TTC Cycle 12 - SMEP

[LSL0708]

Hi
I’m totally new to this but hoping to speak with people in a similar situation. I had the implant removed beginning of June 2019 and have had regular 28/29 day cycles since. But, 11 cycles in and no BFP Just read up on SMEP (Sperm Meets Egg Plan) and thought I’d give it a go this month. Is anyone else trying/tried this?

We've only dtd 3 times this cycle and one of those was outside my fw... Not sure how that is too much 😩

Waiting to hear from him now about his SA results.

He's just rang 😢 good motility but very low count. He's been told to book in for testosterone bloods and we'll see what we can do after that. But it's very very unlikely we'll conceive naturally 😢😢

Oh @claireb707 so sorry to hear that 😢 must be such difficult news to hear...hope that your doctors help you find a way forward now that you have a more conclusive answer

Thanks @Jh2019 It is very strange. I've just tried to put it out of my mind and hoping that the next one gives us a clearer result. We'll be seeing the fertility specialist before then too. They can hopefully access the results of the first test and may be able to give a clearer picture (especially as I'm there to ask the questions haha).

How are you getting on with this cycle? Had your smiley yet?
September sounds like an extremely busy month. Especially for your OH. But being busy helps to occupy the mind, which is always a good thing.

We go on a week long staycation on Monday and it's just what I need. Decided I'm not taking my OPKs with me and I'm going to have a 'relaxed' approach again this cycle. We'll have had our fertility appointment by my next cycle, so I'm going to get back to fully focusing again then. Maybe start SMEP back up.

Aw @claireb707 I'm really sorry you've had disappointing news. It must be very hard to hear. But it doesn't mean you won't have children so try not to get too disheartened or stressed by it. Hopefully your doctor can help you find a way to move forward.

I'm getting on ok thanks @LSL0708, got my smiley one day earlier than expected on Thursday so now 5DPO. It's going nice and quickly actually, we've also just been away on a lovely staycation over the long weekend which did us the world of good! The fertile window started off ok, struggled a bit towards the end as usual with performance anxiety...but I think we gave it a reasonable attempt. Have my progesterone bloods tomorrow and another semen analysis for OH this week too, then his bone marrow procedure and then another holiday in a couple of weeks...so I think September is going to fly by.

Hope you have a lovely holiday this week - will be nice to have a more relaxed month, enjoy the break from tracking everything :)

Hi @Jh2019
Sorry, just back from our staycation. Was lovely to switch off and 'forget' for a while.
How are you getting on? Hope your cycle is still going nice and quick.
Do you have the blood and SA results yet?

Great, glad you had a good time and managed to switch off @LSL0708! How is your cycle going? I know you're not tracking, so maybe not much to say - but hope it's not feeling like too much of a drag :)

It's gone really quickly for me actually, what with the mini holiday and being very busy at work - and my OH has an exam tomorrow followed by the bone marrow thing so we're off to London...not much time to think in between!

I've really surprised myself by not ringing up straight away for the results. My favourite doctor is on holiday, so I've decided to wait and see if AF comes in the next couple of days (which I'm sure she will...) and then contact her when she is back later this week. They said the SA results would be a week or so anyway this time, so should time about right. I'm definitely getting a bit better at this relaxing thing :)

Cycle is going ok thanks @Jh2019. I should have ovulated late last week so I'm currently in the beginning of the TWW. Ultrasound tomorrow, fertility appointment next week and DP's SA the week after. So I'm hoping the fact we have a few things going on makes it go quickly.

I'm pleased yours is going quick for you. I hope your partner's exam went well and hope the bone marrow op does too.

You've done so well being patient! I don't think I have that same willpower. Haha. Let me know how you get on with the results when you get them. They said 2-3 weeks for our SA results but it was only 2 days, so you may hear sooner.

Well done on the relaxing thing too. I do feel I'm getting slightly better at it. Don't know if it's because things are moving on with tests etc. so I feel something is happening. But I do have my bad days too when it seems that's all I can think of :(

Good luck with the 2WW @LSL0708! How did the ultrasound go? I'm sure time will go quickly now that all your appointments are in place, though completely feel you and also get the bad days where everything feels pretty hopeless. Keep me posted :)

AF arrived for me on Tuesday :( Quite early, was really low about it as usual but didn't have much time to wallow as we were off to London for the bone marrow thing - all done and dusted and back home now, went well and OH recovering nicely! My patience wore out pretty quickly as soon as AF arrived, got on to the doctors and we have the results. Progesterone normal, and SA also normal - much better than last time, about double the concentration and good motility too. So good news! Means that all tests so far have been pretty normal, so I am starting to wonder where the problem is - if they ever find anything. Maybe the ultrasound will shed some light...

Anyway, onwards and upwards with this cycle, and all the best to you :)

Hi @Jh2019
Pleased to hear the op went well and that your results came back normal. That's great news! I'm so happy for you. Although I know it doesn't help much with why it hasn't happened yet it offers hope that it could still happen naturally. When is your ultrasound?
Sorry to hear AF arrived and that you were feeling low. I hope you're feeling a bit better now and ready to focus on this new cycle.

Well after my positive thoughts about moving forward we hit a huge stumbling block on Thursday so I've had a really tough couple of days. Turns out the hospital booked us into the wrong clinic and we now don't have our fertility appointment until early December 😢 So I feel pretty much back to square one.
The ultrasound wasn't completely bad news but not amazing either. I have a slight bicornuate uterus (heart shaped) which shouldn't cause issues conceiving but does increase risks while pregnant. I also have a fibroid which shouldn't really cause any issues. But it all depends on the location and size. But I now have to wait until December to get any more answers. Feeling extremely deflated! But I'm going to pick back up on the tracking and hopefully just focus on moving forward for the next few cycles until our appointment.

Oh that's terrible @LSL0708, so sorry your appointment has been delayed Can't believe they got the wrong clinic, I know I would be so upset if that happened...really feel for you. Hope that time goes quickly and the appointment comes around quick for you, though of course it's not ideal to wish life away. Don't lose hope of it happening naturally either - have everything crossed for you and good luck with this cycle.

Sorry to hear about the ultrasound too, must be frustrating not to be able to get more answers on the likely impact. Hopefully the bicornuate uterus won't cause any problems further down the line, it's probably something that many women have and never know about, and maybe it won't be a big deal if it's only slight?

My ultrasound is mid-October, will let you know how that goes - in the meantime will just get on again with this cycle and hope for the best..

Hi @Jh2019 sorry for the late reply.

I know. It's so bad! I honestly hit rock bottom finding out. But I've managed to pull myself around now. AF arrived Thursday (a little early) and is nearly over with so just focusing on moving forward with this cycle. Thank you for your well wishes!

Yes, I'm hoping it won't cause too many problems. Although I have to actually fall pregnant before worrying about that I suppose. You do get monitored more closely too, which is more reassuring.

DPs second SA on Wednesday so should hopefully get a clearer result on that this time. Just feel after these results we're going to be waiting a lifetime to find out what's our next steps are. But we just have to be patient and try to stay positive.

Hope your ultrasound goes ok. Keep me updated with how you get on. How are you doing this cycle?

Hi @LSL0708, no worries at all, glad you're managing to move ahead with the new cycle after the upset, although sorry as always that AF arrived. Let me know how the SA goes this week, all the best for that!

I'm doing ok thanks, 2WW starting today so just plodding on with that! Away for a much-needed week away in the countryside with family and enjoying getting out and about on my new bike - I'd put off buying one as I'd hoped to be pregnant and not cycling, but with how things are going I thought may as well go for it! Had a few tough days dealing with a couple of pregnancy announcements of friends, but of course also happy for them and trying to stay patient, as you say. We will get there!

Thank you @Jh2019 I'll let you know once we receive the results. Hopefully it won't be too long.

Pleased you're doing ok. I hope your TWW goes quickly and ends with a BFP! I'm sure your week away will help take your mind off things. It sounds lovely! I've only been back a couple of weeks and I'm ready for another. Haha.

Totally agree about the bike purchase. I've put so much off having a 'what if' attitude. But I decided a few months ago to just go on as normal. We need to try and enjoy yourselves while going through this don't we?!

Sorry you had a couple of tough days. I know exactly how you feel. I've had a couple lately too. Fingers crossed it will be us very soon.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday!

Hey @Jh2019
How are things with you? Did you enjoy your holiday?

DP got SA results yesterday and it looks more positive than not. Everything was fine other than his morphology result being on the low side at 4%. Normal is 4-10% so he's on the bottom end of the scale, but average is only 5% so it doesn't seem too bad considering.

Hi @LSL0708, that's great news! So pleased that you've got a positive result :) My OH only had 5% on the morphology, I think even though it's at the low end with 4 it's good that it's still in the 'normal' range and probably won't matter too much if the count is good. Hope that's given you a boost - how are things going for you this cycle?

I'm ok thanks, had a great holiday - did me the world of good :) Totally agree that we just have to try and keep enjoying ourselves, ttc troubles are enough to deal with without also denying ourselves nice things...

A bit depressing to be back at work, but that's life - shame holidays can't go on forever! AF is due for me today or tomorrow - no sign yet, but I think I can feel the usual signs so not holding out much hope. Have held off any testing, might temp in the morning just to prepare myself if it's on the way tomorrow. Struggling to stay distracted as it's a quiet weekend staying in hiding from the rain...will keep you posted!

Thanks @Jh2019 :-)
It has really helped to pick me up a bit and think there may still be some chance of it happening naturally. So I'm feeling a lot more positive than I have been lately.

I'm pleased you had a lovely holiday. Going back to work is always the worst part!

It's definitely harder to distract yourself when there's not much going on. We have extra restrictions up in the North East too, but I'm hoping to keep myself busy with jobs around the house etc. Keep me updated on AF. I have my fingers crossed this is your cycle.

Thanks @LSL0708 :) Unfortunately it wasn't to be though, AF arrived late last night, so lots of tears before bed...not my best Saturday night! Very teary today too, but will try and pick myself up and work will at least keep me very busy. I thought I would get better at dealing with the disappointment but it just doesn't seem to get any easier.

Ah sorry you're faced with the extra restrictions, didn't realise you were in the North East - that must be very tough not been able to meet up with people. Hope you manage to keep busy and that the case numbers come down so things can be relaxed slightly again. Glad you are feeling more hopeful, it definitely does sound like there is still a chance of it working out naturally. Are you into your 2WW now?

Aw sorry to hear AF arrived @Jh2019 :( How are you feeling now? I hope a little bit better. It definitely doesn't get any easier. It's really tough! I'm finding it harder now as the months go on.

Yeah, the extra restrictions aren't ideal but you've just gotta get on with it haven't you?! I think it will be a long while before anything is back to 'normal'.

Hit a stumbling block with things now so struggling a bit today :( DP's doctor built our hopes up on the phone. I really can't understand why he said everything was fine. We've received the report through and it's not what he said! I'm so frustrated! Morphology was 3%, not 4% and count was 13. So it's not exactly the positive news he made out. I'm trying to tell myself that the result is 'borderline' and not terrible, so I shouldn't feel too disheartened, but I'm struggling.

Thanks @LSL0708 - yes feeling a little better a few days on, helps that my ultrasound is on Thursday so I have that as my next focus now.

Really sorry to hear about the SA results, that's so bad that doctor didn't give you an accurate picture. As you say it's borderline at 13, definitely worth getting another one if it's possible as you can just have a 'bad day' with it - OH's count doubled between the two samples so it seems it can be quite variable. Also the way I tried to look at it is that if the count is a bit on the low side, that might actually explain why it is taking us that bit longer, and could be that there is nothing else 'wrong' necessarily and that it will happen naturally in time. Not sure if that way of thinking will help you, but at least you have a bit more information now as you go forward to the next stages and can discuss with the fertility specialists. Hang on in there, and let me know how this cycle goes for you - fingers crossed for you

Glad you're feeling a bit better @Jh2019. It's always good to have a focus. I hope your ultrasound goes well. Let me know how you get on.

Thanks for your words of support. I am trying to tell myself that although not positive, it isn't a terrible result and after reading a few things online, it doesn't mean it's impossible. So feeling a little better. Also, like you say, it gives a reason as to why it hasn't happened for us yet. Although not wanting to wish life away, I'm just looking forward to the fertility appointment and hopefully feeling like things are moving forward. Thank you! AF due later this week.

Thanks @LSL0708 :) Had the ultrasound on Thursday - was all fine, they said everything looked normal, and even let me know which side I was about to ovulate from! So feeling relieved at the good news, but does leave me wondering what, if anything, is wrong...will get back in touch with the GP on Monday and move forward with the referral.

How are things with you? Got fingers crossed for you that AF hasn't arrived yet. I know what you mean, everyone says not to wish life away, but it can be hard not to always be looking ahead to the next appointment...hope it comes round quickly for you, did you say December?

So pleased everything looked fine @Jh2019. Everything looking normal is a positive and hopefully means it will happen but is just taking its time. Let me know how you get on with your referral. I have everything crossed that it happens soon. Which cycle are you on to now?

AF arrived on Thursday. I didn't feel too bad. I think I've come to expect it now. Just trying to focus on cycle number 18 (😭) and just thinking that each week that passes is one week closer to our appointment. Yeah it's the beginning of December.

Heard such a positive story last week about a couple who tried for 4 years and fell naturally just 2 weeks before IVF. Although 4 years of this seems horrendous, it made me realise that it is still possible and I need to stop telling myself that it won't happen. Although it is difficult to think so positively all of the time.

Hello all!
I am day 3 of my cycle and will be starting TTC with the SMEP in a week or so. V excited but also nervous as I'm 37. I currently have an 11 yo DS but very aware of my age! 😬

Hi @Qwom
Wishing you lots of luck on your TTC journey! Are you on cycle 1?
Keep us updated with how you find SMEP.
Fingers crossed for you!