Over 40 TTC - lots of baby dust for us...4!

[SparrowSG]

Here's our new thread (sorry, not good at coming up with exciting titles!!)

SparrowSG: 44. 1 DS 2.5. TTC for ever! 1 ectopic 10 wks Feb 2014, 1 successful IVF 2016, 1 failed IVF 2018, 1 MC 12 wks Feb 2019. Planned IVF Oct 2019.
KCM99: 43, 2 DC, ttc no.3 since April. 3 early losses since then.

I’m in a bit of a mess TBH (to be honest). It’s looking like this cycle is anovulatory, AGAIN.

I got my OPK+ on CD18, and was so relieved. I thought I Ovd the night of CD18 or CD19. My temps seemed to confirm this, initially, with an ovulation dip and then shooting up high, but the high temps only lasted 2 days, and now I have had really low temps for the past 3 days.

What is going on? I’m gutted and super worried that I’m not ovulating. I’m 38 yrs old, which just adds more fertility worries.

Honestly, I don’t know what to do. I’m wondering if the Vitex doesn’t suit me?
Perhaps I need Soy-Isoflavones from CD3-7 instead of taking Vitex, to stimulate Ovulation?

I’m guessing if you don’t ovulate then Progesterone would automatically be low?

I’m feeling so lost and sad, today.

Has anyone experienced a cycle similar to mine? (Above post). If so, did you manage to ovulate in the end? What supplements might encourage Ov next cycle? Should I try Soy-Iso and drop the Vitex? WWYD? Xxx

Sorry you're feeling down @coconuttymummy I haven't started temping yet and don't know anything about soy isoflavones but have you tried inositol? Hope you get some answers soon x

@coconuttymummy, I can't really help with your chart as I have never done BBT temping, and I might sound really ignorant here (but I really don't have a clue) isn't your BBT supposed to dip a couple of days later after ovulation after the inital spike? And when BBT stays up well long after ovulation doesn't that mean that it's staying up because of a possible pregnancy?
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
Would your GP agree to do a CD21 blood test (for progesterone)that would definitely confirm if you have ovulated or not in that month.
If it stresses you out so much and you're really worried whether you're ovulating or not, I'd seriously go and see your GP and ask for a blood test for progesterone and you go and have it done on the correct day of your cycle (depending on the length of your cycle).
I did go and asked my GP if I could have the blood test done because I was worried also if I was ovulating and she agreed without any hesitation.

@Cleozeta, I'm sorry to hear about your CP and I'm glad that you found a better clinic.
I won't go back to this one, although the clinic has excellent reputation, if I do decide to go back to have IVF, I will ask for a different consultant.
How long do you think you'll give yourself before you decide that the next step is IVF. Do you mind if I ask how old are you?

Hi @coconuttymummy sorry you are feeling so down. How many anovulatory cycles have you had?
I don’t know much about soy iso or vitex, but I had an few (nonconsecutive) cycles where I wasn’t ovulating, and I took Clomid, which worked first time and I got a bfp that cycle. From what I understand Clomid can help with low progesterone and luteal phase defects too. Hope you start to feel a bit brighter soon.

PS looking at your chart @coconuttymummy there are a lot of open triangles which I believe mean you took your bbt at a different time than the solid circle ones. As far as I know bbt tracking only works if you are consistent with your temping time. It looks like maybe you could have ovulated on day 19, but because your times aren’t consistent it hasn’t shown up in your chart. I think the only way you can know for sure is to have a 21 day progesterone test ideally coupled with a scan.

@coconuttymummy - try not to panic - your chart could be all over the the place cos temping is hard - and, when I read up about it a while ago, notoriously difficult to get accurate. It's part of why I ended up getting an Ava bracelet this time round as I found my temps were not v accurate doing it manually. As @Samosaurus says - are you tempting at the same time? Even if you are and you've had a bad nights sleep it can effect your temp readings...
I have loaned my Ava to a friend, but she is actually now pregnant so I'm due to get it back from her soon, so I'd be happy to sell it on to you for a much reduced price if you'd like to try it? (No worries if not, it's still something I'd recommend if you want to temp as it takes the guesswork and stress out of it).
You may be having an anovulatory cycle, but it's also possible that it's just inaccuracies in temping, or that you haven't yet. X

Coconut - I agree with hobbes, normal temping is bloody hard, and near impossible to get accurate. Also it's common to have an oestrogen dip around 2 & 3 dpo which can cause lower temps so don't stress yet, see what it does in the next few days.

I tried soy a few years ago and found it really helpful for getting ovulation back on track. I did cd2-6

Zigzag - I'm 42, so if I'm going to consider IVF I need to do it before the end of the year. Before I turn 43 in Feb, so will need to get cracking soon

Inks42 I've been using 'One Step' ovulation strips from Amazon, seem to be working well so far.

@SparrowSG I also used these. Worked well for me, apart from the last time I conceived I was still waiting for them to arrive. They worked well as oregnancy tests too though and saved me going to the shop. 😁

@coconuttymummy temping is really hard, drive me nuts so stopped doing it... all our bodies are not the same and they don't conform to what we want... sometimes sadly we have to give in and just go with the flow..

Just catching up after a week away.... have loved hearing all the positive stories about pregnancies post 40!

@Samosaurus My friend got pregnant naturally aged 44 after 8 years of trying - in fact, after she "gave up"

@coconuttymummy I just came across this link (was googling the Dr as she is a leading consultant) as I have PCOS and it was very useful if explaining PCOS cycles, and also treatment options

I also had some news in that I had a BFP at 11dpo, then symptoms disappeared and it turned out to be a chemical/early miscarriage at 5w + 2.... we also had frustrating discussions with the Fertility consultant (at local NHS hospital). All blood tests/investigations etc came back normal, so she just said to keep trying. She wouldn't advise IVF as the chances of having a miscarriage are the same as if we were to try naturally.
However we are being referred to the Recurrent Miscarriage Unit (as have had 2 this year).
I may also try going Private, not for full IVF, but just for some advice as I feel that months have been wasted waiting for appointments!

Niclondon - that is exactly the same response I had from my fertility clinic. It was a private one.

@Cleozeta Hmm thanks - well I guess in that sense it is positive news..!

I was really pissed off!! 🤣

Hi ladies.....ive just returned back from holidays....no luck watsoever 😂😂😂😂i am going to try reflexology and see what happens.... i am 42 with one son...just reaĺly want a partner with him....

*for him i meant to write lol

@NicLondon1, sorry to hear about your CP...

I've also just had a very frustrating consultation at a fertility clinic last week (had to go private as I have a DD already, so NHS won't fund).
The consultant didn't suggest anything, she basically just tried to ram down the IVF route onto us straight away without looking at the whole picture.

So my AMH result came back at 5.7, which is expected at my age.
I guess the (not a very good) consultant will try to convince me to go for IVF straight away, will see what she has to say.
I'll carry on trying naturally for another 6 months and will then re-assess and will try a different clinic if nothing happens.
I'm also starting reflexology next week.

Zigzag - 5.7 is actually quite good. Mine was only 2.9
I would like to have had IVF thrust at me. At least it would mean they believe it could work, instead to be told there is nothing they can do, makes it feel hopeless.

extendfertility.com/facts-figures/fertility-statistics-by-age

Found this with amh levels on. Yours looks good if these are anything to go by. They're at the bottom and some other interesting stats on there too. X

GET SHAGGING GIRL

Hi guys

Thanks for all your kind comments after my miscarriage. I had a scan yesterday and it's confirmed but they are testing for ectopic to be on the safe side

It's been a shitty week but I'm feeling ok now

Hopefully if it's not ectopic I can try again soon

The positives that have come out of this ( as I need to focus on that!)

I can get pregnant
This whole miserable thing has brought dh and I closer
I do definitely want another baby

I had said previously that if I wasn't pregnant by the end of the summer I would give up and I did get pregnant so instead of seeing the miscarriage as a sign I shouldn't continue I'm going to see it as one of those things that happen

It's been a long journey to get to this point and this Is just a hiccup on the journey

Although if I am lucky enough to get pregnant again and miscarry again I'm not sure I could continue as it's bloody tough but I will cross that bridge if I get to it ..

Good luck to all!

Rubyroot - unfortunately those statistics are based on American measurements of ng, which is very different from Uk pmol.
According to UK measurements, anything less than 5.4 pmol is considered very low.
However this is more of an issue when it comes to IVF, as very low levels generate a low response to the drugs used, but should not effect natural conception. I think thats why, with low AMH, they are less likely to recommend IVF.

Oh sorry, I was wondering if there was a different measurement. I'm not aware of my amh as it was a good few years ago when I had it done. I think I was 38

I have also read studies about amh and that it is not a good indicator of fertility particularly.

This one I think. Nhs quotes an American study

www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/hormonal-fertility-tests-waste-time-and-money/