Hormone Treatment, Conventional vs. NaPro

When I first began to seek help in determining the reason for our infertility, I found an ob-gyn that I really liked.  I had some tests done, the basic preliminary tests that check the levels of hormones on a specific day of your cycle.  What this conventional approach failed to address was the fact that my cycle is irregular.  A conventional approach tests the levels of estrogen and progesterone on day 21 of a woman's cycle, assuming ovulation occurred on day 14.  When my hormones were checked, the tests showed my levels were within the normal range, so the doctor then referred me to a fertility specialist for further testing.

The specialist did nothing to check my hormone levels, though I'm not entirely sure that wouldn't have been part of a standard treatment plan.  She was more keen to convince me of pursuing in vitro, despite my reservations and assured me that I would change my mind.  Knowing what I know now about my cycle, I wonder if in vitro would have even worked for me.

A NaPro doctor will order an extensive bloodwork series as part of the initial treatment- to check hormone levels leading up to ovulation all the way through the beginning of the next cycle.  I had my blood drawn every other day for two weeks, and we learned that I in fact do not have the levels needed to sustain a pregnancy.  I'm so thankful I discovered this before pursuing artificial assistance, as I've so far been spared the heartache of a lost pregnancy.

By monitoring my day-to-day fertility signs, I now understand that unlike many women, I ovulate close to day 18 of my cycle.  The standard day-21 test would not show an imbalance, because my hormones are fine until 5 DPO, then they basically drop off into the netherworld.  

Take a look at this graph showing High, Normal, and Low levels of progesterone on each day "post-peak," which means post presumed-ovulation day:

I'm the pink, WELL below even low levels.  Now that we know this, we can treat the imbalance with hormone injections (Dr. Stalling prescribed HCG), which will help reduce PMS symptoms, will lengthen my luteal phase, and will help slow the return of endometriosis by keeping a proper balance of progesterone to estrogen.

I am struck by the shortcomings of traditional fertility methods that seem disinterested in treating the woman and more interested in a detatched, factory-style handling of a problem that is much more complex than the methods acknowledge.  I don't understand why both fertility doctors and women everywhere would not want to be more empowered and informed by understanding cycles on an individual basis.  I certainly do!

Another win for NaPro.