40+ ttc: the one where we all get knocked up!

[ababsurdum]

Shiny new thread. Here's the link to the previous one.

Thanks Alibaba! She's 4, was conceived easily when I was 39. Unfortunately I had a uterine infection and retained placenta afterwards and I'm a bit concerned it has caused lining issues as I have been getting positive opks but no AF or pg for about 8 months until just recently, wish I hadn't waited so long to get investigated!! Sorry to see you had a MC last year. How did your blood tests and scan go?

Hopefully it's just the bf stopping AF returning properly.

Bloods and scan are normal. I'm getting my next cycle assessed privately to get a second opinion on whether I should be able to conceive naturally.

Have you had an ultrasound yet?

Yes, it showed 10 follicles on one side with 1 dominant and a few on the other side. I know 10 is not great but apparently slightly above average for my age. I go back next week to see if I've ovulated and whether the lining's grown. This is before even thinking about egg quality.

That sounds to good to my limited knowledge!

So are you having a tracking thing where you go at different stages of the cycle? Is that a private clinic?

Will they suggest treatment at the end of the cycle (if you're not pg)?

Yes, it's a private clinic and they're seeing whether I ovulate and lining is ok, and if they are, the next step is sperm analysis and timed intercourse. I think there would also be more blood tests like progesterone and thyroid. And possibly a camera inside the uterus. If I'm not ovulating they will try something like Clomid but if we're both ok we will just have to keep trying and hope for the best as IVF apparently is no more successful than trying naturally at my age (if no problems, of course). Sounds like you are thinking of trying a clinic, what are you thinking of doing?

Is timed intercourse also known as follicle tracking?

Yes I'm seeing an expert (hopefully!) at the start of my next cycle. I get bloods done cd1 and then go for my appt on cd4. They're going to assess my first cycle and then decide what treatment I need to increase my chances. I think he uses a combination of methods: acu, herbs, conventional medicine. We will see! I'll keep you posted.

So do you have an appointment coming up soon?

Yes, got another scan on Wednesday, hoping it will show ovulation has happened. Just getting nearly positive opk today so hopefully it will be positive tonight/tomorrow and will ovulate before Weds.

Not sure about the timed intercourse/follicle tracking terminology- I guess they are the same thing and we would have a scan to determine when ovulation is likely and given dates to dtd on based on that. As I track opks and CM I think I can time it myself to be honest but might learn something from the scans and what the consultant has to say. Also gets my DH on board to hear it from someone else! We have dtd days 9, 11 so far, planning to do 13 and 15 too hoping to ovulate around day 14 now.

Your assessment sounds really interesting, especially as it incorporates the herbal/alternative side. I tried herbs and acu last year, just on a few supplements now. So is yours NHS or private? Good luck with your assessment

This is a private clinic just outside of London. Where is yours based? Are you on a programme?

Hello lovely ladies, mind if I join you?

I've just turned 40 and also just started officially TTC for #2. It was sparked by AF being six days late last month, so I thought I had fallen pregnant accidentally. By the time I got a BFN, DH and I had got used to the idea of a second baby and decided we quite liked it!

And so here we are on the merry go round again. Feeling slightly apprehensive as last time it was a year long emotional rollercoaster involving an MMC and suspected ectopic. And I'm expecting it to be much tougher now I'm such an old bird.

I turned the loft upside down at the weekend to dig out my old clear blue fertility monitor and big bag of pregnancy tests. They are all at least a year out of date but will help satisfy my newly reawakened POAS fetish for a while! AF due at the weekend but no symptoms, so I'm not hopeful. It will be lovely to have some lasses in a similar situation to talk to about it though, these boards really helped me through the tough times before. Sending baby luck to you all xxx

Hi all. Not posted here for ages. Wanted to ask everyone, how long do you give it before you consider IVF? DH and I have been TTC for 14 months now and not even a sniff of a pregnancy. DH is 46 and I am 40. All fertility investigations were fine and we both have 2 kids each from previous marriages. We've tried 3 natural cycle IUIs and 2 with clomid. Still zilch. Just don't get it as I ovulate regularly, DH's sperm is excellent but still nothing happening. The clinic we are at says to do IVF this year, if we want to do it at all. Really don't want to do IFV but when do you give up and accept it's not going to happen naturally?

Hello everyone, welcome Pingu!

I couldn't say re: IVF as I'm way past 40 and IVF is no more successful than trying naturally for me. At 40 I would probably give it 6 more months then follow the advice of your clinic.

I had my mid cycle scan today and the good news is, I ovulated, and apparently have the egg reserve of someone in their mid-30s.

Unfortunately, they did see scarring to the lining and a cyst around one tube which could impede the egg (the side I ovulated on, unfortunately). My next steps are a day 21 progesterone test and a referral for a hysteroscopy.

Hope all the 40+ ladies are doing well and having some good news :)

Alibaba, my clinic is in London, pm me for details :) good luck with your appointment this week, let us know how it goes!

Can I ask you all what vitamins and supplements you are taking to help with TTC?

I've been on pregnacare but they are so difficult to swallow so I'm thinking of swapping to just folic acid and then separate tablets for whatever else might help. When I was pregnant with DD the doctor told me that over 40s should take low dose aspirin, but I don't know if that also applies before conception.

Hi Pingu,

Welcome to the thread!

Here's my list of what I take:

Pregnacare Conception
Baby aspirin
Ubiquinol
Vit E
Vit D
Vit B6
Vit C
EPO until ovulation
Fish oil
Magnesium

I'm thinking of giving up Pregnacare.

Thanks Ali. That is almost a meal! Do you take them all at the same time or spread them out?

I just googled EPO and it came up with lots of stuff about performance enhancing drugs. I thought blimey, that's a bit drastic. Then I realised you meant evening primrose oil

Welcome Pingu!

How does EPO help?

I'm attempting stage two of ttc and temping along with opks. I think I'm ovulating over the next few days so fingers crossed!

Feeling apprehensive as a friend who is 40 this year and like me conceived #1 immediately has had 3 miscarriages in the last 2 years (which I didn't know). Apparently not related, one a medical management after first scan, but it is bringing it home that it might not be so smooth this time.

Hello and welcome Violet!

EPO increases ewcm. Something works for me whether EPO, water or grapefruit juice.

Hello to all newcomers! Just dipping back in briefly...

Pingu I've been a veggie for years so already take loads of supplements. For TTC I added folic acid, macca and ubiquinol. Also altered my EPO intake to be only up to ovulation.

Ooh that's interesting, I wonder how that works?! Oestrogen regulation in some way?

I don't know if/how it works but my ewcm has definitely increased and I hardly get any PMT. Not sure of the reason but I presume it's the supplements.

Just hope my fertility is ok!

Just seen the news that Geri Halliwell has had a baby boy, aged 44. There is hope for us all yet!

Definitely not keen on the name though. Montague George Hector Horner. Each to their own I suppose

Hello to everyone,

I've just found Pregnancare in the form of syrup. ( I too have a problem with swallowing tablets, but now the syrup functions as my sweetie after my meal.)

Clara - I saw your recommendation today. He was lovely. I feel like a weight has been lifted.

He said all my supplements were good and he said baby aspirin is a good idea. He's given me a fertility tonic to help increase chances of implantation.

He told me not to worry about age - a message for us all!

Hope everyone is getting on ok.

Oh good, I also found him v helpful..

I'm having same things as you and seem to be ovulating around cd10 which seems really early. Did you make any headway finding out if that is an issue and what to do about it?

Welcome to all the newbies. How's everyone else.. Pies, ababs, fuzzy, city how's 2017?

He said early ovulation is fine as the egg is only released when it's ready. And I've always ovulated early and it's never been a problem before. I'm curious to see when I ov this month.

I have a 24/25 day cycle so ovulate around day 10-12. Ds was conceived like this so I think it's fine.

I did some googling and some women can even ovulate on day 2 or 3 while they are having their period, then again mid cycle (anecdotally through google, but the women was having scans to check follicles) ) but I guess as so many women say they became pregnant at odd times in the cycle many things are possible!