Soy Isoflavones..yay or nay?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 no ovulation symptoms, OPK's slightly darker today so I think my O must be delayed x

@Slk3558 someone on MN recommended nova fertility as they got a prescription through them but it was very expensive, consultation was about £150 and then progesterone on top of that and I know that was a lot as well. Unfortunately it doesn't seem straight forward / very accessible. When I researched progesterone, I read that checking it wasn't very reliable because your levels go up and down multiple times a day so you'd have to do several tests to get an average / more accurate reading. Is that not right if you're going by one reading? I might be completely wrong!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm so sorry your dad and your family had to go through that, I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for you. I don't blame you for feeling that way after experiencing that. No one should ever have to fight to get the right healthcare they need.

@Slk3558 I don't know, you'd have to phone ahead and check they'd be willing to prescribe it, so it wasn't a wasted consult. My private GP through work is about £90, and you'd have to pay for the meds on top I guess. Has anyone tried the progesterone creams?

@choccrumpet that's brilliant! I def think it brings more peace having someone do all the tests, and knowing they'll be able to help. Takes the pressure off this and the next cycle

consultation *

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 Yes did on the morning on 7DPO so was expecting it give me accurate result . I reckon my progesterone was either low to begin with or dropping too soon as got my period evening of 11 DPO.

@choccrumpet @Marvellouslymadmum my GP said they don’t do progesterone tests until 3rd miscarriage. I despair with them. It’s as though they don’t believe in low progesterone.

I wouldn’t mind doing a private GP consultation if it meant I could show them the results and get the progesterone to take after ovulation. I’d happily pay for a consumption and private prescription so long as it wasn’t too pricey like £100 . Does anyone know of any online private GPs who do this?

@Marvellouslymadmum I think from reading these threads sadly the only way to get anywhere with the NHS is to go in with your list of questions, and be firm about what you want investigating. You know your stuff, so just stand your ground, even if its uncomfortable. You've waited long enough for the appointment!

My dad died at the start of lockdown, he was terminally ill, and the only way to get anywhere with the NHS was to do all of the research, demand particular pain meds or anti vomiting meds, pay private consultants to write up what care he needed and when etc - was genuinely horrified how poor the care was and so was the consultant. They missed every target, and I just looked around at the patients who didn't have advocates being really firm for them and just wondered how much poorer their care was. I don't have any faith in the NHS really

@Marvellouslymadmum realistically I very much doubt it but I'm so pleased for you! 🤗 I found my first appointment quite overwhelming actually and didn't end up asking many questions because she spoke about so many tests and didn't have access to my info so it felt more general. So definitely prepare what you'd like to ask about!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 on a deeper level I feel more relaxed going into this cycle I think because people are listening to me and things will be happening at some point soon. I'm still not allowing myself to get excited because I don't want to be disappointed so that part is difficult. But I am really hopeful.

@Slk3558 meant they don't ovulate on the standard day 14 sorry!

@choccrumpet and @Marvellouslymadmum its brilliant you're getting somewhere with investigations, must be a weight off your minds!

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I'm much happier with a 3 month wait! I just hope they're helpful and not dismissive!

@Slk3558 gp can definitely prescribe progesterone for you, I'd tell them what the results were and if they won't trust them
They can do their own tests and go from there?

@choccrumpet maybe that was it! In which case thank you 😊 it's so nice to know what's happening and I can make lots of notes to bombard them with beforehand lol

@Riverskye can you get anything from Dr to force it to start? That is so frustrating. I think I will give it another try, I just had more cm on it, and a stronger feeling ovulation I think.

@Marvellouslymadmum oh that's sooooo exciting!!!!! Brilliant news, and really not too far away! Might as well wait and see what tests they want.

@Slk3558 I've heard Medichecks is really tough to get the blood out. Sorry this is a patronising question, did you do it exactly 7 days past ovulation rather than on day 21? Have heard of people getting lower amounts because their Dr insisted on taking it at day 21, but they don't ovulate on the standard day 21. I'm taking 1000 mg vit C for progesterone, but I don't know how much it helps

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 ah at least you're peaking at a decent time and no waiting around! Fingers crossed for you!

@Riverskye I'm sorry that must be so frustrating 😞

@Marvellouslymadmum maybe I wished it into happening 😉 I'm very happy for you!! You must feel so relieved to have something to aim towards now.

@Slk3558 have you tried showing your GP those results? If they can't prescribe maybe they can refer you to someone who can? Otherwise I've heard of others going private and getting it there but it sounds quite expensive

Anyone thinking about medi checks I got a progesterone test done from them. It was hard it took me about an hour to get enough blood into the tester tube but I got there eventually..just had to keep squeezing and squeezing.

My results came back at 19.8 n/mol at 7 dpo I.e ‘inconclusive ovulation’ as should be over 30 for ovulation, but I know I ovulated as I chart and got my lH surge and sustained temp rise, therefore my suspicions have been confirmed that it’s low progesterone. It’s great knowing the problem but how to solve it now? GPs don’t want to know about short leutal phase / progesterone deficiency...

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 I GOT MY REFERRAL LETTER!!! Omg I shouldn't be this excited to get a medical appointment 😂 it's for the end of august but that so so much better than a phone appt in November like they said it would be! So I prob won't bother with the amh as they may do it there anyway

@choccrumpet that's the part of me that says I should tests but once it's been going on for so long it just gets too much!

@Riverskye it must be so disheartening for you, I've had a couple of long cycles - 57 and 66 days and I was so frustrated kept getting bfn but still no af my oh was convinced I must be pg which didn't help as it kept getting my hopes up when I knew I wasn't! 🤦🏼‍♀️ do you have pcos? (Apologies if you've said before, I'd have to keep a not book on everyone on mn to remember)

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 do you think you’ll do soy on your next cycle if you don’t get a BFP this time?

I’m currently CD81, we’ve decided to stop actively trying and take a step back. Still can’t have my second blood test until after AF, I could have sworn it was coming as I had so much spotting for a few days but it’s been over a week now with no spotting. Just really disheartened and fed up, I’ve not had a cycle this long since we started ttc ☹️

@choccrumpet hope you have a lovely day! Brunch before sounds great also.

Good had a late night and some cocktails yesterday 😋 going for a long walk today. Got a 2nd peak on opk today so apps pushed my ovulation back to a more normal time, but means more effort this weekend 😩

@Marvellouslymadmum for me knowing outweighs the negatives I think, I'd hate to think if I had an issue with implantation (which I might) and then not realise I've had chemicals and take action using that knowledge instead of guessing.. I might change my mind depending how long this goes on for, that probably is part of it too.

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 we're seeing OHs family today and going for brunch before.. when we first started trying I thought (naively) we'd have a child by now and then the closer we got to lockdown easing off I thought we'd be at least pregnant by the time we start seeing friends and family again. And of course that's not the case so it's a bit difficult for me starting to see people and it still hasn't happened. Hoping nobody decides to ask us about it.. but it should be a nice weekend and doing something different than normal.

How's your weekend going?

@Marvellouslymadmum I can imagine! I don’t think I’d have been either, but it depends how ill, and how little moaning there was also 😂

That sounds like a good idea, although the Medichecks tests are sounding pretty brutal what with the pinpricks to the fingers 😣 but st least you’ll know.

I don’t test either, depressing seeing blank tests, depressing spending money on tests, and worried to get excited and then it maybe not work out 😬

Are you all having a good weekend?

@ploopypleepy any news on ovulation?

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 gp's won't test amh only fertility specialist but they usually do fsh and progesterone so I don't know why they won't do it for you! I wasn't feeling very sympathetic when he was ill lol we may be able to, I'm waiting for my new cb ov sticks to arrive so only have cheapies until then and forgot to do it this morning 🤦🏼‍♀️ so will try and remember tomorrow and just dtd when we can lol
I'm thinking of getting my amh checked with medichecks just so I know what it is as my fsh is pretty good for my age but apparently if you have high oestrogen (mine is waaaay over the maximum prob to do with endo) it can give you a false fsh 🤦🏼‍♀️
@choccrumpet our bodies are so confusing aren't they! I don't generally test unless af is late as I hate the negatives, part of me thinks I should because it's good to know about possible chemicals but I think they cause me even more disappointment so it's catch 22 really!

@choccrumpet your doctor sounds on it, that's very exciting!

@ploopypleepy when I was looking at starting soy and on another thread where they'd all done a couple of cycles, they told me to take a larger and increasing dose. Anecdotally it seemed that they were getting a later ovulation with a lower dose. They told me to do a 100, 100, 150, 150, 200. But none of its an exact science, and I couldn't find any decent studies, so if its not working for you absolutely don't take next cycle. Hope you ovulate very soon though!

@ploopypleepy I'm no expert on soy but could it be that the dose was too low? Or maybe it just didn't agree with you. Hopefully you still have a good cycle and will ovulate shortly 🤞🏼 it's always a risk with these things.. and again people tend to document the positive effects and not very much the negatives so the things we do see might be one sided.

@choccrumpet I only took 100mg day 2-6 as my cycles are regular I'm just not sure I ovulate as don't get any of the signs. Will see how it pans out over the next week or so x

@A1b2c3d4e5f6g7 to be honest she mentioned so many bloods that I can't remember them all but yes day 3 and equivalent of 21 were a few, although she said I'll do either 2 or 3 day 21 tests to make sure we capture the right results depending when I ovulate as it has been so late, something like on day 21, day 28 (my equivalent of 21) and day 30 something just in case. I should be getting a pack sent to me in the post so can let you know what else it mentions if you're interested.

It's good you're getting them done even if it is privately.

It's so important with ovulation I agree, otherwise what's the point if we don't even know! I sometimes think he doesn't fully understand the process 😂 as long as one of us does lol we've half a chance of getting there eventually.

@ploopypleepy that is frustrating! What days and dosage did you take? I think this is what happened to me but I think my dose was too low so I am trying again

First cycle taking soy, I usually have 28 day cycles and last month for a fairly strong OPK on day 13.... day 14 today and negative OPK's. So I've either not ovulated this month or the soy has delayed ovulation. Not sure I'll use them again