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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.

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Original poster

How long to wait before trying IVF

39 replies

lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 20:11

Hi, my husband and I both turn 30 this year. We have been trying for a baby for 8 months with no luck. A few months back we decided to get tested to check everything is ok. My CD3 and CD21 blood tests and scans all came back normal. My husbands semen analysis came back normal (morphology was low at 3% but based on a count of 313m and concentration of 84%, the doctor said he was classified normal overall). For the last 8 months we've been taking pre conception supplements and I've been using OPKs to estimate ovulation timing. The doctor has also confirmed that I am ovulating. We are starting to ask ourselves when we would move to IVF/ICSI if we don't conceive naturally. We have decided that we would go private so that we have a bit more say over timings. We both feel ready for IVF now but think it would be sensible to give it a full 12 months to give us the best statistical chance of conceiving naturally. My question is, how long would you wait? Do you think that 12 months is long enough? Thanks!

OP posts:
Whereland · 22/01/2017 22:49

I'm not talking about this with no experience- I've been trying two years and just looking at starting treatment now. So yes, in comparison 8 months is not a long time!! As most other people on this infertility board would agree.

Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:46

Northernlurker - hi, I didn't say 8 or 12 months 'is an impossible time to wait' so please don't be offended because I didn't actually say that!

OP posts:
Northernlurker · 22/01/2017 22:43

IVF is hugely invasive and may have long term consequences for your own health. For some people it's the right thing to move to eventually but for two thirty year olds with no identified problems it is frankly absurd to be thinking of it. And it's kind of offensive actually to be talking about eight months or twelve as an impossible length of time to wait when some posters wait the same number of years and still no baby. Be patient OP.

Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:35

Celtic - Thanks. I try to remind myself of the IVF success rates, I have to remember it's not a automatic baby! If only they could develop a process that was a guaranteed success! 🙂

OP posts:
Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:31

Desolate, I think we would go private. Mainly because I'm not sure we'd be eligible for NHS - no problems identified, under 40 and been trying less than 2 years. I definitely wouldn't want to take someone's place in the queue who was more in need than us!

OP posts:
Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:29

Thanks Nanoo. We did early testing privately because we wanted to rule out any major problems if that was the case.

OP posts:
Celticlassie · 22/01/2017 22:27

Remember that IVF is no guarantee of a pregnancy. I've known a few people who have had multiple rounds of IVF with no success, which, after all that's invested in it, can be heartbreaking. I'd consider giving it 2 years before going for it. Flowers

Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:27

I know that it is normal for it to take up to a year. c90% of women who can conceive will do so within 12 months so I wouldn't say it is 'normal' for it to take >12 months.

Whereland - I've got to say this.... it's so insensitive and unsupportive to say 8 months is not long at all. Yes, it's not long in the scheme of my whole life and not long in comparison to how long many other couples have been trying but 8 months of thinking about and wishing for a baby every single day is a long time!!!! Maybe you don't feel the same way and 8 months is easy for you but that doesn't give you the right to say it's not a long time for me.

OP posts:
DesolateWaist · 22/01/2017 22:22

Leave it for 12 months. I know that it seems forever.
Will you get any NHS funding or will you be self funding?

I know how it feels. It seems like forever, especially when some people seem to get knocked up by looking at their DHs

NanooCov · 22/01/2017 22:20

I'm amazed you had semen analysis and blood work at 5 months! 8 months is honestly not very long. Most couples wouldn't even do any investigations until 12 months of trying - I was 37 and my husband 38 and we waited 12 months before any tests. Got pregnant at 15 months. I'd just try to relax.

Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:18

Based on the studies I've researched, it seems around 90% of women who are able to get pregnant will do so within the first 12 months. Therefore, for me personally, 12 months feels like a sensible and logical time to start thinking about it. I know everyone is different and many people would choose to wait 2 years so I'm interested to understand people's reasons for waiting longer to help me make a balanced decision.

OP posts:
Whereland · 22/01/2017 22:16

Yes it seems a long time. But it is normal for it to take a healthy couple with no issues 1-2 years to conceive.

Original poster
lifesapeach · 22/01/2017 22:09

8 months is a v long time when you really want a baby, i can say from personal experience. I'm surprised anyone could think otherwise!

OP posts:
Whereland · 22/01/2017 21:54

There seems to be an influx of these posts recently...
honestly, 8 months is absolutely no time at all. Most people would wait 2 years before even considering ivf.