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Infertility

Newbie here, cycles between 31 and 44 days in the past 6 months making me feel negative already, do I still have to wait a year before going to the DR??

13 replies

FeministInTraining · 10/11/2012 13:59

Hi ladies, newbie here. I'm not sure if I should post this here (I already put it in conception). I don't want to be insensitive as I haven't been trying for any length of time and there may not be any problem at all- but I am heavily suspecting there may be and thought that someone may have had a similar experience to me at the beginning before being diagnosed with anything.

Apologies in advance for the length of this, I didn't realise how much I had been bottling my worries until I started. Promise it wont happen again!!

We had been toying around with the idea of TTC for several months and decided we would go for it last month. I had my copper coil taken out in April in preparation- and due to the fact I thought I would die each month due to the amount of blood I was losing! My main issue it that my periods are all over the place. They have never been perfect (other than when I was taking the pill a few years ago). I always worried this would be a problem, in the last 6 months I have had anything between 31 and 44 day cycles. Last month was the 44 day cycle that made me paranoid (to put it mildly) about my fertility and DP was really happy that it prompted me to say let's do it now- I started my job just over a year ago so was trying to be considerate (and avoid the looks of disapproval) by waiting a bit.

Sooo... According to my iPhone app, I should have ovulated yesterday based on my average of a 38 day cycle. According to OPKs I haven't ovulated at all (although I got a faint line about 2 days before I was 'due' to ovulate). According to my CM I may have ovulated- it was increased around the time I got the faint line on the OPK but there was no EWCM although I know I've had it before- in the good ole' days where it was just annoyingly slimy (TMI?!) and not important... According to my BBT chart I am possibly not human. My chart bears no resemblance to the samples I've seen. There is no dip, and for the last few days there has been a slight incline of 0.01 degrees per day.

Nonetheless we have been DTD- which for us involves taking a break to incorporate a sterile pot and syringe due to various reasons- the short story without TMI is that DP finds it difficult to ejaculate through intercourse. We did this three times in the last week (every other day). We were supposed to do it again last night but we ran out of pots. We have decided to just use a fresh disposable plastic cup (we've got a syringe left) so we can have one last go this cycle and then order more online.

I guess I'm just worried and I'm not sure if I'm 'allowed' to be. I'm 25, DP is 30 which supposedly (to the naive) means everything should be fine. But my cycles are so inconsistent it's already made me feel a bit hopeless and I'm really worried I'm not ovulating. I had an ultrasound for PCOS about 5 years ago and everything was fine, but I know there are lots of other things that could be going on. I'm under the impression that there's no point in me seeing my DR until we have been TTC for a year. Does a 44 day cycle make any difference? I haven't taken hormonal contraception for at least 2 years as I wanted to know how regular (or not) my periods were and I didn't want hormones to mask the problem.

I don't know what I'm looking for, I guess I want a mix of reassurance and honesty! DP is really supportive but doesn't really understand it all and I've only told a couple of other people in RL that we are TTC as I don't want to have to face awkward conversations if it takes a while...

Apologies again for my waffling, and thanks if you took the time to read it all!

OP posts:
amazingmumof6 · 10/11/2012 22:21

have you sen gp or ob-gyn since you've taken out coil?

your ovulation is irregular, you sound quite stressed (enemy of fertility!) and the way you are trying to conceive suggests that you definitely need advice from a medical professional asap!

I think you definitely have a good chance of getting pregnant as you are both young and keen (my oh my with the pots you poor things!), but you must both make sure you are healthy as well - you did have heavy bleeding with coil and that defo needs checked out!

did you know you can get pregnant from the little drops that are present on the tip of the penis way before ejaculation? get drunk, have a good shag for fun (come or not), see gp on Monday

FeministInTraining · 11/11/2012 10:53

Thanks amazingmum I think I will go back to the family planning clinic that removed my coil. Apparently copper coils (non hormonal) are known to cause heavy bleeding so not anything out of the ordinary. I wish we could just shag and not think but the only way we can have sex is with a condom (DP tight foreskin, surgeon advised against operation on the morning he turned up for it as it's likely to make it worse, was trying to avoid TMI sorry!). Funnily enough DP has managed to 'finish the job' while wearing a (non spermicidal) condom twice in the last few weeks which is a massive breakthrough for us. This morning we managed to use the syringe to get the magic stuff out of the condom as we didn't want to waste it!

Thinking I might waif for AF before going to clinic- sounds silly but I don't want to jinx it by assuming nothing has worked this month, feel like I should give my body a chance first!

OP posts:
amazingmumof6 · 11/11/2012 17:04

well done him, great step forward by the sound of it!

"jinx it" yes, you could be pregnant already, but it really is best to act and get checked out and get the info you need, so if you do get a period you'll be more knowledgeable and less stressed next time round, thus increasing the chances of getting pregnant!

(sorry for comment about just shag, I forget not everyone gets pregnant as easily as I do...I'm/we are so fertile, we joke about how some of our kids could have been the result of a text or a high 5! Smile)

amazingmumof6 · 11/11/2012 17:12

and now I feel guilty, coz it sounds like I'm rubbing it in, so so sorry, I didn't mean to be insensitive!

quite the opposite!

I actually feel so much for all people who struggle to conceive precisely because we never have (it actually makes me feel a bit guilty...), so although I'm trying to be supportive I feel I should just shut up as I know
nothing about what you are going through!

again massive apologies!Thanks

amazingmumof6 · 11/11/2012 17:12

what's AF?

FeministInTraining · 11/11/2012 18:23

Don't be silly, I haven't been attempting this TTC malarkey for long enough to be that sensitive (although I will happily accept the flowers Grin) We're quite lighthearted about it all although that may change in a few months! You are being very supportive, thank you, I'm new to this and am just grateful to get another perspective on things. Was half expecting someone to tell me off for posting in 'infertility' as I haven't been trying long enough!

AF/Aunt Flo- period. It took me a while to google figure that one out!

OP posts:
amazingmumof6 · 11/11/2012 22:03

you are a sweetie! I'm happy that my rambling on makes a positive difference! Smile

Ideally you should conceive within 12 months from TTC if you are in tip-top health (forget about wedding night babies!)

I think it's best to know that either there are no underlying medical problems to jeopardize conception - or if there's a problem what it is and what treatment is available and how to proceed!

put your mind at ease and book a visit I say
good luck!

Bud123love · 26/11/2012 07:53

Hey, i know u sed u had tested for pcos and didnt have it, but i have a 41-43 day cycle and that is the result of pcos! I was so worried about trying coz i assumed i just wouldnt be able to get pregnant! I used opk and basal temp, all crap if u ask me! The best way to find out if ur ovulating is to spend a whole cycle tracking symptoms, and if on second cycle the clear mucus shows around the same time, then u know when ur ovulating! When i got my bfp it worked out i must have ovulated 1 week after my last period! Be patient and just check your symptoms! Good luck and try not to worry, i worried that much that i that i fort it was impossible, but when it happens, you think what was i worrying about! Hope i have helped! Good luck and keep trying! Xxx

FeministInTraining · 02/12/2012 00:52

Hi Bud123love I've only just seen this- came on here as I'm feeling a bit sorry for myself, OPKs feel like a waste of time and doing this AI stuff is stressing me out. We tried this morning and ended up trying to scrape semen into the pot because we missed it!! I didn't even want to bother but DP was adamant we should still give it a go and not waste it! Sorry for TMI. Anyway, thanks for the advice it's much appreciated I shall defo be symptom tracking this month and next

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 02/12/2012 08:52

Hi FIT

I would also echo the counsel to make an appt with the GP now with a view to obtaining a referral.

The ultrasound scan was done I note 5 years ago, you need an up to date result. Also cystic follicles associated with PCOS can and do disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. PCOS could well be the underlying cause of your irregular periods.

OPKs and charting are pretty much a waste of time if the menstrual cycle is irregular in nature.

With regards to DP, I would seek a second opinion from another surgeon asap re his foreskin problem. It needs to be properly addressed.

Missirregular · 04/12/2012 21:49

My first post, please keep us posted, your story is the most similar to mine, with the exception of the coil! Can I just say bout CM how can you track when haven't sex so often? I have semen coming out of me in dribs and drabs for a few days after sex and with having sex every 2-3 days how do I distinguish between? Its never clear! Sorry for TMI I am just so irregular with cycles! 35-63 days apart no POCS have had clear scans! Camera smear and swabs all ok and everything "working". I am 27 years old actively TTC since feb. off pill for 2 years - no signs. I bought at at home male fertility test for hubby, both ok. Starting to get down....

FeministInTraining · 04/12/2012 23:11

Well to update... I couldn't resist using OPK on Sunday- and got my first positive! I know this isn't a guarantee of anything but it has given me some peace of mind as it seems like something is doing what it should. I'm definitely still going to make an app with GP once I've finally registered at the new one- prob not until the new year- but I feel a bit more positive this week. Wasn't able to DTD on Sunday but we had the pot scraping incident on Sat and resumed business as usual on Monday. FX but even if it doesn't work this month I'll keep at my little cheap OPKs as they work for me.
missirregular I haven't got the hang of cervical mucus either- I get more of it at certain times of the month but haven't had the egg white stuff and haven't worked out ovulation time from it. I would try another way if that doesn't work for you- OPKs or temp tracking? I am assuming you know you are ovulating when you say everything is working? Have they just given up looking for a reason now? Sorry for bombarding you with questions I'm new to this stuff myself! Maybe go to GP in the new year and ask them to test DH- by then you will be coming up to a year. In the meantime enjoy the festivities and let the cold weather be a nice excuse to do more baby making Wink

OP posts:
AttilaTheMeerkat · 05/12/2012 12:39

Miss Irregular

Re your comment;-

"Sorry for TMI I am just so irregular with cycles! 35-63 days apart no POCS have had clear scans! Camera smear and swabs all ok and everything "working". I am 27 years old actively TTC since feb. off pill for 2 years - no signs. I bought at at home male fertility test for hubby, both ok"

No recent blood tests, no recent semen analyses? (note that is plural). Any test result over 6 months old should be discounted as well. You need up to date test results.

They've missed something and it is all too easy to be fobbed off; cystic follicles associated with PCOS can and do disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. Also it can take a highly skilled sonographer to spot such follicles. Both of you should be tested further to see where the problems lie; it could be that you are both subfertile.

Please seek medical advice and get referred asap to gynae at a subfertility unit. DO not take no for an answer. Home fertility kits are really not worth doing or are actually worth the money; seek proper medical advice instead.

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