if you do heavy duty working out...then your chances of getting pregnate aren't as great.That combined with everything else..makes no baby.
I still have regular periods.You take runners for example, alot of the times they don't have periods anymore.I don't know if it is b/c of their decreased body fat or the fact that they run alot.
Maybe just taking it easy increases your chances.I have heard this before but of course I never thought it was going to apply to me.
Lori
 
RE: GET A SECOND OPINION

GET A SECOND OPINION

GET A SECOND OPINION

GET A SECOND OPINION

*and btw, get a second opinion*

That advice from your doctor sounds suspect at best; ask him to cite specific research that documents the connection between consistent exercise and problems conceiving.

Also - why is this YOUR physical problem? It is your husband who has the low sperm count! I think you ARE doing your part by staying as fit and healthy as possible.

Sorry for my orneriness, but it sounds like sexism is alive and well in the medical profession in general and obstetrics / gynecology in particular.

Lori - sorry. Please disregard this transmission if it doesn't suit.

A-Jock
 
RE: GET A SECOND OPINION

GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION

Unless you have very very very low body fat and aren't having a period (regular) then i can't see why working out will have any effect what so ever on your chance of getting pregnant.

GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION
GET A SECOND OPINION

Wishing you the best of luck and nothing but the best of advice...

xxx
 
Lori, Annette is SO right!

(As usual. :))

Listen to her, kiddo -- she's giving you very sound advice. Your doctor's instructions don't make sense given what you've told us. Concentrate on taking great care of your body, go see another fertility specialist, DON'T tell that one what Doctor #1 said, and get a fresh opinion.

Then come back and tell us what Doctor #2 says.

And please try not to fret, sweetie. There are so many ways to become a parent -- it will happen for you and your husband one way or another!

http://e4u.deltait.com.au/sport/sport23.gif Kathy S.
 
Hi Lori,

Ditto to the second opinion recommendation. My oldest friend and her husband had fertility troubles and her exercise regimen didn't even play into the equation.

Go see a different doctor. Good luck!!
 
I have a friend that went through conception problems. I remember her doctor saying that she could workout, and encouraged it up to the point where they actually implanted the embryo, then asked her to take it easy for the first trimester. The problem wasn't low sperm count either, it was she wasn't ovulating every month. So, yes, I would say get a second opinion.
Good Luck to you, and keep us all informed!

Kathy
 
Lori
I would definitely get a second opinion If you are having regular periods then how can working out hurt I have 3 children and worked out w/Cathe each and every pregnancy before during and after So Please go see a different Dr.
Lisa
 
Lori I agree with those on here advising you to get a second opinion!! Unless you're aren't having regular periods, your body fat is not so low as to hamper your ability to conceive. Obviously if you aren't having regular periods, you probably aren't ovulating regularly either, and that's why it would make it difficult to conceive. It has nothing to do with your workouts, per se. Does that make sense? I'm assuming you've tried the kits out there that predict ovulation? They're very accurate. If your husband's sperm count is low that definitely has NOTHING to do with your workouts (obviously!!). By the way, I have a beautiful almost 13 year old daughter by a man - my husband - who has a VERY low sperm count, and always did. So, it's not impossible. If they've ruled out every other cause for you and him but that one, that one shouldn't prevent you from conceiving. Just pay attention to when you ovulate, RELAX (a big deal - truly it is!!), and you will get pregnant!! Best of luck to you, and please keep us posted!!

Carol
:)
 
carol...not to change the subject, but as i was finishing reading your reply to lori..i noted your quote and i at first thought that it said "no one can make you INFERTILE without your permission"!!!! i need to take a break from these forums!!!!
 
RE: Here's an alternative suggestion. . .

Hi Lori



I also had a hard time conceiving, it took about two years. I have always worked out 4-6X per week and my periods have never been on time unless on the pill. When I went off to try and get pregnant they were not consistent at all. I also was told to try and cut back on the working out but I really didn't. I guess I am a little obsessed :).
Anyway, I did the clomid. ivf, and was all set to try the shots... BUt the day before the shots I found out I was pregnant. on my own. Also forgot to mention that they tested dh sperm...One time high one time low count.

One thing I did try and seemed to get pregnant right away is this stuff my mother in law told me to try. Its called Lydia Pinkham. I took it for not even 1 mo and was pregnant. I have no idea if it was the cause, she swears by it. I got it in Walmart but the pharmicist had to order it for me. I am sorry for the long drawn out response but I can understand how you feel. Good luck to you!!!!
Darlene T
 
Please get yourself a copy of "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Wechsler! With that book, a basal body temp thermometer, and some charts printed from her site, you can pinpoint exactly when (and if) you're ovulating, when the best time is to try to achieve pregnancy (if you know what I mean), and whether your body's timing is conducive to pregnancy. Every woman does not ovulate on day 14 of her cycle... some ovulate as early as day 8, others as late as day 26, some ovulate only every other cycle... etc. I am not a fertility expert at all, but the information you can get from this book would be invaluable.

I don't know how hard you work out, but I believe you should get a second opinion on whether your workouts are contributing (and the real problem could be a diet too low in calories or fat, NOT the workouts. Or something like that.)

My heart goes out to you and I hope you find your answers soon.

Oh- if you already know this stuff, I'm sorry to repeat. Maybe the info will help someone else.
 
Ditto the second opinion, Lori!! I was still in the Navy and very physically active (I was, get this, a "combat stevedore" and was on deployment to the Antarctic!!) when I conceived!!! Our little souvenir from New Zealand just turned 26. Anyway you and your DH are in my prayers...that doc is off-base. And as Kathy S. has stated, there are other ways of becoming a parent. It all adds up to the same adventure! Best wishes, Lori.:)
 
Am I missing something? He has the low sperm count, and you have to give up working out?

I had problems conceiving too -- I was never regular with my periods. I knew it was my 'problem'. I have never asked DH to quit 'high risk' activities (quit drinking, etc) because I knew the problem lies with me.

Anyway, just to be part of the 'team' and trying to workout the problem, may be you could just reduce your workout a little. Not quit all together. May be doing outside activities together instead -- running/jogging, tennis, bicycling, swimming, etc.
 
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your advice.
My hubbys dr was the one that suggested I stop working out.I have already asked my own dr about it and he didn't think there was a problem.He said as long as I have a period every 4-6 weeks and my body fat hasn't decreased.Those are the words I am going by.
I think I may cut back a little on the days when I am ovualting.Cut back on the cardio and lift more weights.
My hubby didn't think I was going to listen and he didn't expect me to.I am not the problem here,he is.
I already have one child from a previous relationship so it always seemed like I could conceive easily.
Thanks again,
Lori
 
You're husband's doctor sounds a little strange.

Glad you're acting on better advice and your own good judgment!

A-Jock
 
He is (actually) a really good doctor.He as been my hubbys doctor since he was a baby.He is a very nice man also.
Its not just the doctor either.Its my husband,his parents,my family,friends....you wouldn't know if I was training for a marathon,was 6'tall and weighed 100lbs.Im not underweight,I have regular periods and HELLO,the problem isn't me! If it were,we would be checking me out wouldn't we?
Im glad everyone thinks I made the right descision.I would of felt really weird giving up my workouts.Thanks for the input everyone.
I will keep you posted.
Lori
 
Lori, I think the "weird" ones are the people telling you to give up your workouts!! Is this doctor who told you to stop working out an OB/GYN? Doesn't sound that way. I don't mean to split hairs here, but I would think advice like that would be much more credible coming from someone who is actually practicing in the field. I'm an RN, and I wouldn't ask an orthopedic physician about a cardiac problem. I'm sure your hubby's doc is a very nice man, but unless his specialty is infertility, he's off-base on this advice. As for your hubby's and your friends and family, unless they are fertility specialists, they're off-base as well. Listen to your own heart. If you already have a child, you CAN conceive. Hang in there!! There are things men with low sperm counts can do to improve their chances of impregnating a woman. Like I said in my earlier post to you, my daughter is almost 13, and my husband has always had a low sperm count. It WILL happen for you!!

Carol
:)
 
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