Yogurt pot yuppies, sexy basters and UFO discs - part 3

@Oilyoilyoilgob yes I was happy with the blood results overall. Would have made me feel better about it taking so long if there's something small/easy to fix but should just be grateful all seems well. My progesterone obviously isn't where it should have been but not worrying about that until I have repeat results and weight loss is meant to help improve that anyway so hopefully every pound lost will help that.
I'm still waiting for my ultrasound appointment letter but was told by the department that it would be in April (so fingers crossed). It's an NHS one but is literally just an ultrasound and not a HSG/HyCoSy. It's just to look at my uterus lining and the condition of my ovaries. I assumed this was offered to everyone as standard fertility investigation but it could also just be because I have PCOS? I tried to ask a GP yesterday if the HCG/HyCoSy was offered by the hospital or if I had to get down to an acceptable weight to be accepted by the fertility clinic for that - but he'd never heard of that test🤦🤦 although I did confirm with him BMI needs to be below 35 and 'on the way down towards 30' as all our local information says it has to be below 30 for them to even accept the referral to a fertility clinic.
I didn't even know MMR was something they checked, I've not had that checked? Or was it just not on your records that you'd had it done? The risk of catching it must be so small but I had no idea they took it so seriously! You've just got to make the decision you're happiest living with. I'd make the same one definitely.

It's good to hear your acupuncture experience. Did you have needles everywhere or just in certain places? I'm glad you've had such a positive experience and it already made you feel good for the first time in ages ❤️ hopefully it continues to do so.

Maybe I'll treat myself to some 😬 I don't think there's such a thing as a community acupuncture treatment here, not sure how I'd find out as I can only find independent people who rent clinic spaces.

Hi @MrsKin90 I hope you’re well and thanks for checking in on me 😊

That’s sounds fantastic news on your blood test results and great that you’ll have another to check for any changes. At least if the inflammation markers are high again it’s logged on your records and the GP might then suggest something to help?

Exciting news for next month for sperm analysis and your ultrasound 😊 may I ask is your ultrasound private or through your GP? I have a chat with mine next week about my bloods then a joint couple one with our gp about next steps so would be good to know if the nhs offer the ultrasound.

I’m sorry to read you’re sick of it 💚 Hopefully it really won’t be too long for you until you get a lovely positive pregnancy test. You’re in my thoughts and fingers crossed it will be soon for you, 19 months is such a long time.

I think we may try this month. I guess right now the chances of me not getting pregnant are statistically higher sadly, and after chatting together if I did get pg this cycle the risk is there but incredibly low of catching rubella. It’s very difficult as missing one cycle is one too many right now. Tough choice coming up. It’s be interesting to see how good the first jab is for antibodies, we rang a fertility clinic who said I’d need to show proof of antibodies or that I’m immunised.

I really enjoyed acupuncture! It’s a community one which lowers the cost so I had a very thorough consultation then went into a main room with seven zero gravity chairs all spaced far apart. She’s not going to treat me period wise as my cycles are regular and not problematic and we both decided it’s best to treat for stress/anxiety and feeling down. I don’t know will it work but I felt lovely after just having that time to lay back and have an enforced relax. Felt great yesterday then at 4pm was totally zonked out exhausted and I slept all the way through to this morning. First time in a long time this week that I’ve felt ok 😊

For people asking about regularity if SI, we once did 13 days on the trot with no luck! Some people hit the jackpot only doing 2-3 SI on a cycle. I do honestly think it’s down to luck and general health.
Good luck to everyone who is going into SI or the tww.

It’s been lovely hearing positive stories on conception and pregnancy and hopefully we will all get there soon.

Thinking if everyone who is feeling down and going through loss, I hope you’re ok.

Hope everyone else is ok too, I’m not going to tag anyone but everyone on the thread is in my thoughts 💚 xx

@Sydney1986x and @Bizawit exciting that you're in your tww 🤞🤞 hope this is the one for you both! Try to keep your spirits up however you can.

Oily that's really annoying for you! I think I'd be nervous about not being given the second MMR jab if you happen to be pregnant at that time as they might refuse to give it? So if it were me I'd skip one cycle until I'd had the second jab and then go wild. Otherwise personally I think there's very little that would put me off TTC for two months. A tricky decision for you both when there's no set answers! How did you get on with acupuncture? I'm so interested in it but bloody hell it's so expensive!!

Birdybird I hope you can spend this month 'off' taking good care of yourself and treating yourselves to lovely things. Our case is a case of DHs low sex drive and inability to ejaculate during sex. We've not sought help for this or even mentioned it to a doctor but wish I could be helpful and provide some insight 😕

Carol - I'm sure the NHS would still run a semen analysis even though you've already got a child wouldn't they? You might not be eligible for treatments but they should still be willing to run some routine tests in my opinion, not that they care what my opinion is!

After some difficulties with preparing for the original SA date, we've delayed DHs SA until April when he has a day off. This will fall in line with (hopefully) when I get an appointment for an ultrasound to look at my uterus lining and ovaries. I did consider just buying a little microscope and looking for myself 😂 would be easier and quicker 🤦

AdriannaP that's really made me feel better as I worry constantly we can't do it "enough"!

Carol we do every 2-3 days but have managed the last three cycles to do every other day for the most critical time and it's made no bloody difference. Although if we COULD do more, we'd just do as much as we could I think. Sorry you're feeling poorly ❤️

I got my blood test results back. ALMOST everything was fine (they tested my thyroid, testosterone, diabetes, STDs, inflammation markers x2 and progesterone).
I've got raised inflammation markers - "8" but should be below 5. Dr didn't think this mattered/didn't mean anything (so why do the test in the first place?) but will retest this cycle.
Progesterone was 29 and should be 30 or above for ovulation. Such a small difference and my period arrived 4 days later rather than 7 so I expect it's that, not too worried about it but having it done again this cycle.

If I'm honest I'm sick to death of TTC now. I'm sure we all are. This will be month 19 now for me, I think. I feel very sorry for myself but I know I need to try to stay positive.

@birdbybird
Yeah I think my hubby will be working hard this month 🤣 this is the first month where we've pretty much decided that we're just going to get some in every day, I got another flashing smiley this morning, usually I get 2 or none so will be interesting to see what happens with tomorrow's result.
I'd love to say we have tried having sex this time round but I'm loaded with a cold ( def a cold and not COVID-19, ive got self testing kits so it's negative) and to be honest I'm not in the mood to have sex as I feel so rotten !
So actually doing the SI is helpful !!

I've had a few times where it has worked and unfortunately it stuck too so feel your pain 😢

@AdriannaP such a lovely and inspiring update ❤️❤️🥰. So glad to hear all is well and thank you for sharing xx

I’m 4dpo here. Feeling a bit deflated and exhausted but trying to stay positive.

X

@Carol1980 during the ‘peak’ day, I’ve even been tempted to SI twice, to improve our chances... it was a weekday so didn’t get around to it.

By the way, last cycle we did SI 10 times because I ended up ovulating on day 15 instead.
Anyway, it worked, but in the end didn’t stick.... don’t like to use that ‘s’ word :

@birdbybird
Thanks for your reply ❤️

We did a sperm test ( from the website Dr Fertility) and his sperm count came up as normal, although we did get two tests in the kit we have only used one so might try the test again if this months is not successful again x

Because we have a child already we are unlikely to have the doctors run the test but we haven't gotten to the doing private tests yet

@Carol1980 has your husband had a semen analysis? My husband’s counts were fine, (morphology was on the low side of normal). I remember reading that if the volume is normal and not low then intercourse every day does no harm.
So that’s the choice we made.
I ovulate very early in the cycle (around day 12), so we start SI around day 8.
I reuse the syringe plus pot. Just wash it with water and ensure it’s dry completely. So I’m not really wasting anything (other than the sperm!)

@AdriannaP lovely to hear from you x hope you and bump are well ❤️

I've used the clearblue for years like you I just thought the cheap ones were crap and always had problems pinpointing ovulation with them 🤦🏼‍♀️

According to Ovia I'm on day 1 of my fertile window, so think we will probably just do a SI tonight, may as well 😂 Maybe give him a break tomorrow depending on what my OPK says in the morning !

@Carol1980 thank you!!

We’d usually SI 2-3 times per cycle only jn my fertile window. More was not possible for my DH. The two cycles I feel pregnant we did two SI, on the day of and after the static smileys (on clearblue opk). The cheap OPK never worked for me, I could never tell when I was ovulating.

@birdbybird
My hubby has just came downstairs from the man cave to ask if I want a 'sample' tonight 🤣🤣 thats our code word that we seem to have adopted for our SI, my worry is that will the quality of the sperm be compromised by doing this for potentially 10 days straight ? 🤷‍♀️

Poor guy probably feels like a sperm bank at the moment 🤣🤣

@Carol1980 we did SI every day in the fertile period. And then nothing for the rest of the cycle. Worked out to be 10 days of SI in the last cycle.

Hi ladies,

Lovely to see all the updates on everyone. @AdriannaP keep posting with updates ! Don't ever feel that you can't post simply because you are where we all want to be x you have been through the same journey as the rest of us ❤️

I think my AF is fucking with me !!
This month I've had a short cycle again..25 days...started testing for ovulation on CD 6. Empty circle on CD6, cd7 got a flashing smiley (wtf again) and today cd8 got another flashing smiley!!

Should I be worried that for 2 months now I seem to be ovulating about 4 days earlier than I have been since I started testing again last year ????

So hubby and I have done 2 SI's so far and probably doing another tonight as well, a friend suggested we just shag every day as soon as my period finished...if only that was possible !! Delayed ejaculation would mean that I would be horrendously sore after 2 days in a row !! And raw as hell ( sorry tmi)
Honestly though you ladies are the only people I talk to about the method that we are using x

How are the rest of you doing the SI ? Are you doing every day while in fertile window ? Or every second day ?

*waiting a cycle before trying to conceive again.

Hello ladies,
I’m back.
Went to the gynaecologist for a post-loss check-up.
She suggested waiting a cycle and I’ll follow her advice.
She did ask if I was going to treat the underlying issues that were causing us to revert to the yoghurt pot. My case is vaginismus plus loss of libido. Loss of libido is the main cause now.
Anyone else in the same boat? I feel I’ll hit menopause/or die of natural causes before I understand why it is what it is. That or fork out lots of £££ to private psychologists. Anyone in the same boat or sought treatment via NHS? Any luck?

Hello @Sydney1986x hope you’re well. Wishing you all the best of luck in your tww. That’s great news you’re in the mindset for your hycosy, you sound in a very positive frame of mind.

I’m not going to tag anyone as I know we’ve all been going through a lot the last few days and weeks but safe to say I’m thinking of you all. I’ve had a few days away from here but will carry on reading 😊 and I do hope everyone is well and healthy and any of our pregnant members are all feeling ok with a healthy baby 💚

I had my first mmr jab yesterday, it’s a two phase one so the next is in 4 weeks. Recommended to not get pregnant for four weeks after but we didn’t realise it was a two step jab. From everything I can see online it’s recommended to not get pregnant in case I got unwell, and in ladies up to 12 weeks pregnant there were small signs of transmission in some cases when babies were born (in regards to antibodies) but no congenital defects.

We have a few days to decide between ourselves if we take any theoretical risk (our governments wording, not mine!) and still try to conceive.
I can’t see any evidence online. It’s difficult as I don’t have two months to waste, but we’ll see.

I have my first acupuncture session booked in today, I’ve been eating really well and meditating and really trying to relax my mind since last week, really focusing on being gentle to myself for whatever comes my way regarding fertility and potential treatments.

I hope everyone waiting for test results gets good news. I hope everyone going through their losses are as ok as can be and look after yourselves.
I hope everyone struggling through this journey is alright and just taking this day by day being nice to themselves xx

Birdbybird and makingnumber2 (I haven’t tagged you both as want to respect your wishes) I am so sorry for your losses, please take time for yourselves and look after yourselves. Sending so much love to you both 😔

@AdriannaP I can’t speak on behalf of the other ladies on this thread but personally your posts are encouraging and help me keep positive. So please don’t feel like you can’t post here. I would love to hear more about your milestones in pregnancy and beyond!

@primrosechill great idea with learning a new skill, how is it going? Great news about your Partners sperm results too! I hope that over the next 2 cycles you get your lottery number 😀!

@MrsKin90 have your blood test results come back yet?

I am currently in the 2WW.. 5DPO. Trying to keep busy and as occupied as possible. Doing my best not to obsess this month. If AF shows it straight onto the hospital to book my hycosy so either way I see some sort of positive this month.

Hope everyone else is doing ok?

@bitheby Try not to think about the "what if"s of everything. Everything (even some of the truly shit things) must happen for a reason. And it's not like there's a college course in TTC this way is there? Really if anyone is blame the clinic you went to initially as they'll all know the NHS guidelines and should have steered you there. Anyway. It is what it is now so try to keep your spirit up however you can ❤️ are you talking to anyone in your life about everything? It must be a bit lonely doing it on your own!

Makingnumber2 & birdy I'm so sorry for you both. I hope you're getting lots of support and taking as much time as you need.

@AdriannaP I'm so happy that everything is going well for you ❤️ thanks so much for your lovely post, it's really inspiring Xx

@primrosechill I'm impressed you're doing something creative as an outlet! That's fab news about your husband's SA! I'm very impressed. Can I be nosy and ask what improvements he's made? Hubs has his SA tomorrow 😬 so worried about the results. Not sure what we can really do if they aren't great. You're right about it being a lottery. I'm sick to death of it now. I hope it happens for you before IVF. If you book IVF and get pregnant just before do you still have to pay for it?

CD1 for me today. 3/4 days early. 😕
I get my blood tests results back tomorrow. I expect they'll all be "normal" and I just have to wait.

Hello ladies, checking in after a couple of weeks away. @birdbybird & @Makingnumber2 my heart goes out to the both of you - no woman should have to go through this. Birdy, i’m so glad that putting pen to paper has helped - I also find writing theraupetic. @AdriannaP thank you for a lovely message too and so glad you got your happy outcome after a couple of harrowing years. ❤️

Hope all of you other ladies are doing okay - a few of us have been here for a while now, it doesn’t get easier... Hope you’re all taking good care of your mental health through all of this - I decided to learn a new instrument and bought myself a keyboard 🎹 I can’t control what my body does re pregnancy, but I can teach it some new skills!

Quick update from me:

• Husband redid his SA and it is now completely within norm 🎉 His morphology and motility were below norm when we first did it six months ago and then slowly both have improved every time we redid the SA since (twice now). I feel super proud of him as I know a lot of this is down to him improving his lifestyle. Now we’re like, “if we’re both crazy fertile, please can we get pregnant?!”
• We spoke to our fertility doctor and decided that we’re not going to bother with IUI anymore as it improves our chances ever so slightly and likely we’d need to commit to at least three rounds. So if we do end up doing anything medically assisted, we’ll go straight for IVF. We’ve decided to give it two more cycles - as this is when it will be exactly a year since my MC and most couple our age should get pregnant within a year.

It sucks to know there is nothing “wrong” with you and that you just keep losing the lottery month after month - but I keep telling myself that this is exactly what ttc is, a big fat lottery. Hoping we get our winning numbers soon 🤞🏼

Hi everyone, thanks for the words of encouragement.

@AdriannaP I feel genuinely happy for you and please stick around (your story gives me hope). Although part of me thinks any new baby I now have won’t be the one I lost :(
I’ve handwritten a note to the little one and feel I’m on the road to recovery. Went out for an actual walk and that helped too.

And thank you for all the love, encouragement, tips and support I received in this forum. I wouldn’t be pregnant without you all. Thank you

Hi all,
I am not posting anymore to not bring anyone down. I am 11 weeks now and had another positive scan.

I wanted to just send you all love, hugs and encouragement: i had three horrendous years with odds stacked against me, my DH’s ED which caused tension between us, I got depressed, gained weight, had 3 MC and recently lost my job (and 15K paid maternity leave).
In the meantime 3 work colleagues got pregnant, 3 of my cousins, 2 close friends and my SIL twice. I hate to admit it but all these pregnancies hurt so much. I also spent around 3K on fertility treatments and test, vitamins, acupuncture, TCM and OPKs.

I just wanted to share this to let you know that there is light at the end of the tunnel and hopefully for all of us ☀️🌈💕
Look after yourselves, be kind and gentle, it’s a tough road but you got this. Xxxx

Ah so sorry to hear of your news @birdbybird and @Makingnumber2 my heart goes out to you.

There's a girl I work with who had a god awful time in 2019/early 2020 with at least 3 misscariges at around 6w. I'm planning on telling my department on tue (bosses already know), and I absolutely hated the idea of her having this bombshell just appear, so I messaged her last night, and we ended up having a really lovely conversation. I feel super guilty that I made her sad with my news, but I'm also glad I was able to talk to her on her own 1st.

My heart genuinely goes out to her, and all you other ladies who are going through utterly shit times. I really wish I could help or comfort you all.

I'll keep everything crossed as always for those of you who are SI-ing, or in the tww x

Ah thanks @elosieislost. That is reassuring!