Over 40 ttc - summer baby dust for me!

@Hobbes39 - thanks for your advice - the benefit of your experience is very helpful 😊 you’re right that at the moment implantation feels like the next goal but I am fully aware that it’s just the next step in a long Road but I’m just trying to think it through one step at a time right now. As for not getting my hopes up - that’s fine, the hope and positivity is great for my sanity during the TWW, but I’m fully aware of how low the chance of success is - really glad we paid for 3 cycles as it takes some of the stress and pressure off this one.

@Cookiewaffle -I think it’s very important that FSH and LH blood tests are done on CD3 - can’t believe your doc didn’t mention that. I would check it out before you go or you might waste a whole cycle!

@Littlemimosa - I’m so sorry you’re feeling so down and wish i knew what to say to help! Cleo’s experience sounds hopeful for you but may be worth taking a hpt just in case?!

I meant last cycle Mimosa

Ali - doubt it. We have dtd a few times since AF but honestly I’d be gobsmacked if I’ve ovulated without a hint of ewcm or any other signs. Sorry for tmi but I’m as dry as a dessert down there! Like unusually dry. Coupled with a few hot flashes (mild to be fair) I’m convinced there’s not been an egg this cycle. I guess I could test at some point but it hadn’t crossed my mind.

Cleo - thanks for letting me know what happened to you. It is reassuring to know that you had squiffy cycles but that they’ve now returned quite regular.

Thanks @Critter, although the doc and the receptionist didn't mention when I should be having them! Booked for next week which happens to be fertile week, perhaps i should rebook?

@Dickybow321 the first one told me i needed to wait a year of trying at 40 and gave me something for anxiety as one of my stresses was not being pregnant lol. Googled the stuff she gave me, NHS site said it was potentially harmful to unborn babies. So I went in and saw a doc I'd known for a while. She suggested the drugs should be ok, also suggested to keep trying a little longer but when I brought up the question of tests, knowing my mum had taken 6 years to have me, she said if i really wanted to I could book in for a blood test, then if I wanted to improve my chances, look at IVF depending on the results of the blood test.

Dickybow - i think general rules for IVF on NHS were under 40, no previous pregnancies, and ttc for over 2 years. However some areas have cut all funding for IVF, so it no longer exists, it's private only where I'm based, even for young people struggling to become first time parents. I think the current government has plans to take this to more areas too. (Bastards)

Critter that sounds really promising. My implantation felt very much like ovulation pains. Like sharp twinges

@CritterTamer - meant to add before - i don't want to get your hopes up too much, but one thing I should say is that 1-2 day's post 5 day transfer is def the right time for implantation, so could be a v good sign, I just know from bitter experience that implantation might feel like the end goal at the moment, but is just another step... I'm sorry if that sounds overly negative tho x

@Dickybow321 - it totally varies by location - I'm in Scotland and didn't qualify for nhs IVF as have a DS already. I think that's the same in most places. Cut off for age is 40 here (at the time you would be treated I believe, not the time you go on waiting list) and when they test your AMH It needs to be above 5 I think. I'm not sure as I didn't qualify but I seem to remember the what a friend who did qualify told me.

Mimosa, any chance you could be pg?

@CookieWaffle (your name is making me hungry )
what did you say to the doctors each time and what did the first one say?

@Cookiewaffle - that’s good news - make sure you book them for day 3 of your next cycle. Glad she was more helpful for you 😊

So I went back to the doctors this morning as I'd had not much help from the previous one. She told me to book for FSH blood tests so a bit more helpful that the last doctor..

@Dickybow321 - I think it varies depending on where you are, but I think the general rules are 2years + TTC, aged under 42 and no particular signs of low ovarian reserve, plus not having had any private treatment (although I did speak to one lady who had had some private cycles but was still offered one by the NHS). As I said I think it varies by location - apparently it’s much easier to get it in Scotland!

Sorry, that last sentence was to @KeepingTheFaith9
, but if anybody knows the rules I'd be interested in hearing them before my appointment tomorrow. Thanks xx

Ooh, critter, that sounds promising! 😊I've never experienced implantation cramps or ovulation twinges or anything like that, so I don't know. I've got everything crossed for you 😊😊

That's poo that GPs aren't very helpful when it comes to fertility. So what are the rules with IVF on the NHS?

@Hobbes39 - thank you, good to know it’s not a bad sign even if it’s not necessarily a good one either! I did wonder if it could be something to do with all these progesterone pessaries but I’ve been on those 6 days now and this started pretty suddenly this afternoon so who knows! Would be awesome to have a tiny camera in there and see what’s going on LOL

Hi @CritterTamer - implantation cramping can feel like that, but so can cramping caused by the ivf drugs - having had 3 fresh and 3 frozen cycles of IVF, half of which have been BFN and half BFP i can categorically say that for me anyway there was no way of knowing the difference. Only thing I can say is that pinching/ pulling sensation is not a bad sign, it just might not mean anything either. Sounds like you have good quality blasts though, so you are def in with a chance 😊. X

Hi all

Ladies that have had DC and/or BFPs (sadly I’ve had neither), what does implantation cramping feel like? For the past couple of hours I’ve been having weird pinching and pulling feelings in my uterus - some are quite sharp and uncomfortable. Trying not to get too excited and hopeful but also worried something is wrong - never felt anything like this before. I don’t even get AF cramps so have nothing to compare it to.

Sorry if it’s a silly question - just a bit concerned/excited LOL

Dickybow, fertility cleanse sounds interesting, I might look into doing that.
As for NHS tests, it will be basic FSH/LH and progesterone. And if its bad (as mine was) then you'll need to try and suppliment etc to help it. GP won't do any more.
Good luck

Cleozeta not sure about all month, I can't remember which lovely lady said it now.. but on days like today it's hard not to hit the lollies.. but I'm being good..
shinyblackdog I think I also read about raspberry leaf tea for womb lining..
littlemimosa could you try just dtd every couple of days throughout your cycle... it does get so disheartening but while af still comes there's still hope.. 💕

Dickybow - good luck at the doctors - the NHS are not fertility friendly in most regions but I wish you a benevolent GP! X 🍀

Mimosa - I just don’t know what’s going on - and that’s the truth. OPKs have never worked for me so I’ve gone on pain and EWCM - both of which come every other month. Since the TCM - cycles have gone from 27 days to 40+ but this could be coincidental tbh. As I said I have been lured into buying Ovu-Sense just to get a grip of what’s going on - it’s supposed to be over 90% accurate so I feel hopeful. I just want to know. Today is day 8 of feeling like crap - nausea and generally off food, then feeling starving but not fancying anything - so fed up feeling like this. 😬 I’ve heard lots about killer cells but know this would be a private test so not for me atm. X

@Dickybow321 - I don’t think many GPs will do AMH, it’s a lot more expensive than FSH, LH and progesterone. Never hurts to ask though! It seems to be a lottery as to whether you’ll get Estradiol as well, my GP wouldn’t do that nor even my private clinic (but I think that’s just because they use AMH which is said to be the best indicator).
Good luck with the appointment tomorrow 😊

At work so posting quickly, but cleo and mimosa the cleanse consists of doing a liver detox first, which is basically some herbal teas and supplements and then the second phase is a 'uterine cleanse' which is more teas and supplements that are meant to be good for the womb. I feel like i need a good detox after that ridiculously heavy period. You just follow a healthy diet and avoid caffeine, alcohol etc. I'm trying to lose weight too so that side of it should be easy.

I've booked a Dr's appt tomorrow to ask for some blood tests to be done to see where I'm up to. What should i be asking for in case the GP isn't well versed in these things? Its a locum I'm seeing.
Day 3 FSH/LH, oestradiol and day 21 progesterone? Anything else? Do they do AMH on the NHS? Is is even worth doing? If the results are bad then what? Eek!

Mimosa - I don't think I had many hot moments, although it was hard to tell, as it was summer (about this time last year) although thinking about it, I did get overly hot when rushing around, and I'd wake up in the night with sweats and palpatations - but only after alcohol.
The main symptoms I remember from that cycle were extreme tiredness, mild nausea, sore boobs, and just feeling generally 'out of sorts'. All opk's were glow in the dark white. And I had major bladder issues, felt like a uti but results at gp came back clear. Then I finally got af which was heavy and constant for about a month, until I got medication from the gp to stop it. Cycle came back after that and I felt a lot more normal. Prior to that I'd had several cycles of very heavy, clotty periods and mid cycle spotting. Plus one cycle where af was very light and long (almost like the tail end of af, but for just over a week) I don't know if I ovulated that cycle as we were not trying then. It was almost like a big build up to this one epic crash cycle, then things restabalised afterwards