Trying to conceive baby No 1 over 40

@Geriatric1234 glad you had a good experience with the midwife getting your results. Definitely agree with her that it’s a game of noughts and crosses. Or like rolling a dice. Just a few less numbers equal a viable pregnancy for older ladies.

It’s a difficult one with regards to progesterone as I know some research has found no significance. A more recent study found the live birth rate was significantly better with those on progesterone with a history of miscarriage. My GP felt it was worth giving me it as really hard to diagnose low progesterone. It definitely wasn’t just for reassurance. I’d never heard of it before. Also I paid for an appointment with a fertility nurse who strongly believed anyone with a history of miscarriage should be on progesterone. Obviously it’s really difficult to know if my ds is here because of the progesterone but I wouldn’t be comfortable going through another pregnancy without it.

Years ago I remember telling a nurse at the family planning clinic I was worried about my age and fertility. I was 34 I think. She laughed and said I had many years of contraception left until I’m at least 50. Also she said she sees lots of accidental pregnancies where women in their 40s assume they can’t get pregnant.

I’m sure we’ll all get there. Hopefully some good news soon! Xx

Thanks for sharing @Geriatric1234 - that's reassuring to know.

Hey all,

Had a great chat with midwife post-blood results this morning.

All fine with me, AMH within normal range for age, low overall obviously!

I did ask her about progesterone as it’s come up a few times here so i was interested in current fertility practise. She said progesterone had a brief period of being used but no studies have correlated progesterone to preventing miscarriage. She said it’s occasionally used post-IVF egg collection, but it does nothing to help improve chances of conceiving or maintaining pregnancy and whilst some GPS might prescribe it to reassure women, it is not generally given to women trying to conceive or who have had miscarriages. This is in line with a study I read that was done in 2018 and found women given progesterone vs not given it had the same chance of pregnancy outcomes. Interesting.

Just posting to reassure anyone worrying about levels or something they might be ‘missing’. I might add I am not an expert so just relaying what she told me.

Ultimately she said it’s just a game of noughts and crosses with the noughts being the good eggs!

One thing I found super reassuring was she said any moment you feel a bit defeated by the statistics, imagine yourself going into a contraception clinic. Any woman under 50 with an AMH of over 1 would be told they were CRAZY to not be on birth control as you still have a significant chance of pregnancy. I rather liked that! X

Hi @littleangle46 welcome to the group and congratulations!

Had your GP raised any concerns about the antibiotics you were on? From my understanding the potential damage that could occur during pregnancy depends on at what point specific teterogenic medications are taken, and the riskiest time is over the first 12 weeks generally, when different parts of the body are forming at different times, so the fact you only took them for a week very early on pregnancy may not be such an issue?

How many weeks are you currently?

Hi Everyone,
I am 47 and naturally pregnant. I am very sad because we were on treatment for an STD, I was using 3 antibiotics that one of them is teratogenic, the other 2 are also heavy antibiotics. I think I have less than one percent chance to have a healthy baby given my age and heavy antibiotic exposure in the first week of pregnancy. Do you know anyone who took antibiotics and was okey

@October1979 I so admire your positivity in such an awful situation! I hope you (and everyone here) get your BFP soon!

My Ava bracelet arrived today, I'm already on CD6 and I'll continue to temp for the rest of the cycle whilst wearing the bracelet just to see if the info on both apps match up

@October1979 sending lots of love, support and hugs now AF has definitely arrived. That sounds like a very sensible and positive approach XxX

[quote Geriatric1234]@hugocat Omg! That must have been a shock?![/quote]
It was!

@hugocat Omg! That must have been a shock?!

My friend had a baby naturally at 40. I got pregnant by accident at 39 with the copper coil inserted properly...

@Catconfusion Thank you. And I’m so sorry for your MCs too. I think it really is just a numbers game whatever your age isn’t it?! And I totally agree about NHS first, I just don’t have the best GP and right now all referrals and non-urgent (even though it feels urgent to us) medical stuff is taking a long time to get through the system as it’s not a priority now, understandably. And with my work schedule I just thought f**k it I’ll go private so I know ASAP if there’s an issue. But your doctor sounds awesome!!

Agree about that consistency! As with so many things that are classed as “women’s health” it’s an absolute lucky dip when it comes to treatment. Urgh.

Xxx

@Geriatric1234 it’s so awful a doctor said you had fundamental fertility issues. That’s a ridiculous thing to say without any test results. Everybody of childbearing age has the risk of miscarriage. It’s often nothing to do with fertility. I had two mcs and then got pregnant with my son the next time we tried. Obviously no fertility issues but I had two losses. Most doctors say even three mcs doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong. I’ve now had three with my recent loss but I’ve got pregnant the only four cycles we’ve not used contraception so I’m confident I have good fertility for a 41 year old.

It’s absolutely great you’re able to use Zita West. Of course private is the best way to go for anyone wanting testing and investigations if money permits. It just concerns me that not all women over 40 are getting access to fertility services on the nhs. We’re really lucky in my area. We got an nhs referral to a private fertility clinic but I fell pregnant before the appointment. I’ve been told even after one child we could get seen again on the nhs as I have irregular cycles so could do clomid if I don’t conceive within 6 months.

There needs to be more consistency in the services available! Xx

@kirinm Please don’t feel beaten yet. I’ve spoken to numerous medical people who have said early forties isn’t necessarily as hard as the statistics would have us believe, and mother of 43/44 are relatively common occurrences.

I agree with @Catconfusion about the gp being a start point. I will say I didn’t even bother with the NHS route and I went on a recommendation and used Zita West. I cannot sing their praises enough. All their staff have been lovely and fully accepting of my desire to conceive naturally. I’ve not had anyone make me feel defeated or push IVF down my throat. I’ve also found their costs to be reasonable and all appointments (Obvs bar blood tests) have been online.

Some stuff is to do with age I guess, but you can absolutely boost odds. I strongly recommend It Starts With The Egg for supplement advice (and this thread too which I’m finding invaluable).

@October1979 That attitude from your GP is absolutely complaint-worthy. I had one doctor tell me that my miscarriage was probably related to “fundamental fertility issues” as opposed to the statistically more likely chromosomal issue. The reality is no one knows why I miscarried which is why I’m getting tests done now, so why even say that??? Pointless. I’m so sorry they made you feel sh*t. X

@kirinm I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been ttc for a year and about your early losses, have you spoken to your GP? I really think you should be referred for fertility support. In my area over 40s are covered by the NHS. I really hope you can get checked out where you live through your GP. Its worth having some tests done. You could have a fibroid or a blocked tube. All things that could be easily fixed. Xx

I've been following this thread and am sorry to read that your tests have been getting lighter @October1979 you must be devastated.

I'm 42, nearly 43 and have been ttc for a year. I do have a DD. in the last year I've had 2 chemicals but nothing since August. I'm not feeling very optimistic anymore and starting to wonder whether I should just accept that it isn't going to happen now.

Can anyone recommend where to get some blood tests done to check egg reserve / quality? I'm not sure of the correct terminology. I've sort of put off thinking about testing just because I'm worried I'll be told it is just my age.

@October1979 I haven’t ever had my progesterone level tested. My gp felt that two miscarriages was enough of a reason to prescribe it. I think my levels during the luteal phase must be ok as it’s 16 days long and I don’t spot. She felt that low progesterone can come with getting older and it’s really difficult to diagnose. The levels can be unstable in early pregnancy. I’m not sure if it did me any good by obviously my son is here so I can’t rule it out. Xx

Oh no @October1979 that’s awful. Also simply not true as I have a prescription for progesterone from my GP so it can be done. Also there is fertility help for over 40s and you’re entitled to a referral on the nhs if you’ve been trying for 6 months plus. You might not get ivf but you should have access to most services. You probably don’t need clomid but speaking to a specialist would help you to understand what might help.

I’d speak to someone else or else make a complaint to the practice manager. Ask them to clarify what services you can get access to. You shouldn’t have to go private. It’s completely ageist of her to suggest it. Before I got pregnant with ds we had a fertility referral and I was 40 then. Luckily we didn’t need it but we were given access. This is exactly why women are anxious about pregnancy in their 40s. There’s such a lack of support.

Please don’t let the horrible GP get to you. You deserve support, especially after an early loss. It totally should be on your notes because if you have another one you should get help from the recurrent miscarriage clinic. Thinking of you and hoping you get better support soon! Xx

@October1979 that's a very difficult response to deal with. What are you thinking now? Persevere as a CP shows you can get pregnant? It's very hurtful to be dismissed like that.

I have stopped looking at anything to do with tt over 40 as @Littlemiss40andfabulous said, it's just so disheartening. Thanks to the pps who were so positive about it, that really boosted me.

I'm in my fertile period now. Doing the SMEP method. Will be back in the dreaded tww next week.

I hope everyone is ok, this process can be soul destroying and completely take over. I'm working hard to try and focus on other things. Easy to obsess....

@Geriatric1234 and @Tweaker hi. It's such a up and down journey isn't it? I've stopped reading online about being over 40 and getting pregnant and just thinking about all the people I have known where it's happened to them. Thankyou @MyOtherProfile for your encouragement!

I must have missed the judgemental post, and only saw your response. Not sure why people feel the need to do that? Everyone else's circumstances are different and unique to them. I for one have been ready to be a mum for the last 13 years but for reasons completely outside of my control have meant it's not been able to happen for me yet.

@October1979 aw I'm sorry to hear this news.

For me, I tested positive on a Thursday night, lines started to go weak on Saturday and disappeared by Sunday (bar a very sensitive Clear Blue one), abdo pain and AF began on Wednesday morning.

I am currently feeling very positive about the experience- now knowing we have the ability to conceive after 7 months of trying. I didn't tell my GP but did speak with my community midwife (to share I no longer needed her services ) and she was lovely. When I explained about the chemical pregnancy she affirmed they are very common and nothing to worry about for future pregnancies and even said she'd keep my name on her books as hopefully it won't be long until I needed to speak to her again

I'm encouraged by the fact fertility is a little increased post MC so am ready to try again this month.

Take care of yourself XxX

@October1979 So sorry - not the news we were all hoping for. I really thought this was it for you. I think you are doing everything right and your attitude is so positive. Crossing everything for you.