TTC 35+ Thread 7

I have annoying clear blue monitor news. So on Thursday or Wednesday I managed to accidentally drop the monitor device thing in to water that was sat in the sink. I grabbed it straight after and dried it, it seemed fine and it worked afterwards.

This morning I go to use it as it’s not working 😭. I paid £60 for this bastard thing and now it’s not coming on. I should have stuck it on the dehumidifier at the time but I assumed it was ok. It’s on there now, but I’m so annoyed with myself for doing that. Idiot.

Ah yeah, he’d have to call up. It’s annoying but they will sort it if he asks.

I looked at the prices recently for a hycosy and it was about £500 at the private arm of Guy’s. It is not cheap.

Just realized that price is for an advanced scan only, no hycosy.. So no checking tubes damn

I've found one that does the scan and consultation to go over results for £300, Amh another £105. Others are £500-700.

I presume I'd need my partner to ring up and he's so bad at getting round to calls 🙄

@Farfaraway1 yes I'd say cd10 is a good place to start

@climbershell if you can find a private scan clinic near you they often do those checks without needing a consultation. You can also ask for the written report for the sa from your doctors too, which should give you all the numbers

I use 5 different apps purely because of how different they are and can get predicted variations on ovulation and af by up to a week. But then my cycles vary quite a lot. I did find that before I was tracking bbt and opk I wouldn't have a clue which one was right!

@Farfaraway1 clear blue gets me to test from day 7 or 8-17 or 18, but if you know when you ovulate you can not do quite so many.

@Twelvestars it just says it like this
Volume 3.78ml
Count 180
Concentration 48

So I couldn’t figure out what to do with that and was more concerned about his motility and vitality really.

I’ve read some of this abstinence stuff too and it’s interesting how they still say up to 7 days. Husband decided last time without me being involved really, this time I told him to, erm, keep his supply refreshed every other day in the lead up to the abstinence and agreed he would then do 3 days abstinence. Seven seems too many. Like you I’ve read stuff like every other day helps, fewer days being better for quality than more days etc. And one study showed men with lower count had an improved SA the second time they ejaculated in one day. Had to wait a few hours and do it again for this particular study and it yielded better outcomes.

I’m interested to see the difference in results. He had really poor motility and vitality before (morphology was normal), and it was also the hottest day in the mid 30s when he did it. Fingers crossed his swimmers are in better shape this time (and he’s been on the supplement the fertility doc suggested too), would be nice to have one less problem to overcome.

@climbershell ring your GP practice and request the results via email. What I found was they seemed to just have a top line “these results are normal” result and then when we did some digging the receptionist told my husband she didn’t have the detailed report. Then she called him back and said it was in another part of the system, and she emailed them over once she found them. They will have them somewhere if you ask.

On this topic someone I know on here had a DH with under 20mil I think and now he’s back to normal after supplements and lifestyle changes (including less alcohol from what I recall) for a few months.

My husband wears the fitted boxers but I just got him some looser ones from Next and encouraged him to sleep in them, which he does do sometimes now.

I had a consultation booked at the same time but for after the scan and blood test privately.

@twelvestars yeah exactly, it’s been a nightmare trying to get doctors to react and act upon what I’m saying. They dismiss everything and told me “most people conceive while they’re waiting”, ok cool but not everyone does soooooo maybe get a move on with that referral for us, thanks!

One of my apps is weirdly accurate, I think it’s Glow. It always seems to be very spot on. And fertility friend but that app is getting OPK data.

That’s exactly where I am! Strange good thing I didn’t plan to rely solely on my apps.

@climbershell I wonder how much they’re off by for everyone. Clue is usually about 2/3 days wrong about when my period is due.

@Katiekattty my apps have me ovulating yesterday or today, but still virtually no line on opk!

Hi all,

Turns out yesterday was my peak and I should ovulate today. I did feel the usual cramps on one side. My apps had me ovulating Monday/Tuesday. Fingers x and I guess the 2WW stars tomorrow.

Mmm actually after a quick Google the reviews of medichecks don't seem too good...

@climbershell I think being proactive about this is very important. So yes do seek private fertility assistance. As for repeating SA, I would also do it but upon recommendation of the fertility consultant / centre you end up with and provided they offer more detailed parameters of SA and a treatment plan in case result is not favorable. I am sure there are lots of things - other than your GP’s response of “just keep trying” - that can be done for improving semen from lifestyle changes, vitamins, minerals to actual medication. I don’t like how some doctors are so desensitized and complacent to their patients’ problems and issues and their solutions are empty and devoid of compassion or the willingness to act upon something. Eventually they end up wasting patients’ time and energy.

@climbershell no not too far at all! I used to do a bit of bouldering BTW a few years ago. During my dating faze I'd suggest it as a first date to avoid all the usual small talk!

I think you must be able to do that and then probably a consultantion after to discuss the results. Mine was a bit different as I'd gone for bloods after a miscarriage so needed the consultantion first so he could take a history and order the tests... Still strangely didn't order the progesterone test though... I know it's not much help but if it gives you a ball park for the consultation part at least.

BTW someone on another group mentioned they'd had tests done through medichecks. Not quite sure how it works but they're online and do fertility checks. So a day 3 test is £39 for example, others more expensive. I haven't used them myself but it's an interesting option. I was considering a progesterone test through them

@KG1145 ooh. I'm in Cradley Heath near Halesowen. You can't be too far!

Hmmm, that doesn't sound good. I'd rather just book in for a full scan, check ovaries, eggs quality and quantity, tubes not blocked etc than need a consultation before this. Not sure if that's a thing?

Not sure how much I can help @climbershell but wanted to say I'm about 10 miles West of Birmingham too! I'm not too far from Wolverhampton.

I went to see Mr Jeve, he's at p4 fertility and also works at the women's hospital. I really liked him tbh but I've been put off slightly with the whole wanting to charge me for another consultation before prescribing the progesterone he's already recommended... Otherwise I'm not sure who else tbh. The first consultation I had was £100 I think. Other ones I've been told are £150 so not sure if the first one is just cheaper.

@Marvellouslymadmum @Sleeeeeepy @Twelvestars thanks ladies. I’m using ‘freedom’ brand, cycle between 28-30 days usually.. not sure when I usually ovulate, maybe around Cd12-14? Perhaps I’ll wait till CD10 and start 😁

@Twelvestars just GP, OH wasn't impressed with the phone call tbh. Doc gave his readings, no morphological percentage, just said below average. Said when he asked question the doc just said blazé response, well average and as you don't drink or smoke and not obese just keep trying

After speaking to OH tonight and seeing as NHS waiting list for scan etc for me is 16 weeks + (likely lot longer atm), we want to find prices for private. After all, could wait 4 months and find I have blocked tubes!

Can anyone help me know where to start here please? Worth getting his SA done again private too? I'm 10 miles West of Birmingham incase anyone is local

@Farfaraway1 good evening you! I would say if your cycle is 28 days, I would start at CD12. Also depends which test you use. Mine is the Clear Blue digital test (pink) which either gives you a static or smiley face and the smiley is an indication of peak fertility and impending ovulation within next 48 hours.

@climbershell yes 13 million per 1ml is low but if his typical volume is 8ml then 104 million is actually not bad at all! I would say what requires investigation is the below average shape of sperm. I think the SA should include a morphology percentage and other notes elucidating further on the sperm. Have you been seeing a specialist or just a GP?

@climbershell my oh wears the same kind of boxers but I think they recommend looser ones. I'm not sure how much alcohol is a good amount, may be worth looking in to but the extra exercise definitely wouldn't hurt!

@Farfaraway1 still Friday evening here lol do you know how long your cycle is or when you usually ovulate? It should be a few days before that, I'm starting to use opk Sunday which is cd7 for me and last time I got my peak on cd14 but my cycles are pretty irregular

Hi @Farfaraway1 are they the CB ones? How long is your cycle usually?

My period has arrived today which I'm pretty pleased about since I hope it means cycle going back to normal. I actually think I had a CP which is great news as suggests I'm ovulating again. My LH has been high for ages and it took two months for my hcg to go right down so this is good news. Fingers crossed for April!

Morning ladies (Saturday morning here) - question re ovulation testing - I’m CD 8 today, when should I start testing daily? From CD10? I only have 6 pee sticks left this cycle and would rather not buy another box till next cycle so want to make these ones count!

@SunAndSea37 yes absolutely hun,that’s something I’ve learnt too, it’s always better to say SOMETHING, anything at all, rather than not say anything.. xx

Sorry I'm not sure who I'm replying to... Everyone who commented!

Yes 13ml per 1ml, so not great BUT 8ml is a high volume, so 104million isn't terrible but not brilliant according to what google says is normal

He wears the smaller fitted boxers, do you think that's ok? No laptop or baths, warm showers, the cat sits on him most nights not often crotch tho. He probably drinks 2-3 double whiskey/rum 3 nights a week

Doctor didn't mentioned morphology. This was all told over the phone, OH wrote it down, no actual letter..

My OH is not forthcoming with questions, which I could have been part of the call, asking probing questions!

We dtd the mon, SA Wed.

Doc said 18 months trying is average... Doc told me about 85% conceive in 12months. Apparently the next step is deciding if we want help, but my OH is now, thanks to the doc saying 18 months, thinking no rush whatsoever

And he's also thinking well nothing can do.. Whereas I think he should lose a few kg and start exercising regularly. He has said he'll starr jogging once a week now, which he used to do before he met me and started climbing

@thislittlebird so basically the reported results for concentration (or count) should be per ml so for example if the volume is 3.78 ml and concentration is 48 million per 1ml, it would be 3.78 x 48. That’s how results are usually presented. I have read that abstinence should not be more than 3-5 days at most and I’ve come across a few newer studies where SA yields better results with abstinence of just 2 days.

So a few years ago my husband had an SA with recommended abstinence of 5 days. When I went in to see the consultant last Monday, she saw his results and said results are normal but requested a new SA with just 3 days abstinence no more. I think the reasoning behind this is that longer than 3 days has a reverse impact on the quality and morphology of sperm. I think volume and concentration ratios will still be the same regardless of abstinence length.

I’m guessing in your case, this time with a shorter abstinence period you should pay attention to results of motility and morphology of sperm. I bet you the results will come out even better than the first time around.

Hope you feel better soon @Lexber. I felt like I had the flu for 24 hours after my jab.