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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Age 32, ttc for 6 months and getting worried :(

30 replies

Bellini239 · 31/01/2016 11:18

Hi everyone, I'm quite new to mumsnet... I have been ttc for 6 months now and am starting to get down and frustrated about the whole thing. I guess that I never expected it to take this long, possibly very naively, and each month that goes on I do feel concerned that there is something wrong with me. We use ovulation test sticks every month and each time I do get a positive reading, which I guess is a good thing. Does anybody know how long it can take or have any advice? Thanks so much for your time xx

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Original poster
Bellini239 · 11/02/2016 22:30

Hi Archduchess, in so sorry that I didn't reply earlier, I actually only saw the end of the thread now and saw what you wrote so please forgive me for ranting on about when to have sex and the lh surge!

Wow, so in a way, do you feel happy that you have identified the sperm as an issue? I can imagine it upset him somehwhat, but from a pragmatic point of view I guess it's good to know why and now you can evaluate options. Is he ok? I know for some men it can quite hurtful to hear that about their swimmers!

Hmmm, re checking the tubes, I mean I heard they do that via a laparoscopy so it isn't to painful to recover from... Is it expensive? Would your job cover the cost of it through healthcare insurance?

Not to bat on about the acupuncture, but I really did hear that Chinese medicine is very good for boosting men sperm count, mainly Chinese herbs, and can increase the quality of sperm a lot. Does your partner eat well? I'm sure sleep would have quite a lot to do with it as it probably helps to regenerate the sperm.

If you live in London like me there are so many Chinese herbal shops, might be worth a gander.

How are you feeling about it all? Did you do an amh test?

Thanks for th tips on the lh surge! I feel I double check myself on everything at the moment!! Oh did I do it too early too much, doh!!!

Speak soon archduchess x

Zoe: hi Zoe! Nice to meet you! I know it's frustrating!! I'm going for acupuncture on Saturday, have you had any tests done? X

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Archduchess · 11/02/2016 21:18

Straight away! Then keep going for at least a couple of days... I think even better to have been having sex a couple of days beforehand, too, but I suppose that's only useful if you know you're going to stay interested enough over the next few days.

Original poster
Bellini239 · 11/02/2016 19:52

Can I ask everyone something this is probably very silly ... When you get a positive ovulation test, when do you start having sex?

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Archduchess · 11/02/2016 18:17

Hello!

Zoe, the symptoms are maddening aren't they? I tell myself it's pointless to look out for them but I always do.

Bellini, in case you're interested in what happened at the consultation today... It just involved a sperm analysis and a chat with a doctor.

The sperm analysis showed male factor problems: his count was low, movement / motility a little bit under average and the shape / morphology was also not fantastic. I feel so bad for him, it (of course) took the wind out of his sails.

At the moment, he doesn't sleep enough, or exercise, and his diet is also not great... He seems genuinely determined to change all that after the results. If he is disciplined and changes his lifestyle, I am hopeful that the stats will go up. I don't know if this is ridiculously naive... The doctor didn't seem wildly optimistic.

But we'll get another sperm analysis in two or three months' time and see what the effects are! If the results get no better, the doctor thought we have a pretty low (but non-zero) chance of conceiving naturally and would need to go to ICSI (not even "just" IVF).

I now need to decide whether I want to go ahead and have any investigations to see whether there might be anything wrong with my tubes, too. The doctor today said not to bother: it seems we've identified that the issue is my partner, there are no signs of any problems with me, and if we go to ICSI my tubes will not be called upon! I am still vaguely tempted to get a HyCoSy, but maybe that's a waste of time and money.

So, onwards we go... Sorry for droning on forever in this post, but it was quite a day. If anyone reading has any similar experiences, please reply! I'm also going to check out the infertility boards...

Original poster
Bellini239 · 10/02/2016 20:01

Yes, that's good... Try not to think about it... After seeing my doctor, I'm feeling so much more relaxed about it all and it's supposed to be fun which is easy to forget!

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Zoefitness · 10/02/2016 19:29

Hi Bellini, i am in the same boat as you. We've been trying for five months now, currently on month 6.
I too get smily faces when I'm ovulating and we have always dtd around this time, so why the hell am I not pregnant yet. I am literally going mad this month.

The worst thing about it is for at least two cycles I have had pregnancy symptoms. The last cycle in particular, missed af for the first time ever! Cramping in my pelvis, boob pain etc. I was convinced I was pregnant but apparently I may have had a cyst!! All of this is just making me more and more crazy

Really thinking of trying the acupuncture now.

Flamingoblue1 · 10/02/2016 19:22

Yes I did a test last week before my mad period/bleed that was negative so I don't think I am. Oh well come what may... Im trying not to get too bothered by it all

Original poster
Bellini239 · 10/02/2016 19:02

I take it yes, but not after ovulation. It's quite potent apparently... I think if you did a pregnancy test then that would confirm it? X

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Flamingoblue1 · 10/02/2016 18:43

Thanks guys. I'm going GP tomorrow. Someone on another thread queried whether I was already pregnant due to nature of bleeding but I doubt it. I'm taking agnus cactus is anyone else ?

Original poster
Bellini239 · 10/02/2016 14:16

Thanks for the posts everyone! Archduchess, let me know how your consultation goes? I think it's natural to be worried, but if anything is wrong at least it can be fixed. I had my amh done again, the doctor sent me an interesting report about the peripheries by age groups that are acceptable, happy to pass on to you! Good luck and keep me posted xx

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Archduchess · 10/02/2016 07:21

Hi Bellini!
Great to hear you're feeling more relaxed, fingers crossed that you'll get good news soon. Glad to hear the doctor was quite reassuring about your situation at the moment, and it's great that you are happy with the option of private IVF if needed.
My partner and I are both going to a fertility clinic tomorrow for our initial consultation, so that should help work out what is next for us. I expect they will offer tests like a HyCoSy to check my tubes, as you say, and my partner's booked to do a sperm analysis with them.
I'm quite nervous about it... But I know we need to find out what's wrong, if they can identify the problem(s). I expect it will take at least a few weeks, if not months, from tomorrow to actually get all the tests done and results back, so I should probably pace my anxiety!

And Flamingoblue, good luck to you too. I have heard that you should go to the doctor before a year is up, if there is something noticeably strange about your cycle (or any other reason for thinking there might be a treatable cause of not conceiving). It may well turn out not to be anything, but might be worth getting your cycles checked out.

Beansprout30 · 09/02/2016 23:13

Me

Beansprout30 · 09/02/2016 23:12

Good luck with acupuncture, I'm sure that's what helped my get pregnant after 18 months x

ijustwannadance · 09/02/2016 23:01

Took me 9 months to conceive at 32.

Original poster
Bellini239 · 09/02/2016 22:51

Hmmm, I'm not too sure tbh... Are you ovulating each month? Someone told me that Angus castus is very good for helping to regulate periods X

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Flamingoblue1 · 09/02/2016 22:16

I was going to go GP tomorrow but I'm not sure if the junior doctors strike will affect appointments etc?

Original poster
Bellini239 · 09/02/2016 11:21

Hi Flamingoblue! Sorry to hear you're feeling frustrated, have you been to your doctor? Xx I know how you feel, every month that goes on it becomes more annoying to see a negative test!

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Flamingoblue1 · 09/02/2016 10:23

I'm 29 and been trying since October with no luck. Periods all over the place. Last period was light stopped and started and generally a pain. Getting fed up now xx

Original poster
Bellini239 · 07/02/2016 21:09

Hi Archduchess, how's it going?
Hope you had a lovely weekend

So, I went to see my doctor and explained that I was worried about not conceiving after 5 months and she told me it was very normal, but did say that after a year it's best to immediately do tests to see whether or not Fallopian tubes are blocked... Because if they are it doesn't matter how many times you have sex!
But I did explain to her that I didn't really want to wait too long because I do want to have quite a big family, preferably by the age of 36 and to avoid the health risks of having children older.... So se said I could try the IUI or even try IVF privately and did warn me that NHS queues are looooooong!!

But actually since I went I do feel more relaxed about the situation and feel that I will probably try IVF later this year... I also booked for fertility acupuncture this weekend, so maybe that might help? I'm not sure!

What about you?

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Original poster
Bellini239 · 02/02/2016 18:47

Hi archduchess, thanks I definitely will keep you posted and pass on any feedback I get. Speak soon! X

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Archduchess · 02/02/2016 06:44

Thanks Bellini for offering to ask your doc a question on my behalf. Don't worry though, I have my appointment quite soon, so I can save them for then. I hope it goes well at your appointment this week, let us know how it goes!

Original poster
Bellini239 · 01/02/2016 22:54

Hi Osirus, really, how did you know so quickly it wouldn't happen for you? Can you tell me about the ivf procedure, was it painful? I can't decide whether to wait a bit more or get going with ivf! Thanks!

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Osirus · 01/02/2016 22:30

I started trying at 31 and knew by cycle 3 it wasn't going to work for us. I was right. We've just had IVF and I'm now 20 weeks pregnant. The testing and waiting for IVF seems to take forever but we found the treatment itself quite straightforward and not too stressful, although I know some people suffer terribly with side effects.

Original poster
Bellini239 · 01/02/2016 09:44

Archduchess: yes, I know how you feel about all of the vitamins! I'm not sure if they do much good either lol. I'm going to see my doctor this week so I will let you know what they say! If there is anything you'd like me to ask on your behalf let me know

Felloutofbed: thanks for the reply! May I ask how many courses of acupuncture you had? How long had you been trying before you finally got pregnant? X

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FellOutOfBedTwice · 01/02/2016 06:59

I tried for six months aged 28 and Accupuncture and Chinese medicine seemed to work for me. I was diagnosed by a Chinese doctor as being damp and my hormones being out of kilter as a result. I have rheumatoid arthritis which is apparently a common "damp" disease that makes your hormones go out of wack. Worked for me and I became pregnant. It might be bollocks but for £100 for the Accupuncture and herbs I felt it was money well spent. May be worth a go.

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