9 months+ trying to conceive, still losing hope, still trying

@Hoping43 I’m always hot and sweaty in the night when I’m on my period. Always have been!

Morning everyone.

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend just catching up on messages. @Indianna2006 i started aspirin this cycle as read it can help inflammation, when i had my CRP tested it was in normal range but high end so i thought it was worth ago its probably related to my thyroid.

My GP upped my thyroid meds as it hadn't come down that much, i had a blood test last week as been on meds 8 weeks so just hoping thats thats stopping us and when it comes down we will be sorted but who knows.

Im 12dpo just done a test it was a BFN so looks like onto cycle 10. We was out with my brother and his girlfriend last night, we are really close and i told them we are TTC after a few wines and he told me they are too, only 3 months, they are 3 years younger, hope they don't have to go through all of this but don't know how ill cope if they get pregnant before us without sounding selfish (hope you all get what i mean) cant wait to be an aunt but its just so hard when its not you.

@BritInNZ - hopefully all your changes make a difference, i have noticed my skin has improved a lot. What dietary changes have you been making?

I am off to another christening today wish me luck xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 I’m glad you’ve already had another appointment and been given a timeline. Hope that helps to settle and feel like things are moving forward.

@Hoping43 thought I’d just add, I did see somewhere unexplained fertility or taking longer to fall pregnant than normal can usually be to what @FlyOnTheWall89 mentioned. So DNA fragmentation, inflammation in the body, vitamin D levels.
I have a family history of thrombolic issues. As I had to take aspirin and blood thinners in pregnancy. But inflamtion in the body but be from chronic stress. Immune system anything.
I did take aspirin from ovulation last cycle which is the cycle I fell. I did also use the fertilily in the right place. So I have no clue what helped. Or if none of it did. But I do wonder if the aspirin lowered my overall inflammation in my body and increased my blood flow. Who knows.
As you have had 2. Within recent years as well. I think it may just be taking longer due to being older etc etc.

My periods are fairly short and it did worry me but obv didn’t factor in.

@Tinkerbell098 sorry to hear about your blocked tube. Like everyone has said there is now a plan in place and maybe a reason as to why it’s taking longer. But still a chance for it to happen naturally I presume just may take longer hence the long slog 😣🤞🏼

Hope you’re all plodding along as well as you can

@LucyAnne34 @Tinkerbell098 @FlyOnTheWall89 thanks girls. Seems like there’s loads of variation. Also, FSH seems like it fluctuates all the time as between May and November I had it tested three times and it was 4, 6.3 and 9.6.

I was worried I was perimenopausal but after speaking to to you ladies I think maybe all this is normal. I find I sometimes wake up sweaty at night around my period and have done since having my second baby age 32 and I think that’s what started all my worrying in the first place x

@Hoping43 mine was 12.6 I’m 36. Doctor said it’s fair not the best but ok.

@LucyAnne34 my FHS was 5 I think and my AMH was 10.7. I'm 32... >13 is what the doc would expect for my age, so it's a bit low but not a disaster x

*transvaginal

@Hoping43 ah ok def haven’t had that, or if I have they haven’t told me! Haha. I’ve had trans ago all ultrasounds and all that so who knows! I might ask my consultant (when I finally get another appointment) x

@FlyOnTheWall89 @Tinkerbell098 may I ask your ages and AMH results? I have no idea what to expect

@LucyAnne34 I believe it’s one of the first tests they do along with day 3 bloods and semen analysis. They do a transvaginal ultrasound and count the number of follicles that are visible on each ovary and it gives them an indication of ovarian reserve along with AMH and FSH X

@Hoping43 no they haven’t said they are concerned. Tbh, I think different places use different cut offs. My consultant hasn’t said there’s an issue so far…lol. I feel like I’m gunna need IVF soon. No haven’t had AFC - I didn’t know this was a thing tbh haha. I’ll have to investigate it 🤔 what does it mean? X

@LucyAnne34 ah ok that’s interesting. Have you had feedback on your FSH? Mine was 9.6 and they told me the upper limit of normal was 10 so I’ve been worried. My LH was 4.5z Have you had an antral follicle count done? X

@Hoping43 my testosterone and prolactin off too which I’ve been told not to worry about as not high enough to cause issues. However having a scan on pituitary gland just to make sure nothing there (high prolactin can be indicative of prolactinoma tumour which they don’t think it is as levels not high enough) x

@Hoping43 Thankyou. I have been off the pill for 2 years in April now. Miscarried last November (had a few months off in that period for some unrelated surgery and a few months we didn’t get fertile window) but took 14 months I reckon. I’ve attached my results. My FSH/LH ratio is off but they think that’s just me (can indicate PCOS etc which they have ruled out with scans etc) x

@LucyAnne34 sorry to hear about your miscarriage. That must have been so tough after 14 months TTC. Are you having any investigations or anything? do you know your FSH? My FSH result is what makes me think my AMH isn’t going to be brilliant

@Hoping43 you never know! Mine was average apparently. I’m 34. No it wasn’t successful, miscarried around 6 weeks 😞 x

@LucyAnne34 that sounds good. I don’t imagine mine will be anywhere near that but we will see! Was your pregnancy last year successful? X

@Hoping43 yes less days. I would say 2 days of light-normal flow then about 4 days of spotting. Drives me mad. But I’ve been told it’s quite normal as you get older and as I say AMH is ok. I still get obsessed there’s something wrong though. I don’t know much about follicle count tbh! Fingers crossed your all good with AMH, I’m sure you will be though ☺️ Think my AMH was 16.94 pmol/L x

@LucyAnne34 thank you. When you say shorter, do you mean bleeding for less days? I’ve noticed this too. I only really have 2 days of normal bleeding now and another 3 of light bleeding/spotting. I’ve really worked myself into a state thinking it’s perimenopause but don’t know if it can be if my follicle count is 13. Waiting to find out my AMH results at our appt in a couple of weeks x

@Hoping43 my cycles are exactly same as yours - vary 28-34 days. They also have got soo much shorter as I’ve got older. AMH normal. When I had my basic bloods it showed i was ovulating. And I got pregnant last year after about 14 months. So it can happen. I’m desperate for it to happen again and for this one to stick.
@FlyOnTheWall89 Thankyou for all that. I have a feeling I will need to know it at some point ❤️

@FlyOnTheWall89 when are you seeing Dr Ramsay next? Will you be getting a DNA fragmentation test through them? I'm glad you have a clear route now and you have a bit more time to decide which way you want to go. It's a tiny step closer to getting your baby :)

I got hold of my HSG test result which reads:
"Good filling and normal spillage from the right tube. The proximal end of the left tube appears normal but there is no distal filling or peritoneal spillage".
So sounds like part of the tube was open but the end bit towards the ovaries was blocked.

@Tinkerbell098 no clue - spontaneous pregnancy as she called it, is a 3% risk and IVF is a 5%.

I have a feeling there is a small cancellation fee and then you go onto a frozen transfer protocol and it's less injections and some other tablets to prepare your lining.

We will make a decision after we have spoken to Dr Ramsay I think. I would love to start in June but I will have to see what my partner says. x

@FlyOnTheWall89 thanks so much for that. That's exactly what I needed to know, the initial steps, timelines etc. My AMH is also on the lower side at 12.6, but she said it's fair, not the worst, which is why she pushed me towards IVF rather than waiting around for longer, which I understand.
Just a bit confused, why did they say there'll be increased chance of ectopic? Thought they transfer to the uterus, is there a chance it can travel up to the tubes? So strange!
Does the NHS funding also include frozen transfer if the fresh cycle fails?
I agree, a lot of information and so much to take in. At least you are fully informed now and have time to prepare. Have you decided if you will go for it in June/July time?

Not sure how helpful it is but here goes...

After initial appointment 2 weeks ago, this was the first appointment with the lady who will be my lead consultant for the process.

I need to have a HSG, so I'll call the hospital on the first day of next period. Rubella test also a necessity.

When we want to begin, we call the nurse.
-we will have long protocol (most common)
-it's about 1 month total of various injections .
-somewhere in there they do a stimulation start scan to check ovaries and lining.
-then they encourage follicles to grow. Scanned 3 times a week.
-when follicles are mature, trigger injection

• egg collection is done under sedation and pain relief and takes 15-20 mins. On the same day, partner gives a sample. They can make a decision on the day whether to do ICSI or not.
• then embryologist calls with an outcome
• fresh transfer day 3 or 5 (only 1 to be transferred)
• then the TWW

They also prep you for all the things that could go wrong - won't list all of them as there are loads, most resulting in them having to freeze the embryos and then do a frozen transfer.

Success rates are 40% per cycle at that clinic for my age. For 32, she would expect more like 13 or higher AMH, so that confirms it's a bit low, but okay.

-Slightly increased chance of eptopic pregnancy

• no increased risk of miscarriage
• counciling is part of funding

• no hard or fast rule re sperm required for it to be IVF rather than ICSI but she did recommend a DNA fragmentation test which you can't get on the NHS.

-quietest times: June / July (I'd start the next cycle basically). December is 2/2.5 months wait.

Hope that helps anyone on the verge of going through the same process.

So much to take in and quite overwhelming, but okay. X