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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

Over 40 ttc - August baby dust for me!

934 replies

Orchid222 · 31/07/2018 19:13

Ladies, here's our 2nd summer thread :)

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karryk · 05/09/2018 20:10

Floofsquidge Flowers

I love stories with happy endings Wink

Still no AF here Hmm one day late now. No preggo symptoms so I can only assume the oestrogen tablets have lengthened my cycle maybe?? That's not such a bad thing as I'm a tad on the short side at the mo. If there's no appearance by Friday I'll try a test - I'm in that category that hate testing Grin I try to put it off Blush

Wishing everyone a lovely evening xx

Floofsquidge · 05/09/2018 18:13

Crittertamer that story really made my day thank you! Smile
I’ve had a really shitty day at work today and my stress levels have been skyrocketting because of that and worrying what damage I’m doing to myself.

Russkispy · 05/09/2018 16:09

@Orchid222 , I also believe I was incredibly lucky both times! Also thinking that all supplements and acupuncture contributed to IUI success. I had a couple of scans prior IUI for them to determine the course of action. And was given Clomid to start on cd5. Think you need to book a consultation first, do the blood tests , you and your husband/partner. Do sperm analysis as well. I flew to my clinic then had scans, took Clomid back home and flew on cd10 for the scan. My husband came on the day of IUI to give sperm as they "washed" prior IUI. Not sure how it works in the UK. I was also given progesterone tablets and other pills which gradually stopped once I was 12 weeks (describing my first IUI)

weasledee · 05/09/2018 16:01

What a lovely story critter! There's hope to be had Smile

Funkypuzzle · 05/09/2018 15:55

This all feels more hopeful 🙂

Im now tentatively in 2ww
LP surge yesterday. Im not temping so no idea if I ovulated. Can only hope it happened.
EWCM has dried up.
Im slightly put off as If I did ovulate it was on day 11 suggesting a short follicular phase. I believe this is a sign of ageing ovaries but...Lets not even go there
🙉🙉🙉
Its going to be a long 2 weeks..

CritterTamer · 05/09/2018 15:46

Also I heard a great hopeful story today - I saw my NVQ tutor for the first time in months and she was trying to book an appointment for October so I told her about the IVF cycle to explain that would be a bad time. Anyway she immediately said oh my god I’ve been through it and went on to tell me that at 38 she was told by a consultant that she’d been through the menopause, wasn’t ovulating at all and would never conceive a child of her own. Over the next 2 years she had three failed IUI cycles and a failed IVF cycle with a donor egg. The IVF cycle failed in the October and she basically fell apart and gave up all hope. Was on anti depressants and turned down for adoption because of them. In the following December she miraculously fell pregnant naturally and carried her son to term giving birth at age 41. He’s now a beautiful 4 year old 😊

She made my day with that story so hopefully you all take hope from it too xxx

CritterTamer · 05/09/2018 15:39

@Orchid222 20% success rate (max) for age 40 to 41 sounds about right. I would go sooner rather than later if I were you as it takes a while to get started. We had initial appointment in March for a June cycle. This is because they make you do various tests before they will start and some have to be done at specific times in the cycle. You will need AMH blood test, HSG dye test which has to be done in a hospital on day 7-8 of cycle IIRC. This had to be booked well in advance. Sperm analysis and AFC scan also need to be done, plus blood tests for HIV, hepatitis etc, and there are reams of consent forms which you have to have either 1 or 2 weeks (can’t remember exactly) cooling off period after and it all takes time. After all this you can do treatment planning 1 month before your IVF cycle starts. Also if you’re on a long protocol it takes even longer. Not saying that all clinics are the same but that’s my experience and certain delays like the cooling off period are legal requirements.
They estimate ovarian reserve based on your AMH test result and your AFC scan result. Also everything has to be paid for in advance.

JoJoyorker · 05/09/2018 13:38

Hi ladies, I keep popping in to see how you are all getting on. I hope there is some good news soon. Orchid I just saw you talking about Inositol and wanted to let you know that was one of the supplements I was taking. I've carried on taking it and lots of benefits. I think when TTC it balances insulin so helps with PCOS which I had a mild case of but also really helps with egg quality. A friend with PCOS produces immature eggs and it has helped with that when going through IVF. It was one her clinic recommended her to take. The one I was taking was combined with folic acid. There are other benefits when TTC but I can't remember now.

Cleozeta · 05/09/2018 13:33

No mention of dosage etc. Will look into it if I don't end up seeing them af an appointment. Not sure of cost but imagine its not cheap! All these things cost a fortune unfortunately!

I think they check follicle count with a scan, which can give an idea of ovarian reserve?

Original poster
Orchid222 · 05/09/2018 12:06

Cleo did she mention dosage and whether you take both throughout the cycle?
Do you know how much that appointment with a nutritionist is? The clinic I just rang does a scan during initial appointment and one of the things they look at is ovarian reserve, how can they check that with a scan? Interesting. Bloody expensive but I'm sure it'll be expensive wherever I go.

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Original poster
Orchid222 · 05/09/2018 11:57

Critter-what success rates did your clinic give you? I just rang one that does mild and natural IVF's and they said 14% for mild and 20.3% for natural IVF for my age group which I thought was quite high, no?

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Cleozeta · 05/09/2018 11:57

Orchid - she mainly mentioned inositol and vit D. She said something about it helping the egg quality I think?
They have a nutritionist who you can book an appointment with who would go through diet and suppliments suitable for you individually. I'm tempted to do that.
I've also considered a more local appointment with a clinic to discuss options, have more tests, and consider IUI (with the drugs)

Original poster
Orchid222 · 05/09/2018 11:30

I found the post re: supplements the lady was on before IUI:
Inositol 2 grams twice a day
Melatonin 3 mg at bedtime
Co enzyme Q 10 200 mg twice a day
Folic acid 1 mg once a day
DHEA 50 mg once a day
L-Arginine 1000 mg twice a day

And prenatals of course. I have read about melatonin before but not sure about L-Arginine, any thoughts?

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Original poster
Orchid222 · 05/09/2018 11:21

Weasle-fingers crossed! I'd be testing tomorrow if af doesn't show.

Lets-take the time you need. As Chat said, it is possible to conceive naturally, Faith did it at 43, my grandmother got pregnant with her last one at 44 and that was in the 50's. There are many, many examples like that so it is possible. I do think though that we also need to be realistic because not everyone can get pregnant naturally in their 40's and they might need help. I don't mean to sound discouraging at all but I think, while it's possible naturally, there might be a better chance with some kind of intervention so if you can afford it I think IVF is worth a shot and you can find good pricing like Critter did. Of course the decision is entirely yours but you've been trying for 2 years and whilst you might get pregnant next cycle you might spend another 2 years trying...you just never know but if you can help the process why not try? These are my thoughts anyway because that's exactly what I'm doing. It took me a whole year to get pregnant only to find out that it was an empty sac and I don't have another year to keep trying plus everyone around me is pregnant and I want to join the ranks so looking into various options.

Cleo-interesting about zeta west, what supplements did she recommend? As for inositol did she say what it's supposed to do? I've read online it promotes female fertility. I stupidly stayed up late last night reading IUI success stories over 40 and there was a post from a woman who listed various supplements her RE had her take, one of them being inositol. Of course now I can't find it....but it had that, melatonin, CoQ10, DHEA (interestingly Faith took DHEA prior to her bfp) and something else that I can't remember.

Critter-when does the IVF process start? We'll probably be going on holiday next week and AF is due between Sunday and Tuesday so I think I'd have to write next cycle off but it would be possible to go for it the cycle after right?

Russkispy-your IUI success sounds encouraging and I am tempted to try that before IVF, on the other hand I do think you were very luck to get pregnant on the first cycle both times (even though the 2nd one didn't end the way you wished). How does it work with IUI, do they start monitoring you on CD1? I'm wondering if I could somehow squeeze that one in after my holiday but we wouldn't be back until my cd7 or cd9...I normally ovulate around cd17 so from that point of view there'd still be time but I have a feeling they have to start monitoring much earlier, am I right? Which means either way next cycle won't work.

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weasledee · 05/09/2018 10:28

Well said chat Smile

Still no period here....... I'm never late so all I can think is, it was a chemical and the slight HCG has messed my cycle a bit? Who knowsConfused

Chatbash72 · 05/09/2018 09:29

Ooh @Letsdothis42 sending big hugs it's hard going... have you tried maybe some swimming or yoga.. something to calm the brain... but if you want to sob, just sob or want to stay in bed... do it.. you don't have to justify your actions to anyone..
The urge will come to spur yourself on, but for now you need to go with your emotions.. and rest yourself.. it's a damn hard path and nope we all don't have 70k to spend on ivf..
but there are plenty of stories out there of people who have conceived naturally in their 40's and it was all happening in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's with no intervention.. keep faith xxxxx

karryk · 05/09/2018 06:07

Sending big hugs @Letsdothis42 Flowers

Have you tried or could you try Five Elements acupuncture? I found that when I was going through my miscarriages and generally feeling rubbish (personal and work life was getting on top of me too), it really helped to re-balance and ground me. I went into it thinking if this helps with fertility then fine but if not, I'd just like to feel like me again and that I have a grip on things. It sorted out my (ahem) toilet habits as I was prone to chronic constipation Grin and was worth it for that alone! Wink I also started to take time out to just incorporate things I enjoyed doing, like taking walks. Little things, but they gave me a way to just get back in touch with myself and do some self-care. Flowers

Letsdothis42 · 05/09/2018 01:08

@Orchid @Funkypuzzle and @petrarabbit

Thank you so much for the positivity, had bloods done about a year ago and all was fine then, think I should go again? GP's are about as useful as .... everytime (maybe once this year) Ive gone in its always an unknown GP had a quick glance at record and thats it... I would be so beyond happy with one teeny tiny one..youve all been so great and with everyone chasing that BFP I know I am in a great supportive group, sometimes just sometimes I feel overwhelmed, think its more to do with AF and hormones this month!

PetraRabbit · 04/09/2018 22:16

Floof and Squidgy! (Those user names combine so beautifully hah)....dreaming of a shed....that is surely one of the top ten signs of pregnancy!!
Lets- I'm really feeling for you. I think it's a reminder to the ones here with children already (I have just one) that we are really blessed. But don't get disheartened....doing things, meeting people....It's all positive steps to take you closer to your goal.

Funkypuzzle · 04/09/2018 18:52

Sorry to hear about all the disappointments this month. @letsdothis42 I am sending you a whoosh of baby dust and a hug. Please don’t despair. Have you had your bloods done? Have you confirmed you are ovulating? What does your GP think? Hope you are able to pursue all avenues including alternative therapies.
I am totally curious about acupuncture. I might give it a go if this cycle does not work.
This is my first cycle post Mirena removal and I’m approaching my 42nd birthday. I am blessed with 2 DS but want to try for 3rd before it is too late that is if it is not already too late. I fell pregnant 2 years ago and had a termination after my harmony test was positive. I couldn't face trying again until now!! I hope I don’t live to regret not trying again straight after the termination..

Cleozeta · 04/09/2018 18:03

Weasle you are not out until AF arrives!
Sorry to those that are having a hard time this cycle. I think a fair few of us have been considering IVF.
I went to the zita west open evening yesterday. The clinic looked really good and I liked the way she intertwined the medical side of things with holistic. She highly recommend acupuncture and suppliments alongside ttc weather naturally or IVF.
Has anyone ever tried inositol? It's one I'd never heard of but apparently very good for us oldies.

Original poster
Orchid222 · 04/09/2018 14:29

I just passed 3 people and all of them were very pregnant women :( Grr

Weasle and karryk I hope AF doesn't show for you.

Lets sorry to hear you're so down. I felt like that 3 weeks ago when af arrived, I honestly lost it for a while. I know I'm very lucky to have ds but still trying for so long and not getting anywhere is so disheartening. The only thing I can say is the worst will pass and when you're ready to research clinics it will make you feel better that you're doing something. Don't pay attention to Sharon Marshall's story, there are many women who were successful in the 1st or 2nd round and you could be one of them. Take care of yourself, sending you a big hug x

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Letsdothis42 · 04/09/2018 13:55

Hi all, been off the thread for a few weeks.. quick update (sorry for the downer!)

Age 43
TTC #1 for around 2 years

Im feeling really down today, AF arrived bang on cycle day 28, really feel like crying my eyes out, just really feel like staying in bed and hiding away, have never really felt like this before, just at a loss, can't find the push in me to research clinics, research the unknown that I WANT so much, I've got car/home insurances to sort out and work to do but just have been feeling like a procrastinating F**K for the last few months that all just seems to have come to a head!

As supportive as hubby is, it's all on my head the OPK's the research, he does work really hard, however its just all become a bit overwhelming, I even had a moan to my poor mum earlier about how I should count myself so lucky that everything and all information is at the touch of a button and so many people to offer advice on the internet however it feels like a huge mountain!

Just feel blocked thats the only way I can describe it, like i'm just hoping for appointments to fall into my lap, sorry for the huge moan everyone, had a huge panic watching Sharon Marshall on This Morning and her 7 attempts at IVF, we don't have that much money ... just feeling so so down today.

MATTSMAMMA · 04/09/2018 13:46

WEASLE - I could see a line in yesterday’s photo on the frer early result. Have you do another test?

weasledee · 04/09/2018 12:03

AF due here today too, still no sign....