TTC 8 months in, still early days but starting to feel more and more every time AF arrives

@Laurenxx94 I would discuss with your GP if you can. Also make sure you've timed the Day 21 test well, e.g 7 days past ovulation rather than actually day 21.

Hey @Lovebug06 sorry to hear you had appendicitis! Hope you're feeling better now. And I hope AF didn't get you in the end X

I didn't track anything this month as I've been sick so we haven't really been trying and didn't really catch my fertile window. But funnily enough my period seems to be late 🙄 BFN though of course!

Hi everyone,
How are you all?
I hope your all doing okay.
@Izzie94 I hope your okay we haven't heard from you in a while❤️
I have just had my appendix out so had my mind off the baby stuff the past week, which was great as it had been the run up to AF. However found out about 4 people I know including 2 friends are pregnant in the last couple of days... So I feel my emotions are being tested
I'm 13dpo. Have no expectation in anyway that anything will happen. However I do know I will still be in a bad way when it comes for a few hours, but that's okay, I will cry it out. Doesn't stop that tiny bit of hope though right?

Lots of love to you all.

[quote acaciabluebell]@Laurenxx94 So your progesterone level should be above 30 at Day 21 (7dpo) to indicate a successful ovulation occurred. That's the criteria GPs use. In a normal cycle your progesterone peaks around 7 dpo and then goes back down. If you get pregnant, your level should stay high or continue to get higher. Progesterone needs to be high to sustain a pregnancy. I've seen women with progesterone levels in the 50s, 70s, even 90s and above.[/quote]
That's so frustrating that my doctor said that my levels of 21 showed I had successfully ovulated and looked good ☹️ not so sure what to do now, what would be your advice ? X

@Laurenxx94 So your progesterone level should be above 30 at Day 21 (7dpo) to indicate a successful ovulation occurred. That's the criteria GPs use. In a normal cycle your progesterone peaks around 7 dpo and then goes back down. If you get pregnant, your level should stay high or continue to get higher. Progesterone needs to be high to sustain a pregnancy. I've seen women with progesterone levels in the 50s, 70s, even 90s and above.

Sorry I look like I'm back tracking and talking rubbish @acaciabluebell , I ment to say they told me my progesterone after ovulation ( 21 ) was perfectly fine but when I had my chemical is was 1.8 which is the part they said was low x

[quote acaciabluebell]@Laurenxx94 Hi, I stared taking Vitex on a random day (I think CD10) so I don't know if it counts as a proper attempt. But I ovulated quite early on CD13 this month. I'm only on 7dpo today so a bit too soon to tell but I'll update if anything happens.

My progesterone on day 21 (7 days past ovulation) last cycle was 22. I've also had a chemical pregnancy recently which I suspect is due to the low progesterone.[/quote]
After my chemical they told me my 21 progesterone was perfectly fine after I ovulated 😤 now I'm not too sure! Thanks for getting back to me xx

@Laurenxx94 Hi, I stared taking Vitex on a random day (I think CD10) so I don't know if it counts as a proper attempt. But I ovulated quite early on CD13 this month. I'm only on 7dpo today so a bit too soon to tell but I'll update if anything happens.

My progesterone on day 21 (7 days past ovulation) last cycle was 22. I've also had a chemical pregnancy recently which I suspect is due to the low progesterone.

Lovebug06 Sorry for my late reply, I had to stop myself reading anything fertility related as I was making myself ill with the worry of it. My second blood test came back slightly higher at 6.9 but still low for my age. I was meant to be having lap & dye but the consultant has cancelled it and wants to see me in clinic to discuss the blood results first. So now another wait until next month for that. How are you? Any news?

acaciabluebell I’m glad your scan went well and you had a good AFC. Frustratingly I had an ultrasound a few months ago and the sonographer reported a ‘normal follicular pattern’ but didn’t give any numbers. Did you have your scan done at a fertility clinic?

It’s interesting what you say about OPKs. When I got my first low AMH result the fertility nurse made a comment about there not being any eggs there to do ivf. But I get a positive OPK each month, followed by my period 13-14 days later. We must still be ovulating for that pattern to happen surely?

@acaciabluebell glad to hear everything went well.
I haven't tried agnus castus but I have heard good things so please let us know how it goes

Thanks @Lovebug06 I was feeling quite stressed when I wrote that last post but I feel much better now.

I had my internal scan on the 26th, I was on CD4 of my period. I was so anxious and scared leading up to it but now I'm so glad I went. Everything was totally fine! I have no fibroids or polyps or cysts. My uterus looked fine and everything was the right shape (I went into the appointment low-key expecting to be told I have half a uterus or something 😂). Also as someone with low AMH I was quite scared about finding out my AFC, but thankfully it was decent (9 on the right, 6 on the left) and much higher than my AMH. Obviously it's still low for my age (they would expect to see 20-25+ follicles as I'm 25) but I was scared I would see less than 5 follicles so I'm really relieved.

For now I'm trying to focus on increasing my progesterone so I've started taking Vitex Agnus Castus. Anyone have experience with this?

@Msd2416 I'm on cycle 18 x
@CausingChaos2 I'm sorry to to hear that and that your upset. Have you had any other news since this update? Sorry I've only just seen it. Sending love ❤️
@acaciabluebell please let us know how your scan goes. I hope you get some answers. Hope your feeling a bit better now, this journey is so tough x

Ladies I am so upset today. I got my Day 21 progesterone results back and they are low AGAIN. I had my first blood test back in January and it was low, but I thought it was a one-off because I hadn't had any ovulation symptoms that month.

This month I actually had ovulation cramps EWCM, and a blazing positive OPK and my progesterone is even lower. I just feel so defeated.

I'm due to be waiting months for my appointment with the hospital fertility clinic. I was tested for PCOS but my bloods came back clear. I just don't understand why I'm not ovulating but I'm still getting very regular periods exactly 12 days after my "peak" OPK. Are the OPKs giving me fake peaks? Ahhh I'm just so confused. Sorry for the rant.

Anyway I've been highly anxious so I've booked myself some private tests, starting with a scan. My first ever scan, it will be internal and during my period so I'm a bit scared/nervous lol. I'm especially nervous to see how many follicles I have because I already know that I have low AMH.

Thank you @acaciabluebell I’m beside myself. I’m 30.

I’ve been to have the test repeated but it’s only 20 days since the last one was done. I do have recurrent low vitamin D but it was ok at the last check. You’re right about google, I’m going to have to stop looking, it’s making me feel really ill. Thank you for your message, my OH doesn’t know what to say x

@CausingChaos2 I'm so sorry hun ❤️ I also have low AMH (significantly low for my age in fact) and I know how devastating this revelation is. 2 things I would say is that:

1. AMH can change from month to month, so don't lose hope.
2. check your vitamin D levels as these can affect your AMH if it's low.
3. Don't Google too much as it will seriously freak you out (I learnt the hard way)

Try not to panic ❤️

I’ve had a terrible shock this afternoon. The fertility clinic called me to say my AMH has returned a result of 4.2 and it needs to be 5.4 for NHS IVF. They’ve asked me to repeat it but I’m devastated 😭

@Lovebug06 No i think mobility is the rate at which sperm travels and morphology is the structure? We was trying for 5 months with a MC and Chemicals thrown in so bit of a rollercoaster!

Totally get that you would need a break i said to DH before BFP that maybe we should take a break even though it doesnt seem a long time the MC etc and all the tracking is all consuming. How long have you been trying? xx

@Msd2416 congratulations!
Is sperm Mobility the morphology? My DH had low on the morphology although his actual sperm count was high. He's had a bit of a panic and now is on a health kick!
If it's the same I may get him some of those! How long were you trying?

I also think maybe I need a break. I did ditch the opks for a very long time but it made no difference to me. I did know around my fertile window obviously. I'm not really sure what to do but I'm drained by it all now. It's such a lonely journey too x

@msd2416 a huge congratulations to you! Bet you're over the moon! Which cycle was this for you guys?

@causingchaos2 I think you're right, I kind of told myself this once I got over over initial panic and obsessively googling! Will be interesting to see what fertility clinic say in a few months, as they will probably do the same scan.

Yeah you're completely right about how it can affect the relationship. It's supposed to be a really exciting time! I've got acupuncture again this week which I'm feeling positive about and may book some relaxing massages in over the next few months x

@CausingChaos2 Thankyou so much!

Yes so we had a chat with the doctor and discovered DH had low sperm mobility and our doctor recommended VitalDha tablets for men we used those and seems to have worked 🙊

Congratulations Msd2416 !

How long have you been trying? Did you do anything different this month or do you think it was just your lucky time?

Thanks Lovebug06 and I agree, they don’t feel it like we do. If I ask my OH how he feels about it all he says he’s worried, but he doesn’t bring it up himself. I’m glad you feel a little better now CD1 is out the way x

Sparky I’m pleased you managed to get a scan and everything looked as it should. Definitely don’t read too much into it, things can be different every month so it’s just a snapshot of how many follicles were there this month.

Honestly I think your plan to take a few months off sounds like the best idea and I’d love to have the willpower to do the same. You’ve taken control and got the ball rolling with the fertility referral which is great. I’ll need to avoid getting pg this month (the irony of the ‘risk’ of that) and I’m looking forward to DTD when we actually want to instead of the pressure of timing it. I think you’re doing the right thing and it’s so important we take on board the effects on our relationships too x

Hi ladies, so I was due AF yesterday and decided to test, I had so much cramping the last week so as convinced AF was coming so I’m still in shock. I’m praying this is super sticky!

Hoping for lots more BFPs on this feed

Sorry I forgot to link them. They have centres all over the UK... www.ultrasound-direct.com xx