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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

Original poster

Saw the GP today...

469 replies

Got2besoon · 07/11/2022 12:10

Well after 16 months of ttc number 2 and one mmc at the start, I finally bit the bullet and saw the GP this morning.

She was lovely and she's going to order some bloods and a sperm analysis for DH. She also took a swab today (for Chlamydia I think).

I'm sad that I'm at this point and a little angry too. I thought my DS would have a sibling by now and I just want this fertility journey to be over. Definitely grateful to have DS but fearful no more will come.

Is anyone else at a similar stage in their fertility journey?

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 11/04/2023 10:45

@vitahelp @Keeptrying32 We're in the middle of attempting to potty train our son too which isn't helping. Think we're calling it a day on that today and putting him back into nappies. He had two amazing days and then has been awful at it for the next three.

vitahelp · 11/04/2023 10:33

@TheBirdintheCave It's so frustrating. As @Keeptrying32 says you shouldn't count yourself out entirely though. I'm the same and conceived DD while myself & DH had an awful cold, we had the cold while we were in the fertile week and during most of the 2WW!

Keeptrying32 · 11/04/2023 09:25

@TheBirdintheCave I hope it is just a blip and you are feeling ok. Don’t count yourself out completely- I conceived my DS when I had a cold. Not sure if I had low grade fevers but it isn’t impossible. Hope you feel better soon.

TheBirdintheCave · 11/04/2023 09:25

@vitahelp Maybe? If a fever can kill sperm when it's still inside a man then surely it would also die if my temperature gets too high too?

Anyway, I'm out once again. Three months in a row of bad luck.

vitahelp · 11/04/2023 09:11

@TheBirdintheCave I never knew that was how it worked, so if you record a fever just before ovulation, any sperm that is waiting will die? I hope you're feeling better soon, it's rubbish to feel you have missed out on a cycle.

TheBirdintheCave · 11/04/2023 08:32

@Keeptrying32 My body blew it I'm afraid. We're out for this month now. I have a cold and my thermometer recorded 37.88 as my temperature so all the sperm will be dead 😭😭

Keeptrying32 · 11/04/2023 07:34

Thanks everyone- I did get my hopes up quite a bit as we had caught ovulation which with DH going away we thought we would miss it. I guess in my mind this one sucks more because of that and also now we won’t have a baby in our arms this year. I’m off this week and DS is in nursery today and Thursday so going to use the time for some self care.

@Got2besoon so I’ve done my progesterone and other hormone bloods through my GP last year which the clinic are happy to use, same with DH’s sperm samples (the first had low morphology, the second sample was better 3% still not above the magic 4% but the rest was normal). I’ve had a blood best for AMH through them and will get the result on Friday when I see the consultant and have an ultrasound at the same time. Getting quite worried that it will find something we can’t treat or that we will end up being offered IVF only. I’m hoping there is something else we can try first. Glad the pregnancy is going well so far, try not to worry. It is very easy to say but all the signs are good signs. How long until your scan?

@oliveroses thats good you’ve had your booking appointment. Hopefully scan is soon and you can see the little bean.

@vitahelp glad you are chilled. Hopefully this will be a positive month for you. Keep us up to date with the tests.

@TheBirdintheCave its great that you caught the peak and Friday will still give you a chance, along with yesterday and going again today. I have my fingers crossed for you.

Original poster
Got2besoon · 10/04/2023 22:45

@oliveroses Ha, bad boobies! My DS is the exact same, and whenever he runs towards me I now have to hold his arms to protect my poor tender boobs!

I've had quite bad nausea, but it has eased the last couple of days thankfully. My booking in appointment is on Wednesday, so looking forward to ticking that box. However, it's still very much in the back of my mind that it's early days and anything can happen. I'm really counting down the days to that 12 week scan.

I'm either totally gone off food or ravenously hungry and I can no longer drink water, it just makes me gag. So fizzy peach or apple flavoured water all the way. And the only fruit I can stand is apples. Food aversions are weird.

I'm so sorry the spotting has started @Keeptrying32 I know that sinking feeling all too well. Have you got a date for any tests yet?

@TheBirdintheCave That's exciting you caught the peak! I didn't always manage to but I always felt that bit more optimistic the months that I did, like, at least you know there should be a nice little egg there ready to meet that sperm :)

With regards built up sperm, I wouldn't worry too much about that honestly. My DH did his 2nd sperm analysis (the first wasn't great so GP wanted to repeat a few months later) just before we found out we were pregnant and it was really good/normal; much better than the first. And he hadn't 'emptied the tanks' for like a whole week beforehand, so it obviously didn't impact him.

OP posts:
oliveroses · 10/04/2023 22:30

@Keeptrying32 sorry it wasn't this month - that spotting, I know the feeling all too well. Stay strong. And have a glass of wine!

Thank you, all okay here as far as I know but still in the dark really as I haven't had any scans etc. I had my booking appointment on Saturday so that was weird as they talk about everything as if it's very certain and I still feel in disbelief/very cautious/unconvinced. My toddler has started kicking me in the boobs when I have change his nappy and that's really painful now though. I have told him I have 'bad boobies' so I really hope that doesn't come out at nursery/ granny and grandpas...

vitahelp · 10/04/2023 19:26

@Keeptrying32 I’m sorry this month hasn’t worked out for you. Yes let us know how it goes on Friday.
I’m 4dpo, feeling pretty chilled but I always do at this point as implantation couldn’t have happened, I’m sure next week will be a different story. DH is having his tests next week.

TheBirdintheCave · 10/04/2023 16:46

@Keeptrying32 Sorry this wasn't your month :( I got a peak OPK today (big shock as I've only ever caught one in my life before) so I think it means I'll O tomorrow? Couldn't dtd last night as I was ill but did this afternoon and will do tomorrow either morning or lunch time as well. I don't think it will be enough though as we last dtd on Friday so all that built up sperm will be of poorer quality and today was our best shot ☹️

Keeptrying32 · 10/04/2023 16:05

How are you doing @vitahelp and @TheBirdintheCave . When are you due to ovulate this month?
Unfortunately this month wasn’t for us- I’ve started spotting today right on schedule. We have our fertility appointment Friday so will let you know what happens

how are the pregnancies going @Got2besoon and @oliveroses?

oliveroses · 31/03/2023 20:23

@Keeptrying32 that's good news! I have no idea if there is any truth in it but my acupuncture lady is always very positive about early ovulation when ttc. I will keep my fingers crossed.

All ok here, not much to report. Just very tired. Still counting days tbh ... x

Keeptrying32 · 31/03/2023 20:09

@vitahelp and @TheBirdintheCave Sorry that is wasn’t your month. I hope you have success this time before starting the IVF @TheBirdintheCave

I’ve got my consultation in two weeks @vitahelp and have a scan then. Private clinic unfortunately but I couldn’t wait any longer on the NHS and know what they would offer me would be very limited anyway. Hope you have some luck soon.

DH is away for the next 8 days but I got a peak LH the day before he left which wasn’t expected but positive.Hopefully we might have caught ovulation. It will mean a short cycle this month as ovulation was day 12 so if I follow my usual pattern for my luteal phase my cycle will be 23-24 days but we stand a chance this month which we weren’t expecting.

Hope the pregnancies are going well @Got2besoon and @oliveroses

oliveroses · 27/03/2023 11:01

@vitahelp good for you, contacting the clinic. To wait til September for a scan is so long! I think that wanting your life back is a big part of the mental battle ... it means that in some small way you are not totally given over to ttc and I think that's a good thing. Hope you can get a private appointment soon x

TheBirdintheCave · 27/03/2023 08:30

@vitahelp Woohoo :)

vitahelp · 27/03/2023 08:21

@TheBirdintheCave We're almost the same to the hour, I just had spotting in the morning but started properly about 7pm, so we're cycle buddies for sure! 😀

TheBirdintheCave · 27/03/2023 08:16

@vitahelp Shall do! Sorry to hear AF got you too :( We are cycle buddies now though as mine started properly around 9pm last night.

vitahelp · 27/03/2023 08:08

Morning everyone, AF arrived yesterday morning and hit me like a ton of bricks. It was 1/2 days later than expected and I wasn't feeling 100% so managed to convince myself it could finally be happening. I don't think it helped that it was my 12th cycle so sort of feels like the year mark for me.

I feel a lot brighter today but still quite unenthused with the idea of trying again. I just want my life back and to look forward to the future again. As a last effort I have contacted a private fertility clinic this morning. I've had my blood tests with NHS and DH will have his tests next month. But my scan isn't scheduled until September and I just don't want to wait that long.

@Got2besoon @oliveroses I'm go glad to hear things are going ok for you both. I can totally appreciate the anxiety you're going through though, I think early pregnancy is anxiety inducing at the best of times but when the journey to get there has been long it is more so.

@TheBirdintheCave I'm sorry to hear you are out this cycle. I really hope you have success with your last natural cycle. Keep us updated.

TheBirdintheCave · 26/03/2023 22:52

@oliveroses @Got2besoon Thanks guys :) Either way we've lost out on some money now :/ I have to buy the IVF meds before we'll be able to find out if our last natural cycle worked and there are no refunds. So if we get pregnant this cycle it will have cost us £1k 🤦🏻‍♀️🙄

oliveroses · 26/03/2023 22:26

@TheBirdintheCave all fingers crossed for you!

Original poster
Got2besoon · 26/03/2023 17:27

@TheBirdintheCave Oh, no way! I'm sorry to hear your experience wasn't as good. It's funny, I've worked with a few TV vets who are not as cheery and empathetic in real life when compared to their TV personas! I guess they have their best bedside manner when those cameras are rolling.

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 26/03/2023 15:07

@Got2besoon Yeah I watched it as that's our clinic :) Haven't found them to be that nice so far though 😂

We did hit the jackpot in 2020 with our son who was conceived the cycle before IVF :) Hopefully it will happen again but I think I'll probably still lose the next one.

Original poster
Got2besoon · 26/03/2023 14:55

Good luck @TheBirdintheCave I've seen so many stories of success the month before IVF, so there must be something in it!

Have you seen the Alex Jones documentary on IVF in Kings? I found it really interesting and enjoyable to watch, although certainly emotional at times.

OP posts:
TheBirdintheCave · 26/03/2023 13:57

AF is due tomorrow for me, my temp is falling and I've started spotting so I'm out. Last natural cycle now before IVF starts around April 28th.