6 months plus ttc (continuation of 6/7 months ttc) all welcome

[Twinkletoes85]

Hi everyone just another continuation thread 😊

I wasn't sure if I should post but hoping to get some advise... yesterday I got some weird / bad fertility news. I did an AMH test through my fertility clinic last week and got the results yesterday and I'm under 2.1 which is in the 'very low' (the lowest) category. Has anyone else ever had an AMH test? Or gotten a low result?

I'm 34 next month but I didn't think it'd be this low for my age. I was hoping it would be normal and give me some piece of mind. I wasn't able to talk it through with a doctor so I don't know what it means yet. I don't know if it means IVF is my best bet. Google is giving me good and awful outcomes.

As the fertility clinic is closed due to COVID no one could explain it to me, they just sent the results to my gp receptionist who just printed them off for me. I've booked a telephone consult with a private gynaecology fertility specialist next week (£200 gulp) to get some advice. I feel like private is our only option now.

@Tink2019 thanks for all the info on the soy that is so so useful.
I am currently cd18 so I may give this a go next cycle. I usually have a short luetal phase (sometimes less than 10 days) so I am wondering if earlier ovulation might help...?

@Dbop100 sorry to hear you're feeling a bit lost, it's not very good that your gp can't give you any more information along with your results.
I can't help I'm afraid because I haven't got into the world of testing so I don't know what AMH is! But, I hope you get a bit more info that is reassuring from the private consultation.

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@lamby12 I took B6 50mg once I O'd to help with luteal phase - length of mine was ok but temps didn't seem to rise much and heard it can help x

@Dbop100 That's really rubbish of your GP to not give you any more info. There's some info on The Duff blog that may be worth reading, but I think low AMH alone shouldn't be an issue - really hope the call with the consultant can give you some reassurance x

I have a silly question (guess it shows I’m going mad!). When people say they got their BFP the month they ‘stopped trying’ what does that mean? I saw on another thread someone saying they didn’t bother with their fertile window and got their BFP but how can I switch off? Because you would need to BD in the fertile window to get the BFP but if you’ve stopped trying then how?

I know I’m rambling and that didn’t make a lot of sense but how can I switch off when I know I need to keep BD’ing? Xx

@Dbop100 Sorry to hear about this! And sorry the GP is not much help :( I don’t have a lot of knowledge around AMH but I’m hoping it won’t be too significant a factor for you as I’ve had multiple fertility investigations and it’s not even been mentioned So hopefully it won’t stop you getting your much deserved BFP very soon! Wishing you lots of luck and sending you lots of baby dust xxx

@AmesK I did wonder this myself a while ago (how can it happen when you stop trying?!) but now I know what people mean by it, as we've currently 'stopped trying'...

So basically what I mean by saying we've stopped trying this month is that I'm not tracking my fertile window, so not doing daily OPKs or worrying too much about symptom spotting for ovulation. We're not specifically trying to BD/DTD when/if we otherwise wouldn't, and therefore not worrying if we do or don't in the fertile window.

Obviously, unless you do happen to do it in the fertile window it is impossible! But for those that got a BFP once they 'stopped trying' they must have luckily done it in the fertile window by chance.

For us, we've 'stopped trying' for the moment because the daily OPKs, tracking apps and thinking about it all the time we're really getting me down and I was feeling really stressed in that fertile window about making sure we DTD without making it feel too 'regimented'. OH was also feeling the pressure. I've only been thinking about TTC once every couple of days (then I usually click on here and it's nice to see the chat!) rather than every second of every day.

I've only been able to relax and take this approach because I've accepted in my head that I'm not going to get a BFP at the moment, we're just having an emotional breather now we're realising this is a long journey.

We have ended up DTD 4 times so far this month (think we've both been glad of a rest!) and it's been much nicer to not be planned and for TTC reasons! So I suppose there is a chance of a BFP, but I'm not expecting it as I don't know when my fertile window was this month.

I hope that makes sense. A few months ago I couldn't have imagined taking a break because it's losing time, right?! But I got too overwhelmed with the stress of it and I feel a lot better for the break.

So I'll probably start tracking again October onwards.

Hope that helps!!!!
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@lamby12 well done! Sounds like a very sensible approach to me. I hope it works out for you. I'm still tracking for now but I'm still in month 11 and having blood tests this month. I think I'll track month 12 as well and then if still nothing, have a break from it all and just do it when we fancy rather than when an app or opk says.

Thanks @notyetamumbuttrying

As I said I've totally told myself I'm not going to get a BFP so not symptom spotting... however I've suddenly found myself with a mild yeast infection (mild enough to not need the doctors, yet, but obvious enough to be uncomfortable)
I've never had one before in my life, though I know they're quite common, can't help but wonder if it could be something as it's a common very early pregnancy sign Must. Remember. We're. Not. Trying...!!!!

@lamby12 oh it's so hard not to symptom spot even when you tell yourself it's nothing! Get the canesten duo if you haven't already, it'll clear it right up for ya!

@lamby12 id maybe get the cream and/or pessary if you are going to treat it yourself. My GP recommended that the tablet form should be avoided if there's any chance you could be pg?!

@Aokbaby @notyetamumbuttrying
Thanks! Yes I also read to avoid the tablet. I was going to just try the cream, and eating yoghurt!
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Hi everyone.

Just to update you about my low AMH situation, which is my ovarian reserve, its very low at 2.1 and I'm only 33. We had a telephone consultation with a private fertility consultant this morning and we're moving forward to immediately doing 2 cycles with conception medication (not sure what the name is yet) and then if that doesn't work we're going to do IVF. She was positive that all is not lost but we need to act quickly, I dont have many eggs left, but we're going for quality not quantity of eggs.

So glad I didn't wait for the NHS because it turns out they wouldn't fund us for IVF anyway as my level is too low. I could have wasted 6months waiting for nothing. I only got the AMH test because I called the fertility clinic to ask what the waiting time was and check I'd had all the tests I could get.

My estrogen & progesterone are normal, my husbands semen analyses is normal. I have regular cycles, I always ovulate. My cycles are painful though so I suspect I have endo. This AMH result is so out of the blue. I don't mean to scare anyone because it's surely not that common but please do keep advocating to get the tests you need to make sure you have all the information and you're not wasting precious time / driving yourself crazy with worry for longer than you need to.

I actually feel so much better now knowing we have a plan and we're not just in limbo. Information really is power.

xx

@Dbop100 I'm so glad you have a plan and things are going to move quickly for you now...despite that shock result you sound like handling this so well. Fingers crossed for you that the fertility meds are the boost you need. I hope you're doing ok and, like you said, you just need one little amazing egg 🤞🏻 xx

@Vea1601 today's chat might be useful for you 😌

Thanks @notyetamumbuttrying for the tag. I'm glad to see you're moving forward @Dbop100. I found out I have a low Amh today. Similar that I always thought I was fine and had no issues. So you know what the cut off point is with amh and NHS funding at all?

Hey @Vea1601 so sorry to hear that. It's like a kick in the stomach I know, I only found out on Friday. Did a doctor talk you through it at all? Do you mind me asking your age and How low is your AMH? There might be a solution for you too.
In terms of NHS cut off it varies from trust to trust, I googled my areas NHS IVF eligibility and it was allowed for 5.4 and above, they obvs have other categories like age. I just asked the consultant today and she confirmed I would not qualify but didn't say an exact number.

Thanks @Tink2019 it's been pretty devastating but when your in a situation you just have to cry and then get on with it. I'm a planner by nature and now I have a plan I feel like I have some agency back. Waiting in limbo was killing me. Hope all is going well with your BFP? You feeling ok in this heat?

Xx

Thanks for your reply @Dbop100 they talked us through it a bit. My Amh is 4. I also only have 2 antral follicles. Husbands sperm is good though. We're only 30. I don't know where to find out what our NHS cut off point is. What area of the country are you in?

@Vea1601 well don't despair your age is a massive bonus, it means that whilst you might have less eggs your quality is probably good. The consultant said it's better to be early 30s with low AMH than 40 with average AMH. I'm in Waltham Forest in London. You could call your GP receptionist and ask which trust you're in then google it? But you really do need to speak to a fertility specialist. Are you on the list to speak to an NHS doctor? This call I did today was £200 but it gave me such piece of mind it was so worth it xx

@Dbop100 not yet. So we've been ttc for 20 months. I had dya 21 bloods and scan ages ago. All ok. Low Progesterone but not out of range. Husband agreed to semen analysis but then lockdown. We paid a private clinic £395 for my amh, follicle count and his semen analysis. Results back today with a Consultant appt. Once have written letter from Consultant then will speak to GP...

@Vea1601 great that you've been so proactive. Chase your GP for the referral and then call your fertility clinic to find out if they're open & the waiting time. In COVID times we have to chase and you've been waiting long enough. Mine is still closed and the wait list is 5months from whenever they open. Might be worth going private. If you're London based I can recommend the lady I spoke to today for this medical treatment I'm gonna try next. I think it's meant to make you ovulate more eggs and then you also get progesterone after ovulation.x

Thanks @Dbop100 I wish you all the look in the world! I'm Manchester based unfortunately. When I asked the consultant what he'd do with my amh, follicles etc he said he'd go straight to ivf. So uncertain! Just can't find solid answers on NHS wait times atm. May have to go private which I'm dreading financially.

@Tink2019 thanks for all the detail on the soy, gonna try it next cycle and hopefully it'll work. Was that your first month taking them? How are you feeling? x

@Dbop100 the limbo is definitely the worse. When do you start the fertility meds? Keep us all posted with how you're getting on x

@Aokbaby yep, first time, I also took B6 after O so that may have helped 🤷🏼‍♀️ I'm doing well thank you, have been having on and off pain in my right lower abdomen but trying not worry and instead focusing on enjoying the magic of getting a bfp x

@Tink2019 brilliant, so pleased for you x

@Dbop100 thanks for sharing all the info on your tests. It sounds like the consultation was very worthwhile and you have a plan that's moving quickly.
I don't knows enough about the tests yet because I am just waiting for a very first scan and blood tests, but what made you ask the private clinic for an AMH test? Is it something that the NHS don't do? Are there lots of different tests outside the NHS or is this the main one? I suppose I'm trying to work out where to start!
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