TTC #1, cycle 13 and fed up! Whose with me?

@thislittlebird his motility was the same as my Dh's but they would have said normal due to the high count! Mine only had 5ml per ml and terrible morphology too. 2.3% so because only one parameter was low and count is most important they told you normal. I think they look at 3 mainly, count, motility and morphology. Motility should be above 32% I believe. I think vitality should be above 50%. Good luck with scans and blood test today!

I have my AMH and tv ultrasound today @notyetamumbuttrying, then the consultation on Monday which is good, not too much time thinking about it, then nhs 21 day bloods redo to get an nhs referral next week.

What do you guys with more knowledge think of these SA results from July? We were told “normal”, presumably because only one category is especially poor but I’m not any sort of expert on SA results. Going to raise it on Monday with the clinic and try to book him another SA at the GP tomorrow.

Volume 3.78
PH 7.7
Total sperm number 180
Sperm concentration 48
Progressive motility 14
Vitality 38
Morphology (normal) 3.9

There’s clearly a lot of dead and poor moving sperm here so it’s confusing to me that they think this is relatively normal, I can only assume the quantity balances it out somewhat?

@thislittlebird yay to the monitor showing you peak, that's good! when's your consultation booked for or does that get booked in once the results are bk?

Finally getting the breakdown of results today I hope and I got my first ever peak on my clear blue fertility monitor

It’s vaguely exciting because OPKs never worked for me but this has on month one which is great.

Oh and we don’t have any single friends or childless friends either @CurbsideProphet. We had two and then they both announced they were expecting in March and May so now we have none, which sucks.

@Theawkwardblonde nice to hear the spotting is hopefully nothing to be concerned about.

@thislittlebird sorry that you’re having so much trouble with your dr surgery.

@CurbsideProphet keeping everything crossed that things work out for you!

I should add I didn’t know that about where you can get results but hopefully they’ll send them tomorrow. Sigh.

@CurbsideProphet honestly they’re really getting me down. They should have offered us an appointment to discuss the results, not just hand them out on the phone. But when they told us both “normal” or “ok” in the summer we just took it as that and carried on trying. Only when no bfp had arrived months later did I decide to find out the specifics. It’s been a thoroughly awful experience with this and my ongoing mystery skin condition that they refused to refer me for for a year (still haven’t). I’m so tired of this shoddy treatment but don’t know where else to go because I’m worried about getting a worse experience not better whilst covid is ongoing if I move surgeries.

I guess on the plus side we’re speaking to the private consultant on Monday and can bring the results up. But I’m really so done with this GP surgery.

It’s hard to stay optimistic, I get it. I don’t know whether to just keep trying if our results are ok or get help. Probably shouldn’t worry until I get our results from the tests this week and have had the consultation.

@thislittlebird your GP surgery really sounds awful 😔 A receptionist should not be reading out SA results. Did you know that you can request the full results from the hospital where the SA took place? I only knew this because my DH is NHS. He got his direct from Access to Records, rather than wait for the GP.

@Theawkwardblonde my periods also changed after CP, but HCPs all just say my periods are normal 🤷🏻‍♀️
I'm just the same really. AF due this week. May then be off for more bloods / scans / learn how to inject myself. Or instead told to wait until next period.
We've heard from another couple that our CCG was delayed in responding to the clinic with payment , so we're expecting to be told to call again on my next period.

DH is taking it all badly. His friends all have children. Every single one of them. His brother will become a dad in spring / summer. If IVF doesn't work for us he won't have a single friend he can spend time with (after covid) and not think about how they're going home to their children and he's not.

I know we're supposed to try and be optimistic and not catastrophise etc. We're still doing normal things like getting through our working hours, watch telly, do the housework, go for walks. There's just the undercurrent of what's to come. The one thing we agree on is that if IVF doesn't work we will change our lifestyle and try to move to the proper countryside.

Yeah I appear to be probably ovulating ok @Theawkwardblonde (although not 100% retesting next week) but the lighter periods do worry me. It’s very unlike me, I just hope it’s stress I guess.

So my husband requested his SA results from the GP. He was also told “normal” by a receptionist as I was (wrongly) and it seems that it’s not quite normal. They told him to come to the surgery to pick up his results and it’s just a piece of paper saying “normal” within range count, “normal” morphology also within range, but “below normal” motility. No numbers included??? He called them up and the receptionist has since told him that this is all the info on the system and they don’t provide more detail. Then she called back again and told him she does have it and will email it tomorrow.

Relatable @Rosie189, I’ve not had spotting but since october my periods have been much lighter which is adding extra anxiety into the mix. Stress can play havoc with us, I think.

Sounds like you’ve got a good doctor. Mine just vanished and either she’s working in hospitals to help out with covid or she’s on mat leave, no idea. Two new ones appeared who are fine but the system is just really messy right now but having a good GP is a start.

See how your referral goes. I only booked private because of my age, I would not rush quite so much if it weren’t for that.

TMI alert but the grapefruit juice might be working for my EWCM. I’ve had a huge lack of it recently but maybe seems like a bit more from today, will see if it continues.

Sorry @thislittlebird It was a receptionist that told me too. Although the dr has been really good I’ve passed a few questions via reception and they’ve been great at getting answers. Also squeezed me in on the 23rd dec for 3rd set of day 21 bloods (although they were actually day 30 lol). It was a bit frustrating though as first bloods showed no ovulation as did 2nd although cycles are slightly long/irregular so think were mistimed but they kept suggesting repeating them.

Spotting has been since June. So realitively new. Thought it was an implantation bleed at first as never use to have it. Normally only 3/4 days before period is due but occasionally much earlier. Concerned I’m maybe having short luteal phase.

I think I’m going to see what happens with referral but tempted to look at private assessment too.

Is the spotting a new development? @Rosie189 you might have mentioned this and I’ve forgotten.

Did the doctor tell you? Glad they called quickly. I got told by the receptionist it was ok and I didn’t follow up for ages which was an error I won’t be making again because my day 21 was borderline. Booking again tomorrow hopefully to repeat the nhs tests and then I have my private transvaginal scan and AMH blood test on Thursday.

@thislittlebird I’ve booked another drs appt. hoping I’ll get a referral or at least a scan sorted as not had that yet. Have never got any figures for results just told normal or not. Although they did phone me really quickly (before I thought results would be back) when my day 21 showed no ovulation. Not helping I’m 10dpo and my spotting has started was almost feeling confident as last month it started at 7dpo.

I’m in the same boat @Rosie189. We’re still waiting for an email with a breakdown of his results (hopefully tomorrow) but they said his SA was fine.

DH got his results back and all ok. In one way it’s a relief but feeling quite down that it’s likely me with the issue.

@notyetamumbuttrying I was doing really well in lockdown until October. I lost weight just sitting at home (fewer snacks and coffees probably) and then started personal training ahead of our very small wedding in October. Since then it’s all gone to pot lol

I’m using clear blue fertility monitor and temping because I couldn’t get on with OPKs, they just didn’t pick anything up for me when I tried when we first started (probably at the very start in late 2019). I’m hoping the monitor will work next month once it calibrates and the temps will tell me I ovulated. Got my sad and very brief showing of EWCM late last night so it’ll be the next few days hopefully, so maybe more like CD16.

I’m annoyed today. Got my July fertility tests from the doctor. There’s a clear note on there saying “if truly day 21 then consistent with defective luteal function”. Now I knew they said this because I’d spoken to the doctor but the note is on there and the receptionist still told me “fine” when I called after the tests, so I didn’t follow up for months. Lesson learned but I’m glad I have my AMH and scan this week to build a better picture because I’m really worried about perimenopause and hoping the consultant can put my mind at ease next week. My husband also has his results in writing so will need to double check those too.

I know the feeling about wanting to move. Love London and an from here but I could do with a change right now. Good luck with your flat sale! If it wasn’t for all this I might have stuck our house on the market, but I want to keep my maternity package and hope it works out.

@thislittlebird ah I see. U not tempted to use opk's? Good effort doing it everyday! Hope you can both keep it up for another 8 days potentially 😬 twice is enough for me this cycle 😂 16 months of ttc will do that to you too lol! Aw glad you had a nice walk in the snow today. We enjoyed it from the flat 😂 legs are still aching from yesterday's walk, must get more fit this year! I used to be but lockdowns have made me lazy 😳

@CurbsideProphet same as me with the WFH since March. Had the odd day in the office during that time but not a lot!
Yeah weeknight sex, no thanks 👎🏾🤣
Yeah it's nice. Been here 6 years now and so ready to leave now. I want to return to semi rural life in Buckinghamshire now. Our flats on the market and I have my new build house all picked out lol! Just need a bloody buyer for our flat now! Selling during a pandemic is not the one 😂 how's things with you?

@notyetamumbuttrying handy that you know! I’m not sure exactly for myself because AF went haywire in December but before that I had a suspicion it might be CD17/18 and I’m currently on CD12 so we’ve been trying every day since Thursday and trying to keep that up until about CD20 (or when I’m sure I’ve ovulated). We’ve never put the effort in to do it every day in the lead up before but we are throwing everything at it because would really rather it just worked

Yeah it’s hard dtd some days, and frequently is very dull. We’ve been home this last week which makes it easier (I’m always home) but work will be starting for him again this week so will be tougher to keep it up.

We went for a walk in the snow (in the woods) which was different, but made a change!

Honestly very monotonous when you are just stuck at home all day @CurbsideProphet and my brain is ok now in the trying phase but it will be my worst enemy in the tww with no distractions.

@thislittlebird yes I've been WFH since last March so I'm just in the house all of the time 😬

@notyetamumbuttrying I feel your pain about trying to build the enthusiasm to DTD on a week night 🙈
That walk sounds lush. I lived in London for 4-5 years in my twenties and I do miss the city walks.

@thislittlebird when are you due to ovulate? I got my smiley today so it'll be tomorrow for me. Only dtd today and will again tomorrow hopefully but we're meant to do it every other day so that the swimmers have time to renew but I'll doubt we'll want to on a Monday lol! What is it about weekdays that just put me off sex, prob the stress of work!

Hope everyone's well! We had a nice long walk along the Thames and up to Canary Wharf today. Walked through the foot tunnel so was nice to see the river from the other side for once ☺️

Thanks @Rosie189! The friends and colleagues thing is really hard. I honestly had no idea how hard I would find it. Thinking about my pregnant friends is really triggering and it can send me over the edge a bit, it’s bizarre how much it impacts us.

And I’ll have to keep you posted @notyetamumbuttrying. I think I might ovulate later than I thought so this is the first month I’m monitoring everything properly and hoping for a pattern!

@CurbsideProphet we’re at the really early basic ones and my husband was all a bit confused as to why we needed these modules. I won’t break the news to him that there’s likely more to come yet lol. It just all feels really intimidating, and unknown. I have issues with anxiety too and don’t feel very cut out for the nature of this process but do want to try. The easier options would be preferable . Is your job at home? Mine is right now and it is hard to distract myself from my thoughts when I don’t really see anyone.

Thank you all 💐
I did my yoga class and then we watched Only Connect so I've come back down to earth now.

@Theawkwardblonde I've previously had a lot of (expensive) EMDR for GAD. I'm so much better than I used to be, but I find it very difficult when there are things I can't control. It's all very overwhelming isn't it. I'm lucky that so far no friends are pregnant. DH's sister in law is due in June but we don't see each other unless the family is together. It must be very difficult for you to have to avoid friends, but I completely understand that you would need to.

I get 25 days annual leave (plus the 5 extra I've "purchased" this year), so I have to spread them out. Ideally I would have a couple of weeks off now to recoup mentally, but that would only leave me with 3 weeks leave between Feb and December 😬

It's just quite confronting doing the "IVF education modules" (I don't know if you found that too @thislittlebird) and then a lot of my energy in the week is spent being normal on work calls etc when inside I'm thinking about what's to come.

I'll be ok though. Thank you all for caring 💐