What's your "its taken months/years" story

[Vegansdownthestreet]

Hi ladies. I've been through pages and pages here. Never thought this would happen! I never thought that TTC would be an issue but here I am 16 months of bed olympics and still no bfp. I wanted to hear some stories and suggestions on TTC. Let me start.

I'm 30, TTC #1 for 16 months. I have hypothyroid but my GP refuses to think the thyroid can be linked to fertility. Finally she agreed to test my DH sperm count and did a blood test around my ov. His test was fine but she just said mine was normal. Not sure what that means but she said I didn't need to follow up.

So bad to bed I guess slightly confused and what to do next but did finally buy a cb fertility monitor. Hope to find the answers, it's taken me a while to get vet the stress of bfn but still hanging in there.

I'll answer your question in a minute...but I think you should demand request a gynae referral. You need more than just 'your basic bloods and sperm test are ok, off you pop'. If your GP says no, get a second opinion! You need to be checked out about tubes and ovaries etc.
Ok, I'm phoenix. I'm 30, Ttc 25 months. Male issues now resolving hoping for that illusive bfp shortly.

Hi there. I never know whether to express sympathy when people have been TTCing for a while or if that's just patronising... But it must be hard. My story's not really the same, as we've not been trying that long this time. I have a DD already who's 3.5 years, and we'd wanted to try for another to be born when she was about 3. I spent 2010 waiting for follow up tests to see if I had abnormal cervical cells, so that was a write off. Last year I got pg after four months (had been three with DD) and then miscarried at 12 weeks. It's been 6 months of trying since then. Got my AF today.

I know none of these times is at all long, so it's not the same. But I think maybe I've got to a similar place. I spend much more time and effort each month trying to manage the stress of TTCing, than planning or trying to get pg. And I am really trying now to sort out the emotional difficulties of seeing others with 2 children, hearing about others who are pg, and to distance myself from all that. I think a lot of my stress is to do with my idea that other people are judging me or about to question why we don't have another child yet. That has happened, even from people who know about the mc, but it's a disproportionately large worry to me.

I've started using ov tests and realised we were probably trying too early in the month. I plan to go to the GP in April, as I'm 35 so I think it's earlier. I'm trying to exercise, meditate, and just see it as a personal thing and nothing to do with other people. It's hard though, isn't it? It's not that exciting thing that it starts out as, more like a bit of hope and avoiding the worst of the pain each month. How do you manage the BFN stress / 2 week wait?

Oh Vegan, you poor thing. I really hope you get your bfp soon. Thyroid absolutely can affect fertility. My Endochronologist warned me when we were ttc ds that we shouldn't expect to get pregnant in 12mths. We were very lucky and got pregnant in month 2 but if your levels are slightly out they def can make it tricky. Are your t3 and t4 ok? Ask for an endo referral as well as a gynae. Use the monitor and you may get a clearer picture, I hope so.

Much love and bfp's to you all x

Thank you both. I have a joint GP appointment with my DH in three weeks, I wanted to ask for a referral but just did not know who to ask for. Thanks Phoneix I have never asked before I just hope I'm brave enough to do it.

I found (terrible to say) joining flights and busses so stressful. I was really gutted each and every month. I've even stopped my period tracker putting that little heart symbol up every time we DTD.

I know the cbfm fertility monitor could cause more stress but at the same time I love to know if I am even ovulating.

Hi wine last test I had was tsh 3 and t4 12.8. My GOP again is clueless on my thyroid, tested me last year but even then she said it was a waste as it meant nothing in regards to TTC. I think maybe ive been too soft.

I have never been on a bus or rocket
Now, it's a leading question but...do you have a quirky sense of humour?

Hi vegan. I am sure from reading these boards that thyroid levels can have an influence on fertility and in fact drs who know what they are doing require "better" levels than are required for general health. You really need a referral.

I'm 36 and ttc#1. I'm also on cycle 16 of ttc. We've had loads of tests and all of the standard ones have come back normal, but I have raised levels of NK cells so I am being treated for that while we wait for IVF.

I do Phoenix :)

I guess I am always scared to ask for referrals. My GP is so dismissive we keep saying this march appointment is make or break before we try another surgery or start eating away at our savings and pay privately.

Eurochick I'm glad there is someone else about who us the same ages as me and TTC#1. All the people our age seem to be on number 2 or 3.

Phoenix Didn't you say hi somewhere else on here? Did you used to be someone else?

I would advise anyone/everyone to push for tests/referrals

We relied on nature and now it's probably too late.

3 years of watching and waiting for every symptom.
It's heartbreaking

Push for the tests.

Push for tests and for a referral to a sub fertility clinic. I'm also 30 and have been ttc our first for 22 months. We had tests done after 11 months which showed that DH has a very low count. Now we're waiting for IVF and I'm so glad we didn't wait any longer to get tested. I hated the buses too, far too depressing when everyone else gets their BFP really easily. There are lots of us in similar positions on the ttc 10months plus thread if you want to chat to a lovely bunch in the same boat.

I took 4 yrs - and getting to the top of the NHS IVF list to get pregnant - then miscarried with complications that meant I couldn't try for a year - DS eventually arrived 6 yrs down the line - and got bfp 3 days before appointment to start IVF for the second potential time....

I took a year. My endo seemed to think that unless my levels were massively out (they weren't) it wouldn't cause a problem. TSH 3 isn't wildly out either, and sadly I can't see an endo being that interested ? however, I would push for a fertility referral at this point. Good luck x

Your thyroid is absolutely related to fertility and your GP is wrong, sorry. Pituary gland and all your hormones are totally connected. I have been told by 2 gynae consultants that your TSH needs to ideally be under 2 to conceive. GPs don;t know much about fertility and you should push for a referral to a gynae, there are lots of other tests that can be run! Good luck!

Hello I'm 35 and have been ttc no 1 for over a year, this will be cycle 15 for me. We started out with what we thought were morphology issues but they have seemingly resolved and I have a large fibroid found at lap and dye. The more I ttc, the more I realise that it does take a lot of people longer than a few months. But things do tick along v slowly in the fertility testing world, so I would push for more tests and a referral. Hopefully you'll get your bfp in the meantime. It's good to have people hold your hand on here during the shit days x

Thank you so much for sharing everyone. I am going to research referrals.