Do I do my Day 2 hormone levels blood test today? (a bit TMI)

[ZolaBuddleia]

Looked yesterday as if my period was starting, and am due to give Day 2 bloods today.

However, had only pinky red staining yesterday which stopped completely after a few hours. Nothing then at all until I've just wiped after the loo, and it's just more of the same.

I know that you don't count Day 1 until there is proper flow, (occasionally get brown staining so have asked consultant this before), but don't want to mess up my test if for some reason I'm having a freakishly light period and this actually is Day 2.

[Shellster52]

From an objective viewpoint, I don't think I would count what you are describing sounds like day one of your period until you have full flow.

Our cycles are horrible to us aren't they. There must be some huge mind body connection. The one time that you want to make sure you get your bloods done on a specific day to get accurate results, it goes and does this to you.

Mine does the same. I have taken all the pre-IVF supplements and followed a pre IVF diet for maximum success and am anxiously ready to start IVF. Now all of a sudden, my body stops ovulating and the follicle just keeps growing to turn into a cyst, leaving my cycles long, short and everywhere in between. This has never happened before and now suddenly month after month my cycles have gone haywire.

Have you made any decision since? Are you doing bloods in preparation for some assisted fertility treatment and not gotten pregnant naturally after trying for a while?

[ZolaBuddleia]

Having bloods to ascertain whether I'm ovulating. I'm 42 and TTC number 2, have been trying for about 8 months I think.

I don't think we'd do IVF, I'd be worried about the impact on our relationship financially and with the stress of it. We'd consider everything up to that point though, although cost would be a factor.

[Shellster52]

Good luck. I am guessing your period has now arrived and you will be getting your bloods done soon. How soon before you get the results?

After we got our first child (after one year of trying) I remember speaking to another lady who had her son through IVF and recall thinking 'IVF is not for me - I will have my children naturally'. Little did I know I would have no choice in the matter and now here I am preparing to do IVF. My husbands sperm has gone from highly abnormal morphology to 100% abnormal morphology so our chance of conceving naturally is 0%.

I don't dump all the emotions of IVF onto my husband so that it doesn't impact our relationship too much. I know that regular sex reduces DNA damage in sperm but I don't want to say to my husband 'Right, you have to produce a sample for IVF on this day so we are going to have sex every night the five nights before to reduce the DNA damage of your sperm and improve our odds of IVF.' I just try to whoo him in the bedroom so that everything can stay as normal as possible for him. Doesn't help me that I can't let all my emotions and frustrations out though!.

You are so right about the financial impact. Can I ask where you are located? A new clinic opened up last year in Victoria that does IVF at a much cheaper rate. The service is not quite the same but without the clinic, I would not be able to afford IVF at all and my dreams would be over.

[ZolaBuddleia]

Ah yes, it's well and truly here.

Blimey, the situation with your DH's sperm sounds awful. DP gave his sample in for SA a couple of days ago, so we'll get the results of that back and my bloods in about 8 weeks (NHS).

I'm nowhere near London, I'm afraid.

How old is your DC? The longer all this takes, the bigger the age gap, and of course I'm already a senior citizen in fertility terms.

[Shellster52]

My son is 2yrs 3months. Yes, I am 36 so no spring chicken either. I know that might not sound too old but I spoke to another woman recently doing IVF at 42 and she was shocked to discover her AMH was a piddly 4. Made me feel old and used up in fertility terms when I have an AMH of 2.5 at age 36!

So you have an long 8 week wait now. Would love to hear how you get on. This NHS seems to keep you waiting... not great when you don't have age on your side and want to do IVF.

Today is CD1 for me. I am getting some blood results in 1 1/2 hours to say if I have a another cyst or not this cycle. Seems to be happening since last IVF - side effect of drugs? So I am on edge waiting.

[Fraxinus]

I think shellster means Victoria, aus. Not London!

Fx for your results, Zola.

[ZolaBuddleia]

Ah. Nowhere near Australia either.

Thanks, going to spend the next couple of months giving it our all in the bedroom department, and see what the doc says when we get back to him.