Estrogen

[thetwolezz]

We are a lesbian couple that are trying to get pregnant. I've already had children and we will be trying to inseminate my girlfriend. My girl does not have enough estrogen in her system, we believe. We don't have insurance so we'll be paying for the insemination, pregnancy, and anything involved on our own. Does anyone have any suggestions or information about estrogen?

 

[SweetErika]

Why do you believe her estrogen levels are low? Has she had blood tests recently that said so?

Has she gone to a doctor to make sure everything's OK, and she's fit to be pregnant? If not, she needs to go have an exam and tests, including hormone levels, if you're concerned. Most communities have free or low-cost health services for the uninsured. If you're near a larger city, you may want to contact your local LGBT alliance to see if they have recommendations on getting such care.

I'd highly recommend getting her health insurance, though. What are you planning on doing for prenatal and the baby's care? If you can't afford insurance, can you really afford to have a kid?

 

[thetwolezz]

Why do you believe her estrogen levels are low? Has she had blood tests recently that said so?

Has she gone to a doctor to make sure everything's OK, and she's fit to be pregnant? If not, she needs to go have an exam and tests, including hormone levels, if you're concerned. Most communities have free or low-cost health services for the uninsured. If you're near a larger city, you may want to contact your local LGBT alliance to see if they have recommendations on getting such care.

I'd highly recommend getting her health insurance, though. What are you planning on doing for prenatal and the baby's care? If you can't afford insurance, can you really afford to have a kid?

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear about a few things.
We CAN afford to pay for her services that she will require. We just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions as far as estrogen care. We do know that her estrogen level is low.
Thanks

 

[SweetErika]

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear about a few things.
We CAN afford to pay for her services that she will require. We just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions as far as estrogen care. We do know that her estrogen level is low.
Thanks

OK, so what did the doctor say the recommended treatment was? Has she tried that?

What, exactly, do you want to know about estrogen? It's a broad topic, and difficult to give info on without knowing what to look for.

Take care in thinking you can afford the medical bills for mom and baby. Lots of (even well-off) people have been bankrupted due to complications with one or both, even with insurance.

 

[SusyQ]

I'm sorry, I should have been more clear about a few things.
We CAN afford to pay for her services that she will require. We just wanted to see if anyone had any suggestions as far as estrogen care. We do know that her estrogen level is low.
Thanks

Individual health insurance policies (like through BC/BS) are not that expensive. They run about $350/month for women in their 30s here. You're going to pay far more than that just for a hospital delivery. Not to mention if your partner or the baby has complications -- just one day in the NICU can run you thousands of dollars. After the baby comes, s/he will need medical care -- immunizations and well baby checkups at the least.

As far as estrogen (or any hormone) during pregnancy, this is something that a specialist needs to address. Estrogen plays an important role during pregnancy, but too much/the wrong kind can cause birth defects. As an example, DES -- a miscarriage prevention drug given to thousands of women which ultimately caused birth defects in their daughters -- was a type of estrogen. This is not something about which anyone other than a physician who is familiar with your partner's particular condition is qualified to give you advice.

Give your child the best start in life -- make sure s/he gets adequate, expert medical care from the beginning. Best of luck!

 

[PertPerth]

I've had low hormones ever since I can remember and have been to a specialist about it. Basically he said not to worry and to take the pill long term to compensate. He also said that it's not such a big deal for getting pregnant anymore (whether this is true or not, I don't know.) He said it would be a course of tablets or if that doesn't work injections.
http://www.arcfertility.com/infertility/hormaonal_therapy.html

I also agree with the others on Private Health insurance. It's a must, for both baby and Mum-to-be.