Still struggling to conceive no. 2 after getting pregnant easily first time round

[LittlePoot]

So, on the back of a run of rather fantastic success stories, it's time to start another thread for those of us still driving ourselves a bit nuts trying to work out why number 2 seems to be so elusive. New frustrated, obsessive testers always welcome (as are our lovely graduates) and let's hope this thread turns out as many success stories as the last.

I hope you don't mind if I join in. I have lurked on these boards for some time but never plucked up the courage to post. I've been trying for my second child for 16 months now. First child almost 3, conceived on first month. Same partner. I'm almost 35 so panicking time is now running out before I hit the fertility cliff. I have had a polyp removed, but the stalk/ leg was left behind, not much faith in the consultant now, it flaps about in my endocervical canal near my internal os and is quite large but no seems interested in it, the Gp feels I am imaging it as she can't see it on speculum. I worry that this blocks the sperm from entering the uterus. I have been using Cb advanced ovulation sticks and get high fertility but never peak fertility. I have regular periods so the Gp says I must be ovulating. The anxiety due to this has got out of control. Gp has started me on anti anxiety medication but won't offer me any fertility investigations until I've been on it for 6 months, Gp even suggested I stop Ttc. Having sex every other day for last 16 months has got very tiresome. Had some time off work sick as work with babies and just found it too much, fed up every day of people asking when will I have another!! Just looking for support on this journey.

Hi scissors and welcome. I'm sorry you're having such a horrible time - you really have been through the mill haven't you? First things first though, you are not old! 34 is still plenty young enough so that is not your problem. I didn't have my ds until 35/36 and got pregnant straight away with him (and the two unsuccessful pregs before him). I don't know anything about polyps but that sounds horrible for you. Sperm though are very, very small. If you're having periods then the blood and stuff is getting out of your uterus which means there's plenty of space for sperm to get in. How do you know about the 'flapping about' if your gp can't see it? Maybe time to see a new gp? The regular periods therefore you must be ovulating is rubbish too - regular doesn't mean it's working properly. And it sounds as though counselling would be a more appropriate suggestion for you than medication and not ttc. Other than that though, I've found 'talking' on here really therapeutic, so please unload as much as you need to. It's a shitty place to be but at least we can all be here together.

Thank you for your very kind words, it means a lot to be able to tell people who understand and not judge me. It's great to find supportive people.

Scissors Welcome aboard! Keep us updated with how you're doing. You're still young, there's hope. Hopefully we'll all get there together.

Well it's been an eventful day. GP was amazing & said to me "I'm not happy about this, we're sending you for tests" There's less than a 2 week wait which is great. I think that even though we've been actively trying for a year, the fact we haven't used contraception for the last 5 years really worried her.

Had my first acupuncture session. It bloody hurt! He stuck loads of needles everywhere! I felt really emotional for some reason. He said to me that my cycles are all wrong & we need to regulate them. He said 35 day cycles and upwards (which I have some months) are unlikely to ever lead to pregnancy He wants to get my cycle down to between 28-30 days, then we'll focus on the quality of the eggs. It's costly though, so really can't do this long term. He said it takes 3 months for everything to take full effect. He bloody means business, I could have cried at the list of do's & don'ts. NO COFFEE????? I can't do it, it'll kill me. What am I going to do?

I'm really stressed, always stressed. Dr & Acupuncturist think this could be playing a part in me not conceiving. Does anyone else think stress could be the reason my cycle is long & irregular?

Oh god- I've got my first acupuncture in the morning - don't tell me its going to hurt!!! And rules?! I'll report back. I knew about the three months thing. I just took on an extra bit of work that'll cover me for four months and will try and do six (unless it hurts too much!!!). I do think stress has a part though. I'm stressed as hell too and I'm sure that is adding to the lack of babies. Maybe the acupuncture will fix things. Even just feeling less stressed would be a lovely thing so hopefully all worth it. And great that your GP is taking it seriously too. I've just had my amh test (private) and have follow up with (private and bloody expensive) London consultant first week of September so hopefully there will be some news there. At least I feel like I'm doing something, and that's definitely helping.

I think stress must play a part, no idea how not to stress about wanting to conceive though?!
Weirdly after taking the myo-inositol for 3 days my missing AF turned up?! I'm not sure of the chances of it being related but hopefully it is a good sign. Going to try temping and OPKs this month to see if I ov.
Good luck at the acupuncturists tomorrow Little!
Oh and can you have decaff coffee Village or is that not allowed either?

Little I'm being a tad dramatic! It was more uncomfortable but only in my legs. I was terrified to move and didn't find it very relaxing! Although I feel happier and calmer this evening. Please let me know how you get on. I am hoping for a miracle from it to be honest. I'm going away in October and it's an 8 hour flight, the acupuncturist said to me "that's probably October out then as the different time zone may mess with your cycle" Really?!? And as for the no coffee issue, well I just don't know how i'll do it. Is coffee really that bad for TTC and regulating cycles?

AndThisIsTrue He said all coffee!

I just need/want to conceive so bad in the next couple of months. I don't know how much longer I can wait. It's so frustrating!

He mentioned something called Floradix? Anyone else take this?

Oh dear Village! I don't drink caffeine but I couldn't get by without my decaff coffee!
Floradix is an iron supplement I think?

Sorry should have said I haven't taken it but I used to take spatone which is similar when I was pregnant. I've heard a few people raving about floradix making them feel a lot better though. I think its absorbed more easily than iron tablets and doesn't make you constipated.

Don't know anything about floradix/iron supplements, although I get iron through my pregnacare vits so maybe mildly covered that way? Probably he spotted something that suggested you could be iron deficient (it shows up in eyes and mouth and fingernails if you know what to look for I think) so suggested you take it?

Anyway, I loved my acupuncture this morning!! And happily, it didn't really hurt at all. Tiny prick for each needle, but so small I could have missed it for most of them. Loads in my back first of all while sitting up, then a smaller number in my legs while I lay down. The leg ones were weird - one made my stomach gurgle (which apparently she expected?!) and another gave me shooting fizzy pins and needles things in 3 specific points on my foot - just for a second and then gone. Felt very clear headed afterwards. Therapist says my pulses were significantly altered by the treatment so she thinks it was very effective (?!). But the main thing was, she was completely wonderful! We had a long (1 hr) talk about my lifestyle, priorities, history etc and she was remarkably astute and wise with her comments and advice. So I'm back next week for round 2.

Little Oh i'm glad you enjoyed it! The ones down the inside of my leg were really uncomfortable & he didn't put any in my back. I felt he talked at me, rather than to me & didn't let me get a word in edgeways which was a shame, as it made me feel like I didn't click with him. I'll see how things go, though. Did your acupuncturist advise you on diet, what to avoid etc?

Also forgot to mention I was really sick last night. Stomach was totally off I wonder if that was because of the acupuncture?

Really? That's quite different to mine. I did most of the talking.... Then again, I usually do. The stomach thing could be related - she did warn me there could be some changes to tiredness or stomach. And she didn't talk much about diet recommendations but then I've already started doing lots of improvements like only drinking water (not a caffeine fan) and more fruit /less chocolate so maybe I was spared a lecture. Yours sounds a bit harsh though! Any other practitioners there you could try or is he the zita west qualified one?

village - I bumped into floradix in Boots this evening. Its a liquid iron supplement including vitamin C and a couple of vitamin Bs. About £10 a pack.

Welcome Scissors i hope your stay is short ( in the best way).

I am watching with interest how the acupuncture goes little and village have thought about it and would let me be a bit more proactive which would be a relief.

I finall y started a diet as my BMI is 31 and looking at the evidence that can have an effect, even if you ovulate ( which from my temping I think I do), I have lost 1.7 kg in last 2 weeks - despite quite a lot of lapses (humm Jaffa cake...)

Also have been to the GP - thanks for the encouragement little who was sympathetic, I think thinks I am too hard on myself (re weight), and is going to check day 21 progesterone and husbands swimmers. Said he would check fertility clinic referral criteria - I said I understood no IVF but wanted investigations.

Trying this cycle with just Myo-inositol and no soy - interesting ovulated on day 12/13 this month rather than 14/15 with the soy, would fit with cycle lengthening from 25/26 to 27/8 when started soy (not sure of ov dates as wasn't temping before started soy) also definitely have much much more ewcm when taking the soy.

Currently 7dpo so about to go nuts symptom spotting I suspect, trying to tone it down this month as really got too worked up last month, we will see.

Little Thanks, will go & get some. Although he told me to take it from day 3 of period to ovulation & period's not due for 3 weeks.

Fruit Glad to hear you're pressing forward with some investigations. I have my first hospital appt a week on Thursday. The acupuncturist told me to lose some weight I was gutted!!! I love eating! Could stand to lose a stone though.

I'm having this no caffeine thing so hard. I don't want a life without caffeine! He seems to think it will help to regulate my periods though, even though I only drink 2 cups a day. I will stick with it til this next period shows up, but after that I think some mornings that require early starts I might have to have a weak cup.

village no coffee I would find that so hard, need my morning boost and suspect I am somewhat addicted to it. - have you had any headaches stopping?

9/10 dpo here - symptom spotting (obviously) - bfn this am (natch)

Sigh

At gp today for day 21 progesterone ( dates not exactly right but hoping ok, I've was due Saturday/Sunday positive opk Friday, ov pains Saturday am but ff says ov Friday, maybe overnight?) - does a couple of days off effect the day 21 progesterone-

• anyone know ?

Its too early in the morning for my maths fruitbat but the day 21 test should be taken at 7 days before you're due on. That's the peak of progesterone so either side of that it will be lower (unless you are pregnant). If your levels are high it doesn't matter (they spend a few days going up and a few days going down so there are lots of high days) but if your result comes back low and you're way off on days then that might be the reason.

But sorry about the bfn.

Thanks little Hmm this is doing my head in...
Af is due either Saturday or Sunday, Gp not open for blood tests at weekend so went for the Monday(today), now ff says I may have ovulated earlier than usual and af is due Friday (I think maybe as I didn't take soy this month), so maybe I should have gone last Friday, ah well if low I will just have to gestimate again next month!

Anyone got any idea how long the blood tests take to come back ?
couple of days? Week?

Now trying to line up dh for the sperm sample, how to get it there in 1 hour... GP suggested to husband wanking in toilet at hospital - husband adamant public toilets don't turn him on...

I think the results come back from blood tests in a few days - have you got a follow up appointment with the Dr or is that waiting for the sperm test? If you look at the old thread about a year ago, there were a few of us having the same conversation about how to transport the 'precious cargo' to the counting station..... I had to cycle with my dh's sample tucked into my bra for warmth! One of the other's was wondering about the etiquette of knocking one out in the hospital carpark as it was too far away to drive it there after production. We never did come up with a solution but did agree that it was nothing compared to the many indignities we've all had to go through in the whole fertility and childbirth process so it was time they had to deal with some of it!

Er, don't they have facilities at the hospital? My DH was given the option to do it at home or on site. He did the biz there so they had the freshest sample. They were well set up for it, special rooms with 'material' in, and a slot to drop the pot in so the poor receptionist didn't have to take it!

It's my understanding that day 21 progesterone needs to be 7dpo rather than 7 days before AF due.

I don't OV til day 18 so my day 21 was far too early and I'm hoping that is why I got a very low result. Still doesn't help with my pitifully short LP but I'm hoping it's an easier problem to solve than not ovulating.

I should find out pretty soon anyway.

7dpo and 7 days before af are the same day for me so I never checked which was which. Doesn't help with short lp though does it. In that case, 7dpo does sound more sensible.