Hi,

Have you had a few of the tests done that you can get? ie day 3 FSH, estrogen, progesterone and 21 day progesterone? A biggie would be getting your thyroid checked - many women can have sub-clinical hypothyroid, apparently fertility is higher when TSH is between 0.5-1.5 even though up to 5.0 is considered healthy for people in general (I'm currently working on this approach myself as I've been TTC for a while and everything checks out except my TSH is 2.5 - I'm taking Lorna Vanderhaege's Thyrosmart to see if it can balance things out).

Also have you tracked your cycle to confirm you are ovulating (having a period does not mean you have ovulated) - a book called "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" can help with that (take basal body temp each morning on waking, chart it for month, second half of cycle should be at least a half degree higher than first half), also despite those bunnies that get knocked up "first go round", the average time to get pregnant is 9 cycles. It took me 9 cycles after an IM to get knocked up, but I m/c at 10wks so I'm back on the TTC wagon, though still exercising around 9hrs per week....it seems every woman is so unique when it comes to what they think worked to get pregnant - some are training for an IM and are surprised to get pregnant, others ease back to walking and it works for them. Some people put on 10lbs, some lose a couple. I feel like I've tried every approach and it was driving me nuts to sit still and have to do that "freshly washed pants dance" to fit into my clothes so I am back exercising a little more and feeling all the more positive for it.


Regardless, if you are enjoying training, keep enjoying it but get some tests done to find out what's going on before applying the "reduce to a walk" program...I'm sure others have some great advice too - good luck!!

I was going to ask if you know if and when you are ovulating as well. Are your cycles regular? Are they irregular? The book Taking Charge of Your Fertility is awesome just in giving you knowledge about your body you may not know. I thought I knew what was up until I read that and it was an eye opener. I am currently pregnant with baby #2. Baby #1 took 16 months to conceive, with a miscarriage at approx month 13, had cycles that ranged anywhere from 28 days to 45 days, but with charting, I knew when I ovulated. This pregnancy I ovulated on day 28 (when most people get their period according to those stupid pregnancy wheels). I never would have know this without charting. Also a key for our timing since my cycles are so out of whack, were are ovulation predictor kits, OPK's (basically a pee stick like a pregnancy test that can tell you if your body is gearing up to ovulate), those can help you and your husband time things just right, where as charting confirms you ovulated and by then it's too late on the sex side. Without the charting and OPK's, we just never got it right.

As for exercise, I was so flustered after so long of trying that I just did what made me happy. I was running 6-7 days a week and was in great shape when we conceived baby #1, was increasing miles every week with thoughts of a marathon in the future. I'd done everything from lose weight to gain weight, exercise, stop exercise, it was a roller coaster. Baby #2, I was still 7 pounds over pre-preg weight from baby #1 and was just walking every day. But it was those OPK's and the charting that helped with the timing - which for us was the biggests hurdle.

Since everyone is truly so different, only you can decide if postponing an Ironman is something you want to do to conceive or if you just want to let nature take it's course. If you're trying hard to conceive, then maybe your ready for a future family to come before Ironman distance tri's, but that does not mean that you have to stop all activity and sit on the couch eating bon bons until you get pregnant. There are shorter distance tri's, there are 10K runs, open water swim events, and just plain old working out for the sake of staying/being healthy that you can do to. It's a personal choice. I wish you luck!!

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Harry: "I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this."
Loyd: "I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man."

Thanks for both responses! Yes, I've just entered the slightly painful world of charting and OPK'ing. I was finally getting consistent, 42 day cycles, and thought I had nailed down my ovulation date, and then last month following a marathon and 2 bouts with colds, ended up with a "perfect" 30 day cycle. Thanks for the suggestions re: those things. I will definitely ask the specialist about the thyroid issue, especially with training. I've had it tested a bunch of times in the past but it's always been ok or sub clinical - interesting. Happily, my GP figured we might end up dealing with complications and forwarded my referral after only 6 months vs. the 1 year wait. As for training, you're right, it's definitely not a black or white issue. Moderation is hard for us tri-gals though...! lol. For me, I'm keeping my distances and long workouts down, and focusing on intensity instead, with plenty of "easier" days. Fingers crossed... And, thanks for the responses because on the TTC forums you get yelled off if you ask about exercise! lol. Good luck to both of you!!

K.

Google "hypothalamic amenorrhea" and you will find some good info. Two of the best online resources I've found are this blog: http://noperiodbaby.blogspot.com/ (read back through her older posts) and this reeeeally long thread: http://www.fertilethoughts.com/...amic-amenorrhea.html

I went off the pill and had no cycles. I always though (and so did my family dr) that training impacting fertility only happened to really lean women or those who trained like crazy. My BMI was about 21 when I started, and I was training about 12-15 hours per week. I was referred to a fertility clinic, and my LH, FSH and estrogen levels tested extremely low - there was no question that my training was causing my loss of cycles. I did a lot of reading and talking with my specialist, and learned that everyone's body has a different set point. Some of us are just more sensitive to the stresses of training.

I gained about 10 pounds (I'm 5'2" so it was a lot) and cut my training WAY back to about 5 hours a week, including yoga, a few easy 30 minute jogs and swimming, and my cycles started to come back, though they were still long. My doctor eventually added clomid to my treatment (see the blog mentioned above for info about this non-traditional treatment for HA) and almost 11 months after I was diagnosed, I conceived. It was HARD to give up my training like that, but I knew it would be worth it in the end. For me, I basically had to choose - I could either keep training and racing at the level I was before, or I could focus on getting pregnant. Though there are lots of people who can do both (which drove me crazy!), my doctor and I learned that my body just wasn't one of those.

I'm almost 29 weeks now, and can't wait to get back to real training. But for now, I'm enjoying staying active and fit in different ways!

Good luck.

Jesse

Jesse, thanks for sharing your story, it is very similar to my own. It took me almost 3 years to get pregnant and I also decided to cut back on exercise and do Clomid. Cutting back on training and gaining weight was really hard on me mentally and even now, with a 15 month old, I'm still mentally recovering from 3 years of infertility drama. Its not helping that we are thinking about #2. No easy way for some of us on the baby track.

Trying to Conceive while training

You really shouldn't do that. Before or after, maybe, but never while training. :)

Thank you, thank you...I'll be here all week!

Thanks Jesse and Erika! It's nice to know I'm not alone. I'm a solid 23 BMI, maybe a little lower because I am a bigger build 5'6" so I never even contemplated that I could be operating at an energy deficit. We'll see what the specialist says. I appreciate all the feedback, and that blog is awesome with lots of helpful (and well researched information).

Kait.

I hesitated about posting this publically but couldn't find a PM button for the original poster. I am 2+ years into the whole infuriating infertility thing and though I have a low BMI, my doctor has no issues with any training that I do (albeit, right now it's light in comparison to my IM training days, but still more than your average bear) or my weight.

Keep in mind that if you haven't gotten tested you don't yet know if you are the reason you're not getting pregnant (40% of infertility is male factor infertility), don't yet know if it's the exercise, don't yet know a lot of things.

Personally, after 2+ years and still not being pregnant I realized that exercise is one of things I do that keeps me sane. It's one thing to say you'll cut back on exercise, alcohol, chocolate, whatever for a little while if you think it will help but at one point I had to wonder how much of my life I was willing to put on hold for something that may or may not happen. I've taken the attitude that unless my doctor advises otherwise or until I get a positive pregnancy test then I'm just going to continue living my life normally. That may not be the answer for everyone but it's the best coping mechanism I've got.

I wish I could post on here about how changing XYZ made all the difference and next thing I knew I was pregnant but the reality is that what works for one person is not the magic formula for another. Don't listen to friends or family about what you *should* be doing or how by doing X you are reducing your chances because that can slowly drive you crazy and make you second guess absolutely everything in your life. Listen to your doctor, any fertility specialists you consult, your partner, and yourself.

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http://smallfoodbiz.com
</blatent self-marketing>

x2 what lilpup said. 3+ years into the journey for me. I took 2 years off from racing and training after my 4th IM. And now after also resigning from a job I loved (too much stress/demand on my body) AND hundreds of doctor visits and procedures resulting in one negative pregnancy test after another.... I'm registered for an IM. Putting my life on hold was doing nothing, nothing except making me crazy. My doc is monitoring my hormones every month anyway... so as long as I'm in the normal range with my hormones, I'm going to do what helps me physically and emotionally. That is training and racing. Be cautious of a doctor that makes a blanket statement "not to train" when it's documented that physical fitness helps fertility AND pregnancy. If you have any doubt, get checked out. You didn't mention your age.... but if you are into your 30s at all, don't waste time NOT getting checked out. You and Hubby. You may be surprised.

Best! May there be 2 pink lines soon!

I hear ya on this. I was so stressed out about not getting pregnant that I couldn't justify not doing my regular exercise. It's so important to take care of ourselves and pay attention to what feels right given your circumstances. It's nice that people feel safe talking about it because often it's one of those subjects that is hard to bring up because it's so emotionally charged.

I also had trouble conceiving - as soon as I stopped taking the pill my periods disappeared. Turned out my training was too much and too hard (intensity is another issue for HA gals) and did not have enough body fat to ovulate. After significantly decreasing my training (from 100+ mile bike, 30+ mile run and 10K yard swims per week) to 2-3x30 min jogs 2-3x leisurely bikes and about 10K yards swimming plus adding about 10 lbs my period still didn't return. I ended up having to take meds to help me ovulate and after two rounds (no IVF) I'm now 21 weeks pregnant with triplets! So, the good news is that if your infertility is due to training once you get ovulating again you may be VERY fertile.

Jesse - do you post on the HA Vets Rd 4 board? Small world :) I'm MegMeg on that site.

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Team Danbury Audi - Triplet Mommy!!!

Hi - I am sorry you are struggling with this. Your situation sounds similar to mine. I have done one IM and regularly do 1/2s and OLYs. I would not consider my ongoing training overly intense and I do not have a low BMI. I had a hard time getting pregnant and had very irregular periods. The docs did not have any clear answers - had all the tests. Clomid and a few other hormones did noting to regulate my cycle. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about the cause of my problems... it was a little maddening... I was told to do everything - cut out dairy, increase dairy, eat more meat, go vegetarian, increase my cholesterol, stop "worrying about it" (yea right) AND most people (especially those that do not exercise) were convinced that my exercise was the issue. I, however, felt that I had already cut back significantly (gained 5 lbs and shortened my workouts) and would be way too stressed out if I exercised any less. In the end, I had to change my job - it was just way too stressful (I ran a transitional home for women returning from prison). I got pregnant the week my replacement started. I wish you all the best - hang in there & don't let anyone tell you what you "need to do" only you know your body best and in time, the answer will come to you.

Hi there,

Hope you don't mind me coming into the thread but I have a similar query and I can't find any answers on pregnancy related forums.

I've just raced IMNZ (day 3 of recovery and I feel awesome) and came off the pill the eve of the race as my husband and I now want to get pregnant. I'm 34, my BMI is a bit high (28) but I am fit for my body shape.
For the last 5 years I've been on the pill (Noramin it's called here) and taken back to back packs, having a period only once a year. Will this make it harder for us to conceive or will it be my age/BMI that are the issues?

Going to book in with my doc anyway but thought other triathletes might have more insight than my GP.

Cheers,

Alison

My 2 cents... I was being monitored for a natural IUI cycle two years ago and had no problems training for Olympic length races (I knew I didn't want to sign up for longer races at the phase of my life.) However, the first B race of the season fell in between monitorings and there was little to no folicule growth in 5 days with the race occuring on day 3 of those 5 days. (The nurse said it should be approximately 1 mm per day.) It freaked me out so I went cold-turkey all together on the training. After a couple more IUI's and moving to IVF, I gained about 20 lbs and was MISERABLE. I took sometime off from ttc (trying to concieve), started training, did a couple races and lost the weight. When I went back I continued to training but did not train above aerobic or race at all. I am now awaiting the arrival of a little girl in 99 days... :)

So my advice is don't give all exercise (you'll go crazy) but listen to your body and maybe cut back on intensity.

Good luck!!

Congrats on the PB in IMNZ!!

As for the push now into trying to get pregnant - GOOD LUCK!! You never know - you may be one of the lucky ones, who after years on the pill gets knocked up right away. You may take a year or more, with no explanation at all (I took 16 months after coming off the pill for things to get back to normal - my hormones were jacked). With all the posts above, it truly is particular to each individual woman. In the states, most docs won't send you to a specialist until you have been trying for a year without success unless you are over the age of 35 - then it's about 6 months. I truly believe that if you don't want to just let it happen, and you want to know what's going on with your body, get a copy of the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler - even if you don't end up charting, you will learn a LOT about how to track your cycles and see what is going on with your bod (i.e. if you are in fact ovulating or not, if you ovulate early, late, have a short/long luteal phase - all improtant parts of the trying to conceive journey).

Just because your an athlete, does not mean you will have trouble conceiving... but if you do, there are ways to see what is going on - blood work, charting, etc. that may help you time it right and get your homones on track, etc.

And have FUN with the trying part... most sex you'll probably ever have is when you know your ovulating (or about to!)!! Your partner won't know what hit him!!

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Harry: "I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this."
Loyd: "I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man."

OK, so I'm going to go out on a limb here. And I'm just raising this for consideration. I guess I'm wondering if conceiving is worth all the trade-offs. So far, everyone has described a pretty tortuous path to conception. Has anyone considered a path of "if it happens, it happens, it it doesn't, it doesn't"? I mean, there are other choices in life besides having kids.

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No coasting in running and no crying in baseball

i'm decidedly anti-kid myself, but the other option would be to adopt the baby that some 15 year old girl is right now finding out she's going to have, and doesn't want. i know it wouldn't be the same as your own, but there are wee ones out there that need good homes.

cheers!

-mistress k

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ill advised racing inc.

That's how my first year was - if it happens, it happens. After a year, I started to wonder what the heck was wrong with me, it began to knaw at my brain. That was when we wanted to start getting serious. We really wanted kids, and our little guy is the most awesome thing ever. Had so much fun we're 27 weeks prego with #2. But we had a lot more knowledge when #2 came along, I knew my body a lot better and it wasn't so stressful. But was still fun trying!

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Harry: "I expected the Rocky Mountains to be a little rockier than this."
Loyd: "I was thinking the same thing. That John Denver's full of shit, man."

I'm sorry that you are having trouble conceiving. I was down that path about 9 years ago, when I was 36. I conceived naturally fairly soon after starting, but miscarried at 12 weeks (!) and then it was 10 months more before I conceived again (naturally, but the next cycle after having a diagnostic procedure done that involved squirting up some dye to see if my Fallopian tubes were open, a test known to sometimes result in increased chance of pregnancy the cycle after the procedure). If you are over 35 and haven't conceived after 6 months of unprotected sex, it's time to see the fertility specialist. If under 35, see the specialist after 12 months.

It was awful... I received invitations to friends' kids' birthday parties and I just couldn't go... I was depressed. I read numerous books on conception including the one the others have recommended (Taking Charge...). I borrowed my friend's Fertility Monitor, which uses peed on sticks to measure your hormones to determine when you are ovulating. I charted using charting websites. The second time I conceived (when I was 38!), I had sex only two times that month on the same days I used to get pregnant with my first (days 11 and 13).

Regarding BMI, it is not a very accurate measure if you are an athlete... Athletes have a much lower percentage of body fat and higher percentage of muscle, and the scale will not reflect that. Your BMI may read "normal" but in fact you have less body fat than a sedentary person with the same BMI. Generally speaking, you require a certain percentage of body fat to have normal hormone levels (I'm sure this varies from person to person). You need at least 18% body fat (author of Taking Charge), and many triathletes will not have that percentage.

So, purely on the question of whether you can continue exercising while conceiving, I'd say go for it, as long as you make sure you have sufficient body fat. I agree with the previous posters to have your hormone levels checked because it does vary from individual to individual, and in addition, if your plumbing is blocked and you don't know it, no amount of body fat is going to help you! Have a full workup by a fertility specialist before continuing on your journey.

Leaving it up to "if it happens, it happens" may result in having no children. No amount of sex is going to help you if you have blocked Fallopian tubes. There is a finite time frame to have children, and time is ticking. Here is a chart on percentages for conceiving based on age: http://chealth.canoe.ca/...mp;relation_id=43282

I know that I did everything possible to make sure that I had the best chance to conceive, read everything I could. Education is always a good thing. If everything checks out, once you figure out when you're ovulating, have sex on O-1, O-3 and O+1, where O is the expected day of ovulation. Next cycle try O, O-2, O+2. That is, every two days near your expected ovulation date, measured by hormonal levels.

Best of luck. I feel for you.

And, by the way, when I miscarried, my sister-in-law suggested that it was the exercise that caused the miscarriage. Duh! Not true at all. Miscarriages result almost all from chromosomal abnormalities. Who needs the morning after pill when you can induce abortion by intense exercise!

We started to "try" the spring after our IM, so I was never trying while training at that level. So I can't give you advice on intensity, heart rate, hydration, etc. But what I can say, is pay attention to some of the "housewives" tips and tricks that were mentioned in an earlier post by Cassie and SynchSkater...... Because their advice worked for us (5'2 and 112-114 lbs)! Thank you Cassie and SynchSkater.

http://forum.slowtwitch.com/...;;page=unread#unread

View the post - but Cassie said to put your legs in the air immediately afterwards and SynchSkater mentions taking Robitussin.