Lazy swimmers and BFP

[clickingtock]

This isn't an exercise in being smug but a sincere hope it might help anyone who is in a similar situation. MN has been a massive help to me...

I have a gorgeous DS who was conceived easily when I was 37. I knew I wanted another DC and AF returned around 8mths after birth and I stopped B-fing at 10mths as DS wasn't taking much anyway. Plus I knew I had to crack on, given my age.

A long story shorter, I suspected summat was amiss after about 6 months of TTC and tried to get help from NHS. I was told to have SWI EOD and all should be fine. A few months passed. Returned again. A young female GP suggested that my egg quality was probably the issue and should go private for AMH tests. Never a mention of my partner's health/fertility.

Private tests - full MOT - revealed all pretty healthy. AMH level quite good for my age.

1 year at least of TTC - I finally persuaded DP to get tested so we could rule him out as an issue and I could stop nagging him to give up his moderate but daily drinking. Lo and behold - very poor semen analysis results.

DP did give up drinking and we had weekly acupuncture. Three months later - a BFP, despite my age. Of course, there's a long road ahead but even so, we've finally managed it.

Best advice I had from here - a very helpful MNer - DON'T dtd EOD but hold off at least a week before Ov to get better quality swimmers. I'm sure this along with the lifestyle changes really helped.

Wishing all of you the very, very best and don't be disheartened or fobbed off by professionals who - despite good intentions, I'm sure - can never really know your personal circumstances etc.

Hear, hear Tock - nice summary and hope it will be useful to others.

Aw - thanks for dropping in Gen. Reading back it all sounds a bit in earnest but I really do hope it might just help someone who is struggling... xxx

Hi, congrats and thanks for writing this. I've seen you here and there on threads. I'm no cpring shichen and am happy to hear positive outcomes, very helpful.

Ah thanks Purple - have seen you here too and wishing you the v v best in TTC and hope your dream comes true.

tock thanks. Off on trip (to include, wow, the UK, I can go to Boots!). Will try to forget 'bout this TTC business for a few days as if ). Of course this will work and I will 'see' you all in 10 days with tiny bun-in-oven, of course Europe has no Internet (right?) so will not be checking in daily. X

Congratulations!

Thanks for this. I'm interested in timing. We've tried various approaches, every day, twice a day (!) every other day and all variations bit always often. Did you wait a whole week before ov? As our nurse said to def keep refreshing the swimmers... Worth a try I guess.

Purple - a holiday is just what you need!!! Have the loveliest of times and I hope you get an post-hol BFP. Keep us updated. And enjoy an internet free trip - just lots of bonding with your OH.

Big thanks Winkle! Wishing you the v best.

Wine - hello again! I was actually advised by an MNer to hold off for 8-10 days before the day of ov. She'd had a v long TTC journey with male fertility issues, including failed IVF attempts, then conceived naturally using this method (aged 40). She's due to have a baby any day soon.

We actually only held off from Monday eve to Saturday afternoon - which was just because it felt natural to do so and I followed DP's pace iykwim - but I could tell this made a big difference . I also gave DP a cup of coffee just before DTD on Sat!!! I definitely ov'd close to that time because SWI felt a bit tender for me and I have read this is a sign of ov. Prior to trying this we'd been DTD EOD and sometimes every day in last 4 days of ovulatory phase, which wasn't our natural pace and I do think caused a prob but didn't realise it. Hope that helps and wishing you all the best. I did end up trying every trick under the sun I do believe and in the end we got that elusive BFP - who knows what really worked though acupuncture was also key. Sincerely hoping you'll get there soon. Do you use a CBFM or ov sticks? Have you had all the usual tests etc. Prolonged TTC is so hard and I hope it eases up for you. xxx

I'm "ancient" too and long suspected it was my husband's swimmers and not me... anyway, to cut a long story short - both my boys were conceived ~CD5/6 even though I ovulate around CD12. Could it be that the "sex break" during my period helped? Or because his swimmers are so lazy it took them a good few days to reach their destination?

Good story Pony; hurray for your 2 boys! We're not ancient - just well developed! xxx