TTC 2 years

@ljayc I know the feeling of not wanting to reach the IVF stage but try and see it as exciting! That’s good that they’ve it’s moving quickly as well, I have everything crossed for you! We saw a private consultant (£200 an hour 😳) and he basically told me to stay on letrozole until the end of the year and then we’ll look at ‘plan B’ which is IVF. Feeling a bit deflated as I don’t think I ovulated this month despite the letrozole so might need to up the dose again next cycle

Hey @Lasagne30 @maw16
How are things going?
I’ve been for blood tests to check egg reserve levels (which came back as normal) and I received a pack of paperwork from the assisted conception unit with an initial appointment which was yesterday (much sooner than expected as I was told it would likely be around Aug time). It was the same consultant that I’ve had throughout that picked up her own referral (not sure how that works) but in a way it was good as she was up to speed with everything so we weren’t having to repeat things. She advised me to just start the IVF sooner rather than try for another 4 months on clomid as the success rates for clomid are so low, especially as I know I am already ovulating. IVF only has a 30-35% success rate for my age bracket apparently, but that’s much higher chance than the clomid whilst I’m still under 35 apparently. So we’ve both got to go for more bloods (blood borne virus checks this time) and I should get a call in the next 2 weeks from a nurse who will book me in for the next stages apparently 😱 I’d really hoped I wouldn’t reach this point but here we are!

@maw16 that’s good, glad it all went okay and tubes are clear! Hopefully you’ll have some luck this month then. I’ve just started on my second month of clomid so will just keep trying and hoping x

@ljayc oh and yes forgot to mention that they said we can still try this month as I haven’t ovulated yet! So that’s a bonus as I really didn’t want to skip

@ljayc @Lasagne30 I just had my hycosy this morning! It was actually fine, I don’t know what I was worried about! There was just a bit of pressure and slight cramping but stopped as soon as they finished the procedure. Good news is, the dye spilled out very quickly showing my tubes are nice and open . He did say I don’t have an obvious dominant follicle yet so could still be a few days away from ovulation so he said to keep tracking to make sure the letrozole has worked. We have another appointment this afternoon with the private clinic to get their opinion on my NHS treatment plan. How are you both?

That’s good then. Is your appointment quite soon? I know what you mean about not wanting to miss out on trying that month, even though it’s only 1 month (or longer if your cycles are so long!), they go by really quickly and before you know it, it’s been a year x

Thanks for the tip! The clinic have said they will discuss my results immediately after the test which is great, so just hoping I ovulate after so we can still try this month!

@maw16 Yes, my HSG was actually okay, just a bit uncomfortable, but not painful. Like @Lasagne30 said, the worst bit was waiting ages for the results.

Oh don’t worry, ask away!
Yes I ovulated (on CD16), but I always do, and always around days 14-16. Ovulation has never been the issue for me… I’ve no idea what the actual issue is 🤷🏼‍♀️ x

@ljayc thanks! Did you try the same month and can you remember if you ovulated quite soon after? Sorry about all the questions, feeling a bit nervous! X

@maw16 I had HSG on day 9 x

I’m finally booked in for my hycosy (bit the bullet and decided to go private as we’re already 5 months into letrozole with no success). What cycle day did you both have your HSG/hycosy done? I’ll be on CD14 and I was originally told to have it done before day 12 so a bit worried it’s too close to ovulation?

@Lasagne30 Strangely, I was never given a follow up appointment with her, she sort of said goodbye and good luck but to call her secretary if I have any follow up questions! We left it that she would refer me for IVF (which she said has an approx wait time of 18weeks in my area for initial appointment to start IVF process, not sure on timescales for actual treatment from that point?), but in the meantime, I’m to take the clomid for up to 6 months whilst on the waiting list in the hope that I have success before I actually reach the IVF point, rather than going back after 6 months of clomid for an IVF referral then. I think my age has a bit to do with doing it this way as well as I’m nearly 34 and don’t want it to keep dragging on and then age effect chances of success. Im lucky in that I have regular cycles, always ovulate, have only ever had 3 day full flow bleeds and all tests come back fine, but that makes the ‘unexplained infertility’ really frustrating like you said x

@Lasagne30 I normally have 2 days of spotting before full flow so makes it very hard to know when to start taking the pills! One cycle I counted spotting as day 1 and another cycle I waited till full flow and it didn’t seem to make much difference! I still ovulated both times

Hey @Lasagne30 and welcome @maw16
I took mine days 2 to 6 (5 pills) and I don’t really spot, I just get 3 days full flow, so knowing when to start was straightforward for me. And I’m the same as you with regards to tests before pills. My consultant never discussed medication until my appointment to discuss test results for HSG and ultrasound, she just booked tests for everything first and said that would determine suitable treatment options.
Not sure about job yet, knowing my luck I’ll get pregnant right after handing my notice in 🤦🏼‍♀️ The timing of it isn’t great so I’m a bit torn with it all. Ideally I want to retire now and become a lady of leisure but my partner, bank balance and mortgage don’t agree haha!
I’m in my 2WW at the moment and I’ve 5 rounds left, but she never mentioned upping the dosage.
Fingers crossed for us all!!! x

@lasagne30 Been TTC for 13 months - not long in comparison to a lot of people but feels like forever! 3 of those cycles have been medicated (We didn't know that I wasn't ovulating for the first year due to PCOS)

Doc says I can do 12 rounds of Letrozole and then straight to IVF which I think is a bit of a jump so hopefully it doesn't come to that

@lasagne30 I know..the one I'm looking at is around £500 😳 and that's if I can bypass the additional £300 for a consultation and just get a referral from my current consultant! Would probably be more sensible to wait until August but TTC does crazy things to us haha.

Tell me about it - spend years on contraception to find out there really is a science to getting pregnant for some people 😂

Letrozole has been fine - first cycle I had quite severe cramping but I haven't had it bad since. It's regulated my cycles to 28-29 days down from 50 so as well and my progesterone levels have been really high which is great. Yet here I am still not pregnant haha. How many cycles of clomid will you do?

@lasagne30 haha yes, every time I have phoned so far to tell them I have started my cycle and will need to be booked in they just laugh and say it's not how it works so they've just told me to phone for cancellation appointments until August. Debating having it done privately because of my lack of patience.

Yes - I'm only 24 which is why I think my consultant expected the letrozole to have worked by now!

Is this your first medicated cycle? How are you finding it?