Extremely worried - FSH and LH levels

[BlueVelvet94]

I was wondering if anyone could provide some insight on FSH and LH. I am extremely worried and upset and would be grateful for any help. I am a 29 year old female and I was diagnosed with PCOS back in August 2017 (due to an enlarged right ovary on a scan coupled with hair loss, some acne, facial hair and slightly more body hair). In May 2018, I was finally diagnosed with endometriosis following lap surgery. The endometriosis was extensive in the pelvic region but was not in the ovaries or fallopian tube.

I have been using the combined pill along with spironolactone since August 2017 to December 2023. I stopped the combined pill as it gave me headaches, a scan from a neurologist showed no tumours or growths in the brain. I tried the progesterone only pill for 3 months this year, it is called Slynd. I stopped that as it gave me terrible pain and bloating.

Whilst on Slynd, I undertook a full set of bloods. The FSH was an alarming 72.5 and the LH, 22.6. I am worried to death. I saw my endocrinologist who had the results in hand and he didn’t provide any comment. I emailed him back and I’m now seeing him urgently within a space of 3 days.

My GP has tried to reassure me and stated that Slynd can distort readings and that it’s best to wait 1 whole cycle before doing another set of bloods, and then do another set of bloods a month later to rule out perimenopause. I have been incredibly upset and on the spur of the moment, spoke with a private GP who said ‘you don’t have PCOS, you had perimenopause since being a teenager, but I guess we will never properly know.’ This has truly broken me.

I checked my FSH and LH levels from reports dated 2017 and they were not high. I’m not sure what to make of all this. If anyone has any insight that would be amazing. This sounds like a sob story j know, but it’s really a dream of mine to have my own children and that’s why I’ve spent many years on trying to save enough money to enjoy life a little bit as a potential new mum. I’m just so very lost and broken.

[Eileen200800]

I have no experience of perimenopause but do have PCOS and recently had a baby at 32. I started trying around 28/29.

My PCOS was severe with no cycles and it took my body 2 years to return to any sort of ‘normality’ post being on the contraceptive pill. Where you’ve had different drugs in your system this could definitely be making quite a difference.

My friend recently conceived at 36 on IVF with a donor egg.

There are lots of options out there these days. You’ve just got to be persistent with doctors, patient with your body and find what works for you and your particular set of circumstances. It will be okay in the end ❤️

[Greenishorange in reply to Eileen200800]

Thank you

[BlueVelvet94 in reply to Eileen200800]

Hi Eileen200800,

Apologies for the delay in replying - it has been a week of ups and downs, and when I've felt down I've just slept the days away.

Thank you for sharing your experience, it is reassuring to know that despite your circumstances that you were able to have a baby. Congratulations on your baby and best wishes.

I will be persistent - I have had a further appointment and booking in private appointments next week to determine what could help me. Thank you for all your time and support.

[Catstroke]

I know this isn’t the path you want to be on and I truly hope for you that you do manage to become a mum one day. But if it doesn’t happen for you I just want you to know that life without children can be fulfilling too.

What I guess I’m trying to say is, whatever happens, it’ll be ok. Fight your corner and get all the help you can, but build a life outside of it too, just in case.

[BlueVelvet94 in reply to Catstroke]

Thank you for your message, I've really reflected on it and I'm trying to get back into my usual routine and life. I've been fighting my corner, and have managed to get further NHS appointments and have also been seen privately to try and get down to the bottom of it all. Thank you for taking the time out to reply, it was a great help.

[Daisymae70]

I don't see here where you mentioned your weight or your activity level. When I was young some women, if they were over weight, they had a harder time conceiving. When they lost a few pounds, not by crash dieting, but the healthy way, by eating healthy and cutting down on just a few calories daily and some mild exercise, they were able to conceive. Walking is a good low key exercise, you need to walk fast enough to get your heart rate up a little, not constantly but up and down 10-20 minutes a few times a week, this can also help regulate your hormones. I hope this helps someone. A lot of things are different these days including our food, so I don't know if this will work but I think it is worth a try. If you are at a good weight and eat healthy and already get exercise maybe it won't work. I agree if nothing works after a year to see a fertility doctor. I had a friend, who tried for a year to become pregnant, it turned out her husband had only a tiny amount of sperm, the doctors thought he might have had a very high temperature when he was young that killed off a lot of his sperm etc.

[BlueVelvet94 in reply to Daisymae70]

Thank you for responding back. I'm of a normal weight and most of the time on the leaner side, I've been really active over the last year and weight lift 6 times a week and eat a high protein diet etc. I've seen a gynae and fertility specialist over the course of the past few months and it turns out, I am thankfully okay (I am very very grateful for this and only hope I stay on a healthy/hopefully 'normal' path as I get on with life). My blood tests should have been reviewed after the hormonal wash out period and an outcome as to the state of female health should have only been determined then as opposed to striking absolute fear into me whilst using inaccurate results. However, because of the depression I've dealt with from dealing with all of this, coupled with the sad reality that the fear mongering has stuck with me, I've decided to store away some eggs. All of your advice is really helpful, as I've been doing gentler exercise, eating whatever I want (still high protein but no restrictions) and taking supplements like co-enzyme Q10, Vitamin D and Myo-Inositol (which also has been helpful in keeping my weight under control during this non-restrictive phase). Thank you once again for taking the time out to reply x