Gan, Rostrum, Sunflower and Lyn,
I went back to check liao, during my first day3 test, my Estradiol level was 78 and the normal range for NUH for follicular phase (period when follicular was forming including day 3) is 90 - 716 pmol/L. More stringent that kkivf. I just remembered I kept staring at the range and thought to myself, Estradiol is too low liao. I asked Prof Wong and he said its not too bad. I am not sure about his thinking but perhaps he might think that when we do ivf, all the hormones will be under control by injections and a small shortfall can be easily corrected by the injections.. He said FSH reading is more important.
But I don't like that reading, so went back to reseach on tcm books and as told you all earlier, estradiol is important to stimulate egg growth and lining and a good level of estradiol (probably more important for natural cycle) right from the start will encourage good egg growth, good lining and eventually, a good level of progesterone. So if the start of the cycle is lead by good hormones, the cycle will be smoother and on the other hand, if things are not right from the start, all that follow will be more challenging. But not to worry there are many things we can do to improve estrogen.
Estrogen (Yin in tcm terms). Food list that increases estrogen or inhibits estrogen:
http://dogtorj.tripod.com/id46.html
You will notice that berries (except for cherries) inhibit yin. Nevertheless, I also read that blackberries and blueberries promote healthy blood flow and are powerful antioxidant and so I eat them since the benefits are greater than the costs To counter that, I drink a apple, carrot and beet root juice without ice twice a week during follicular phase. These three fruits all promote estrogen. Don't eat too much potato although it promotes estrogen as potato is simple carbohydrate and not so good for fertility. Don't eat too much papaya too. . Eat more seeds. For soya, Sunny, you can eat more as it truly promotes estrogen. But I hesitate to write that because for some sisters, their challenge is that the egg shell is too hard for the sperm to penetrate for natural cycles. And soya will worsen that as it causes harder egg shell. I don't think I have that issue so I do eat quite a bit of soya. But if you are unclear, eat it but not excessive.
You will also notice that citrus fruits inhibit yin, but please don't cut them out totally as natural vitamin C also boosts immunity and egg quality. Also, although a lot of fruits and vegetables inhibit estrogen, but still must eat them as they got antioxidant to fight ovary aging and promotes digestion for us to absorb good nutrients. So don't take the food list totally at face value. Cannot totally rely on pill form of vitamin C too. Remember, while trying to tilt toward a more estrogen rich diet, everything in moderation very important. Excess in anything becomes poison, even if its good.
According to tcm, stress is one of the biggest enemy of estrogen. If you are STRESSED, your estrogen will be LOW. So by all means, please control stress using exercise, recreation and healthy mentality k. I am very clear on this point because read so much about how stress affects estrogen production. We always hear that stress inhibits fertility and putting it down to specific hormones, its 100% true.
After I reduced stressed and adjust the diet, my 2nd reading for estradiol improved to 156pmol/L, still low to me but at least climbed up and personally, six sense tells me that reducing stress plays a big part.
Gan,
Yes, to the drs its normal theoretically, but I believe in reality, our estrogen is too low for a healthy ovulation. Its good to know but nevermind about it k. At least you did eat tcm during few days before ET, even a few days of chinese medicine do make a big difference. Yes, Its perfectly normal to have "what if" thoughts. Babydusts to you k
Like to Miracle, hope all this will not matter to you anymore.
Rostrum.
Yes, your E2 is also too low and E2 is needed to stimulate good egg. Nevermind, there is a lot you can do to improve your hormones yourself. And during IVF for high E2, it shows that your body is responding very well to gonal F such that E2 escalated. If the E2 is too high and shoots above acceptable range, the dr will monitor you for hyper stimulation. That is what nuh nurse told me. But since they did not warn you, you most likely did not exceed. For next cycle, try to take some supplement at least k..will help the body to make good hormones you know
If you don't like to brisk walk, after ovulaton, just go for walk in the park with hubby and don't jog because its not good to have the insecured feeling about disturbing the potentially implanting embryo. It will only add to stress.
You can improve your estrogen eventually one. Jia you sister
Sunflower,
Don't mention it sister
If I want to write, might as well write a comprehensive one….. Thanks too..heheeee….I also hope the nine months can pass very fast..
Yes, Sunflower, same as other sisters and me, seems like you also got low estrogen issue. And the low estrogen is not helping you with progesterone (bbt) in the 2nd half of your cycle. Yes, I remember you lost your little precious one, I feel very sorry about your loss sister. Its is profound loss and nothing can replace him/her. I am sure your little one where ever he or she may be now, will want you to have a better tomorrow and will be proud if mummy can bring forth him/her a baby brother or sister. So be confident that the next try will be better.
I am not a doctor or tcm doctor to really conclude if its really that that went wrong (but my experience when we ask ivf drs, they won't comment too much on hormones) but I can say that from my own experience, it could be and by improving your estrogen level, it will only make things better and not worst. Seems like your issues are very similar to mine, low estrogen and low fertilisation rate. If you believe you don't have any issue with egg shell (you can check with kkivf if they did assisted hatching for you. If they did not, you don't have that issue), you can boost up on soya to improve your estrogen. Maybe one reasonable serving a day especially before ovulation. Also, try to reduce stress ok, it is very solvable problem. If you eat both blackmores and centrum at the same time, may I suggest to you to drop one because if we eat too much vits, our liver will be overworked in breaking down the vits and it will have less room to generate sufficient hormones. Just eat blackmores or (not and) centrum + a fish oil + Co10. And good that you already taking royal jelly, continue to take it.
What your hubby is taking is sufficient. Yes Sunny, you are right, must must tackle stress. Do it with your hubby, go for walks in the garden together
Now that you know what you need to work on. It will get better and better for you
Sisters,
I will write a list of kidney yin deficient good list from one tcm book later. So use it as a reference with discretion and not obey 100% because I am not a tcm dr after all and I don't want to end up misleading you all in case there are blind spots I have missed out since it takes at least 4 years to study chinese medicine ok. While eating the nutritional food, always remember the moderation rule.
Actually dang1 gui1 is a good herb to increase estrogen and nourish yin. But I heard from a tcm dr that just downing ourselves with dang1 gui1 blindly is not good too. Maybe once in a while, before ovulation, can cook dang gui with dang3 sheng1 + chicken + wolfberries just as a soup to drink. Don’t' eat dang gui after you know you have ovulated.
Meow,
I am sure everything will go smoothly for you. Baby dusts
Miraclebaby,
Yes, hope all these will not matter to you anymore. Baby dusts again too
one way to prevent dozing off is to keep the eyes half opened, gazing at a focal point, such as vase. Another method is to focus on your breathing, breath in four counts, hold for 1 to 2 counts and exhale on a count of 8. Key is to lengthen the exhaling for calming purpose and to eliminate used air in the lungs. 