A while back I suffered a miscarriage after gleefully discovering that I was finally pregnant at 40-years-old. This pregnancy lasted nearly six weeks before the loss, after my fiancé' and I had been trying to conceive for several months. While this wasn't our first cycle of TTC, it was the first cycle that we had tried some different techniques for inspiring conception. In particular, I opted to drink Geritol every day of the cycle leading up to this pregnancy. We also used PreSeed lubricant and both of us took Mucinex. However, following the loss of our pregnancy that resulted from this cycle, I learned that I have iron deficiency anemia. This led me to the conclusion that Geritol helped me conceive, and thus I went down a research rabbit-hole.
My history of infertility and pregnancy loss
I am 41-years-old and I've never had children. I've only been verifiably pregnant twice in my life, but I have also experienced several chemical pregnancies (which are also miscarriages, but very early). I've never been able to figure out the root of my infertility, or why I just can't stay pregnant, but after this most recent loss and my anemia diagnosis, things are kind of starting to make sense. When I got pregnant in 2022, I had been somewhat trying to conceive. To be more precise, I was trying to prepare myself and get healthier for potential pregnancy by taking different supplements and making other lifestyle changes. I had just lost a bit of weight, and started taking supplements for my PCOS, along with methylfolate and beef liver supplements. I began taking the latter after reading reviews on the products about boosting fertility. I didn't even take the supplements for more than a cycle before I ended up pregnant! I had stopped taking the liver pills by this time, because -- frankly -- they smelled and tasted terrible. Unfortunately, I lost this pregnancy before the 5th week.
My history of anemia
I feel pretty stupid because I already knew about my anemia issues. I was diagnosed with anemia back when I was 16-years-old, and then again when I was 19-years-old. I was a teenager at the time, and didn't pay serious attention to what my doctors had told me. One doctor told me to eat more iron rich foods, and another told me to eat beef liver. Neither of them told me that iron deficiency anemia could impact my fertility and future motherhood plans. I ate liver maybe once or twice after the doctor told me all those years ago, and then I moved on with my life not realizing that I needed iron supplements (or more serious treatments).
I believe I got pregnant in 2022 because I had been taking those beef liver supplements, which were very high in iron and other nutrients. I also believe the loss of that pregnancy might have been due to my iron deficiency, and I had stopped taking those supplements. When I went to the doctor in 2022 following this pregnancy loss, my iron levels were not tested.
Trying to conceive after 40 with iron deficiency anemia
My fiancé' and I are currently trying to conceive again, just a couple of months following our loss in September. I am continuing to take Geritol, along with a prescribed iron supplement to help maintain healthy iron levels. My doctor hopes that this is all I need, but there's a possibility that I may need an iron infusion or injections. I kind of hate that idea, so I'm hoping the supplements work along with the Geritol.
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