Dear Professor Winston,
I was wondering if you could give me some advice I am 27 yrs old and my partner is 30 I have been on the contraceptive pill for 8 years I came off it 2 years ago and I only have a period every 2 months I went to my GP who sent me for tests I had a scan and was told I have Polycystic ovaries my partner went for tests and was told he has a low sperm count so referred us for IVF. I’ve received a letter yesterday to go for an appointment but after watching you on this morning I was wondering do you think there is a chance I could get pregnant without IFV and not rush into it, as we have been offered 2 goes on NHS. I don’t want to turn it down but also if it could happen naturally I’d rather try that.
Thank you
I.
Dear I.,
I take it your weight is normal and that your BMI has been calculated. If not, that is the first thing to address. It is difficult to comment though without having more details about your husband’s sperm counts – one count alone is quite clearly insufficient information. I would like to suggest that after a check with a womb x-ray (hysterosalpingogram) a course of pills to induce ovulation is certainly worth trying for 3 – 6 months before IVF. Providing all your investigations and hormone tests are normal, and assuming that the sperm count is only marginally a problem, this certainly the first course of action rather than IVF.
My best wishes,
Robert Winston