Clearblue Fertility Monitor Support Group Buddies Vol 6!!

[boba82]

Welcome ladies to our new home yet again!! I hope this one will be as lucky as the last one was!

how you hlding out raspberry ? I am due on wed :(

Surviving at the moment! I haven't had my morning wee yet so theres a fair chance I may crack! How bout you?!

Boba, Keziah, ilovekittyelise*. No baby news from me but I have been doing okay. Part of me has reached some level of acceptance that we might be a family of three always ... I'm blessed to have one so I cannot really complain.

I'm still using my CBFM and having acupuncture and I'm at the start of a monitoring cycle with a view to going for IVF at the end of August [although I'm not 100% committed to going down that route as it will cost us a lot of money and we haven't given up hope of a natural BFP]. I am having some immune tests this cycle to try and find a reason why it is just not happening for us the second time around. We saw a consultant who told us that sometimes a first pregnancy acts to immunise you against further pregnancies. Just like when you get chicken pox. Wishing you all well.

Lychees - yes, it is good you have dc1, so hope that is helping you right now. We also are paying for Immune tests, see consultant in July. Though no such things as monitoring cycles in the private clinics we can get to here - so it is all or nothing for us. Perhaps if the immune tests show an issue you may just need medicaiton for that rather than the ivf as well? My Gp did some basic level 1 tests for us - and that has shown I am heterozygous for Factor V Leiden, so treatment for that would help natural bfp's happen as well as in ivf! Though an IVF clinic obviously will not provide prescription for natural bfp's as they want business for the ivf side of things and my gp will nto prescribe anything unless I have 3 miscarriages etc so sort of stuck with that right now! But other clinics may be more helpful!! All the best with results - be interested to see what results you get from immunes.

I'm ok raspberry, just checking for spotting which usually means af on her way. Got cramps and sore boobs though which prob means shes lurking.

I cracked, BFN. I can feel AF on it's way anyway so no idea why I did it, at least I've pee'd on something now so it's out of my system! Feel like crap to be honest, have had a real stress about wedding stuff today, just feel like having a really good cry.

Am feeling very today. We got dh's SA results yesterday and they are not good. He's got only 3% normal and 18% motility. just not sure where we go from here tbh. Dr was very unhelpful and said we could repeat test or get referred to urologist but no indication of what the steps are, what our chances are of conceiving naturally or whether assisted would even work. I've go an appointment with my gp to discuss my results so hoping might get a few more answers. My day 21 test showed I ovulated so still need to figure out why my estrogen was so high as well.

Just feel like having a good cry but don't want dh to see how dissapointed I am.

Sorry raspberry, have a cry with me I'm spotting :(

miniH, I'm really sorry, I have no advice but am thinking of you xxx

Oh mini I'm sorry to hear that, I'm sure there will be something that can be done and you'll just need to get to the right person to ask. Thinking of you xx

raspberry - sorry for that, hope wedding stress lessens and become more exciting.

miniH - we got awful results for my dh's first test result (he has now had 4), end result being we had a 2nd test, 3 months later - which was better but still not good (his issues WERE: low motility, poor motility and 30% antibody disorder) - we eventually went to a different hospital who recommends the men do:
= the usual things to improve sperm, as SPERM can improve as men get a fresh supply every 3 months, usual being: have a healthy BMI, loose underwear, NO smoking, NO alchol, NO long hot baths
= take MENEVIT as a supplement rather than anything else as it has all the right combination of things in that help sperm. You can get all the right combination of things from taking about 6 different tablets but much CHEAPER and easier to order Menevit - £43 for 3 months supply, we use Cincinnatti Chemists, Australia (can't get easily if at all in this country) but less than £15 a month, including postage - comes in Royal Mail delivery is easy. We get 3 months at a time.

Anyway, end result being dh had 4 semen analysis now and his numbers are nearly normal, motility is better, though still 30% antibody. But they say there is no reason why we can't get pregnant naturally - chocciechip on here her dh had worse antibody stats and she got a natural bfp after 19mths ttc. We had our one NHS cycle of IVF, which didn't work but the thing that did work was my 4 healthy eggs ALL fertilised!!

Why not ask for a 2nd test in 3 months and really focus on doing what you think is right for Dh's sperm health and numbers to improve? The higher the numbers the more healthy sperm there are, even if a low %. It does only take one. You might be really encouraged with a 2nd semen analysis - and if you do go down assisted fertility route the hospital would insist on a 2nd test, so ordering it now will save time. With 3% normal - do you know his number for amount of semen, because if you can get it higher that will be lots of healthy sperm. My dh's motility really improved after months of exercise, healthy eating, menevit etc. Some people use Zita West vitamen also. Another option - but I rave about Menevit as we have 4 semen tests to show how his sperm is much better and the 100% fertilisation of my 4 eggs (60% is average in IVF/ICSI at our clinic!)

Sorry for too long reply... some teenagers are having a party at a nearby house and it is noisy here!!!

MiniH - I can post up the link we use if you link for Menevit and also the page of info from our clinic I can link to (or try to) about why they recommend Menevit for male issues.... and if I look I can post you my dh's result improvement to encourage you that male issues can be improved. Sadly we are still ttc#1, but I am 36 and my prolactin was too high (up to 998!) and we have only just got that lowered so now really believe there is a chance of conceiving. Also did the semen analysis look at antibody issues for dH? My dh's first semen analysis did not include this bit of the test, it took a few tests to find out this was an issue.

Right, enough of me waffling!

MiniH

Hi! Sorry, don't have time to read the whole thread but...my DH takes (deep breath) Wellman's conception, Zinc Ace, Lyc-o-mato, Garlic when he remembers everyday.

His motility improved from 33% to 100% which was pretty cool!

Still TTC#1 but it's a good start!

NightNurse - yes the Zinc, Lycopene thingy, garlic are all recommended and did my dh's numbers fantastic improvements.

Spotting, so looks like I am moving on to month eight soon, feeling rather disheartened.

Keziah, thanks for the info. Perhaps if they do find a reason that can be treated with drugs, I could consider further IUI's [a lot less than IVF]. Is that something that could work for you, also?

I have my immunes a week in Monday and the wait for the results is up to three weeks [they get sent to Chicago for analysis] but I'll let you know the outcome.

Hello all!

((((((((weimy and MiniH))))))))))) It's a rubbish feeling and most of us have been there at one time or another. Let yourself have a cry - perfectly healthy, and keep talking, typing, cos otherwise it can get a bit lonely with your own thoughts whizzing around in your head!

Keziah thanks for the vitmen info, if you can post the link that would be fab! Struggling to get DH to take anything that smacks of baby preparation as he would rather it happened naturally - head in sanditis I feel!! If i can 'sell' it as a general vitamin it might work!

As for the testing thing, well I'm not ecstatic but I'm now on the list to see my consultant again! Seeing the GP was emotional as sometimes I just wish I could have an answer one way or another as to whether this will ever happen for us! I'm 37 now and DH approaching 40. All tests so far have led to a conclusion of unexplained infertility but the in depth tests that I hear/read that so many of you have had I don't think I have had!

I've had 5IUI's - no joy and 2 IVF. Was a poor responder to IVF, 5 eggs and 6 eggs but 2 fertilised every time, pregnancy was achieved but miscarried both times, 6 weeks and 8 weeks - am I missing something so very very obvious here!!!!! PLEASE any thoughts would be most gratefully accepted!! DH sperm all ok to very good (except when he was on eczema medication which he gets when stressed, hence don't want to pressure him!)

We can't afford another go at IVF so CBFM only way to go at mo! I've peaked day 18 and 19 (yesterday and today) so swimmers waiting!

Sorry for the long ramble, love and luck to all.

Tilly xx

Tilly, we're unexplained, too and also want to rule out as much as possible. Will your PCT fund any immunes testing? I know that some do, especially level 1 ones. Have you had your thyroid tested for instance [Free T4, TSH and Thyroid antibodies]?

If not, can you afford to go private? I am paying £800 for level one and two immunes testing at a London clinic which is pricey but a lot less than an IVF cycle. I'm sure its cheaper elsewhere if you do a little research.

Auto-immune issues can be a reason for failure to get pregnant as well as recurrent early miscarriage.

On another note, has anyone here thought about trying the Duofertility monitor instead of the CBFM? More expensive but supposedly more accurate.

Lychees glad you're doing ok. Good luck with the tests.

Mini I'm sorry to hear your DH's results were disappointing. I agree with everything Keziah said. They should do at least two tests. If the results are accurate then there are options available. Remember and talk to DH, don't shut each other out. We're all here too. x

Raspberry & weimy sorry about the BFN and spotting

Hi Girls

Im 23 yrs old, I have 1 DD of 3yrs old my DH is desperate for a baby so i got my coil took out on 25th may, i bought OPK to try n figure out my cycle as i havent had a period for nearly 3yrs no signs of ovulation or af yet :( just invested in a CBFM to try and figure things out feeling a bit lonely :( thought id come and chat to you I was addicted when preggers with DD1, read through the majority of this thread your all so strong im keeping things crossed and wishing baby dust on you all

p.s LMAO and ROFL about addiction to peeing on things you made me smile :D

mememummy

Morning all. Am feeling a lot more positive today, and thanks for all the vitamin advice. I looked at menevit but dh was adamant he's not taking anything we can't get easy here, so have ordered the Marilyn glenville ones as that's what I'm taking anyway. We had a long chat last night and now we are going to push for proper advice from gp. Have found out my pct won't fund ivf so if we have to go down that route will be very pricey, but I am refusing to worry about that till I speak to gp.

Welcome mememummy. hope your cycle sorts itself out soon. Mine was very irregular after pill, but I found that the vitamins did help regulate it (or maybe time did, but either way I figured some extra vits couldn't be bad given how if it all worked I'd be growing a person!).

minih Glad you're feeling more positive today. Why won't your pct fund IVF for you?

Welcome mememummy

So sorry to hear about all the spotting, BFNs and tests.
We do seem to be going through a bad phase on this thread at the moment, I think we need a BFP to cheer us all up!

Boba - our PCT does not fund IVF at all, for anyone. It is a complete lottery and a very unfair one at that.

CD21 for me and I have just started spotting as well. Gutted as my luteal phase is just getting absurdly short :(

Hi - MiniH - do you know why your pct not fund ivf? Ours only funded one and would not freeze embryo's that hadn't got grade 1/2 status at blast (not many get to that! so we had no frosties), it is horrible this postcode lottery. They will not fund for under 23, over 39 and if you have a child already. Sorry dh not take anything you can't get here (sorry, cheeky side of me wonders if all his clothes are British, his car etc - sorry, naughty thought!) The Glenville ones are good - perhaps if he has a 2nd test and see numbers raise it will encourage him?

Lychees - which hospital is doing those immunes for you? Am very jealous of the costs, our level 1's privately were over £900 - but Gp did all but 3 in the end for us, so saved £600. I don't know if we could have IUI - as when NHS funded they didn't use the IUI option first straight to IUI (this may be funding issue not patient need I guess), so worth an ask.

Tilly - understand the cost issue with IVF. We have chosen to do immune testing - to see why we not getting pregnant naturally, as our ivf did not stick and no more nhs funding. Costing us £1500, with Gp funding some level 1 tests. Could you ask your gp to do as many of the level 1 tests as possible? Ours couldn't do 1 as the lab needed a haematologist, but they could do the rest - after losing them, doing the wrong ones etc we have got there. And found an issue!!! It means I have "sticky blood" - might mean simple medication for natural trying - well that is my hope anyway, although will have to pay privately for any meds as can't get anything on nhs till miscarried 3 times (my problem is getting to OTD and a bfp!)

hi mememummy

3days til CBFM gets here whoop, but i still have to wait til AF before i use it right? and how do i no how long my cycle is will it just take it into account if i am late? or will it mess everything up. my DH ssaid i have been really hormonal since coil removal poor sod, did u see the news that DOH are trying to standardise fertility treatment so all postcodes get the same as the 'guidelines' arent being met!! one step in the right direction at least