An herbal treatment for Endometriosis : Pycnogenol!

One of my aunts recently told me that she had complications with her pregnancy (in her early 30's), due to endometriosis. And I found out another one of my aunts (her sister) was never able to get pregnant because she had it also (this was in the days before they knew what to do about it). In addition to that, my mother was told that she had better have children early, because she got cysts and heavy periods, and this could make it harder for her to have children if she waited until her 30's.

Being in my 40's, this isn't sounding really good for me! I also seem to have some major "risk factors," according to this site (greeeat). See highlighted parts below.

Who is at risk of endometriosis?

It is estimated that endometriosis affects over one million women in the United States, and most cases are diagnosed in women between 25 and 35 years of age. However, because many women have no symptoms, the exact prevalence is unknown. The condition is very rare in postmenopausal women. Other risk factors for endometriosis include being white (compared to African American and Asian), being tall and thin with a low body mass index, being infertile, and delaying pregnancy until older ages.

But luckily, we have the internet and tons of resources and information to help us now.

I've never been officially diagnosed with Endometriosis (I'm not keen on the idea of having a lacroscopic surgery to find out for sure) but even before I knew all of this about my aunts and mother, I suspected I might have it. I do tend to get bad menstrual pain, sometimes pain with sex, and sometimes pain with orgasms.

Years ago I had heard about how good Pycnogenol (pine bark extract) is for the skin. An aesthetician who was doing microdermabrasion on me had flawless, really young looking skin and she swore the Pycnogenol she was taking had a lot to do with it.

Well, yesterday I was at the library, reading a book called "Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility" (you can read about it here).  And it said a certain type of pine tree is known to have bark that contains a potent antioxidant / anti-inflammatory called polyphenols. I am for the most part quoting what was said in the book:

In 2007, a large study randomly assigned women with endometriosis to take either a 30 mg. capsule twice a day of a pine bark extract, or to take Lupron. In just 4 weeks all women experienced a reduction in their symptoms. Women using the herbal extract reported that pain was reduced BY ABOUT 80 PERCENT and cramping ABOUT 75 PERCENT, which were about the same as those on Lupron. But the women on the extract continued to have regular menstrual cycles, whereas those on Lupron didn't, and those on the extract didn't experience the menopausan side effects of Lupron. What's more, at least FIVE WOMEN ON THE PINE BARK (Pycnogenol) EXTRACT BECAME PREGNANT. Women on Lupron had a rebound return of symptoms when they went off the drug, whereas pine bark had no such side effect.

 



You can read more about the benefits of pycnogenol (for endometriosis) here (or just google "endometriosis" and "pycnogenol"... you will find a TON of stuff!!!). http://www.pycnogenol.com/media/media_press_releases.php?action=detail&id=479

On another note, I also recently discovered that Progesterone cream can greatly help reduce endometriosis! Since it took me 5 years to learn this one, I really want to share it with others. You can read more about it on this page.

Good luck!

EB

 

Using an Instead Cup - ROLLED UP - to get pregnant

I had tried the instead cup a few times (to keep the sperm closer to my cervix and also prevent them from leaking out) but it didn't seem to be doing much. True, I could have other issues going on but I was totally jazzed about this idea. I love these instead cups. I even got to meet the woman who invented them - she gave me a bunch of free ones and I was determined to put them to the ultimate good use.










It occurred to me that I could roll it up slightly (imagine rolling a condom so tight there's hardly any space in the reservoir tip). While the instead cup does do a decent job of keeping the sperm from leaking out, you have to remember that those cups are designed so that there’s plenty of room to hold blood during a heavy monthly flow, so there’s a lot of extra, empty space for the sperm to pool around in. If you're dealing with "barco lounger sperm" (like my husband suspects he has)... you want to get them as close as possible to the entrance of your cervix!

Be sure to roll it up with the "smooth" edge facing outward (if you do it the other way the sperm could get stuck in the crevices along the edge). It can also help to coat the cup with pre-seed, as it helps the sperm live longer! (See my post on pre seed).










Part of the reason I wanted to try this is, my gynecologist informed me that I have scarring on my cervix, from cryosurgery I had done almost 20 YEARS AGO. I couldn’t believe it. How come nobody told me that before? She made it sound like, the opening to my cervix was only about ¼ the size it is supposed to be, so it could be harder for the sperm to get where they're supposed to go (i'm hoping if I give them less distance to travel, less of them will get lost!). She did say that I could have some success with IUI treatment, but I’d rather see if I can get knocked up with some creative methods before that.

During my last cycle, I used the instead cup in this “rolled up” manner, while I was ovulating, and I swear it did something. Less than 48 hours after me and my hubby (we got married recently) did the deed, I woke up in the middle of the night, feeling some strange kind of hormonal weirdness I couldn’t explain. My boobs felt really big and swollen, and it lasted for about ten days, until one weekend I drank a rum drink and coffee, and then some hot tea in a non-BPA-free plastic bottle (I’m paranoid that the plastic from the bottle got into my system). Suddenly I got sick with a burning sore throat and a runny nose, sneezing, coughing. Just like that, my boobs were "deflating" and I no longer felt pregnant.

I guess I don't know for sure if the cup had anything to do with my temporary feeling of pregnancy, but... I’m definitely going to try again next month.

Positive Testimonials

I'm currently taking fertility supplements and realized it's so easy to get distracted by new things, but I need to keep focusing on one course of treatment at a time. I have barely been taking FertilAid and Fertile CM and drinking the Fertili Tea, and have already let myself think, well it must not be working so I'm going to try something else. It's crazy how easily I can get distracted and let to try the new thing when I barely even gave the first thing a chance (it's hard not to when you have friends who are a lot younger than you, getting pregnant with barely any effort at all).

It reminds me a lot of when I was dieting in my 20's. I got caught up in the whole process of trying new things and focusing on what was WRONG, rather than focusing on what I was supposed to be doing - putting foods that I felt good about, into my mouth! I need to focus on what is truly important - being healthy. For me and whatever potential baby I might bring into the world. And that means taking supplements REGULARLY, drinking lots of water, and eating healthy. In my experience with weight loss, I found that the thing that was preventing me from achieving it was all my anxiety around it. I was focusing on the wrong things. God tends not to give you the best things in life, when you do them for the wrong reasons. So I need to continue to think fertile thoughts, and keep doing what is good for my body.

I think it's also important to psyche myself out to be prepared for this to take months to work, and know what I will do if it doesn't work. If I use all these products regularly for 4 months and it doesn't work, then I'll try not using fertil aid and see if that works (i could be one of these women who should NOT use the stuff). If that doesn't work, I'll try Fertil Plus. And if that doesn't work after 4 months, I'll try that herbalist I mentioned a post or two ago. And if that doesn't work I would consider IVF or adoption if I could afford it. If not, I would look into becoming a foster parent.

Anyway, to encourage myself, I'm adding links for the testimonial pages, of the stuff I'm taking, that I really like and would recommend to others:

Fertil Aid: Fertil Aid: http://www.amazon.com/FertilAid-Women-Female-Fertility-Supplement/product-reviews/B0002G2M9Y/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#R2SOFW9NEC5SON

Fertile CM: http://www.amazon.com/Fairhaven-Health-FertileCM-Veggie-Caps/product-reviews/B000GQSMOE/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Fertili Tea: http://www.amazon.com/FertiliTea-Natural-Fertility-Tea-Blend/product-reviews/B0006SFQGO/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Pre-Seed: http://www.amazon.com/Pre-Seed-Personal-Lubricant-Multi-use-Tube/product-reviews/B001DNIMH6/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

This is a GREAT video showing how herbs can help your fertility...

Fertility herbs

The video is about Sharkey's healing center, and how "A curent affair" in Australia, featured the center and suddenly thousands of women were getting pregnant!

Fertil Plus

This place has really good testimonials. I sent this link to a friend of mine a few months ago but then couldn't find the email or remember the name of the site. Luckily I actually remembered to bookmark it. I love it that there are AUDIO testimonials. It makes me hopeful just to hear them.

http://fertilplus.com/

UPDATE JANUARY 2012: OK people, as it turned out, I tried this stuff and it actually WORKED FOR ME. YES, FERTIL PLUS REALLY DOES WORK! I am proof and living testimonial! You can read my story here: http://knockknockbaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/omg-im-actually-pregnant.html  and what I did to get pregnant (including taking FertilPlus here: http://knockknockbaby.blogspot.com/2012/01/omg-im-actually-pregnant.html).  Soooo happy I finally bought this stuff!!!!!

Pueraria Mirifica

In my last post I talked about how I'd heard someone say they felt that "boob enhancement pills" helped them get pregnant. Well, today I did a little googling on that and came across this study (for pueraria mirifica). Note the very last (bolded) sentence:

Abstract
Objective
Effects of Pueraria mirifica on bone loss in fully mature ovariectomized rats are examined.
Methods
Two series of experiments were performed. In the first series, rats were kept with their ovaries intact and divided into two groups; initial control (IC) and sham control (SH). The IC rats were sacrificed on day 1 and their data were kept as baseline control. The SH rats were subjected to sham operation on day 0 and gavaged daily with distilled water for 90 days. In the second series, rats were subjected to ovariectomy, divided into five groups and gavaged daily with 0.1mg/kg B.W./day of 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE), 0, 10, 100 and 1000mg/kg B.W./day of P. mirifica (P0, P10, P100 and P1000, respectively) for 90 days. Changes of bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured using peripheral Quantitative Computerized Tomography.
Results
Bone loss was significantly induced by ovariectomy and it was dose-dependently prevented by P. mirifica treatment for 90 days. The preventive effects of P. mirifica on bone loss depended on bone types (axial or long bone), bone sites (metaphysis or diaphysis), and bone compartments (trabecular and cortical). At P100 and P1000, bone loss was completely prevented both in trabecular bone mineral density and content. The effects of P. mirifica were, as expected, comparable to that in the EE group.
Conclusion
These results suggest that P. mirifica may be applicable to treat the osteoporosis in menopausal women; however, an undesirable side effect on stimulating reproductive organs should be concerned.


(I guess it's "undesirable" for women who are NOT trying to get pregnant - for those of us who are trying, it could be another story!)

-----------------------

More research also said that in some cases, pueraria mirifica has been used as a contraceptive. Greeeeat.

http://www.biomaxx-sys.com/pueraria.html

Pueraria mirifica (Shaw)

Family: Papilonidae

Thai names: Kwao krua kao, Suvatabandhu

Botanical description:
A tuberous root, which looks like a row of near spherical bulbs of different sizes interconnected by a small root throughout the entire length of the root. Nine species of the genus Pueraria exist in Thailand which look alike, but Pueraria mirifica can be clearly identified from the distinct characteristics of the stamen of the flower and its hairy pod.

This plant grows exclusively in Thailand, and only in a very limited area of several hundred square kilometres at an altitude of 300 m to 600 m above sea level. Recent research has shown that there are vast differences in quality of active substances between the plants which grow uncultivated in the north and north-east of the country. As little as 60 km (40 miles) is sufficient to produce a difference of up to 50% in the phytohormones contained in the parenchyma (flesh) of the bulbous roots. To ensure the high quality that is required for medicinal purposes a far more selective harvesting has to be carried out by experts than for almost any other curative herbs. Cultivation takes place on a commercial scale and the three best varieties were selected and are known as Pueraria-I, II and III.


Export Quality Control:
Since October 2001 the export of pueraria has been subjected to stringent regulations which were laid down by the Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the author’s research group. The export of the raw product can now only take place through government agencies which ensure that only products in their marketable form for medicinal purposes and not the whole roots can be exported.

There is nevertheless, as is only to be expected, a lively black market which is driven by the high demand; even in the West there are products on sale, particularly in the cosmetic industry, which supposedly contain pueraria and which are accompanied with the wildest claims for their beneficial effect on health. Government agencies have already instigated appropriate investigations.

Uses in Ethnic Medicine:
For generations known only to the members of a population group in northern Thailand (Laana Tribe), the knowledge of this plant has become more widespread in the last 80 years due to the development of modern communications. Pueraria is strictly used as an ‘elixir of youth’. As the child bearing age of women is extended, pueraria has in certain doses been used as a contraceptive product long before oral contraception - the ‘Pill’ - was developed in laboratories in the West. However, in other doses, pueraria can actually increase fertility. The plant is taken for breast enlargement and improvement, for disorders in mood and well being, and menstruation problems. The plant also has positive effects against loss of hair, greying, and wrinkles in the skin.

Note: I am guessing that it has to do with what your hormonal balance is to begin with. You can only have too much of a good thing. In my lifetime I've seen many cases of people treating themselves for things that didn't need to be treated, and then they screw themselves up. For example, if you're already fertile and then you take the stuff, it could decrease your fertility. I read some testimonials from women who were taking fertility pills. Before they started taking the supplements they were ovulating regularly, but as soon as they started taking them, it seemed to screw them up (whereas most of the women had the opposite effect). If you're wired on caffeine and then drink more coffee it will make you tired. You can only so much of a good thing before your body starts to send you in the "opposite direction" because you've hit a wall and there's nowhere else to go.

I thought it was interesting that it seems to "act against" endometriosis:

Effects of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome):
Unlike synthetically produced hormones, pueraria mirifica has demonstrated that it is able to successfully remove menstrual complaints and symptoms without producing any side effects. It is therefore the most appropriate remedy. Pueraria stimulates production of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) and acts against endometriosis (growth of endometrial tissue in an abnormal location). Pueraria is used in the treatment of menopausal complaints which are caused by a change in the composition of female sex hormones. The hormones in pueraria also stimulate improvements in the skin by reducing wrinkles (anti-aging).

And I read one more study on this site (it was in the body of an ebay post, from a user selling pueraria mirifica) http://myworld.ebay.com/iamsiamz/ (type in pueraria mirifica in the seller's search box to see one of their posts, as they expire every week or so).


The studying effect of crude extract of Pueraria mirifica was found that it had potency by increasing body weight in both male and female Wistar rats. While they were subcutaneous administrated continuously 25 mg/kg. of body weight for 5 and 10 days. As well as increasing in ovarian and uterus weight, but had no effect on pituitary and testis weight. Histology study showed clearly spermatogenesis inhibition in male, proliferation of endometrium and ovulation inhibition in female rats. In weaning rats were subcutaneous injected with 100 mg/kg. of body weight, were affected significantly on increasing of litter weight. Result of single crude extract administration 50 and 100 mg/kg of body weight after fertilization for one day were embryo implantation inhibition 40 and 100 percent respectively, and the number of embryo implantation were significant difference.


Note: "Ovulation inhibition".... that doesn't sound too good. But it also says it helped increase litter weight...? Go figure.

Breast Enhancement Pills

That's right. Boobie pills.

Before I explain the connection between boobie pills and fertility (still out for debate) let me tell you how I got interested in the pills in the first place.

Years ago I was having a heated debate with my friend Randy about whether or not a certain woman's boobs were fake. Personally, i don't really care how a woman gets her boobs or if they're fake, that's not my business. But I told Randy that "she could have been taking boob pills" and had to explain to him what those are.

I would not actually believe they worked, since i had never taken them, but about a year prior when I was on a plane to Hawaii I got to chatting to this gal sitting next to me and we spent almost the whole plane ride talking about girly stuff. It was surreal, I had just met this woman and we were both single and chatty and next thing you know we're talking about supplements and PMS and she tells me she's taking breast enhancement pills (and NO she was not selling them). They were called Grobust. I'll never forget how she gave me a wink and thumbs up and said they really work. It was so funny - I had JUST MET this woman.

Anyway, I was so annoyed with Randy for acting like I was totally naive to believe "boobie pills" actually work, that I basically told him I was going to take them and let him see the difference. Yes, he had seen my boobs before, and knew they weren't particularly big.

I did a lot of research on ebay to find a brand that women seemed happy with. And one of the testimonials was from a woman who said they helped her get pregnant. This was about 5 years ago, and I tried to go back to ebay and find out which brand that was but I could never find the testimonial again! I don't even think the person who was selling that brand is selling it anymore. I know how that is, I've sold things on ebay as a wholesaler and after a while you can get burnt out.

Well, I found a brand that seemed to have good reviews and tried it and yep - my boobs got bigger. But so did a mole I have on my butt, and it kind of freaked me out. It got kind of swollen and my first thought was, what if this turns out to cause cancer?? I stopped taking it after the first bottle and left it at that. I never did get Randy to feel the difference (he moved to LA and wasn't about to drive all the way there to get him to feel them).

This year I decided to try taking some "boob gum" to increase my hormonal balance and see if it would help me get pregnant. I ordered it in the summer and after the first week of taking it, my bf commented on my boobs, people said I looked like I was glowing, and I think I may have even gotten pregnant (it didn't last but I got that metallic taste in my mouth that I've heard is a symptom). I was moving a bunch of stuff around my office and misplaced the gum and so stopped taking it (they say you're not supposed to take boob enhancement stuff while you're pregnant anyway). I was also under a lot of stress and didn't cut out coffee or alcohol or make a point to eat super healthy, so I can see how a zygote wouldn't really want to move on to the next level.

I've started chewing the gum again (since I recently found it) and yep, the boobs are getting bigger (but I don't seem to have that problem with the swollen mole). In addition, people are saying I'm glowing, and my boyfriend recently had this comment: "God... you just feel so amazing lately..." The only other time he noticed a big difference during sex was when I was taking maca and Fertile CM (I believe maca can change your hormonal balance - for the better). So I'm guessing the gum may have had something to do with it. There are only 3 things I've done different lately: 1) cut back on caffeine (true, that could be part of it), 2) drink a little more water, and 3) chew the boob gum.

I did a little googling to see if I could find any reports of breast enhancement pills helping women become pregnant. This is what I found (on this page: http://www.supplementsolutions.com/breastenhancement.htm):

Breast BALANCE
Balances Female Hormones
Level Mood is Maintained
Libido Increased
Contains Nutritives, including EFA’s (Essential Fatty Acids), for Healthy Breast Cells and Glandular Tissue
Menopausal Symptoms - Improves Hot Flashes, Vaginal Dryness, Nervous Tension and Sleepless Nights Resulting in Daytime Fatigue
and also Breast Enlargement done NATURALLY
Formulated with Botanicals and Other Natural Ingredients for PMS Relief Including Mood Swings, Irritability, Bloating and Cramping
Includes Herbs and Antioxidants that Contribute to Healthy Immune Function and Breast Support
New Ingredients for Breast Health and to Maintain Healthy Hormone Levels to Bring Balance and Harmony


ALSO on the site:

I am trying to get pregnant;
will Breast Enlargement Pills help?

Reports indicate that the formula is helpful because of the beneficial effects on problems such as irregular menstrual periods, infertility, PMS, cramping, bloating, and irritability. We have generally seen improvement in these types of problems as soon as three weeks.

The formula also helps to increase libido, which of course, is very helpful if you are trying to get pregnant. Women have generally seen improvement in these types of problems as soon as three weeks.

Can I take the formula during pregnancy?

The formula should NOT be taken during pregnancy or while nursing.

----------------

I should note that I have always suspected I might have a little bit of a hormonal imbalance. My periods have always been kind of irregular. In my 20's and early 30's, When i took the pill (ortho tricyclen) my boobs got a LOT bigger and my skin got clearer. I heard some women take the pill just to get their hormones balanced. Well, I feel like that's what the pill kind of did for me. But I can't take the pill now, obviously, so... I'm going with the boob gum.

I keep worrying my boyfriend or a co-worker will see me with the gum and say "can I have a piece?" And I'm going to have to say, 'Um.... no... trust me you don't want this gum" without having to explain "Why NOT?" It looks just like Eclipse or any other gum that comes in those foil packets. I don't want to be rude and say no you can't have any of my gum (though it's true I don't really want to share - the sh*t's expensive!). But I don't want my boyfriend to start growing boobies either. I've tried to think of excuses I could use. "It's Nicorette" (no, that would be worse). I think I might just keep another pack of Eclipse in my purse and if they ask for a piece, i'll pull out the eclipse and say "Here - have one of these - it's fresher - I'm just eating these other ones to get rid of it." They may go, "Oooookay...?" but at least the questioning will probably stop right there.

By the way, you're supposed to give up caffeine while you're taking the gum, and I've been trying (it's not easy!!!). I gave up caffeine on April 1st - then a few days later I cheated and had a diet dr. pepper, and now I've had tea and decaf coffee. True, I've cut back, but... I'm easing out of it rather than going cold turkey.

One last note: I couldn't remember if I'd read the pregnancy testimonial, from ebay, in regards to a breast enhancement pill or if it was for this other boob-enlarging stuff called pueraria mirifica (which does come in pill form but they sell it all kinds of different ways). So I googled that too and there does seem to be some evidence that what these pills basically do is help your hormone imbalance and help increase your uterine lining.

I found this online and it is so funny. Obviously written and translated (maybe with babelfish) by someone who doesn't speak english very well (taken from this page: http://www.dite.co.jp/shop/eng/pueraria.shtml

Relation with the estrogen
Women are controlled by the estrogen for their body, their skin, and so on.
Cramps, headache, stomachache, stiff neck, tiredness, chillness, body trouble with such as swelling, nervousness, anxiety, sleeplessness, unpleasant mental symptom such as forgetfulness, problems for skin such as dryness, spots, stain and wrinkle. These are caused by the effect for all the estrogen.

Especially estrogen is the estrogen. It is increased secretion since the
awkward age. It creates a woman-like body and helps to implant insemination
ovum or thicken a womb skin for ready to get pregnant. It creates also ovum.
Estrogen is concerned in an autonomic nerve, move of feeling, bone, skin, mucous

membrane, knuckles, muscles, stomach, intestines, move of the brain greatly.
Characteristic for Pueraria mirifica is to work the estrogen function deeply.
Most of women notice something effect.

Particularly for women whose woman's function are decreasing or inactive.
It effects for boobs and beauty skin and especially for a menopausal disorder.

Stress and pregnancy

I actually think I may not have even ovulated this month. I'm 16 days into my cycle and was so overly-caffeinated this month i think i probably skipped the ovulation altogether. Understandably, my boyfriend is a little worried this is a bad time for me to try to get pregnant (he already has 2 kids and is having a hard time making ends meet in this economy). I was like, "don't worry honey, I probably won't get pregnant this month - I'm doing like, every 'anti-fertility' thing - drinking coffee, stressing out, not taking any more fertility supplements because i ran out and can't afford to buy any more. And i haven't given up alcohol entirely, either. Anyway, I know he's thinking, yeah, RIGHT, as soon as I give him the "don't worry honey" speech I'll probably get knocked right up. But seriously. I've never felt more INfertile in my life.

I also took a bunch of diet coke home from work - they were getting rid of it because it was past the expiration date (as if I care about that). I remember looking at all those cans, thinking, if i actually keep these in my kitchen i'll probably end up drinking them all and that would NOT be good for my fertility...

And that's exactly what I did.

I am so stressed out right now, because of money. I took a job that doesn't pay all my bills (but I did so because I needed the free time in the AM to work on another business venture that's hopefully about to come to fruition). I KNEW it was going to be a tough few months until I started making money with this side project. And sure enough - yeah, it's been super tough. I've had to borrow money from friends and family and it just makes me sick, I really hate having to do that and it bothers me so much every day that I can't pay everyone back right now. It seems like the stress is just compounding itself. I honestly can't picture myself being able to get pregnant when my body is in this kind of state.

I am so stressed out, and also broke, that I can't afford to do a lot of things I think could help my fertility - like seeing a fertility doctor, or a chiropractor, or continue to take FertilAid, FertileCM and Maca (I've run out of the first two and still have some maca but will probably run out soon). I couldn't even conceive of taking clomid. I can't even afford the co-pay for a regular doctor right now. I am just really hoping that things will change within the next month or two. I've been putting a lot of work into this side business and if it pays off, I am just praying I will be able to pay everyone back and my body will be able to get to a state where I can actually conceive.

On a side note - the fertility statues are actually on tour right now and will be in San Francisco in April, I believe. I am really hoping I'll be in a better situation by then!!

Mid-Cycle Bleeding

I get this quite a bit now (though I never really got it during my 20's or 30's). I have heard that this is fairly common but have started to think maybe it's something I should look up. The bleeding seems pretty regular now - I almost always get it about 2 weeks after the first day of my last period. Not enough to count as a period, but it seems that the egg-white cervical mucus is often tainted with a small amount of blood. There was one time, a few months back, where I thought maybe it was implanation bleeding, but I know it could have just been normal spotting in my cycle.

Anyway, here's a pretty good link I found online:

http://pregnancy.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Bleeding_During_Ovulation

They actually said that if you have mid-cycle bleeding every month, you may be able to predict when you'll ovulate. Cool! But they did say you should make sure the bleeding isn't caused by something else, like fibroids, etc..

If I could actually afford to see a doctor or fertility specialist right now, I would. But due to some financial things going on in my life right now, i just can't afford it. Even though I have health insurance, I can't even afford the co-pay at this time. I'm hoping that things will be a lot better for me in a few months (I have a business that's just starting to take off), but for the past few months I've been seriously scraping by. I am hoping that when the stress in my life is reduced, it'll be easier for me to get pregnant. At age 40 I can't be dicking around too much longer!