Over 40 ttc - August baby dust for me!

[Orchid222]

Ladies, here's our 2nd summer thread :)

No mention of dosage etc. Will look into it if I don't end up seeing them af an appointment. Not sure of cost but imagine its not cheap! All these things cost a fortune unfortunately!

I think they check follicle count with a scan, which can give an idea of ovarian reserve?

Hi ladies, I keep popping in to see how you are all getting on. I hope there is some good news soon. Orchid I just saw you talking about Inositol and wanted to let you know that was one of the supplements I was taking. I've carried on taking it and lots of benefits. I think when TTC it balances insulin so helps with PCOS which I had a mild case of but also really helps with egg quality. A friend with PCOS produces immature eggs and it has helped with that when going through IVF. It was one her clinic recommended her to take. The one I was taking was combined with folic acid. There are other benefits when TTC but I can't remember now.

@Orchid222 20% success rate (max) for age 40 to 41 sounds about right. I would go sooner rather than later if I were you as it takes a while to get started. We had initial appointment in March for a June cycle. This is because they make you do various tests before they will start and some have to be done at specific times in the cycle. You will need AMH blood test, HSG dye test which has to be done in a hospital on day 7-8 of cycle IIRC. This had to be booked well in advance. Sperm analysis and AFC scan also need to be done, plus blood tests for HIV, hepatitis etc, and there are reams of consent forms which you have to have either 1 or 2 weeks (can’t remember exactly) cooling off period after and it all takes time. After all this you can do treatment planning 1 month before your IVF cycle starts. Also if you’re on a long protocol it takes even longer. Not saying that all clinics are the same but that’s my experience and certain delays like the cooling off period are legal requirements.
They estimate ovarian reserve based on your AMH test result and your AFC scan result. Also everything has to be paid for in advance.

Also I heard a great hopeful story today - I saw my NVQ tutor for the first time in months and she was trying to book an appointment for October so I told her about the IVF cycle to explain that would be a bad time. Anyway she immediately said oh my god I’ve been through it and went on to tell me that at 38 she was told by a consultant that she’d been through the menopause, wasn’t ovulating at all and would never conceive a child of her own. Over the next 2 years she had three failed IUI cycles and a failed IVF cycle with a donor egg. The IVF cycle failed in the October and she basically fell apart and gave up all hope. Was on anti depressants and turned down for adoption because of them. In the following December she miraculously fell pregnant naturally and carried her son to term giving birth at age 41. He’s now a beautiful 4 year old 😊

She made my day with that story so hopefully you all take hope from it too xxx

This all feels more hopeful 🙂

Im now tentatively in 2ww
LP surge yesterday. Im not temping so no idea if I ovulated. Can only hope it happened.
EWCM has dried up.
Im slightly put off as If I did ovulate it was on day 11 suggesting a short follicular phase. I believe this is a sign of ageing ovaries but...Lets not even go there
🙉🙉🙉
Its going to be a long 2 weeks..

What a lovely story critter! There's hope to be had

@Orchid222 , I also believe I was incredibly lucky both times! Also thinking that all supplements and acupuncture contributed to IUI success. I had a couple of scans prior IUI for them to determine the course of action. And was given Clomid to start on cd5. Think you need to book a consultation first, do the blood tests , you and your husband/partner. Do sperm analysis as well. I flew to my clinic then had scans, took Clomid back home and flew on cd10 for the scan. My husband came on the day of IUI to give sperm as they "washed" prior IUI. Not sure how it works in the UK. I was also given progesterone tablets and other pills which gradually stopped once I was 12 weeks (describing my first IUI)

Crittertamer that story really made my day thank you!
I’ve had a really shitty day at work today and my stress levels have been skyrocketting because of that and worrying what damage I’m doing to myself.

Floofsquidge

I love stories with happy endings

Still no AF here one day late now. No preggo symptoms so I can only assume the oestrogen tablets have lengthened my cycle maybe?? That's not such a bad thing as I'm a tad on the short side at the mo. If there's no appearance by Friday I'll try a test - I'm in that category that hate testing I try to put it off

Wishing everyone a lovely evening xx

Just out of curiosity and no obligation to answer but do you only dtd at ovulation time or throughout the cycle just in case.. ( am the later ) I know my friend started popping early Day 5 in cycle and it can be really common as you get a little older.. Mother Nature can catch you off guard cheeky lady x

Throughout, but probably more during the 3 day peak.
My sister had her baby at 40 and found the “mattress method” highly successful: ie just DTD as much as possible.

Hi JoJo, thanks for popping in to say hi and give your thoughts on inositol. How’s the pregnancy going?

Critter - that’s a great story. Made me smile a lot.

Re inositol I’ve just looked it up on a few sites and it seems to be good for balancing insulin which is associated with pcos (which is what JoJo said she uses it for). Thinking about it it was in my pregnacare multi but I’m still not pregnant so obviously no use to me.

Hi All and thanks so much for he love! @critter thanks for the uplifting story, I love hearing them too! and following your IVF journey avidly! okay enough of burying head in the sand, I am going to head over to the IVF board too, and start ordering some of these vitamins you all talk about the only thing I take is Folic Acid.

A friend mentioned her friend who was having difficulty TTC after her first and went for a Visceral massage, fell pregnant and recommended it to her other friends who also shortly thereafter fell pregnant and my friend has been pushing me to make an appointment so will also look into that. @karryk no ive not heard of the 5 step acupuncture will look into that also!

@orchid i really do want to get onto the IVF journey asap, I heard of a very good clinic in Cyprus that someone once mentioned, so will look into that as I do feel that I want to go abroad not only for cost reasons but also just to get away from it all.

Hi ladies, hope you don't mind me joining you. This is my first post and I feel a little nervous. It's great to hear some success stories and I'm sorry for those of you who are having a rough time. I'm struggling a little at the mo. I'm currently in the throes of my fourth consecutive miscarriage. That's four in the last six months (so it really does seem that fertility is high after a mc). This time I thought I was 9.5 weeks (with twins apparently) but looks like they stopped living at around six weeks. I'm gutted and emotionally exhausted. Physically I am feeling better than I was, although I'm having cramps today after having passed the sac last night (or I think that's what it was). I'm 43. Have a lovely little boy who was conceived at 41 without any problems. Have my eggs all gone bad in the last two years? I'm feeling a little despondent. Any encouragement would be appreciated.

Hi ladies, am still quietly lurking as I try not to stress this month. 7dpo currently. Had to chime in to say what a lovely story Critter. It's making me think more about not forcing things to happen if it takes too long. What will be will be, as my mum keeps telling me. I'm not sure if I could put myself and DP through IVF, perhaps I need to read more success stories first. I'm giving til 6 cycles to decide what I do next (currently cycle 5).

Welcome @Taxgirl1, so sorry to hear what you're going through, it must be really tough for you with the little one as well. Stay strong xx

Ohhhh @Taxgirl1 I'm so sorry for your losses.. sending big hugs and try to rest.... ( not easy with a small one around I know) and welcome xxx

Taxgirl1...I've only had one MC (5 months ago) but other than that my story is almost identical to yours. I'm sorry! It is hard to look at your perfect child and think in less than 2 years your eggs have all gone wrong. I still think getting pregnant so quickly is overall a positive thing even if it has given you an absolute emotional bashing. Have you had any advice to indicate it could be down to anything other than age/bad luck?

For me, AF arrived yesterday. Feeling sad but grateful at least that my cycle's back to 28 days after a freak 23 day one last time that worried me. I'm 43 so need to start thinking about when I'd go to get advice/assistance. It's hard to know when.

Hello @Taxgirl1 sorry to hear what you're going through. I had 2 mmc before giving birth to my lovely daughter just after my 40th birthday. Unfortunately I've had scarring etc from the c-section and a potential blocked tube on one side so I'm worried about that plus the ageing aspect! Here's to us all having some good news in the coming months

Still no AF yet but my temperature has dropped for the second day in a row so it must be imminent. I'll spend the fiver I was going to buy the test with tomorrow on some chocolate!!!

Welcome Taxgirl and sorry to hear you're going through such hard time. I was going to say the same thing as PetraRabbit since my story is similar to yours. My DS was conceived on the 1st try when I was 38. Started trying at 40 again fully thinking I'd be pregnant within 6 months but it's been almost 1,5 years and I'm still not pregnant. :( Unfortunately I think at our age 2 years does make a difference. Like Petra said, I think it's a good thing you're getting pregnant so quickly (unlike many of us here) so the golden egg will probably come along at some point but all the mc's might (but of course don't have to!) be linked to the lower egg quality due to age. Have you been taking any supplements or tried anything else like acupuncture or full traditional chinese medicine treatment? They can help with egg quality so worth a try.

Lets- glad to hear you're feeling better and ready for action! I've scheduled an introductory appointment at a nearby IVF clinic for Monday (bloody expensive!) and already feel better about it, I'm determined to figure out what's going on with my body.

Thanks Critter and Russkispy, we've had all the tests done already quite recently so I'm hoping the clinic will accept these and we don't have to redo them wasting more time!

Russkispy what supplements are you taking? I'm on supplements and started fertility acupuncture in October with a western practitioner, in January I moved to a chinese clinic for full blown TCM (acupuncture, moxibustion, herbs) along with amazing diet. I was under a lot of stress back then from my job so quit it and on the day of my leaving drinks I got a bfp...but it wasn't meant to be. I took a few months off TCM due to financial reasons and started back on it last month so I'm hoping it's going to help no matter whether I go for IUI or IVF.

@Orchid222 , I went to see a fertility herbalist. I've attached a list of things I've been taking for a few months now. Plus Omega 3. Booked reflexology every 2 weeks especially around fertile window and ovulation. Acupuncture with Chinese practitioner is every week. Thinking about IUI next month, to fly to my clinic back at home.

Hi all, I'm new here; hope you don't mind if I join along? Just had my nexplanon removed today! I'm 41 (42 next month) and ttc baby #4! We have ds10, ds8 and dd7...I occasionally have those "I must be mad" moments but the desire of another one is too strong, I'd rather try and see what happens than regret not even trying afterwards...

Welcome @Ameliel... not mad at all I'm ttc number 6... xx

One person mentioned reviewing supplements with a nutritionist which would be a great starting point (and double check with your doctor) to assess your supplements.
Research suggests CoQ10 may support egg quality. A water and fat-soluble form absorbs better.
Inositol, as mentioned, may affect blood sugar levels, so you will want to review this with your doctor.
Pregnacare is a basic prenatal multivitamin and does not contain the more absorbable forms of B vitamins. When looking at your B vitamins, forms that are methylated often absorb better.
Vitamin D can be optimized according to your lab values (your doctor can recommend amounts to take or a Registered Dietitian can advise as well). One thing to note is that vitamin K2 and magnesium are sometimes needed along with vitamin D supplementation.
Good luck!

Wow this thread has moved really fast!
Welcome to the newbies. Taxgirl - sorry to hear of your miscarriages, I have had one this year too at 10 weeks, so I understand how hard and frustrating it must be for you, especially after so many.
Orchid - good luck with your clinic appointment, let us know how it goes.
I've started TCM again today, accupuncture and herbs. Will be interesting to see if it makes a difference to my cycle again. Last time it upped my LP by 2 days in the first cycle and then 2nd cycle bfp. Trying to not have too many expectations though! And it's bloody expensive.

TAXGIRL - welcome . So sorry to read of your losses. Just out of interest have you looked into the possibility of immune issues and miscarriage? If you google the Miscarriage Clinic and a guy called Mr Shehata it will explain what it is all about and about how your own immune system can act against pregnancy. It might be worth looking into?

Welcome AMELIEL