Am I a lost cause?

[littlestar]

I'm nearly 37 and we have been TTC for 7 months (DS is almost 21 months). My (not particularly helpful/ sympathetic) GP sent me for some blood tests; the first one was normal but the second said I had a low progesterone level and apparently might not be ovulating. The GP won't do anything else until DH has had a sperm test, which he is going to do on Monday. In the meantime I am using Persona and ovulation test sticks. And we're doing lots of BD'ing and trying to stay positive (not easy).
My questions are...what happens next? Is there anything else I/we should be doing? And is there even any point or are we flogging a dead horse? (I told you I was finding it hard to stay positive!)

If the problem does turn out to be non-ovulation (what does your person indicate btw?) it is usually one of the easiest things to "fix" in terms of troubles ttc. I know lots of people who have had trouble conceiveing then conceived easily on clomid. Wise of your GP to do the sperm test before anything else.

Oh Littlestar, I don't have any knowledge on what happens next but I do know how you feel. We've been trying for our first for 7 months and the lack of success is breaking my heart. I'm 33 in 2 weeks. I do know that low progestrone levels can be treated with cream and drugs (I think) and so if that is the only issue, you should be able to cure it. Don't give up trying, you just never know and as you already have a child together, it would be odd if something was suddenly very wrong wouldn't it? Also, if your DH does have issues with his sperm, diet and supplements can do alot to help. Chin up hon and I hope you get your BFP soon.

The blood tests that the GP does are more a guideline adn give an more of an idea of whether you are ovulating or not. They are pretty inaccurate TBH, the only real way to see if someone is ovulating is to Ultrasound scan them throughout the cycle to see follicle develop and then release an egg.
The main indicator in fertility is past history and you've got 1 previous pregnancy in your corner, so that's a really big positive fact worth more than most blood tests.Don't get depressed, continue with your investigations, but there's nothing to suggest so far that you won't fall pregnant. Seven months can seem a long tme, but it is still reasonably early days
Good luck trying

low progesterone is relatively simple to address
you need to go for blood tests for a certain number of days post ovulation as well
But you can be given progesterone orally (I think) but also as a cream.
Clomid is often prescribed too and is very successful
good luck xxx

Thanks everyone. I just got a text from yet another friend who's pregnant again - of course I'm thrilled for her but I wish it was my turn

DarrellRivers - it was a relief to me to hear you say that if you have been pregnant before that counts for alot. I was pregnant 9 years ago but had a termination. I have always felt relaxed about TTC until I did start TTC because of that and "knowing" I could. Now I am beginning to doubt that, what if that was my miracle and it never happens again? I only got to 13 weeks so who knows what would have happened.

MrsMcClaus. Don't despair it might still happen. I had a termination a VERY long time ago and then when I tried to get pregant 3 years ago it happened straight away but i miscarried early. it took 2 years to get pregnant again but the one thing that kept me going was that all the doctors and nurses said that it was hugely in my favour to know that I could get pregnant. Having said that, my friend has been trying for a long time to get pregnant but to no avail until she gave in her notice at work and then hey presto, she was pregnant. Seemed like it was probably stress all along.

That's so reassuring to hear. I got pregnant with DS first time so I'm finding this really frustrating. I've been under quite a lot of stress with work and family issues and do wonder whether that's affecting me. I've noticed that most of my friends who are pregnant with their second baby are the lucky ones who didn't go back to work after having the first one, so I can't help feeling stress is a contributing factor.

I don't know anything about Clomid (apart from what I read in Jamie Oliver's wife's book!) Will I have to take lots of time off work for scans etc? Are there any side effects?

Littlestar - I can recommend ensuring that your general health is good. I bought a book called conception the natural way or something like that and took some of the advice on vitamin supplements for me and DH and we conceived 4 months later (the length of timebbbbbbbbb that it takes a fresh batch of sperm to generate apparently). Friends have had success with this also. I posted a thread called 'just wanted to share a story' a while ago but don't know how to do a link. Anyway DS is now 3 months old and we were over a year TTc him and DD took similar time. Good luck and try to enjoy it (I also handed in my notice at work to reduce stress - worked in the short term but I conceived the same week and severe morning sickness made applying for new jobs a bit difficult! )

It's way too early to despair, littlestar. As others have said, low progesterone can be tackled. Your GP is quite right to test dh's sperm before proceeding with any treatment. You have been pregnant recently and you are still well within your fertile years. This is definitely not a dead horse.

Good luck

TBH I'd lay off both the persona and opk's and these (particularly the opks) can give false positive results if ovulation is an issue. If you are one of many women who are producing higher than normal levels of LH then the kit could be rading that.

With regards to blood tests both LH and FSH must be tested and the levels COMPARED against one another. This will show up and imbalances between these two hormones; an imbalance of LH to FSH can be indicative of hormonal problems which can be treated (clomid is one option here but you need to be monitored properly).

Would also say that one semen analsis if the result is poor is not fully indicative of male factor problems. Such tests should be repeated.

Would also like to think that your GP will refer you post result of semen analysis. I would ask what he intends to do in this regard. You ought to be referred.

Hi Littlestar

Don't despair!!!! Dh and I had been ttc for 9 months when we went to the GP (we were both 33 I think). It turned out that I had low progesterone and wasn't ovulating, and my dh had a low sperm count (double whammy for us!).

I started acupuncture and 3 months later, my hormone levels were tested, and were all normal.

However, as Atila says, sperm tests need to be repeated as the results can vary so much. My dh had two more tests, and in each one, the results were worse than the last. Finally, we were told that IVF/ICSI was our only way forward.

In order to prepare ourselves for IVF, or give ourselves every chance to get pregnant even though we'd been told we had no chance, we followed a book called "Natural Solutions to Infertility" by Dr Marilyn Glenville. It means big changes to diet and lifestyle. We gave up alcohol, caffeine, red meat, cow dairy (switched to goat dairy), took loads of vitamin and mineral supplements, had acupuncture, did yoga, and generally lived like months for nearly a year.

Finally after 2.5 years ttc, we were due to start IVF. BUT, the month before we were due to start, I found out I was pregnant naturally!!!!!! Our gorgeous, beautiful dd is now 2 years old.

We'll never know what made a difference, whether it was just time, good luck, or all our interventions. However, I know that making all the changes made me fitter, healthier, and feel more in control. They also gave me something positive to focus on which took the pressure off sex.

Good luck.

Thanks Okeydokeygirl I have also been under a lot of stress at work since we started TTC and I have just changed jobs this week and I am enjoying it so much more, maybe that will make the difference for us. Like some of the others who have posted, I have been looking at our lifestyle and making changes too.

Hi

I suffer from PCO's (ranging between 40-60 days), currentley on day 81 and still no sign of period.

'X' number of pg tests have all been negative leaving me still wondering. Iv had a metalic taste for about 2weeks, slight cramping (keep thinking Im going come on but nothing)and slight aches and pains now and again.

Any idea's to whats happening? Seeing my GP in Jan.

Love Gill