Yo yo!! Calling all Ladybros over 30 TTC #1. Join the Berries aboard the Charabanc of lurrrve. Bring real Champagne, from the actual Champagne region. No Colombian builders allowed.

[happylass]

The small print:

The Berries have strict entrance criteria: TTC #1 for 12 months+, over 30, NO instadiffers, must have a special pimping pot and absolutely no mention of baby dust/dancing. Not that we're fussy

Current passengers

WildflowerMarmalade 40 - TTC for three years. FET done in June with immune treatments - waiting for result... Six embryos in the freezer after two freeze all cycles.

Minx 35 in August - TTC 2 years. Stage 4 endometriosis, both tubes blocked, 1 buried ovary, IVF booking in appt in July, hoping to start IVF soon after

Smidge 39, TTC since Jan '13. Unexplained. IVF#1 Short protocol July '14 BFN, IVF#2 Nov'14 and IVF#3 Feb '15 both Long protocol BFNs. High NK cell immune treatment. Natural FET in June '15, awaiting result.

Happylass, 37, TTC since Aug 2012. 2 failed ICSI cycles and 1 failed FET. Hoping to start long awaited NHS cycles in late August provided pesky smear test is sorted by then.

Beaky 35, ttc coming up 3 yrs, 2x failed iui 1x long protocol ivf cancelled 1 BFN following IVF

Tigerdog, 34 (soon to be 35) TTC since Jan 2013. Unexplained. IVF#1 May 2015 resulted in a chemical pregnancy. Now transferring clinics in the hope of a second round of IVF on the NHS and considering an NK cells biopsy in July/August.

barkingtreefrog 36, ttc 3.5 years. clomid bfp summer 2013 then mc @7 weeks, iui bfp summer 2014 then mc @6 weeks. Factor V leiden thrombophilia diagnosed at the repeat mc clinic. IUI bfn Jan 2015, IVF bfn April/May 2015. Currently awaiting nk cells results before a FET possibly in August/September.

Lumen, 35, ttc since Nov 2011, unexplained, two IVF cycles in 2014, both bfns, waiting for lap&dye and results of numerous bloods, aiming for one last IVF cycle.

Kuma - 40. TTC 2.5 years. Low AMH high FSH - DH antisperm ABs. Failed IVF June 14 and March 15. Looking to change clinic and try another natural cycle in June 2015.

Lucieloos, 35, TTC 18 months, low AMH & sperm motility. 1st ICSI in Czech Republic in April BFN.

Rain, 33 ttc since March 2012. unexplained. mystery bfp oct 13, MMC Nov 13. NHS IVF starting in June

Bondi, Bondi, as in beach as in Australia. It was developed there. Bond protocol sounds cool though. (Comes over all funny imagining a James Bond style fertility treatment....)

Cross post Tiger. I was wondering where you were. How is the new hair working out? I love the idea that you have put all the crap behind you and moved on with a new hair do.

Yes, I'm going to test again the morning for DH's benefit. I've booked an appointment at the clinic for a blood test after work and will see what they say to do next.

thanks for all the lovely welcomes ladies...

barkingtreefrog - I now feel like my behaviour is a lot more normal after reading your response

tiger totally agree on the planning for the 'other' life. If we're denied the conventional option of settling down with kids (even kid) then we need to do something totally different, hence our travelling plans .

Two fucking pg announcements at work coming up. My friend, who knows all my history, found out and gave me advanced warning so I could prepare myself .

barking - I feel your pain, keep hearing pregnancy or birth announcements (shame we can't turn notifications off for this sort of thing, as it would make things easier). latest for me, is a neighbour, who has recently moved away, has just had her 6th at 43 (they are a lovely couple tho, so happy for them), just wish the universe was a bit more balanced.

also, wanted to ask...probably aimed at those of us in late thirties/early forties...is anyone else obsessing about age like me? basically, whenever I read or see anything in the news (or on tv programs), where someone gets pregnant/has a baby...I have to find out how hold they are (think its me trying to convince myself I haven't left it too late). weird I know....but can't stop doing it.

clem I have to confess I do the same. I'm 35 in a couple of weeks. I started this business at 32.

Pregnancy announcements are tough barking there's no escape at work. I am unlikely to have any announcements at work myself but I am located right by the maternity unit so all I see is babies and bumps all day long.

Wild the bond protocol sounds rather thrilling How are you doing? Do you have a scan booked in now?

What is everyone up to this weekend? Quite one for us as away next weekend but I'm very happy about that!

we have a wild day planned...off to test drive some cars, and then onto the garden centre

we really know how to turn up the romance in this marriage

Tiger what on earth at your ex colleague. Fuckity fuck. Glad you're doing alright. I think trying naturally in your position is a good thing and it's worked for a few berries we know too. Fx.

Wild I will just push for any tests I can have I think. I need to check if there's anything private clinics ask for that NHS don't before my appointment. How did the blood test at the clinic go? Are they booking you in for a scan soon?

Spare I've had a little look at That clinic and got the same impression. I don't think we could afford it for just one cycle and I think I want to do 2 freeze cycles if I can afford that. I've also looked at lister, Wilds clinic, city fertility(Gennet) and create, as you know. It's so difficult to know what to look at though.

Barking any news on your results?

Clem I do that too, age, weight, general health (as I see them!) it's pointless but I can't help doing a comparison.

Yo yo yo ladybros. Happy weekend to everyone.
Grr to preggo announcements. Had one at work this week too. Also some bitch from my old work just had twins. Ffs.
I'm not too hung up on age at the mo Clem. I'm 33 and have 4 snowflake babies which were made at age 32. My colleague is 43 and had 5 failed Ivf's (she's now given up) so I keep telling myself that I have pretty much 10 years to keep battling with ttc if we choose to waste most of our lives doing soIt's the condition of my inhospitable womb that's the issue.
I've done some reading on wobenzym and Inofolic and some of you may be interested in it...
Inofolic is good for women with pco or pcos. It can also help to regulate hormones and therefore cycles - especially testosterone and oestrogen hormones. It's also good for women with insulin issues that they may be aware of or not. It can improve egg quality and the studies show good results. The supplement contains key ingredients that are found in the follicular fluid of healthy eggs.
Wobenzym can assist with immune issues (again regardless of whether these issues are known or not). Particularly for women with perhaps immune induced recurrent miscarriage. It's safe for IVF preparation as is the Inofolic. Wobenzym is also used to help with reducing inflammation and scar tissue from pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, cysts, endometriosis. It can improve blood flow to the uterus. It too has studied with good results.
I'm now taking both. Worth a bash hey.

Oh, my crossing out this didn't work. How do you do it then?

Wild, assuming yesterday's testing was all ticketyboo?

God. *crossing out bit

Sorry Beaky, cross post. How are you? Just looking at your options for now?

Ps. My weekend so far consists of, letting the dog out for a wee, pruning my clematis in my pyjamas and then returning to bed with tea. Rock'in'.
Just over 4 weeks until DH is home!

Berries? Can I join and lurk? I'm a BESH, been over there a year but see lucie mentioned some Czech treatment which I'm seriously considering so wondered if I could hover here a while?

Me: Blue, 36, TTC since 2012, not a sniff of a BFP since, diagnosed with male factor issues, on the most ridiculously long road to NHS IVF (retesting me for EVERYTHING!) so considering jumping off the NHS boat on a private one.

Can I stay??

I'm sorry to hear about all the pg announcements. Thank goodness you got a heads up Barking that does make it so much easier to key your game face on once you are told in public.

I always keep an eye on the age of people announcing pregnancies Clem. Anyone older gets bonus points. Some announcements are acceptable. My lovely, lovely former flatmate recently posted photos of her newborn son on FB. She is 45. She's gone it alone (no partner) and I'm guessing she used donor eggs, but that might not be the case. She's a beautiful person so I was really pleased for her. Plus, to her credit, she had kept any direct mention of her pregnancy off Facebook.

Pruning clematis Funky? Do you have any tips? I know that there are three different categories and they need different treatment, but I don't undrstand how to tell which type of clematis we have and what to do. Your strikethrough would have worked if you had left a gap between the dashes and the non-crossed out words.

I had the blood test done in the very last appointment yesterday, so they should phone me this morning to confirm the result. Scans etc will be booked from there.

I know several Berries are looking around for new clinics, Spare, Beaky, Lucie. This link is very interesting and gave me something to think about. It's from a site written by a retired embryologist and lists what the most successful FCs have in common.

Hello Blue - I'm sure you can stay. There's lots of good info and advice here which I'm sure will help you on your journey.

Boo to pg announcements. On top of the pg pupil the cleaner who does my room straight after school is now sporting a very obvious bump . Perfect excuse to make a sharp exit from work!
Clem I do worry about age - in fact I'm starting to think my ship has sailed! At 34 I was on the oldish side when we started and now there's no chance if me giving birth before I hit 38 in Feb . However there's no way of knowing if we would have conceived had we been 10 years younger. Plenty of people conceive in to their 40s so I try not to think about it too much.
Funky I think your strike through failure is due to you not leaving a space after your last dashes.
Nothing major planned this weekend. I'm absolutely on my knees at the moment, so run down. Had a cold and stomach bug this week. Kind of glad the smear issue has delayed our next cycle. Don't think I'm in any fit state to be doing it at the moment. Hope everyone is ok and has a lovely weekend x

Wild - that is a bloody brilliant link! Thank you so much for that

Well, I'm feeling very smug. I've already swum 800m in a lake, run 5 km, tidied out the camper and hung a load of washing on the line . Feel like I could go back to bed now...
Off to visit dad in hospital this afternoon (3-4 hour round trip plus visiting time) then a bike ride this evening.

beaky nk cells were negative, no mention of anything on the womb lining which was a test we paid for separately, will have to give them a call. We were given an appointment to see the consultant in September, but I contacted the clinic to see if we could go ahead with the frozen embryo without seeing him, and we have a nurse appointment on Weds.

Hello Blue

Thanks for the link wild, very interesting.

Clem I didn't meet dh until I was 30. I was desperate for a family and he knew he wanted kids as well so we started trying when I was 32. I'm now 36...

funky inofolic and wobenyzm both sound very good when you describe them like that... I might ask the nurse on Weds if she's heard of either of them. I've stopped taking everything, even the folic acid. I'll start again when we start the frozen cycle. Don't see much point in the mean time.

Welcome Blue

How is it all going Wild?

Thanks Pip. Impressive morning Barking. I have, thus far, lay on the sofa, read the paper and drank tea ..... Day going to plan so far

Glad that link is of use Blue and Barking. I was particularly struck by the emphasis on good quality embryology labs and the importance of getting ET right.

Blimey Barking you are incredible! My morning has been more like Blue's than yours. What's the latest on your Dad?

I agree that it is very annoying how much emphasis is put on age and women leaving it too late to try for a baby. Once you try for a year or two with no luck, finally face up to the fact you need help, and then wait literally years for the NHS to deign to give you an appointment, then you can easily be three or four years down the line. And by that time you've slipped into a less favourable age group. Still, statistics are just an overall picture. In real life everybody is different.

Lovely to see you Pipbin. Things seem to be going fine thank you. The FC just rang to confirm the test result and said that the HcG level is around 4,000 which is encouraging. All the support meds are paying off too as my progesterone level is 380 and they like it to be above 100 - just as a reference for those interested in progesterone levels.

Have lovely Saturdays Berries. It's my BFF's birthday bash tonight which I'm really looking forward to. I've never told her about our TTC struggles, but she loathes babies and has no interest in having any so she has been a real support to me provider of gin and giggles without even knowing it.

Cross posted with a few people earlier sorry!
Welcome Blue. Sorry you find yourself here but you're in excellent company.
Glad to hear things are progressing well for you Wild
Had our follow up at the private FC earlier following the failed FET (which was 6 weeks ago - remind me never to leave it to DH to sort out an appointment again). Asked about immune testing/any other testing, COQ10, DHEA and all sorts of other things and the consultant said there is nothing she would recommend doing. She said that embryos/lining have always been fantastic and there's no reason to suggest that anything is wrong. She thinks it's just a numbers game for us and we'll get there eventually. She'd be very surprised if we don't get diffed on our 2 NHS attempts. The only thing she wants me to do is get my iron/thyroid levels double checked at the GP as it's been a while since these were done. I'd love her to be right about it working eventually but I'm a bit . I think we'll probably just sit tight and see what happens with the NHS cycles. If it doesn't work with them I think I'll be ready to consider donor eggs/embryos.

Hi everyone, hope you are having a lovely sunny Saturday.

I went for my consultation with the UK clinic today following my treatment in Czech. They were very helpful. She said if I were to go there they would try me on a different protocol using burselin / suprecur to shut down ovaries and then possibly try bravelle instead of menopur/ gonal as it is the least acidic of the 3 and to start the burselin and bravelle on day 2 of my cycle. She thinks that these thing will help my follicles to grow more evenly. I wanted to ask happy or anyone else that has done this sort of protocol how they found it and how many eggs they retrieved etc. I was worried it would overly suppress me but she didn't seem to think so.

Lucie did you go to CRGW this morning? I was there at 12.30. In terms of my protocol I had 7 mature eggs on my first cycle, 6 of which fertilised and 5 made it to blast. I had an AA and an AB transferred back and an AB frozen. All were starting to hatch. On my 2nd cycle we had 11 mature eggs but only 5 fertilised (no apparent reason for this - I questioned the aspirin I'd taken but was told this wouldn't affect fertilisation). All made it to blast and we had 2 ABs put back but none suitable for freezing. In all honesty I'd have liked a few more frosties on both cycles but the FC seem really pleased with my response and I guess quality is better than quantity. The NHS consultant also said it seems like I've had a good response and they are using the same protocol.

Snap clem. We're so bloody exciting! In fact I think we're going to go back and put a deposit down on a boring practical family car. Just need the family to go with it, although in the meantime there's a large dog who will be glad of the space and some aircon! Spending our current savings pot makes me feel a bit sick though - big purchases make me feel oddly nervous!

Very interesting reading about the wobenzyme funky. I'm concerned about immune issues so might also do some research. Pruning your clematis eh, is that a euphamism hehehe! Sorry, childish mind.

Great news that your hcg levels are on plan wild. Enjoy your night out. I totally agree with your points about age - I was in line with all my friendship group if not slightly ahead when we started ttc and now there is no one left without kids really.

I feel tired just thinking about all that barking!

Welcome blue. Of course you can stay!

It's hard making a choice of clinic beaky. The one wild is at is also linked to my NHS clinic (fingers crossed I'll get the referral sorted) so I'm hopeful it'll be better than my last. I'm a spreadsheets kinda girl so I would probably do stats and costs along side each other and work out the best options saddo

Hi pip good to see you. Any nice holidays on the horizon? You must be on the summer holiday count down!

Off to haggle on this car now, I negotiate for a living so I'll be naffed off if I can't get them down a little bit more!