How the fuck am I STILL not pregnant????

[Goinginsane000]

Sorry, I appreciate that this isn’t an AIBU but I am at breaking point and hoping there’s more traffic here.

I have been TTC for 3 years. I was referred for NHS fertility treatment 2 years ago. Tests showed I have PCOS, as suspected. Put on Clomid, had a chemical preg after 3 months. Ovulated probably 10 times out of 12 cycles if I remember correctly. No further BFP for another year. 13 months ago I had a laparoscopy with ovarian drilling. Worked wonders, had a natural period for the first time ever (without needing drugs to bring one on). Continued on Clomid and ovulated every single month without fail. Got pg 6 months later but miscarried at 7 weeks. Was then put on Letrozole. I have ovulated on every one of the 6 cycles I’ve been on this but no fucking BFP. Due to the miscarriage, I had to wait another year for my IVF referral because you need to have not had a pregnancy in the past 12 months.

There must be something else at play, surely???? How can this be happening? Does anyone have any insight or personal experience of a similar history??

For what it’s worth, I am 30. Size 10, have eaten a mainly carb and sugar free diet for 3 years. I don’t smoke or drink much (because I am constantly “possibly pregnant”). I exercise regularly and can run 6 miles in just under 40 mins with zero effort. I take very good care of myself.

Seriously, WTAF!

[HopelesslydevotedtoGu]

When people get pregnant unexpectedly on holiday/ after taking a month off trying I wonder if it's because they are having sex at a different frequency to when they were trying. Eg before they were either having sex too much or too little.

[PurpleDaisies]

teacakes banana has already said it, but I know because I have been there and sometimes hope is the worst thing there is.

There’s a difference between saying “I hope it works out for you” and “I’m sure it will work out for you”.

[Teacakesrule]

When you say you ovulate each time, is this being confirmed with ultrasound scans? I only ask because I thought I was ovulating each time too (3 different types of OPKs said so). Turned out I was just having an LH surge and not actually releasing the egg.

[Summersnake]

I'm fat got pregnant first time trying every time....a number of my friends are very thin ,size 10 .and it took them years ,nearly 40 after 10 yrs of trying...I've noticed this a lot with other fat friends .pregnant very quick .not like massive fat..but you know a covering of it...I'm not saying get fat ..but maybe more carbs and nice foods ..might be worth putting a tad of weight on ,just to see...seriously not trying to be goading,just what I've noticed🌸🌻🌷💐🥀🌹good Luck.hope it happens for you soon x

[PurpleDaisies]

summer there are plenty of fat people on the infertility boards. PCOS responds badly to being overweight.

[QueenoftheNights]

There is some evidence that when you stop 'trying' it can happen. I know several couples who had IVF and all kinds of treatment , unsuccessfully. For some, they got pregnant once they were going down the adoption route, having given up all hope of a baby. It's not as easy as 'relaxing' it's more about forgetting the whole thing (and I have no idea how anyone does that unless they decide it's never going to happen anyway...)

[QueenoftheNights]

@summersnake It's not healthy to be fat and pregnant and in fact there is evidence that fat mums give birth to DCs who are more likely to be obese as a result of that. The OP has a great diet. Adding more weight is a silly idea.

[AgainPlease]

Ahhh infertility bingo!

Have you tried...?
But my friend...
I heard about a woman who...

You hadn't mentioned whether you could afford to go private? I wouldn't be relying on the NHS.

Hop over to the infertility board, there are some lovely ladies who are very knowledgeable (@bananafish81 @PurpleDaisies)

[Notonthestairs]

I know it's been mentioned already but NK Cells were one of our very long list of issues. We had successful IVF but I lost it very quickly. Second time around I was prescribed steroids following IVF and voila (I also ballooned and gained a hairy face - which disappeared post birth ).
Might be worth looking at - although a helpful junior doctor at UCH told me there was no evidence regarding NKC.

[1Potato2]

6 miles (definitely not km?) in 40 mins is fast. Running that speed twice a week might be a bit too intense? Perhaps run in intervals to get the hiit benefit? I'm not a fitness professional (just an avid runner) though so please feel free to ignore.

[YorkieDorkie]

I think your diet and lifestyle sounds amazing. I was amazed at the amount of seriously unhealthy women who were pregnant in the same waiting rooms as me. I'm reasonably healthy (although probably not very fit) but I was seeing morbidly obese mothers to be all over the place. It clearly isn't much of a barrier to conception.

I wish I had some answers OP, I just really hope it happens for you.

[CowParsley2]

You are doing better than we did op- we ttc for 7 years with zilch. We did the deed every 2 days for 2 years with zero caffeine/alcohol.Not a single pregnancy. Nothing on first IVF then twin boys after a FET a year later prior to going down the adoption route. A year after that I had a natural miracle pg after doing the deed ,I shit you not,once in a year and had dd.

You're going to hate me but I think you need a break. I'm convinced not thinking about it got me pg both times. Find some mindful activities maybe cut the exercise a little and give yourself permission to not try at all in the run up to IVF.

The good news is you're young and know you can get pregnant. Odds on IVF working must be very high. Best of luck,I know this sucks.

[FuckingHateRain]

OP I was treated for NK cells and got pregnant with IVF after two years battle incl. miscarrriages. I went to a fantastic clinic

Your diet sounds fantastic
The other thing that helped me with my second pregnancy that I learned while IVFing for my 1st is milk! Lots of it! Lots and lots and lots of disgusting milk that makes your eggs HUGE and ready to be fertillised!
You need lots of protein for the eggs and the best is from milk
Good luck

[Summersnake]

Yeah i did think i wasn't giving good advice...and ops diet and size and exercise sounds perfect...sorry if I offended anyone x

[GorgonLondon]

summer

1. being overweight is actively bad for getting pregnant
   
   
2. "very thin ,size 10" size 10 is not "very thin" unless you're over six feet tall
   
   
3. Anecdotally, I got pregnant (accidentally) with an anorexic BMI of 16. I was still fertile enough weighing 7 stone ish (at 5 ft 8) whereas most of my overweight friends have struggled with fertility and several of them have managed to conceive AFTER losing weight
   
   Your advice is TERRIBLE!

[Caribbeanyesplease]

You’ve been asked a few times but not answered.
What’s your BMI?

[BertieBotts]

If you do have another miscarriage/chemical, ask about karyotyping. This test is not always run as standard in all NHS areas any more but it's useful to know if you're going to do IVF. Sometimes you'll produce perfectly healthy seeming eggs/sperm but there will be something slightly off chromosomally which causes the pregnancy to be unsuccessful. Sometimes miscarriage/chemical and sometimes just complete failure to implant. This is the problem DH and I had (will always have) but luckily we knew about it already due to family history. It might be worth asking if you have another loss, or as a screening before IVF. But chromosome issues are fairly rare. If either of you have direct relatives with infertility or recurrent miscarriage then it could indicate a slightly higher chance of it being the right test to do.

Privately it's about £400 IIRC but you'd need one for each of you.

[BertieBotts]

Her BMI is not relevant as she has stated that she has confirmed ovulation.

[Caribbeanyesplease]

I was very underweight and worked out like a demon.

Fell pregnant accidentally. And then second time around fell pregnant first time around.

This is NOT the norm. The docs were surprised if fsen pregnant so easily given my weight. Not having sufficient really does stop conception in its tracks in many cases.

[BertieBotts]

She has mentioned scans to confirm ovulation. She has mentioned using fertility lube.

Do people not have OP's posts highlighted? It's not as though you have to read every post on the thread.

[ForTheLoveOfCakes]

I read a post on here the other day which highly recommended pre seed (sperm friendly lube)

I've not used it but lots of people were talking about how it worked for them. Not sure how it works. But it wouldn't cause any harm so maybe worth a go?

[Caribbeanyesplease]

BertieBotts

Wrong. I was ovulating second time around when I actually planned to fall pregnant, but my BMI was in the gutter and the doctors were I’d fallen pregnant.

[bananafish81]

When you say you ovulate each time, is this being confirmed with ultrasound scans? I only ask because I thought I was ovulating each time too (3 different types of OPKs said so). Turned out I was just having an LH surge and not actually releasing the egg.

OPKs alone can't confirm ovulation. They can predict it, but can't confirm it

And with PCOS they're completely unreliable in many many cases due to high levels of circulating LH giving false positives

The most reliable way to confirm ovulation is ultrasound to check for a corpus luteum, but most clinics will rely on progesterone bloods at 7dpo ( as luteinused unruptured follicles are very unusual) . BBT at home can check for progesterone rise to suggest ovulation but can't tell the levels.

[Caribbeanyesplease]

One can still ovulate but the body is unlikely to fall pregnant if the BMI is very low

[BertieBotts]

Being underweight can stop you conceiving because it stops you ovulating. If you're underweight but ovulating, then you can get pregnant, so it's an irrelevant factor.