TTC number 2

[Explorers10]

Is it me or does number 2 seem to take longer to conceive?

Thank you @sassenach84 really hope there is something that can help me such as a pill with these hormones. I just can’t believe how it can change all of a sudden, wishing I tried having kids earlier. All the other blood tests were fine. I’m just petrified now about the future

That must have been such a shock explorers I remember reading on a thread once about a woman who had been told by a reproductive endocrinologist that your hormones basically get chucked in the air during pregnancy and it's anyone's guess which way they land, this is why so many people have difficulty TTC after having kids.

It's really good all the other tests were fine as some of those issues can be untreatable. Hopefully high testosterone is something easily fixable and today is the first step in a quick process for you.

Hi crazy I know what you mean about the logistics, between the exhaustion and motivation it's hard to DTD As much as is probably necessary. How old is your DD and how long have you been trying for?

@Explorers10 oh I really feel for you - what a shock. It's maddening isn't it to think it was so straightforward first time round...
I hope you've been given some information about what this means for you and how they'll be able to help?

Totally agree with pp who say logistics with a toddler in the house means it's not all fun and games when it comes to dtd! I keep thinking about the positives of having a bigger gap - our DD already 3 so realistically ours will be a minimum 4 year gap - assuming we get there, but I'm still hopeful!

Thank you everyone for your kind words. I couldn’t really ask any questions yesterday at the gp as I just went into shock mode. Good luck everyone getting their BFP, I really wish you all well in TTC number 2

How you doing this morning explorers?

I'm having a bit of a shit day. Just been to see my GP, turns out the message id had from the receptionist about my results being normal was a bit off, GP says they are borderline and she's not sure if I'm ovulating so is referring me to a fertility clinic. Feeling pretty gutted, I knew I was probably going to be referred anyway due to length of time TTC, but the thought that all these cycles might have been pointless is so disheartening.

sassenach did you see your gp yesterday?

mousebat have you had a date for your tubes test?

@chips4dinneragain

Thank you for checking up with me. I was very upset this morning and not coping very well but now I feel a little better. I’ve come to the fact I can’t change the results and I have to follow the next step of the process. It’s very hard as I feel upset that my child could be an only child and it’s not what I wanted plus im starting to worry about my own personal health if I have pcos and what lifestyle changes this means. I’m very confused by it all and how it’s happened.

I’m so sorry that you are being referred to a clinic and that she thinks you might not be ovulating. It might be a good step in the right direction though to get it sorted and maybe you get Clomid to get you ovulating.

I feel your pain, DD has started making references to siblings/pregnancy etc and it breaks my heart that I'm not able to get pregnant for her as well as for me. Feeling bit anxious about referral times, length of time to get tests etc - like you I didnt ask any questions so no idea how long the process is. Results havent helped with my motivation to DTD either, not a great attitude to have in the middle of my 'fertile' week.

It's so hard to accept when it happened so easily the first time isn't it? fingers crossed there is a quick and easy treatment for both of us.

@chips4dinneragain

I know it’s hard to ask questions as it’s the shock as you want to know the results but then it’s hard getting the results you don’t want. I’m also in fertile period but I’ve been so stressed that I’ve decided to take this month off TTC.

It’s very hard to accept when it happened so easily first time. I know how you feel. I’ve got fingers crossed for both of us. Try to relax and calm down is what I’m telling myself. I’m telling myself this is better than keep getting AF each month and not knowing why and the emotional rollercoaster of why I’m not pregnant each month

Oh @chipsfordinneragain, that’s not good! I’m so sorry that the message you were given wasn’t accurate.

My DD is 2.5 and fortunately is currently dead against a sibling. She’s a terrible sleeper, so might well get her wish at this rate!

Experiencing the inevitable monthly feelings of failure at having PMS, so am eating a huge McDonald’s. The good thing about not being oregnant is being able to say sod the healthy eating when it’s been a hard day!

Chips sorry to hear that, that sort of miscommunication on the receptionist's part is not very cool. But on the bright side you'll now be talking to the experts at the fertility clinic who should know exactly what needs doing. Reading between the lines a bit here but your GP doesn't sound too knowledgable on the matter.

Have you done OPKs to determine if you ovulate?

I had to reschedule GP to Monday so will see then but I think the bloods need to be taken on specific days (right?) so will require a return visit later in the month.

Anyone here with a short luteal phase? Mine is only about 10-11days as I ovulate around CD 19-21. Though that was the case even when conceiving DD1...

Cheers crazy my DD was a terrible sleeper too, she's better now but still not consistent, I sometimes wonder if the erratic sleep is contributing to my shit hormone situation.

sassenach GP is pretty good really, she sent me off for tests and is referring me on quickly. I do get positive OPKs and I'm fairly regular 25-27ish days, which obviously points to OVing, however I've made the fatal mistake of googling and have discovered 'lutealizing unruptured follicle syndrome'....

My luteal phase is on the short side although has improved recently (from 11 days up to 14 which I credit with taking a b50 vitamin complex and 1000mg vitamin c). I think mine was longer pre-DD though so will add that to the catalogue of my current concerns!

Sorry just seen you asked about bloods.... Yes you need one lot drawing between days 1-5 (test for FSH, TSH, LH and estrogen) and another on 'day 21' to test progesterone, although that's based on regular 28 day cycles, which isn't always right for everyone, so it should actually be done 7 days before your next period is due.

@sassenach84, fyi OPKs don’t actually tell you if you are ovulating. The measure the surge in LH (some also detect oestrogen). Those are the hormones that control ovulation, so your LH surge basically says “you are going to ovulate in the next 12 to 18 hours, so your fertile window is the next 4ish days. BUT they don’t tell you if your body is able to respond to the LH surge by actually releasing an egg.

(I’m not trying to be negative, but there is a big misconception that OPKs can tell you if you have fertility problems, and I think some people delay going to a doctor because they think they are ovulating regularly because they have a regular cycle and get positive OPKs. It’s not necessarily the case e.g. if you have damage to an ovary or a blocked Fallopian tube. The tests your doctors will do will include measuring progesterone, which can tell you if you are ovulating. Doctors measure progesterone, which the egg itself releases into your body, so a blood test for this CAN indicate if ovulation occurred. It’s not used by OPKs because it would give you the information AFTER your fertile window, so not helpful for ttc).

Please don’t think I’m being pessimistic, I just think it’s important to be armed with information when you go to your GP in case you get brushed off with “just relax and it’ll probably happen”. You wouldn’t be there if you hadn’t already tried that!

Rant over, sorry!

Getting fed up with long cycles. If I OVd, I’m pretty sure I know when it was and AF should have been here 2 days ago. I wish she’d just bloody hurry up so I can get onto the next cycle! (There’s no chance of a BFP this cycle, timing was all wrong and I have absolutely zero symptoms aside from PMS ones)

Yeah that's potentially the case with me, although even progesterone can't garauntee you've ovulated apparently, that can only be done with an ultrasound. there is a woman on another thread at the min whose blood work indicated OV but when she was scanned they could see the follicles never quite ruptured so the eggs weren't being released. Oh the joys of the female reproductive system!

Hi @chips4dinneragain, I think not rupturing properly is fairly rare though, isn’t it? (Hope so! Lots of PCOS in my family, my mum had lots of cysts from eggs not rupturing properly).

Yeah I think in the general population it is, I think in cases of unexplained infertility it's estimated as high as 40%! But from what I understand it's not an 'every cycle' type of thing, so just because it happens one cycle doesn't mean it's always going to happen. Is that what causes ovarian cysts the , unruptured follicles?

Hello lovelies! Can I join you guys!
I'm nearly 30. I have a daughter who is 2 and a half it's my first month trying, she was delivered via emergency Csection.
It's CD18, according to clear blue I started ovulating yesterday, but according to the cheap ones my line is sill very faint.I've got a 29/30 day cycle maybe I just ovulate late?
Hope everyone gets their BFP soon and if you already have congratulations x

Crazychemist Thanks for clarifying, that's really useful info. I figured OPKs aren't a definitive test for ovulation but at least give some indication of whether things might be happening.

Chips at what stages of the cycle do you take vit B? And when did you start noticing a change to LP? I took vit B last month after ovulation and it did seem to lengthen LP from 10 to 13 days but the extra 3 days I had brown spotting so not sure the benefit was there just yet. And I wasn't aware vit C helps too?

From what I read on another thread, it's recommended to take equal amounts b6 and b12 as you need b12 to absorb the b6. I take it for my whole cycle, the first cycle my LP lengthened by 1/2 days but I still spotted for 5 days, the second cycle my LP lengthened by another day and spotted for only 2 days (but on this second cycle I added the Vit c so it might have been that). i think it takes about 3 months for the full benefit to be seen, this is my third month so we shall see if there is any further improvement....

There has been a study about Vit c that showed significantly increased levels of progesterone in the blood of women who took 800mg a day, I take 1000mg a day for the whole cycle.

Hey ladies

I'm also TTC #2 being trying about 14 months now and #1 took a while so never expected the next to be quick either.

Been referred to fertility clinic and had 1st app in feb but since that my period has gone AWOL so cant have bloods/ scans done yet😫! 20 days late now too, had some confusion with what i know now was a false positive and had bloods last week which showed no HCG so Defo not pregnant. Just want AF to show up now so can keep trying.

Good luck with all the baby making hopefully April will be the month for BFP

Hello @Goldendust and @zoo18 welcome to the club

@chipsfordinneragain, ah that’s useful information about the vitamins, one to remember!

AF finally turned up today, so ready to start the count again! Quite good timing in some ways, we’re both teachers and the Easter holiday starts next week. If I OV on time (which I usually don’t), it’ll be pretty good timing for dtd.

I wonder if this’ll be the month I cave and start using OPKs.... I told myself I wouldn’t start doing that till May, but I have a feeling I might cave after next week as I won’t have work to distract me!

Thanks chips for the info on vit C. I might try it then since I'm still BF and it might not be great for progesterone. I wish DD would just quit though - I don't have the heart to say no when she asks to BF...

Crazy good luck for the new cycle and DTD holidays! I've always used OPKs as DH travels for work a lot so I like to know exactly what my cycle is like. I doubt we'd be active enough otherwise to have any chance

Hey ladies

Just wondered if people are taking conception vitamins? I take folic acid but wondered if anyone recommends any others too?

Thanks