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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.

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Original poster

40+ and TTC? Join the club...

996 replies

cloudjumper · 24/09/2014 13:32

To continue the support for everyone 40 and over who is or wants ttc. Lots of hand-holding and understanding, we're all together in the uphill struggle.

OP posts:
wiltingfast · 14/01/2015 13:22

Well done Daft!!!! SO happy for you Grin

Well I'm out I'm afraid, af arrived this morning 3 days late grrrrr.

Original poster
cloudjumper · 14/01/2015 13:24

chewy What dose of DHEA are you taking? The book I read recommended 25mg 3 times daily, but I could only find 50mg capsules for the micronized formulation that is apparently best. So I will either have to take less or more because I really don't fancy starting to cut up capsules...Confused

OP posts:
fromwesttoeast · 14/01/2015 13:40

What is DHEA please?

joey38 · 14/01/2015 15:25

daftgeranium yay I am so excited for you. What a great start to the year. Keeping everything crossed that this develops well for you.

TheGrinchWearsStripes · 14/01/2015 16:24

Congratulations daft !! Thrilling news.
I am taking DHEA. Stopped for quite a while, and didn't take it for long last time, so figure it's ok? (I think they say don't take it longer than 3 months, since it is a hormone.)

ChewyGiraffe · 14/01/2015 22:34

Fromwest - you asked what DHEA is. Its sold as a food supplement but - according to Dr Google - its a steroid hormone used as a precursor to make oestrogen and testosterone. Everyone makes DHEA naturally, but levels decline as you get older. Its prescribed by lots of IVF clinics to women over 40 - to increase egg yield and quality (statistically fewer miscarriages). It's also said to increase AMH. Here's some good info from CHR (IVF clinic in New York). I think they were the first to use DHEA widely and do lots of research into it: www.centerforhumanreprod.com/services/infertility-treatments/dhea/whatis/

Cloud - theoretically I'm trying to take same dose as you (25mg, 3 x daily), but most days I'm lucky if I take 2 lots. I found some (25mg 'ultra micronised' tablets) from McPherson labs [ www.dhea-uk.com/home.php ] - but as they say on the telly, other brands are available. I think Biovea make one don't they?

Grinch - Like you, I'd heard you should have a break from DHEA after a while. I also thought you could take it longer than 3 months at a stretch though - so you ought to be absolutely fine. Some stuff I read (by CHR) said positive effects of taking DHEA start to show after about 6 weeks, then continue to increase for about 4-5 months before plateauing, at which point I think they recommend you have a break from it for a bit.

Oh wouldn't it be nice if it really was a magic bullet!

Gumblossom · 15/01/2015 00:22

Lovely news Daft! Congratulations. May it all be smooth sailing from hereon Grin

I think many of us are deficient of VIt D without knowing it.It must be very common in colder climates. I live in Australia where you'd think there'd be plenty of sunshine, but I was tested and was low. I tend to stop taking it in the summer as I do get outside daily, but start it again when there's less sun.

I have done the DHEA thing - but I don't have the micronised version, so should I bother with it, or buy some of the micronised version (or just forget about it?)

It is hard to know which are the best supplements to take. Confused And are the Zita West sups worth the extra money???

TheGrinchWearsStripes · 15/01/2015 08:23

chewy that's interesting about the DHEA, thanks! Good to know that I should be ok with it for a while longer. I did also read that you should gradually increase to the full 75mg per day, starting with 25 so have done that. Although I too am very bad at remembering to take something once let alone three times a day! Is there anything about how far apart those three should be? If I take one in the morning, then when I get home at 6 then another before bed at 10, do you think I will sprout purple spikes?!

gum it's worth a try maybe? If just to alleviate the "what ifs" later on.

Had a horrible dream last night about being infertile Sad Ovulating earlier than usual this month has really rocked me.

fromwesttoeast · 15/01/2015 08:39

Thanks for that info Chewy. Sounds interesting. I've never done anything except folic acid before so everything else is new to me.

ChewyGiraffe · 15/01/2015 21:01

Grinch - on DHEA dose/timing etc - I had a dig about for a (reassuring) research paper I remember reading on it, but can't find it now. For now, I found this info: link to info
which confirms the suggestion of one 25 mg tablet, three times daily, and also that you can keep taking DHEA until positive pregnancy test, then stop - i.e. no need to stop during 2 ww.

On the CHR website (New York IVF clinic: link to CHR) they say that the "general dose" of DHEA of 75mg daily, is best split into three 25mg doses "to avoid the development of an upset stomach".

CHR also include a link to the US patent they've got (filed in 2009) for 'inventing' treatment with DHEA. In the bit about dosage it says:
"DHEA may be administered ... at a dose of between about 50 mg/day and about 100 mg/day, preferably between about 60 mg/day and about 80 mg/day, and in one study about 75 mg/day. Further, DHEA may be administered in a time-release formulation, over the course of the day, or in a single dose. For example ... 75 mg/day could be administered in a single dose of 75 mg or could be administered as 25 mg three times throughout the day.
... DHEA has a statistically significant effect ... after about 2 months of use, but its effect may continue to increase to about ... four consecutive months or about 16 consecutive weeks, and further may continue past four months of use." Link to US patent.

Overall, doesn't sound like it matters much at all when you take it. Note to self - provided you remember to take it Confused

daftgeranium · 16/01/2015 08:01

Hello ladies, thanks for all your good wishes.

I've done another test this morning at 16DPO and there's barely a line there at all, pretty much negative. so it looks like a chemical pregnancy. Temp is still high but I guess I'll just wait for AF to turn up now.

...ah well. feeling pretty low, it all seems too cruel :(

fromwesttoeast · 16/01/2015 08:51

Oh Daft, so sorry!

ChewyGiraffe · 16/01/2015 08:56

Daftgeranium - if you're right, I'm really, really sorry to hear that. I just don't know, but is it worth trying different brand of test, FRER maybe? Take care.

Original poster
cloudjumper · 16/01/2015 09:38

daft Oh no... that would be such a shame. Nature can be so cruel! But I second chewy's suggestion of using a FRER, or even a digital test, to get confirmation...

OP posts:
Gumblossom · 16/01/2015 11:50

Oh, Daft, I am sorry to hear that. It is cruel - so hard to get your hopes up to have them dashed. Thanks

wiltingfast · 16/01/2015 12:50

Aw daft, I DO hope you're wrong x

jassS · 16/01/2015 21:31

Sorry to read your news, Daft... The curse of 40 plussers.... Chems unfortunately are only too common.....

daftgeranium · 17/01/2015 14:09

thanks all. Trying to see it as a good thing that I can still get up the duff. The frustrating thing is, I haven't started bleeding yet... anyone know how long it takes after a chemical pregnancy? I have terrible pains in my belly, and feel generally like I've been run over by a truck. Serve me right for complaining about the 2ww! ;)

jassS · 17/01/2015 15:11

A chem usually ends as soon as test is back to almost neg, so it should happen soon. The pain of chem can be quite a lot stronger than normal period pain, I have noticed. But I have painful periods normally, too. However, fluctuating hcg this early can end upas healthy pregnancy, even if it is not too common. Until prriod is not here, I would test to see maybe hpt turns back stronger? I have read of cases like that.... So you may be not quite out yet.....

TheGrinchWearsStripes · 17/01/2015 20:19

Daft Sad I really hope jass is right and you are one of the uncommon ones.

daftgeranium · 18/01/2015 13:22

ah, AF has turned up now, so afraid it's no go. It's a bit of a relief really, to be honest this one never felt quite right.... but trying to look on the bright side!

Onwards and upwards for all of us - thanks to everyone for your support. There's always next month Smile

jassS · 18/01/2015 15:38

Daft, sorry to hear. that. But if it was so quick it would not even affect your cycle and you can ttc again this cycle. Hopefully with better results....

TheGrinchWearsStripes · 18/01/2015 15:42

daft Thanks

Grizzer · 18/01/2015 19:22

Sorry Daft. Hope you're ok x

notsoold · 18/01/2015 22:08

Flowers daft sorry sorry for you....