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Fertility webchat with Zita West, Wednesday 1st February, 1-1.45pm

If you've got a question about planning for making a baby, trying to conceive or difficulties getting pregnant, fertility expert Zita West will be here to answer your questions in a live fertility webchat.



Zita West is a practicing midwife, acupuncturist and nutritional advisor, and founder of The Zita West Clinic. She has helped thousands of couples conceive naturally and through IVF with her unique programme. Partnering with First Response, Zita West is also helping those trying for a baby, especially during the -2-week wait', at pinktimeline.com



Join us here, between 1-1.45pm on Wednesday 1st February, when Zita will be answering your fertility questions.



Don't worry if you can't make the chat then, post your question now and Zita will endeavour to answer as many questions on the day as possible.
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  • Its about my sister in India she is trying for a baby but i dont why she cant be pregnant. other thing she has show to doctor n have eaten several medicines but nothing helps please guide me what to do.
  • Ive been trying to concieve for a year now, I'm 32 years old and have a 13 yr old daughter from a previous relationship ,i had my 21 day progesterone levels checked and they were only 13 indicating I hadn't ovulated . Is there any way I can naturally raise these levels? I also have an under active thyroid and take 100mg eltroxin daily but doctor says this shouldn't affect conception! I also had erosion of the cervix in recen year and had biopsy carried out but all was well and my smears are now back to every 3 yrs!! Any advice is great fully accepted! I have bought your complete guide and am eagerly waiting on it arriving in post!
  • Hello

    This is cycle 17 of TTC for us and the ball is rolling for some help. My luteal phase was 14 days like clockwork for several months. I was having fortnightly acupuncture at the time. I stopped a couple of months ago as I am feeling so despondent right now that I figured it was a waste of time and was only giving me false hope.



    Since then, my luteal phase went down to 13 days then my period came today which made this cycle a 12 day lp. I'm wondering if this may be connected to the lack of acupuncture? First of all is this bad news? And if I were to resume should I go to a particular practitioner? The lady I saw was very nice but should I find somebody specialisied or experienced?



    Thank you
  • hello zita, first of all id like to say how amazing it is to have your knowledge with us today!! ive read many of your books and am in awe of you image.



    Im 27 and me and my hubby have been TTC for 3-4 years now wit no success. I have PCOS and have been told to lose weight by our fertility consultant otherwise he wont help us!

    Is there anything else we can do to help our situation? im loosing weight (have lost almost a stone already!) xxx



    many thanks image
  • Hello Zita,

    My husband & I have been TTC for 2 years, we had a miscarriage March 2011. Since then we have had all the usual fertility tests and everything is normal on both sides. I have now been prescribed 50mg of Clomid days 2-6 to help things along, I am using the Clear Blue Digital Fertility monitor and I am ovulating day 13/14. Since taking the clomid I have noticed a lack of CM - is there anything that I can do to increase CM?



    Since stopping the contraceptive pill my periods have been very light - sometimes so light that I do not require any sanitary protection could this be stopping me getting pregnant?



    Looking forward to your chat!

    S.
  • Hi Zita,



    We have been TTC our 2nd for over 3 years now. It took us 3 months the first time but I mc at 13 weeks and then only took 1 month to conceive our daughter. We started TTC in October 2008 as we ideally wanted a 2-3 year age gap (daughter is 5 this June). Birth was fine though I did have 3rd degree internal tear but I don't think anything else other than age has changed since then.



    We've been tested. Periods regular, Hubby fine, HSG clear, I'm ovulating, bloods fine. I've tried 6 months ovulation induction (in 2010), 6 (or more) months homeopathy, 6 (or more) months reflexology. Been using DuoFertility since April.



    Saw consultant again recently and he said my next step is to have bloods to check egg levels/quality(?) and then he said we could try IUI but he recommends IVF. This time he prescribed us both vitamin E and folic acid (obviously I have been taking folic for years but this is stronger).



    I am now 34 and hubby 35.



    Just wondering your thoughts....Many thanks!
  • Hi Zita



    I'm hoping you can offer some help to my husband and I.



    After having a beautiful healthy baby boy in 2010 we were keen to extend our family. However, we have just suffered our second miscarriage in less than a year. The first was at ten weeks (early 2011) and the second was last week at just over 13 weeks gestation (baby diagnosed with Turners Syndrome.) Firstly, is there anything we can do to reduce the risk of this happening again? I really want a brother or sister for my son but am frightened that we will have to go through this upset again.



    And secondly is there anything we can do to increase our chances at conceiving? It has taken us a long time to conceive each time and as I am 35 and my husband 39 we feel that time is against us. I don't drink caffeine or alcohol and eat lots of fruit, vegetables and fish. I regularly take a conception vitamin supplement.



    My husband does drink moderately,consumes caffeine and is not too fond of fruit or veg so I'm also wondering if he would benefit from a vitamin supplement?



    Any advice you can offer would be very much appreciated
  • Hello,



    Zita West here. Looking forward to our chat over the next 45m, hope to answer lots of questions!



    Zita
  • Hi Zita



    My husband and I are about to start ivf lite (have my baseline scan next week). We have been trying for 20th months, we did manage to fall pregnant once, but it unfortunately ended in an early miscarriage. We have been classed as unexplained infertility - all tests have came back ok etc.



    I was wondering what your thoughts are of ivf lite? Is there anything I can do to increase my changes of it working etc.



    Thank you
  • Dear @Nlit4688



    I'm sorry to hear that you're having such a hard time. The good news is that at 32, so this will hopefully be reflected in the quality of your eggs. Your progesterone is low and it is hard to raise levels naturally with supplements as you can only substitute a hormone with a hormone. I think the fact that your thyroid glad has been underactive may be playing a part in ovulating. I don't know how long you've been on the thyroxin for, it may have had an impact on ovulation. I think you need re-check your progesterone levels and if they haven't risen and you're not ovulating, you need to get a referral to a fertility clinic.



    Remember also, lifestyle factors such as being over or underweight can have an impact on ovulation. It's worth correcting if you have either of these.



    Zita
  • Dear @Broody_BettyBoopBoop,



    I don't know how old you are. I would not get too caught up with your luteal phase. It may be worth getting a Day 21 progesterone test done. This will give you a clearer picture of your ovulation. It's hard to say whether the acupuncture has affected this or not. The most important thing is that you're having sex at least three times a week. This way, you are covering the fertile time whenever this occurs.



    It's also worth considering if you haven't done so already, getting your partner to do a semen analysis test.



    Zita
  • Dear @dummy_mummy,



    Thank you for your kind words, and well done you for losing weight! I know how difficult it is for women with PCOS to do this. It seems that you've been trying for a long time now and I know how hard it is if your consultant won't treat you due to weight. One of the things that you should do if you can is to have a vitamin D blood test as deficiency has been linked to being overweight and having PCOS.



    It's very easy to tell somebody to lose weight but much harder to do. So many weight issues are linked to emotional and psychological factors. If this is the case, it is worth trying to find someone to help you with this. We often use hypnotherapy at the clinic. The most important thing is don't give up, have lots of sex and get the help you need to lose the weight so you can access fertility treatment.



    Zita
  • Hi, my name is Robyn.

    Im 21 years old and have a 2.5year old daughter from a previous relationship.

    me and my partner have been trying to conceive for 8 months and nothing seems to be happening. we have been to see our GP who says there is nothing they can do this early on, i have normal periods and some months my cycle can be 30+ days. is there anything you can do to help or suggest?

    thanks x
  • Dear @roberjl,



    It's very difficult when you've conceived so easily the first time. It's important that you have a scan to check that everything is okay following the birth of your first child. Also when you have had quite a traumatic time, this may have an impact on you emotionally and psychologically.



    It sounds like your doctor is doing all the right things for you; it may be worth adding Omega3/DHA to the supplements that you're taking.



    Zita
  • One of the campaigns that I am backing is First Response's 'Pink Timeline' fundraising resource.



    I personally think this is a really good way for family and friends to help couples special to them who may benefit from their important contribution to their fertility treatment, from scans and consultations to relaxation treats such as massage, hypnotherapy or acupuncture.



    It's also a good resource to access during the two-week wait as this can be a time when support is really needed.



    www.pinktimeline.com
  • Dear @missJN



    Wow, you really doing everything! Because of your histories, sadly you've had to do IVF, but because you're so young your eggs will also be of very good quality. IVF doctors keep a close eye on you by doing scans and blood tests, which enables them to increase or decrease your drugs accordingly and keep a close eye on how many follicles are developing during your IVF cycle. But I agree this is a concern when you are as young as you are doing IVF.



    It's very hard to predict if IVF will work first time or not, but you're certainly doing everything you can.



    Best of luck,



    Zita
  • Hi there

    My name is leanne i am 32 years old and am currently ttc our 2nd child. I mc in March10 and since then have had absent periods and therefore no ovulation. I have had d and c hsg scans to rule out pcos and blood tests and everything is normal including egg reserve and thyroid so am unexplained secondary infertility. Hubby is all fine too. i was put on clomid 6 months ago and it only started working in month 5 (day21 bloods confirmed this). My dilemma is that currently on nhs they will not fund any further treatment and said so at my last appointment so am looking into going privately for poss iui but i am wondering if it is safe to take clomid longer than 6 months because it has only just started working for me and i am not due to see consultant til 28th feb. My last scan showed a 3cm cyst on my ovary. I am just a little confused as to my next step really do i do another couple of months of clomid? Wait until nhs consultant appointment? Or proceed with private treatment?

    Thanks in advance. Any advice would be gratefully received.
  • Dear @1976sj



    I'm so sorry to hear your news. Miscarriages are heartbreaking and a diagnosis of Turner's is equally sad.



    Most commonly you will not be able to access any tests until you've had 3 miscarriages unless you go privately. It is worth going back to your GP and seeing if he will do any genetic testing for you and also to refer you to a genetic counselor.



    It is difficult I know when it's taken a long time to conceive and also grief has a big part to play here. If you could access any therapy such as counselling or hypnotherapy it may help you to relax a little more. But the best way forward is through your GP, who will hopefully be able to guide you further.



    Zita
  • Dear @shaz247uk,



    The type of IVF you are having is dependent on many factors; most prominently whether it is caused by male or female factors. Age also has an impact, as well as egg reserves. This will tell the doctors which protocol and drug regime to use. IVF lite, or soft IVF, is a good thing to do depending on the above factors.



    To increase your chances, a multivitamin and mineral and Omega3, visualisation, acupuncture can all be of benefit.



    I wish you the best of luck,



    Zita
  • I'm so sorry that I must go to attend to clients now, but I've really enjoyed chatting to you all and I sincerely wish you all the best of luck. But do look on the Pink Timeline website as it is an excellent resource for those who are trying for baby.



    Zita



    www.pinktimeline.com
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