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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.

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Original poster

TTC low progesterone + low sperm mobility = no chance?

20 replies

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 18:30

Hi Everyone! So me and dh have been TTC since I finished the depo May 16, my af returned after 7mths and they’ve been regular for now for 7mths. I have blood test that show I’m borderline ovulating (progesterone level was 20) now my dh sperm results have come back low mobility and morphology we are being referred but we’ve been told we would have to pay for treatment as we already have ds. I just feel so deflated and down now, I was hopeful when I thought was just the problem but now I just feel like it’s never going to happen! Does anybody have any advice or in a similar position and had success?

OP posts:

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 18:42

What does borderline ovulating mean? Surely you either ovulate, or don’t?

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 18:47

Apparently your progesterone levels have to be over 30 to confirm definite ovulation and under 10 means definitely no ovulation. My lowest level was 17 and dr said in her opinion I wasn’t!

OP posts:

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 18:54

Hmm well mine was 18, and the doc said that was in the normal range and not a cause for concern!

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 19:00

The day 21 progesterone tests have an element of guesswork apparently, depending on your cycle length and when you ovulate etc. My cycles are slightly less than 28 days so I should have my day 21 done on day 20, which would most likely have led to a higher result, but I went on day 21 just because that’s when I could get the appointment!

If you have all the signs of ovulating (positive opk, ewcm, ov cramps, regular periods) then in all likelihood you are, and perhaps you just had an anovulatory cycle this time which isn’t unusual, but go back and speak to the Doc again if you are concerned.

2014newme · 02/11/2017 19:02

The good news is that with treatment you could have another child. That's positive.

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 19:05

Really? Well that makes me feel a bit better. I’m hoping once we get to see a fertility specialist they will be a bit more informative as my gp just seems quite vague with it all. Just said to keep trying until we get to see specialist but chances of conceiving natural are low.

OP posts:

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 19:06

Yeah, well that’s what they said to me anyway. I have seen things on here about needing 30 to confirm ov and I asked my gp about that and she said that’s not the case. I have got a pelvic scan in a couple of weeks and when I get the results of that I am going to double check on the progesterone thing, will report back!

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 19:07

2014newme I know and I am trying to stay positive I think as I’m 36 I feel like I’m running out of time! I know we are incredibly lucky to already have ds. I think today’s results for dh was just a bit of a shock!

OP posts:

2014newme · 02/11/2017 19:08

You did it once though so it can happen again

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 19:11

Pibbee are you with a fertility clinic now? I asked our gp and she seems to think we could be waiting around 8 weeks for an app. Good luck with your scan!

OP posts:

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 19:15

No @Betty, at the mo I am having the various tests I have been told I have to have before I can be referred. So I have had day 3 and day 21 so far, then I have this scan and DH has to go for a SA too. Then we will get referred apparently. I was told I would be waiting about 4-6 weeks for my scan (which is on nhs), and it was the shorter end of that timeframe and possibly actually slightly less than 4 weeks. I’m a bit nervous about it as I have no DC and scared they may say something is really wrong, but hoping not! Eeeek

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 19:24

Aw fingers crossed for you Pibbee. It does feel such a long waiting game doesn’t it. I had to have 3 blood tests over 3 months then swabs and then dh’s SA before referral. I have contemplated going private but our finances really can’t stretch to it. How long have you been TTC for?

OP posts:

Pibbee · 02/11/2017 19:46

About 10 months! So quite a while, plus I am 37 which doesn’t help

Once I have been referred properly I will look at likely timescales and stuff for NHS and if it looks like it’s going to take forever then we do have some money that we can spend on going private, but will cross that bridge if/when we come to it.

Yep it is such a long waiting game. I just want it all sorted!!! (Who doesn’t...) fingers crossed for you too. Is your next step to wait for the referral?

TBH I totally thought I had a progesterone issue as I do get random spotting before AF, but I have had three (!) gps tell me that’s not an issue. But the result of my test did bother me a bit, but when I pressed her on the issue she said it wasn’t a problem. Can only rely on what she says I guess! I do have all the signs of ov so it would be weird tbh if I wasn’t...

Notonthestairs · 02/11/2017 19:55

We had low sperm count/mobility and NK cells (essentially my immune system killing off any sperm that could be bothered to swim).

We had two rounds of ICSI (Its like IVF but they pick a chosen sperm and helicopter them in to the egg). A bit of the treatment involved progesterone pessaries to up my levels.

The result is on Minecraft next door (he's 9).

The bad news was we went privately (because we were late 30's) and it cost a lot.
AND despite our issues we got lucky, 9 months after DS was born, and now have a DD without having treatment - so there is no harm in trying!
Wishing you all the best.

Notonthestairs · 02/11/2017 19:57

Forgot to mention when we got pregnant naturally I talked the GP in to writing me a prescription for progesterone pessaries as I knew that had been a problem before. She wrote it but was dubious that it would help but it made me feel a lot better. I took them for the first 12 weeks.

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 20:08

Yes we have been trying for about the same time (as I can’t really count when I was waiting for af to eventually return). I really do think having the depo has a lot to do with me possibly not ovulating as I was on it for 3 years and it apparently puts your ovaries to sleep so trying to wake them up at nearly 36 is seeming impossible

I would say you are more likely than me to be ovulating as although I have a regular cycle, I have no ovulation pains/signs and never had an + opk and no ewcm. It might just be a case of a course of Chlomid for you which I’ve heard a lot of success stories from.

Yes so we’re just playing another waiting game now for the referral and blood tests for dh after his low sperm mobility results. Fingers crossed hear something before Xmas!

OP posts:

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 20:17

Hi Notonthestairs, thats fantastic news!

I have asked my doc about the progesterone pessaries as I’m concerned if I do conceive it may end in mc due to low levels but was told they would only prescribe if I did actually get a bfp not just whilst TTC. It does feel like getting blood out of stone with them at every appointment lol. But she did mention about they would possibly select one of dh’s ‘best’ swimmers and then guide it in the right direction. I think we’re going to have to look at private as if it’s going to cost us a fair amount on the NHS with long waits we might as well pay the extra in the hope of being seen quicker

OP posts:

Notonthestairs · 02/11/2017 20:46

Yes that's pretty much exactly what we were told. They chose a couple of DH's best and ensured that they fertilised. Then it was all about making my body fit for purpose (with drugs).

Second time around I also struggled to get the pessaries from my GP - I had to essentially promise that I was taking them against her advice and there would be no come back. But I was already pregnant - I know she wouldn't have given them before.

This might be bad advice because it might add to your stress but keep testing if you are at all late with your period. I had to test 1x a week because of a bungled first delivery (DS's birth and I was still being treated for related injuries 9 months later) but it meant I knew quite quickly that I was pregnant - and got the pessaries the day after I found out.
It's bloody hard work for some of us - but it can work x

Original poster

BettyBoo246 · 02/11/2017 21:02

I actually got hopeful today as I’ve had regular 28 day cycles for 7 months and today I start bleeding 12 days early so was crossing everything for implantation bleeding but then remembered me and dh never dtd around O last month as he was working away i told gp today when we went in for dh’s results but she said it could be down to stress or that I might have ovulated late last month.. it really is such a hard work and my brain is frazzled from it all!

Your story has given me hope though so thank you

we’ve ordered vits/supplements for both of us and I’m booked in for consultation with acupuncturist

OP posts:

Notonthestairs · 02/11/2017 21:30

According to OV tests I didn't ovulate for 2 years! Mine were impossible to track. By my rough calculations we did the deed 48-72 hours prior to Ov (possibly). Him with his lazy and sometimes non existent sperm and me with my sperm hating body.

Nevertheless we have DD.

My experience of fertility treatment is that (whilst everyone is doing their informed best to support you) so much is random and down to tiny personal chemical differences.

That's not a lot of comfort I know but it is worth still trying whilst you are waiting. And def try outside of your normal Ov zones.

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