Well, this is kind of depressing.

M

Maximus

Cathlete
I just got back from the gyno & she basically told me my clock isn't really ticking anymore. WTH? I'm only 37! She said if I want kids I have to do it like yesterday, & if I try in the future I'll probably need fertility treatments.

This is such a bummer. Not that I have a burning desire for children at this point in my life, but it was nice to know I had the choice. And I don't want to look back in 10 years & say "I should have......."

Dammit!
 
I'd be curious to know how she came to this conclusion. Did they do a blood test of some sort or is she basing this solely on your age? Did you have a fertility test done?

Sorry if I'm too personal. Just curious.

My mother got pregnant with my brother at 38 and a co-worker of mine got pregnant at 51 and she was on the pill.
 
>I'd be curious to know how she came to this conclusion. Did
>they do a blood test of some sort or is she basing this solely
>on your age? Did you have a fertility test done?
>
>Sorry if I'm too personal. Just curious.
>
>My mother got pregnant with my brother at 38 and a co-worker
>of mine got pregnant at 51 and she was on the pill.
..........................................................

that isn't the usual, but happens

The average women's fertility starts declining at the age of 27. The rate of the decline varies woman to woman. Some faster than others, that is why a 32 woman may not be able to keep a viable pregnancy but a 40 year old woman can. The age of the eggs is one of the main concerns and it takes longer for a viable egg to come along when you get in your thirties. Maximus if you are REALLY concerned then I'd get an appointment with and RE to talk about your real options. I fired my OBGYN this year cause I was trying to get pg and had been charting my period cycles. She told me I wasn't ovulating - I knew I was and got pg two cycles later. Some good friends of mine going through fertility docs put it this way, an OBGYN isn't in the business of getting you pregnant, just to deliver the baby, so many don't know very much about fertility. You could still have options is what I am saying. HTH

:edited some wording
 
Well, she said she could do an ovary test if I wasn't on the pill but I am on the pill & I'm not going off it.

So I guess she was just basing it on my age. She didn't say it was impossible, but she did say it was less likely & if it did happen it would be high risk.

I guess I just let time get away from me while I was having so much fun. Now I'm just confused.
 
It is never nice when someone takes away our choices. Whether this is true or not. I've never had kids either, not real sure why but now it is a choice not to. There will always be a chance of regret Maximus. I am 46 and so far fine with my choice...:)...Carole
 
FWIW it's a myth that women can wait as long as they like to have babies. Oprah last year (I think) did a whole show on it and how lots of women don't blink an eye devoting their 20's and 30's to their career, thinking they had time due to all the fertility options out there. What many found out was for "them" it was to late, or they had to shell out a ton of money to get that kiddo. Our society does a disfavor to women by not giving them the whole story.
 
I work with several women who had later life babies. Unfortunately, a few of them felt the biological clock tick and married unwisely just to conceive. Needless to say, they got their children but the marriages aren't too happy.

But....that's a whole other Oprah!

I agree that our society does a disfavor to women in this regard. That's why women really need to educate themselves or mothers need to pass it on to their daughters.
 
Reproductive Endocrinologist: it's a whole other world let me tell you, these doc's know SO much, it's really amazing
 
Sorry you are feeling depressed Maximus!

RE stands for Reproductive Endocrinologist.

BTW, most doctors will check hormone levels during the pill free week. There are some doctors that don't believe the levels are accurate, but it seems no one can agree on anything in medicine.
 
> but it seems no one can agree on anything
>in medicine.
............................................

haha so true! I knew you'd pop on here!:)
 
Yeah, she said I'd have to be off it for 2 weeks for her to check. But she literally said, "if you really want to get pregnant, do it now. Don't worry about not having a husband or living in a house you think is too small or not making enough money, because if you don't do it now you won't be able to in the future." She also said fertility treatments are for the most part using another woman's egg, so if I don't mind having someone else's kid I could just adopt in the future.

No way am I falling into the trap of sticking myself w/some guy so I can have a kid. In fact, I'm pretty sure I don't ever want to get married again. I'm just not sure about the kid.
 
I for one know that her statement about another woman's eggs isn't true, as the main reason for fertility treatments. I know very very little about fertility treatments but I know that is a crock of bull crap, well anyway I digress. For one you may have plenty of viable eggs to get pregnant and can freeze them for that matter. It goes like this as a teenager every cycle you ovulated on you most likely had a viable egg, in your twenties most eggs were probably viabel, in your thirties each year let's say that one cycle is out - we're just talking viable eggs here not fertilize eggs (but that is a little severe too). Soooo say you have 4 viable eggs this year, that's four chances of getting fertilized viable pregnancy. Darn it why don't they know this stuff, anyway go to a doctor that actually knows more.

Other reason's to got to an RE:

low sperm count
PCOS
having one ovary
hormone imbalances

I could go one freakin for ever, get a doc who know more
 
I think what the doctor said was ridiculous if she was basing her comment only on your age and not anything physical (hormone levels, etc.). Sure, you're not as fertile as you were in your 20s and your eggs are getting older, but I wouldn't say that your clock isn't ticking at 37.

I'm 37 and I just had a tubal ligation because I'm done having kids. My doctor certainly didn't tell me that it wasn't necessary at my age.

There are many women who have healthy pregnancies in their 40s - I don't think it's something to count on, but it does happen. And fertility treatments have come very far. I wouldn't be thinking "now or never" at your age.

Erica
 
Erica,

Well said.

Maximus,

You definitely need more information before you start getting all depressed for no reason :). At least you will be well informed on the subject and know what your options are.
 
Don't sweat it! if it's meant to happen, it will and no doctor can change that! sorry you're bummed out though.

jes:)
 
OK I need to look into this a little more. I was pleasantly surprised to discover my insurance will cover fertility treatments anyway so all is not lost.

At least I can be sure I don't have a low sperm count. :)
 
Maybe she's just trying, rather rudely, to get you to face the issue. She's probably seen many women who wait too long and then have problems. I wouldn't take it as an "it's over". I would just take it as a "maybe you'd better start to think about what you really want before it's too late".

Wouldn't it be nice if we could all have the wisdom, maturity, self-knowledge and mental health of a 60-yr. old with the body of a 20-yr. old?
 
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