40+ ttc: bring on the bfp's!

[ababsurdum]

Continuation of the long-running 40+ ttc thread.

Link to the previous thread.

Currently on cd15. I had very regular cycles until a few months ago when it all started to go haywire (7 weeks with nothing, then a period that lasted almost a month) went to the docs and found out it was the start of perimenopause (I'm 40) and it looks like I haven't ovulated at all for a while, as looking back there were signs like mid cycle spotting etc. So took soy to try and get ov back and it worked first time and had a normal cycle, was so exited that I decided to throw everything at it this month. Now worried I'm back to square 1

I've been taking 3000 epo. Maybe too much?.....
Also thinking about getting a fertility monitor but can't decide weather that would help or just depress me even more! Not going to do an opk today as I always feel so happy and hopeful until the time of day when I test, then I'm just gutted. Going to have hope for today and test again tomorrow

Can I join you please? I was 40 earlier this year and just started TTC #2. Despite having PCOS I got pregnant first time with our first who is now 1. I'm booked in at the doctors next week as feel like I have another cyst.

What conception vitamins and ovulation tests would you recommend? I didn't do anything like that last time.

Cleo - just had a look around the web and it seems for fertility anything from 1500mg to 3000mg is recommended. I'd personally err towards the lower end but that's just me. Oh and you probably already know this but only take up to ovulation day then stop until AF.
So, can i ask how old you are? and how did your GP determine you were in peri-menopause? I think I'm starting with changes for the same reason (depressing) and am working hard at staying positive and looking at the positives. I think stress really affects my cycles now, which ends up being a vicious circle! How blimmin unfair is is that men can stay fertile well into later life but we get this drop-off at 40!
Em - i take an eye-wateringly expensive 'food state' conception vit/mineral from Wild Nutrition. My logic is to throw money at this last-ditch attempt for one more baby....

Yesterday 20:57 Starlumiere

Hi all!!

I was on this thread I think last year while trying to conceive naturally and would love to come back if you would have me .

I am 44 and starting ICSI next month for our first child, hopefully. Met my partner at almost 41 but he is 10 years yougergrin. We have been trying for almost 2 years and after all the tests it came out his swimmers needed help!!

Anybody out there trying IVF/ICSI?

Would love to share notes!!!

Star
XXX

Thanks littlemimosa, I think I'll cut epo down to 2000 instead, just to be on the safe side!
I'm 40, and GP did blood test for FSH which came back borderline but mixed with my symptoms (erratic periods, no ovulation) he said it was almost certainly perimenopause. Very depressing.
And I know what you mean about stress, I was wondering if it may have been stress affecting this cycle too, although it's purely the stress of crazy cycles and its probably helping to create crazy cycles! Bah

Welcome Em! I am currently taking seven seas conception, tried pregnacare but was not so keen. Have been using the cheap opk's from ebay but considering a fertility monitor now. Clearblue is supposed to be really good but pricey.

Welcome back star! Good luck with your ICSI

Hello all. Can I join? I'm 40 and have been ttc #2 for about 18 months.

Can anyone recommend a good brand of ubiquinol? I notice they are quite cheap on ebay (comparitively) but don't want to end up with anything dodgy.

Welcome sparkwood!

Also, just got a line on an opk - wohoooo!! So very excited. The soy must have worked after all - yay for the soy!

Thanks cleo! AF arrived last night so I’m having some wine.

Yay Cleo:) how exciting. How many dpo are you now?
Have you got any ovulation symptoms?
Solgar is usually billed as a good brand of ubiquinol. Pricey tho!
Hello sparkwood and star.
Nothing happening here. Just obsessively reading articles online entitled things like 'how to improve egg quality after 40' !

Hello again. I’ve been following here and there and great to hear ao many people out there in the same boat. I’m in the tww again now but not hopeful as I got drunk on the o day!! Also not taking many supplements but have ordered ‘it starts with egg’ as that sounds very helpful.

I am wondering about ubiquinol now - is it safe? Do your gps recommend it or is it sort of alternative to that? Sorry for all the questions!

Anyone else on the tww?

Hi all! Thats brill Cleo. Wonders of soy! I'm now about 10-11 dpo. Not much happening other that typical pms/af symptoms. Have decided if bfn this cycle I'm ditching all bar the royal jelly and seven seas. When they're done I'm taking folic acid. I've enough for I more soy cycle but unsure how many you can do in a row?!?

Cd 18 today and just got what looks like an actual positive opk (line as dark as the test line) better late than never! Very happy with that.
Littlemimosa I know what you mean about the articles, I'm constantly googling!

Rugby I don't think being drunk on o day will make any difference, most babies are concieved after a few drinkies! 2 of my friends (one being 42) conceived after my 40th birthday party apparently - definitely some drinks had there!

Minime I did not know there was a limit on soy cycles? Hopefully not too little as I'm going to be relying on that now, the wonder pills! Good luck this cycle, hopefully you will not need any more anyway! Are you going to test soon?

Tested earlier and got a stark white result ...guessing it'll be a other negative month. Tired tonight, funny taste in mouth and other usual pre af symptoms. Feel like she may appear tomorrow which would make my ov cd11...waiting with interest to see

Still early days. The wait is always so stressful though isn't it!

Had a faint opk line today after dark one yesterday and faint one day before. Does that sound like a normal pattern? Would that mean I ovulated yesterday with the dark line? Or today with faint? Or tomorrow when I'm guessing it'll be gone? Not really had any other symptoms, and new to the positive opk thing!

Hi there. cleo - I always thought the line on an opk shows you are going to ovulate in the next 12-24 hours? Glad you got a line!

Ok so maybe alcohol is not such a bad idea... thanks for reassurances, cleo.

Anyone else in The tww? Minime - ugh to stark white spaces. They are crap aren’t they. Have you tested again?

I’m on cd 6 so just starting to think about it again....

Hi Rugby. Unfortunately af arrived with a bang a day or 2 earlier than I expected but knew she was on her way. Alcohol is on the cards this weekend and maybe for the foreseeable. Think the supplements are gonna be left alone this cycle to let nature do its thing. Now wondering if there's any point going to Drs now at 40 and a half and if its worth going through invasive procedures for similar outcomes. Much wine will be taken tonight

Aw mini I’m so sorry AF got you:( For what its worth I do think going to the docs IS a good idea at 40. How long have you been ttc?

Cleo - I’d agree with Rugby. My understanding is that the opk detects your LH surge which supposedly happens 12-24 hours prior to actual ovulation. Do you get any other signs like ov pain or ewcm? I’ve always wondered at what point I ovulate in relation to the pains/twinges and ewcm. Based on nothing in particular I’d guess that all women are different in that alway, but hey what do I know?!

Hi mini- sorry about AF. I definitely think it’s worth going to Dr. I was 40 when I went to GP about my DD (I’m now 42). They took me seriously and did all the test on both of us and then, of course, typically, we got the BFP. But worth starting process. I was also having private acupuncture as I had convinced myself I wouldn’t get any help from the NHS.

Sounds like you’re doing everything and now you deserve some treats.

I’ve been eating so much sugar this week as it’s been a family celebration that I fully expect no BFP this month - I just bought ‘it starts with the egg’ and it says about avoiding sugar. That matches what my accupuncturist told me a couple of years ago. So I have no hopes this month.

Sorry about Af mini, always so gutting, but don't give up, and I do think it's worth a doc visit, whats to lose?

Thanks Rugby and littlemimosa, so if it was 12-24 hrs then I must have ov'd on weds, meaning I'm now 2dpo. The countdown begins.
No I don't think I get many symptoms, a bit of ewcm (thanks to the epo) although not enough to really tell when it finished. I had an ache in what must be overy area about 4 hours after the positive opk, but guess that must have been too early to have been ov. So no idea! I'll go with Weds, so will be expecting af 2 weeks after that (or not - with any luck!)

Oh dear, if we aren't allowed sugar then I'm screwed anyway. Ha!

Hello. Anyone got past their usual dpo number yet?! I’ve just seen through an entire 8 dpo and this time last month AF had arrived! So I’m feeling happy - for now! I know, short luteal phases for me. But I figure if I had one child before it must be possible again...

How’s everyone else doing?

Hi everyone. I'm in the TWW, 3 dpo I think. Read this interesting article that suggests if over 40 your opk might be positive on the same day you ovulate rather than in advance.

Good luck to everyone x

maiamidwifery.com/2014/05/opks-flushing-money-hopes-getting-pregnant-drain/