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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.

Over 40s TTC & success stories.

999 replies

Grizzer · 18/07/2015 22:20

Starting a new thread for support & advice ladies. Not quite ready to graduate yet!

OP posts:
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11
ababsurdum · 09/02/2016 20:23

Fatty I'm sure I read that when ttc ds. Quite a long list Smile

I downloaded Ovia this morning. Not sure I can be bothered with it as I'm already using period tracker. I don't think it adds much more although I do like the dashboard. I'm on cd2, ages to go yet!

ababsurdum · 09/02/2016 20:31

Rosie DHEA is a hormone and therefore controversial. It affects levels of oestrogen and testosterone (I think) and therefore there is concern it may have adverse side effects. It has been seen to help improve the quantity of eggs for women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) and the quality of eggs and embryos produced. These were in studies of women undergoing IVF. It's probably best to read up on Dr Google and weigh up the pros and cons for you. Like most of these things the best effects are seen after 3 months due to the length of the eggs life cycle.

ababsurdum · 09/02/2016 20:33

I wonder if there's an increased risk of multiples when using DHEA? Shock

ChewyGiraffe · 09/02/2016 22:28

Twinkly, Fatty, Beegee - thanks for you kind wishes.

Beegee - if you’re 9DPO, I’d take no notice of the test result, cheapie or otherwise. You’re not out yet.

Yes, I'm still p*ssed off at the revelation that we won't get anywhere without 'help'. Moreso when I realise that since my MMC (late 2014) there’s only been about 2 months when we tried and technically stood any chance at all. That's assuming that DP’s had these antibodies since at latest the first episode of anaphylactic shock, combined with months lost to tests, cysts, Thyroid issues, blah blah blah. All that sex for no good reason whatsoever!!!! (I'm only half joking!)

So having IVF means we’ll have one or two goes, like, ever. The clinics I've spoken to have still had some successes with own eggs at my age (despite what you might read on the internet to the contrary) but really not very many. So we wouldn't keep on and on trying ... which is impossibly hard. Anyway, I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

Ababs - You asked how long I've been taking DHEA – since the last week of October, so about 15 weeks. Of course, having only just found out about DP's antibodies, little did we know that we would've had zero chance of conceiving that whole time. I’m now giving myself a little supplement break (bar Pregnacare Conception) until the end of this cycle.

As you're vegetarian, I do think it's a good idea to ask your GP to check Ferritin, maybe even a full blood count too. I wouldn't mention the hair loss (I did once and got the eye roll treatment). I was basically vegetarian from being a teenager until I weaned DD, although some years ago I started eating fish and chicken again too, for protein, it didn’t help my iron levels. I’ve been anaemic on and off for years – including when pregnant and had prescription iron tablets. Anyway, you could say to your GP that because you’re veggie, you’re TTC, you’ve had a baby and a miscarriage, you'd like to check Ferritin & FBC just in case you’re a little anaemic and an iron supplement would be helpful. Perfectly reasonable. You may well NOT be clinically anaemic but at least you'd have your Ferritin number to think about vis-a-vis hair loss.

Rosie - as Ababs said – DHEA is supposed to help egg quantity and quality in women with DOR or over 40. Studies have shown increases in antral follicle count (and even increased AMH) in women undergoing IVF. Plus a considerably reduced miscarriage rate, which is believed to evidence corresponding reductions in chromosome abnormalities – i.e. improved egg quality.

Ababs - I’ve never seen any suggestion of increased risk of multiples for TTC naturally. I suppose that would have to make you ovulate more than one egg, but I don’t think that’s the case.

Fatty - if you’re taking 100mg in one go, you make me feel like a right wuss for having tried to take 75mg in three separate doses! Part of the problem is that it makes for FOUR separate tablet sessions – because I have to take Thyroxine in the morning and that’s a PITA. (Has to be taken on an empty stomach, with water, nothing else for 30 mins to an hour, plus a list of tablets you can’t take within 4 hours ... so to be on safe side, assumed DHEA’s on that list. Thyroxine is obviously a diva.)

Good luck all. We need more baby dust on here don't we. x

Beegee3 · 10/02/2016 00:18

Ladies x so this evening foolishly did a pg test, sainsburys one. I came in from getting my youngest from after school after work went to the loo and did it. So unsurprisingly after a few mins it was negative, but after I went back in my room about an hour later it was like this...going nuts I think??

Over 40s TTC & success stories.
ababsurdum · 10/02/2016 08:18

Beegee gosh I don't know. I want it to be positive but don't they say to ignore anything after a certain time frame? Did you test again this morning. It must be excruciating for you. Here's hoping you are pg, we must be due one soon.

Chewy with the technology they are now hopefully using they will be able to select the very best embryo(s) to implant so on that basis hopefully your odds are slightly better than if you're getting one random egg as with trying naturally, plus you may be able to freeze some for FET too. Here's hoping your dh makes a full recovery in the meantime so you can get back to dtd with purpose rather than just for fun.

Nothing to report here except period pain and a toddler who was up for 2 1/2 hours with a cold last night zzzzzzzzz

ababsurdum · 10/02/2016 08:20

PS I try and use the pink tests. Superdrug are my weapon of choice usually. They're very sensitive and quite cheap (4 for £6.99).

totalnamechanger · 10/02/2016 08:53

I'm very, very hopeful for you Beegee...

ChewyGiraffe · 10/02/2016 08:56

Beegee - wow - it certainly looks like a positive on that test! But like Ababs said, I thought you can't always count on the result, totally, after the five minutes or whenever they're supposed to be read. On the other hand, I've never had an evaporation line in my life (and I've done, er, a fair few pregnancy tests ...) Ooh, please do another one and report back!

Ababs - thanks for your kind words, you're very sweet Flowers

Beegee3 · 10/02/2016 09:14

Hello ladies, I don't understand evap lines either but I am guessing that this is one. I am only 10 dpo today so... I have wee'd in a cup when I got up and it is waiting at home ready for testing, I will let you know but not hopeful. Although I am boring myself with the fact that I am nauseous etc. I will post in a bit, have a good day and thanks x

Beegee3 · 10/02/2016 10:38

Hello ladies, working from home today so did a FRER and got a bfn as you can see 😕.

Over 40s TTC & success stories.
ababsurdum · 10/02/2016 10:56

Oh Beegee I'm so sorry, that really sucks. Are you 10 dpo today? There may still be time xxx

Beegee3 · 10/02/2016 11:22

Thanks ababs year I think I am 10 dpo I got that positive opk on Sunday 31st at 6:30 pm. I didn't test the day before but the test line was ultra dark and I really felt it. So I guess I could even be as little as 8?? Depending on when I actually did ovulate after that detected surge, I was counting day after that opk. I just feel very mixed up, nevermind x

ababsurdum · 10/02/2016 19:04

Beegee I'm convinced I ovulated 2 1/2 days after I got a +ve opk so quite possibly you're not as far forward as you thought. Let's hope so anyway Smile

My DHEA was supposed to arrive this morning but it didn't, hopefully tomorrow.

Beegee3 · 10/02/2016 19:26

Thanks ababs maybe, we will see x hope your dhea gets there tomorrow, do you start taking it straight away? X

totalnamechanger · 10/02/2016 21:26

Beegee I've ovd a couple of days later than opk a few times. This month for one.

I'm wondering whether acupuncture /more epo has brought ov forward this month. Looks like it's cd 15 instead of 18/19. Only did once a few days before due to illness and non cordial relations with dh for a couple of days.

Has anyone else had combo of rows/illness at the worst time? So anyway this month is a write off. Really hoping for some better news from you all.

Hope you get on ok with dhea abab And Ovia... Ovia was responsible for my phone nearly being thrown out of several windows. It was claiming everything from getting up in the morning was a sign Hmm

ababsurdum · 10/02/2016 22:04

Beegee no reason to wait though I am nervous. Hoping I don't get any horrid side effects though of course I can stop taking it if I do. Silly really as I've taken all sorts of other supplements and not been worried particularly.

Totalnamechanger Ovia sounds fun then, I will keep an eye out for annoying push notifications. It's already told me I'm beautiful Wink

Dtd a few days before ovulation still means you have a shot. I can't recall any arguments that have affected anything but the month I conceived ds I had cystitis. I went ahead anyway as I knew I was ovulating and didn't want to miss it. I figured I'd deal with any unpleasantness afterwards. You can imagine how glad I am that I did and it didn't aggravate it anyway.

wotsitsmaltesers · 11/02/2016 00:14

Feeling so hacked off with the whole thing. Cycle day 12 no idea if I've ovd or not. Ewm from day 7 until 10 now nothing but cervix low. Dtd every day since day 7. Bored shitless of doing it. Will try again tomorrow and Friday but already feel the signs of ad as always do at this time in cycle. How can my body know so early in cycle that I'm not pregnant. Amazed that you all seem to know when you ovulate as I no longer understand any of it. Sorry soo frustrated and angry. Tonight. Positive vibes to all of you though.

totalnamechanger · 11/02/2016 05:53

Yup abab I would never usually have dtd at the time I conceived ds- brand new job/ mid-week/high stress but I was well into a routine then of obeying all signs of fertility. At least we can't know that our missed chances would definitely have led to another.

Sorry wotsits it can be really joyless can't it. I only know about ov through temping. Opks alone would really confuse me. Well done for all the activity though, I haven't done that for years!

Beegee3 · 11/02/2016 09:12

ababs it is nerve-wracking when you are putting something new into your body, knowing that it can affect you. But you'll be giving it a go and as with all of this that's brave and it could make all the difference - everything crossed x
wotsits sorry you're feeling so shitty, it's enough to drive you crazy. I guess sometimes you feel like, what the #@! $ more can I do?! You're certainly putting the effort in though, well done on that front! I hope you have a better day today x
total was coughing and spluttering my way through dtd earlier this month. I don't think you can write this month off yet x
I had a major migraine yesterday afternoon onwards, paracetamol is useless. I nearly knocked dp out with the tiger balm plastered all over my face. I am fully off my long term daily migraine 'prevention'medication now due to ttc - that isn't helping the way I am feeling about things. Bfn this morning.
Have a good day x

ababsurdum · 11/02/2016 13:37

Sorry it's still BFN Beegee

Wotsits the only sure way to know when/if you've ovulated (well other than ultrasound scans) is to track your temperature, have you considered this? I often can guess when it's happened as I usually get pain (not always) but I know many people don't. How long is your cycle usually? What are the signs of AF you mention?

The DHEA arrived today so I'll take the first dose tonight. It says to take 8 hours apart on the bottle (2 doses per day), are you ignoring that Chewy & Fatty?

ChewyGiraffe · 11/02/2016 15:19

Ababs - how much / how many doses per day of DHEA are you aiming for to start with?

If you go for 50mg in 2 x 25mg, then obviously it's pretty easy to do one morning and one evening. Perhaps this would be a good starting point if you're at all apprehensive about taking it?

I've been trying to take 75mg as 3 x 25mg. Technically I could've picked 7am, 3pm, 11pm to make the doses 8 hours apart. But because I also have morning tablets that I prefer to take on their own (Thyroxine), it's more like noon, 6pm, 11pm for DHEA - which aren't 8 hour gaps, obviously. Except - as I've said previously - very often I forget one or other of the DHEA tablets (goodness knows why, it's hardly f*cking rocket science) so I more or less never take 75mg.

To be honest - and it would be lovely if someone would come along and enlighten me - I've really no idea what the 'correct' thing is to do.

The daily dose I've seen most often mentioned is 75mg, but have also seen 50mg being used. Also no idea what the rationale is for splitting the dose - I've seen it's said to be a precaution against stomach upsets, but otherwise not sure (I wouldn't have imagined it was a short-acting medication, particularly).

Anyway, I'd be interested to know what you decide to do. Always good to compare notes!

rogorman74 · 11/02/2016 15:22

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ababsurdum · 11/02/2016 18:36

Chewy I think I'll start with two for a couple of weeks and see how I get on so breakfast and dinner time should be fine. I couldn't do 11pm as I'm usually asleep by 10 Grin

FattyFishwife · 11/02/2016 21:58

mine are 100mg so im just taking one a day, in with the handful of all the other stuff...the things we do eh?

sorry those of you who are feeling down abab hows the littly? feeling any better?
wotsits it hacks me off something rotten, that our bodies are supposed to know what to do and to be able to do this natural thing like 'ovulationing' and 'having a babying' yet it plays tricks on us and confuses us left right and centre! ((hugs))

total its been one long round of coughs/flu in our house, fed up with it all, and it looks like its swinging by for the 2nd round of going through everyone....feel like painting a big cross on the door and ringing a bell shouting 'unclean'......

beegee sorry about your BFN, but, as they say, its not over till the witch lady sings!

im trying to be positive this month, as opposed to my hormonal, het up self, and have found this to be really helpful in making me feel more smiley!