Hello all,
I was hoping that somebody could help me or at least share some personal experience.  We've been trying to have a baby for 6 months now. I stopped taking the birth control pill in August 2008 and ever since I haven't had a period...NOthing, not even a little spot. So in the last month I've been seeing my gyno and have had blood tests and an ultrasound, but all of the tests come out normal.  My doctor gave me progesterone hormones to take for 10 days, but still no period. I don't feel stressed, I've been on BTD since 2006 and GTD for 1 month...I'm so confused. I was never really that regular before I went on birth control, but 6 months w/o a period is a lot, no? Sometimes I think it is the stress of wanting so bad a baby, therefore I'm not menstrating...I try to not think about it, but how can i not?

If anybody could share any info or maybe some advice on what foods/vitamins to take to help ovulation, please share! I'm afraid that the doctor will want to put me on a bunch of different hormones or shots of stuff that aren't too natural.

Thanks!

I don't have my books in front of me, because I'm on vacation, but I'm sure you can get plenty of info online.  My herb books have specific teas and tinctures you can take to bring on your period.  

What is your husbands blood type?
Have you looked at the NAP supplement for  female hormone regulation. Maybe you in your case it might be a good idea to try it?

Quoted from Andrea AWsec

What is your husbands blood type?
Have you looked at the NAP supplement for  female hormone regulation. Maybe you in your case it might be a good idea to try it?

My husband is an A+
NAP has hormone regulation vitamins?!
Thanks

Quoted from Ribbit

I don't have my books in front of me, because I'm on vacation, but I'm sure you can get plenty of info online.  My herb books have specific teas and tinctures you can take to bring on your period.  

Thanks Ribbit, I would love to try some herbal remedies!

I am a bit confused that your gyn can't find anything wrong.
I would think that if you tested at different times in your cycle you would get different readings.

I know that the thyroid is like that, even different times of the day can make a difference.

Do you take your temperature before rising?

Expe4,
Try acupuncture.  Or you can do acupressure yourself.  The library should have books on it.

Here are a few sites:

http://www.naturally-a-womans-way.com/acupressure-for-periods.html

http://www.mothernature.com/Library/Bookshelf/Books/21/155.cfm

http://www.geocities.com/jrh_iii/acupressure/acupoints.html#13
scroll down to the M for Menstruation.

http://www.magnecare.co.uk/html/acupressure.html


http://www.expertvillage.com/video/6383_self-acupressure-treatment-pms.htm
This one has videos.  There’s one called Acupressure Points for PMS.  I know that’s not your issue, but in Chinese Medicine imbalance causes all of the variations.  So this might help.  For example, the same point is used for relieving constipation and diarrhea.

I hope these help.

Oh my goodness, I could have written your exact post (minus the trying to get pregnant part)!

I stopped taking Yasmin 4 months ago and have yet to have a cycle.  I also did every test with my doctor and was shown to be low in estrogen, but all else was normal.  I was told to start acupuncture, which I just did, and am also taking chinese herbs my acupuncturist gave me.

I'm also just 3.5 months on BTD recovering from too much food restriction and not enough fats/variety.  I'm also now taking Maca and something that has black cohash, flax, and soy in it for hormone balance.

I don't want to take any hormones, synthetic or regular.  My doc said if nothing after three more months she'd induce a period with a drug, but I rather get it back naturally. I'm trying everything I can right now.

I am a runner, and workout at least 60 minutes a day. I've cut my intensity a bit, but haven't cut out running/walking/spin.  I used to run much harder and longer so maybe that had to do with the period loss.

Did you ever have an eating disorder, restricted food, or worked out very hard?

I'm also going to be taking a test by Spectra Labs that supposedly tells you what minerals/vitamins you are and aren't absorbing well. Maybe I'm deficient in something.

When I was 17 I lived in Germany as  a student.   I stopped having periods while I was there... towards the end, my periods resumed.  My weight was very low  during this time, and I ate very little protein....I can't tell you what changed, but I think it's that  my weight became more normal.

When I was about  25 I was working on a HUGE work project and my schedule changed drastically and I missed two  periods... but was not pregnant...

Two years later when I was ready to try to get pregnant I did so on the first try... so  just know that things CAN straighten out  eventually....

Quoted from Andrea AWsec

I am a bit confused that your gyn can't find anything wrong.
I would think that if you tested at different times in your cycle you would get different readings.

I know that the thyroid is like that, even different times of the day can make a difference.

Do you take your temperature before rising?

I've only been tested once (TSH, FSH, LH) and a couple pregnancy tests. Hypothyroidism runs in my family but my thyroid tested normal (1.4).

I never take my temperature before rising...should i?

Thank you for the wonderful sites Ligia!  

Quoted from syren4444

Did you ever have an eating disorder, restricted food, or worked out very hard?

No eating disorders but I do work out a lot. Well, not too much in my opinion. About 4-5 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour. And the intensity varies. Some days I run for 45 minutes and other days are pretty low-impact. If I don't exercise, I get so gross feeling and cranky.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. I think I'm going to look into actupuncture.

Quoted from expe4

No eating disorders but I do work out a lot. Well, not too much in my opinion.

If your body fat is too low you will stop having a period even if you think you don't work out too much. Can you find someone that can give you a body fat measurement? If you find out it is even borderline low you could try building up some fat, if you are planning on having a baby you will need it .

Quoted from expe4

I've only been tested once (TSH, FSH, LH) and a couple pregnancy tests. Hypothyroidism runs in my family but my thyroid tested normal (1.4).

I never take my temperature before rising...should i?

Basal temperature

http://www.womenfitness.net/bbt.htm

Quoted from grey rabbit

If your body fat is too low you will stop having a period even if you think you don't work out too much. Can you find someone that can give you a body fat measurement? If you find out it is even borderline low you could try building up some fat, if you are planning on having a baby you will need it .

No, i've actually gained weight in the last few months and my body fat percentage is about 21%, in the normal range.

You may want to see if some of what you're doing works first, before you add in acupuncture.  That way, if your cycles do start back you'll know what helped.  

There can be multiple reasons for no periods:

1.  The birth control pill lowered your estrogen.  Estrogen is the primary hormone that gives you your period, but the fact you are not ovulating means your body is not producing progesterone.    If your estrogen, FSH and SHBG are all depressed, that means the hypothalamus is not functioning properly.  This can be due to immaturity of the system and lack of fatty tissue in the body.

2.  Sex Hormone Binding Globulin Protein chaperone individual hormone molecules through the blood.  Should the hormones reach to high a level, the protein binds and inactivates them.  The protein not only transports but also regulated and assists in the access process at target cell sites.  

When your estrogen levels goes too high, an alarm goes off in the liver the body's master chemical factory.  In reaction to a high tide of estrogen, your liver can produce up to three times the normal amount of SHBG.

So, the birth control pill supresses ovulation, which occurs through the action of the pill's estrogen drug.  This substance is not quickly metabolized by the liver, as is your own natural hormone.  It remains in the body at a high level and thus exerts a suppressive effect on the ovaries.  

So, if your SHBG is probably high right now, it suppressing your own natural estrogen.  Your ovaries are probably still shut down from the synthetic estrogen from the pill.  Blood tests do not detect chemicalized hormones in the blood.

You will need to get your liver back into shape, the Blood Type Encyclopedia can help with this.  You can also request bio-identical hormones from your doctor, but you need to get baselines on estrogen, progesterone and thyroids FSH (folicle stimulating and SHBG.  Do not accept a "shot" of hormones, this could upset the balance even more and do not take unopposed estrogen, you will need to have progesterone for at least 2 weeks every month until your body starts producing its' own hormones.  

Wow, thank you Jeanb!

Clomiphene citrate is a drug which can block the estrogen receptors in the uterus and other reproductive organs. This will send a signal to the pituitary gland that there is no estrogen in the body. The pituitary will then start to produce more and more FSH to cause growth of follicles in the ovaries. The enlarging folllicles produce estrogen which stimulates the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) to grow. Shedding of this endometrium causes menstruation or periods.

Clomiphene needs to be taken for 3 months for regular periods to resume.

Although, progesterone is often prescribed in postpill amenorrhea, it is not effective in stimulating the development of follicles in the ovaries.

Clomid is fairly safe drug and alot of male bodybuilders take it to block the excess estrogen that's created when their bodies aromitize testosterone.

My doc said if I don't get mine soon she wants to induce a period with a drug.  I'm really opposed to that, I want to stay away from prescription drugs. I'm crossing my fingers diet, herbs, and acupuncture help me soon.

Sometimes allopathic means of treating disorders are the best course of action.  Your OB GYN will more than likely prescribe you Clomid to correct this problem.  I'd say that it's better than the alternative.  Studies have shown that woman who suffer from post pill amenorrhea are very likely to have substantial bone loss.  

Not to be contrary, but I'd rather not have a period and continue to try to induce it naturally than to take a drug.  It's your body and you can do with it what you will.  The doctor does not own you....s/he can only make you feel guilty for not following his suggestions.  Please weigh the disadvantages carefully.  Do you want a period bad enough to use a drug with side affects?  I personally would prefer to let it go and not worry about it and continue with natural methods.

So far I'm content with giving myselves 6 month to try and naturally correct the issue. I haven't ovulated for four months so far, so hopefully these next two months will be beneficial. After the six months I'll weigh my options.

I'm still waiiting on a new blood test to see if I'm absorbing vitamins and nutrients correctly, I get results in about a week.

Do you inhale any unusual essential oils throughout the day?