Bipolar and Assisted Reproductive Technology

Hi there,

I'm a 40-year-old Bipolar 1 French woman, trying (in vain) to have a baby with my husband.

Of course, my age, extra weight and lack of sexdrive due to the meds aren't helping.

So we're thinking about using ART. But I'm really scared of the hormone-induced mood swings and the stress/fatigue generated by the whole process, even if I'll keep my meds.

Has any of you been through this?

Thanks a lot,
Clotilde

Before I was diagnosed with bipolar, I went through ART. IUI failed. We were faced with another IUI or IVF. This was October, 1996. We decided to hold off because we couldn't afford IVF. (It was only $7k!) Valentine's Day, I went to the ER for bad abdominal pain and missing my period. It ended up that I was pregnant and it was not ectopic. I went on to have 3 children, total. Good luck with your journey.

Welcome to Psych Central, Clotilde!

I don't have any experience with ART, but hope you are able to start your family soon. Will your psych medication prescriber work closely with the doctor assisting with ART? Hopefully as a team, the process will be mostly smooth.

Hi Clotilde,

Welcome to the Bipolar Forum at PC!

I hope you find the information and the support you may be seeking.
Glad to see you have jumped in and are participating already!

I do understand why you are concerned.
I wish you well in your endeavor.

Please do make yourself at home here at PC..

I hope to see you around the forums.

Thank you Moose72 for sharing your experience, it gives me hope!

Dear BirdDancer,

Thanks for your kind message. I haven't told my psychiatrist and my OB-GYN yet, but you are right, a good collaboration between them will be crucial.

Best,
Clotilde

I think it’s important when trying for a Baby while having Bipolar that both your Pdoc and OB work closely together to find meds that are safe for a baby and will help you stay in stable ground.

I wish you good luck

Hi Clotilde, welcome to PC. I hope you find the support you are looking for here.

I struggled to get pregnant with both of my children at 30 and 33 years old. I didn't need IVF, but I required fertility medicine each time and I experienced two miscarriages. I know how difficult it can be to want a baby so badly and to deal with the stress that comes alomg with it. The meds I had to take also wreaked havoc on my moods due to the hormone shifts. However, I was able to deal with it by keeping my eye on the prize. I would notice I was spinning out of control and then I could reign it back in by remembering that the changes were only temporary and that the end result would be so amazing. My husband was a good sounding board and he helped to keep me focused as well.

I do not have any experience with taking bipolar medication while trying to conceive. I did not experience any symptoms until just recently. What have your doctors said about the risks? Maybe the meds will keep the hormonal shifts at bay and you'll have an easier time on that front than I did.

Have you ever heard of BabyCenter? There are tons of forums and many deal with conception and ART. I've read a number of threads there of people who also take meds for various forms of mental illness. I found it a wonderful resource while I was trying to get pregnant, while I was pregnant and after the birth of my children. BabyCenter | The Most Accurate & Trustworthy Pregnancy & Parenting Information

I wish you all the best with this. I have had several friends and even a few in their 40s who have successfully conceived with IVF and IUI. It can be a long road, but you're investing in something priceless and beautiful.