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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

TTC for 18+ months and feeling low!

537 replies

Natty2 · 02/09/2023 14:42

I'm fairly new at this forum and decided to join after TTC since the start of 2022
We discovered earlier this year that my DH morphology was low, although all other results were normal. He implemented life style changes straight away, and even went through a varicocele embolisation a few months ago, so we're waiting to see if that's helped.

Having gone through the rest of the year undergoing tests everything seems normal, so the NHS are not letting us even get on the IVF list until 2024. It's been such a long, physical and emotional journey and there seems to be no end in sight.

Anyone else going through similar things? I feel like I live life in 2 week cycles and it's so hard to try and not think about it all!!
Any tips?!

OP posts:
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Original poster
Natty2 · 02/09/2023 21:59

@missmoosh it's exhausting isn't it?! good luck for the blood test hopefully you can get that booked in soon 🤞
I'm going to try and take the advice on here and maybe go easy this next cycle.. starting with no bbt measuring, it can become so obsessing to wonder what each day means 😫

OP posts:
missmoosh · 02/09/2023 21:55

@LucyLoopyLu Hahaha we meet again 😂😂

Original poster
Natty2 · 02/09/2023 21:47

@LucyLoopyLu sounds like you've had most of the tests. I've had the same, but also the tube dye test a couple of weeks ago. Hopefully you can get booked in for that when you have the fertility consultation 🤞

OP posts:
LucyLoopyLu · 02/09/2023 21:23

@missmoosh oh hi 🖐 fancy seeing you here

missmoosh · 02/09/2023 20:58

Gonna jump on here, have nothing helpful to offer but nice to be with people who know the struggle!
Cycle 15 no luck yet 😪 lap & dye done and all clear, day 21 test shows I am ovulating but not had day 3 tests yet...

LucyLoopyLu · 02/09/2023 20:14

@Natty2 my husband has had 2 SA. Something bame back slightly below optimum range both times, but it was different - 1st time motility, 2nd time morphology. They were 6-ish months apart. But overall count was very high which offsets some of the concerns about slightly low %s.

I've had AMH testing (twice), an ultrasound scan with antral follicle count, and hormone testing (day 3 and day 21). Everything came back normal except I have high testosterone. Doesn't surprise me as I have severe hormonal acne (according to dermatologist).
I would like to have another ultrasound with AFC as I had 28 total (left and right ovary together) and if it was 30 then with the high T I would be diagnosed with PCOS. I think this is fairly likely but in my case probably mild. I have fairly regular cycles and day 21 test shows I'm ovulating so it shouldn't be the reason I'm not conceiving, but it would be useful to know.

Only other thing I believe is to check tubes are clear. Unless I am missing something.

How about you?

Hiddenvoice · 02/09/2023 18:09

@Natty2 its much easier said than done , I kept saying we would stop ttc but each month I’d want to try again. I guess I only stopped because I was told to. I was desperate for a baby and was very upset at first as I felt I was kissing my chance but the longer I went without ttc the happier I became. My dh and I had even spoke about maybe going down other avenues and that children might not be for us when I realised I was late.

Original poster
Natty2 · 02/09/2023 16:32

@LucyLoopyLu
It really doesn't help does it! We've had a few friends say it had worked first time too and that really gets to us!
I do always try to keep the faith but it's hard every month when AF arrives.
We had to have private tests done too, just to help keep things moving along otherwise it just adds more months to the process.

What tests are left for you?

OP posts:
Original poster
Natty2 · 02/09/2023 16:28

@Hiddenvoice ^ that was still me 😅 I was trying to change my username earlier. I'm still very new to this so not sure how it works 😅

OP posts:
Lilo8 · 02/09/2023 16:25

@Hiddenvoice I'm pleased to hear that it finally worked for you! We've heard a few times that as soon as people stop trying it works!
Will need to try and work on that more... or not try! 🤞

LucyLoopyLu · 02/09/2023 16:16

Hi. Yes I'm quite fed up too. We've been trying since I had my copper coil removed in March 2022. We've missed 3 cycles here and there. I'm just starting cycle 15. Waiting for my first appointment following our fertility referral and hoping they will at least order some more tests. We've already had some tests (some of which were private) and there's nothing that has flagged as to why it's taking so long.

I am totally fed up and sympathise! Doesn't help that everyone else has been popping out babies left and right.

Hiddenvoice · 02/09/2023 15:55

Not a lot of help here but I was ttc for 3 years before I actually fell pregnant. The gp was lovely but not much help was given and I was told that it will happen sooner or later.

I then decided to stop trying when I had the first covid vaccine as I was encouraged to wait 2 months before trying again. Just as I wanted to start again I got the second vaccine and told to hold off again. I went 4 months of not trying and actually felt I relaxed massively. The pressure felt off for both dh and I and it almost felt like we could be ourselves again without the horrible 2 week wait. When it came to try again we decided against it and to start again 6 months later. We were just feeling happy. 2 months later and I was pregnant. I know it’s just a thing that happened, we weren’t taking any vitamins, we weren’t pushing ourselves and we definitely weren’t ttc. I genuinely put it down to both of us feeling relaxed.

I really hope for the best for you. It’s a horrible time and just makes you doubt yourself.