Over 40 ttc - Autumn baby dust for me!

[Orchid222]

Here's our new thread, let's hope it's a lucky one!

This cycle I didn't get an LH surge but I know I definitely ovulated due to temp rise. We have the same issue with DH only being able to 'perform' every other day maximum, sometimes every 3 days, so we do need to catch the window. That did make this cycle hard to judge but we dtd a few days after ewcm which is when, for me, ov usually happens, and according to temps I was right. I've no idea why I didn't get a surge this cycle, maybe I just missed it, but I highly advise you temp if you want confirmation.

Maybe ask at the clinic today? Have you had all your tests etc?

I have booked into a full fertility check on dec 14th. Scary!

@cleozeta yes will start doing temp now I think. I’m not very good with cm stuff as not sure yet is should all look like 🤣🤣🤣 I think I had ewcm yesterday and boobs suddenly hard ! So presuming these are the signs.

I’ve had an AMH blood test at clinic he has had his test. Mine was 4 but his test was above normal so super 🤦‍♀️ I asked about FSH test but they do it later I suppose it all depends what package you buy. We were told to go to open evening then you get tests half price so we did that only to find scan not part of package. With the mini fertility package you get it so am going to ask for one today. We have screening bloods today for hep etc and a treatment timetable . They have suggested ICSI and short protocol but I’m not convinced as everyone I have spoke to has reminded me they are selling a product and with DH result we shouldn’t need ICSI. Plus the more people I speak to say my AMH for age isn’t really that bad. From what I see on here people are having treatment when AMH is below 1.

Hi Wishing, Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy!! i hope you don't mind me saying my thoughts but i had a similar situation when i was trying for my first. My good friend who had been there during my miscarriages became pregnant but didn't tell me until she was about 15 weeks. I felt awful that she had kept that secret from me and not shared it. Since the topic of conceving had been discussed between us so much. I still feel a bit angry about it now even though we both have children. I am not sure exactly why she didnt tell me but it did make me feel useless and hurt my feelings.

I know you and your friend may be completely different to us/me but thought i would let you know. I would have really appreciated her letting me know when we had been together although it would still have been really hard to take!

Xx

Reality i think your AMH seems fine for age. My had fluctuated around that level and i had a successful pregnancy through ivf.

Can i ask about what the mini package is exactly? I always did one cycle at a time but maybe should have asked about it.

@snowie3 that’s good to hear that yours was successful. Mini package is a min fertility package it’s just all the test and costs about £700 I’m going with access fertility for my ivf due to age I can get multicycle so two cycles with them through my clinic but cheaper than the Clinc price for two rounds by about 2k!

Hi ladies! Lots going on in this thread! Does anyone know anything about Clomid? My progesterone test a couple of months ago was 30.5 and indicated ovulation but last couple of months I haven't had a peak LH on CB digi opk. I'm considering trying to get it but I know it can be bad if you overstimulate the ovaries. Anyone had any experience or know how often they need to monitor you?
xx

interesting talk of OPKS and ovulation. I think as we age the sticks are not as reliable and like Cleo i think i get my LH surge a good few days AFTER ovulation/ewcm. I thought i'd ovulated last friday as had ewcm and pains on thurs/fri but still had symptoms over the weekend and even today so i did an OPK this morning and today it's positive. It's so odd but like Cleo says the only way to know is to temp.

Reality and Dinah - i wouldn't presume you've not had a surge/ovulated. Most likely you've just missed it as it's so much harder to pinpoint in 40s.

Dinah - sorry i don't know anything about clomid only that it is supposed to help you ovulate if you dont already..

@littlemimosa thanks- yes I think I may be all over the place time wise.... I'm seriously considering buying the Ava bracelet even for the last few months... just so I know I'm not throwing my all at it at the wrong time... . Ordered the fertility blood tests online from medichecks so we'll see what shows up there. Much easier getting pregnant by mistake the first time at 42! If only we could will out bodies into thinking we're not trying... xx

@snowie3 thank you. I don't mind at all you giving your opinion I'm very grateful. I think I'm my head and heart I knew I was going to tell her (we are very close) but still feel guilty of that makes sense?

Thanks for reassurance x

Reality I wonder how they determine whether to put someone on a short or long protocol...can't be based on test results when j compare mine to yours so ill ask my clinic to satisfy my curiosity unless your place has explained that to you?

Dinah, here is a discount code for £20 off ava bracelet if you decide to get one

avawomen.ref-r.com/c/i/12607/15728512

@Orchid222 at clinic now so will ask. I belive it’s based on age and previous history. I was diagnosed with endometriosis at 17, had one successful pregnancy at 24 and miscarriage at 33. When they said about short protocol it seems to be based on me being 40 and not shutting system down completely. From what I gather on long protocol you do down regs but not on the short one?!?

Yes that’s what I was told too @Realitysucks - I think it’s unusual for someone over 40 to be put on long protocol as they don’t like to shut your system down completely - also there’s a time factor as some people down reg for up to 2 months on long protocol I’ve heard.

Thanks @Cleozeta x

Hmm maybe I'll ask then. My doctor is very good so I'm sure he knows what he's doing but I'll still ask. Critrer how long was it between your 1st injection and egg collection?

Orchid222 so just got back and have timetable looks like January start for me due to cycle and shut down of clinic over Xmas. Short protocol based on age same with ICSI usual blah is egg shell may be hard better chance with ICSI. They want me to have saline infusion and scratch so on my cycles it actually takes two. CD1 30th December then scratch 16th jan next cycle 25 jan start injections day 1-3, scan 30th Jan if good next scan 4th Feb and 6th potential egg collection 8th Feb and transfer day 2,3 or 5 depending how they develop. All this is provisional of AF starting at right time so will be tweaked dependant on start date from 30th December. So much info to remember ! Biggest issue no unprotected from 30th December for potentially 6 weeks 😱🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ DH not happy 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Thanks @wishing. I understand you feel guilty and its such a tough situation but you are doing the right thing. Take care.

I did a long protocol first for ivf and my ovaries didn't respond well they were too quiet./shut down. The short protocol was much better and it was quicker. I never produced a large amount of follicles but it did the trick.

Ladies, side issue.. which camp are you in regarding testing? I have always waited to see if my period arrives first and so only test if i am late or on the one occasion when i wanted to drink at a party so i tested two days early (which turned out to be positive miraculously). That way i can live in ignorance for longer and don't get dissapointed by staring at a big fat negative every month. But I'm wondering if i should do differently this month and am tempted to start testing before period is due?!

@Orchid222 - I started down reg and stims on the same day (short protocol) and took last stim and trigger shot on eighth day, with EC 36 hours later. I stimulate very fast - they like it to take 10 - 14 days (longer = better egg quality apparently) but my natural FSH level is quite low so I stimulate fast. Changed protocol and meds slightly for second cycle and got one extra day in so triggered on ninth day of stims. Still too fast but Egg quality was much better!

Snowie - I try to hold off testing until the due date, but I often get to around 10/11 dpo and the hope/defeat battle starts to get to me and I just need to know either way. The BFN's are gutting but it puts me out of my misery. And there is always that background niggle of a little hope left until af shows anyway. With my chemical last cycle I was getting bfn's until about af due date anyway.
I've also found after a few cycles of using ava that the data kind of gives the answer by about 10 dpo too

Congratulations Wishing, that's great news. @Dinah99, I got my last two BFPs on clomid, the first on the fifth cycle and the second on the first cycle. I did it to speed things along as it takes ages for my cycle to get back to normal after an "event". I was monitored on the first cycle each time and they gave me an Ovitrelle trigger shot to self-administer if I needed it. I had no side effects and would use it again.

Thanks @shinyblackdog. Do you remember what your progesterone levels were, mine were 30.5 which I think is borderline and fsh 7.2 x

Morning ladies
How's everyone today?

Good luck Wishing and thanks for your good luck wishes to DH. Also thanks to Chat & Little

Hi to everyone and hope you're all ok

Morning ladies.. good luck with all tests and treatments.. I have no experience of this so not sure I have any info to offer.. but lots of baby dust and good luck..
for those ladies dtd with 3/4 day intervals.. that's good because depending on what you read sometimes every other day can be too much for the sperm.. not enough resting time.. but it only takes one.. xx