TTC first baby 1 year + thread 2

[Mrs71]

@KatBeCool @FlapJackered @Broodyaf @bunhead34 @RosettaR @MotherOfShihTzus @starkid @Lina365

I thought I'd start a new thread as the other one is full. Sorry if I've missed anyone out.

[ValidUser]

I had 8 in my left ovary and 3 in my right on AFC. Still got 15 eggs at collection (11 mature, 2 blastocysts, both transferred, singleton pregnancy).

Got NIPT results back, all looks good and we're having a boy! 💙😊

[orangeloo]

Good news @starkid oh January seems like a long time. I'm only saying that as I have my first phone call with clinic today (nhs) so thinking how long it will be for me.

Wishing you luck @KatBeCool 7 in each sounds good to me too.

@ValidUser ahh congrats on the the little boy and test results 😊

[starkid]

@ValidUser ah a boy, congratulations :D

[orangeloo]

How are you getting on @starkid @KatBeCool

I had first phone consult with nhs fertility nurse on Friday. All the standard questions and should get to speak with consultant around November unless I can get a cancellation sooner.
I have now asked two nhs people about transferring my ivf funding to a private clinic (that take nhs patients) and how this works and neither of them had a clue. I know it's a thing and is possible- does anyone know anything about this?

[KatBeCool]

@orangeloo I had a scan yesterday, I guess the follicles were still small since it was only cd6. I'm going back on Monday an she's expecting to see growth and decide on whether to continue same dose of meds or to up it. It's such a constant wait and I am not very good with being patient. And the meds are giving me headaches too, so annoying.
Hopefully you can transfer your funding. Do you not like your nhs clinic?

[orangeloo]

@KatBeCool ah I've got my fingers crossed for your follicles. cd6 is still early.
Well my nhs clinics stats are below national average which makes me a bit nervous there could be a lack of something. I know you shouldn't get hung up on stats but thought if transferring is easy enough it might be well worth. But I can't find any info on it at all haha.

[starkid]

I don't know about transferring funds either, sorry @orangeloo
Also sorry the meds are giving you headaches @KatBeCool

Something which has always been in the back of my mind but that I've given more thought to recently has been the thought that I've struggled to conceive due to scarring from my previous surgeries in the area (one being rectum removal), which I have read is common.
The reason I'm still hung up on the idea is when you have the HyCoSy test, they go inside the cervix to test the tubes. But do they check if the outside has scarring/is hard for semen to enter? Maybe they've already checked for scarring and the consultant can ease my mind, but either way I'm going to bring it up in my video consultation (hopefully) soon.

As there is the IUI option which is cheaper/far less intrusive or time consuming... I don;t know if they would consider trying that before IVF or not (on nhs funding) but feel it's worth bringing up anyway, rather than just accepting everything to consultant says and going along with exactly what they say. It's to discuss treatment plans after all and is my body/hormones.

What do you guys think?

[KatBeCool]

@starkid I know they send dye through your tubes. If the dye can go through then so can the sperm. It's kind of the point. I've seen a few people say iui was suggested at first, but I wouldn't try more than twice. I know some got pregnant in 5th or 6th but they probably would've gotten pregnant naturally at that point.

@orangeloo what do the reviews for the clinic say? Or can you talk to anyone about their experience with them? Stats can be inaccurate, I wouldn't rely solely on that.

I very highly recommend joining "IVF Support Group" on Facebook. I've learned so much, it's been invaluable. It's worldwide but the ivf process is, of course, very similar. Honestly, after reading everything, I would never just blindly trust the clinic. They can have oversights, they can forget something, or not explain something, it's been nice to make sense out of things. I ignorantly thought it was a lot more of a cut and dry process.

[orangeloo]

@KatBeCool ooh that's a good point actually I didn't read the reviews so I will try and do that. I do need to speak to a friend who had ivf there too a few years back. Is the Facebook group a private one?

@starkid definitely ask about scarring I believe they can quite easily see the outside of cervix when speculum is in so I would assume that looks fine but 100% ask. I agree with @KatBeCool re the IUI definitely worth a try but not sure what the nhs offer if you do that u may not get ivf too. I really don't know but definitely worth exploring all your options.

[Candypj]

Hey all :)
I’m having a really down day today. Been ttc for 7 months now with no luck and a big part of this is because my husband just doesn’t have much of a sex drive. There’s been a few months we have only managed to have sex a couple of times in my fw. We have had lots of open conversations about it and also both are working on our mental health. He’s openly admitted he needs to work on this and has had issues being able to climax during sex so we’re trying to take the pressure off etc etc. Today though I tried coming into him (it’s also day 1 in my fertile window) and he just kept shrugging me off. It’s been months if the same issues and I’m just feeling so low in myself.
I stand by my husband and I understand he can’t just switch it on and is trying to work on things and his mental health and has said it’s not something he can fix overnight but I can’t help but still feel like it’s because I’m ugly or he isn’t sexually attracted to me. It’s also emotional knowing I’m emotionally invested in ttc and he isn’t and when each month it doesn’t happen and I come on my period it’s like another failure :(
Anyone experience this and have any success stories or blogs or anything with advice for men and how to deal with partners with a low sex drive? I can’t live like this much longer it’s making me feel like such a shell of myself. Xx

[KatBeCool]

@orangeloo yes the group is private. I don't post anyway, I just read.

@Candypj it might be worth looking into the reasons of his low sex drive. It could easily be the hormones or some imbalances. Maybe he can see a urologist? They can run all sorts of tests.

[orangeloo]

@KatBeCool ah cool, I will definitely look at that group.

@Candypj I'm sorry that must be frustrating ttc is hard enough anyway without added issues. I agree maybe he could speak to a dr it may be hormonal nd something simple to fix or lifestyle changes for him. Good luck.

[starkid]

So I'm a day late, no spotting at all (when usually I spot for a day or two before), no sore boobs at all (until this morning a bit, when usually it's for a week before), and on-off stomach ache last few days, but not the same as period cramps.
I did a FRER this morning and it was negative, so not really sure what my body is doing and am just confused. Sucks as I'm usually very regular.

[orangeloo]

@starkid it is frustrating and our bodies never do what we want. What dpo are you? Perhaps you ovulated later than you thought.

@KatBeCool how are you getting on with the ivf?

[starkid]

@orangeloo yeah that's what I'm thinking, as I decided to be chill (lol) this month and not do opk's, but went off my app and my most recent cycles which are 26-27 days long, and I had definitely ovulated when I went for a scan 9 days ago. Or maybe the acupuncture did something, like helped lengthen my usual 11 day luteal phase?

So I'm probably just like 2 days off or something... No idea, but I'm frustrated my test was such a clear negative. Now I just have to wait for any sign of blood.

How are you doing anyway?

[orangeloo]

@starkid ooh yeah maybe acupuncture has helped lengthen the luteal phase I have heard it do this for people.

I'm okay just waiting for the November nhs. Consultation. I will still try but I'm also highly doubtful of getting pregnant naturally now. So in a way I feel more relaxed when ovulation and AF come around. Although in general I find infertility devastating (as I'm sure most do). I often feel quite panicky and fearful that it will never be my turn. I have to see a pregnant lady tonight. I'm not dreading it too much, she had losses before she got to this point but I just don't want to talk about our journey so I hope they don't ask questions.

[KatBeCool]

@orangeloo more and more stims for me. Hopefully today is the last day. Had ultrasound this morning, a few follicles are about 18mm with more trailing close behind, around 15-17 total. Hoping for some good eggs and good embryos.

@starkid fingers crossed everything is OK. I've had a few times when I boobs weren't sore and I think I just wasn't ovulating during those cycles. You can maybe check your bbt?

[starkid]

@orangeloo - Yeah, at least when AF arrives you know where you stand and to get planning the next cycle again. I feel you, it's hard seeing pregnant people or people with babies these days. Hopefully you can talk about things other than pregnancy with the person this evening. Is the November appointment for the funding appointment or the first proper consultation?

I've got the first proper consultation video call in 2 and a half weeks, should be interesting and think will feel 'real' the nest step when talking treatment plans etc.

[starkid]

@katbecool that sounds positive with regards to your follicles! Fingers crossed lots of good eggs for you

I definitely ovulated, at least according to the ultrasound scan I had, they could see the collapsed follicle and the thickening lining. I'll try taking my temp for a couple of mornings and see what's occurring, not sure how much use it is when I haven't been doing it previously though. See this is why I hate skipping opks as I find this more stressful!

[orangeloo]

@KatBeCool oh those numbers sound good! Hopefully you can stop stuns soon and everything crossed for good eggs 🤞🏼

@starkid I don't actually know what the appointment is classed as lol it's so hard knowing where I am, no one actually explains the process to me. Last week I had a consult with the clinic nurse then she said next steps will be your viral screen and consultation with a consultant then he'll most likely refer me for ivf. Your appointment in two and a half weeks will come round in no time. Yes bbt may still help if you have previous months data to compare it too.

[starkid]

@orangeloo sounds like the same appointment I'm about to have then! I'll let you know how it goes.
Nah I haven't got any data for bbt, I attempted and failed it maybe 2 years ago haha. Ah well, I'll just wait and see I guess.

[orangeloo]

@starkid yes let me know. You could still take your temp and maybe google what it would typically be for women at certain stages.

[KatBeCool]

Well they got 12 eggs yesterday. Seemed like there would be more considering how many more follicles there were, close to 17-18. But I can't complain, 12 is 12. Now the waiting game begins.

[starkid]

Well done @KatBeCool really hoping for you!!

AF arrived Sunday for me in the end, booooo

[orangeloo]

@KatBeCool ah wow 12! Well done you I was going to ask today. Fingers crossed 🤞🏼 for you. When are you expecting the first update?

@starkid ah sorry about AF. Not long until your appointment now.