Secondary Infertility

[MammaBear18]

Probably jumping ahead a bit too much (my cycles returned in September) but I'm wondering at what point did you talk to GP about struggling to conceive a second baby?

Thank you

[WhiteVixen]

I went and had a chat after about six months of ttc. Your options are somewhat limited on the NHS if you already have a child. I’d taken notes detailing my cycles as I had been tracking everything and it was clear that I was ovulating very late in my cycle, if at all, and then had a short luteal phase. The doctor was very understanding, and said she’d be happy to refer us for clomid, but that was pretty much all there was available if we weren’t able to find it ourselves.

[MammaBear18]

Thank you @WhiteVixen, that's really helpful. My cycles are very regular now - I did have the same thing as you before I conceived DS by the sound of it!

I'll book an appointment soon!

[WhiteVixen]

I went the other way. My cycles were textbook when we conceived our now 7 year old daughter. After her they were sporadic for a while (breastfeeding) then I had a copper coil fitted for a year, then I had that removed and they went screwy.
We didn’t actually follow up with the referral at the time, but another year or so passed with nothing happening so we’d talked again about going back for help. Then I found out I was pregnant and I’m now 13 weeks.

[Minibow]

Conceived fisrt two pretty quickly. Youngest is 3. Have been trying for #3 for 18 months.

During 20 week scan with number 2 they said they saw a fibroid. So with this on my mind I went to the GP after six months of no BFP.

Long story short they were hopeless. We paid privately for a fertility MOT for both of us. Consultant says there's no reason we aren't getting pregnant and now we are older (37) it can just take a while longer.

A year on and I am losing my mind. She's said we can try Clomid (though I already ov so it's not proven to help) but to think about IUI.

I know gathering stories and information helps me so I hope this is useful to you xx

[Drizzlehair]

Thyroid!

First DC conceived first month of trying. Stopped bf at 18 months for a 6 month break then ttc again. Nothing.

Went to GP aftet 6 months requesting bloods. Tests showed no hormone irregularities except mildly high TSH (5.1).

GP mentioned it as an aside to keep an eye on, separate from fertility.

Went to private fertility clinic, they retested, flagged thyroid as the number 1 thing to sort in preparation for ivf. For ttc you want under 2.5. GP didn't know. Cue a big argument with GP about thyroid tablets. Failed ivf, moved house, new GP instantly gave me a year of thyroid tablets, conceived naturally, the next month, when TSH reached 1.3

In my admittedly limited experience GPs don't know much about the desired TSH range for conceiving, they just refer to the range for 'normal life'

Good luck

[Minibow]

@Drizzlehair do they test that routinely? I've never had any conversations about that

[Drizzlehair]

I think they do at fertility specialists. My GP just noticed it when doing my ovulation blood tests, but the experts at guys leapt on it.

My previous GP had never heard of it and tried their best to refuse me tablets, fighting me and only giving a week at a time when I sobbed about the need for ivf. With a hospital request for a prescription they wouldn't counter sign it until I kicked off loudly multiple tines

My new GP had never heard of it either but gave me a prescription for a year's worth in the sport, plus a free prescription card

4 weeks later I had a bun in the oven. He is now an almost 2 Yr old and unbelievably cute.

I don't know if it was thyroid or ivf drugs kick starting the release of my last good egg (also v low AMH) but it worked, and I was always amazed GPs didn't help with this

[Minibow]

That's helpful thank you.