TTC 12 months buddies please

[Whilstwewait]

Hi,

We have just hit the 12 month mark of TTC and looks like AF is on the way I am on another thread that's really supportive but I do find it disheartening when people get positives on the first couple of cycles of trying. So thought I'd start a thread for anyone around about the year mark. It'll be good to share things and get advice from people who are at a similar stage to me. Im 34 and my husbands 36. We are TTC number 1 x

@Whilstwewait I got referred straight to the infertility clinic I seen my gp in december and seen the infertility doctor in January after explaining everything she said I had secondary infertility, she done blood tests and said she'll see me in 3 months for results and to start test on my ovaries and tubes, I got my app for 7th May but due to lockdown it got cancelled. My partner was asked to do a seman sample but when he rang to book in with the lab they wasn't accepting them because of covid, we had been trying to conceive for 12 months so not sure why you haven't been sent to the infertility doctor too

@Whilstwewait Thanks! It felt so promising last month to get my BFP but no....
I wish I was a little younger too as I'm feeling my clock ticking too! So many friends and family members have got pregnant so quickly and easily. It does get disheartening. But we all must keep positive! 😊

@clolo 2 years seems ridiculous to wait for semen analysis! I took matters into my own hands and we did a private one for around £150, for me it was worth the cost to rule that out as an issue although I appreciate that its a lot of money.

@clolo That's crazy they've said 2 years. My partner has managed to book one for this month as the labs are opening again (we've been TTC for 12 months).

It doesn't make sense how different places say different time frames within the UK.

Does anyone else find they keep poking their boobs to see if they are tender? I seem to be doing it all the time, must look nuts!

Hi all, I'm jumping in here too after TTC since January 2019. I've been tracking my bbt all this time, but this is my first cycle on Ovusense tracking my core temp. It has shown my progesterone is really low even though I have ovulated (usually bbt suggests I haven't ovulated). I accepted a new job in January and moved in March as I couldn't leave my life on hold workwise, I was then supposed to be referred but then obviously covid hit.

Every time I hear people talk about a covid baby boom or lockdown babies I want to cry. I'd give anything to be stuck in lockdown with a baby right now, I just am at the stage I can't smile and nod when people tell me how lucky I am to not have to deal with a teething baby in the middle of all this. Or having my mum say "well, I got pregnant straight away, I don't know why you're having difficulties - maybe it's your advanced age" (I'm 33!)

Uurgh. Sorry for the rant, but that was actually quite cathartic. Hope this thread brings us all some baby dust soon

Hi all,

Sorry to hear you're on the same journey as me, it sucks 😞

Now on to our 13 month TTC. Had a miscarriage in Jan and my SIL announced she was expected at the three month mark when I would have also been three months. Super tough.

My OH and I just got engaged and we are now focusing on the wedding, which I have to say, is making me feel less sad all the time although we are still trying.

Will be testing in two weeks as just ovulated. I really hope we all get some baby dust soon, let me know how you get on 💕

Nice to meet all of you, and sorry to hear you're also struggling. Obviously, I wish none of us were in this position but, since we are, it's nice to have a support group.

We had a chat with the fertility consultant today, and there are a few issues from my end: TSH too high, so I'll need medication to sort that thyroid issue out, a slightly depleted egg reserve, so even though there's isn't much to do about that she recommended a suplement (Impryl), and potential endometriosis, so I'll need a laparascopy which can double up as a fallopian tube flush. So, that's quite a lot to get my head around, but she did say that getting pregnant natural should be possible, and luckily DP's results are all very good, so I will try to stay positive whilst working on these things.

I saw that others on here have similar issues, or at least some of them, so please do let me know if you any advice or tips

@clolo this is where we used fertilitysolutions.co.uk/semen-analysis/
It was near us and we had it done in lockdown. If its too far from you I just googled sperm analysis near me to find this place.

@chasingmyrainbow we are also getting married next year. We've been engaged for a year thinking we'd have the baby first haha. Although I am very glad now we weren't getting married this year. Are you at all worried about timing the baby around the wedding? After next month we have to stop trying for at least two months otherwise I would either have a 2 week old baby or be 8.5months pregnant at the wedding. I feel stupid thinking about stopping trying, just bad timing with the wedding.

@Chel93 In our trust I think they refer to gynaecology after 12 months. If there is an issue then they refer to infertility clinic if not its 2 years TTC to be referred. Im just thinking NHS is just going to be so long for us so have enquired with a private fertility clinic. Its good that you got seen so quickly. Just a bloody nightmare with covid. Did you manage to get hold of them today?

@clolo 2 years that's ridiculous. It doesn't seem right at all. They should start investigations after 12 months. Id get him to call back and insist. Must be so frustrating.

@motherofkittens28 ha i do that was well. My boobs never hurt though. So im sure it would be a sign for me if they did. Lovely to hear about your wedding as well. Something to look forward to and distract you from everything.

@PlanBea welcome. I wish none of us had to be here but its nice to have people in a similar situation. I tried the infertility board last cycle but found it so overwhelming as some people are a lot further ahead than me. I get your rant 100% I feel everyone around me is getting pregnant and some have even had their babies and here is me still trying. My mums been really supportive now. She knows when AF is due as i seem to by syncing with my sister so the last 2 months has helped me through my tears. Have you had any tests done?

@chasingmyrainbow sorry to hear about your miscarriage that must have been awful for you and then with your sister in law as well. Hope you get your rainbow soon. Congrats on your engagement. Its so exciting planning a wedding so hopefully a good distraction for you. Have you set a date yet? We got married last year luckily it was the best day. I did think we would have a little one by now though. The happiness of our wedding day feels a lifetime ago. Xx

@beachbum85 was a private fertility clinic you went to? Ive just enquired today about a consultation. I was just worried they would jump down the IVf route. Its good that they were optimistic about a natural pregnancy for you and good to know that you have a plan in place. I really want to get my reserve checked but im so scared. Have they said when you're likely to get your laparoscopy? Xx

@Whilstwewait its strange isn't it how different GPS and hospitals work i didn't think I'd be reffered as quick as we was as we already have one, I had bloods twice in the month and my OH is waiting on doing is seman annylisis hopefully ring again next week and get him booked in, I've tried ringing again today but just ringing out again so try again tomorrow 🤞😩 so frustrating waiting isnt it

Yes, it was a private fertility clinic. We tried the NHS route before (although we've been actively trying for a year, we hadn't been using contraception for a long time before too) and the GP referred us for bloods, a pelvis scan and SA in Feb, but the pelvis scan was cancelled indefinitely and the SA pushed to 2021. We didn't want to wait that long...

The consultant was great and said that she could refer us for IVF immediately, but we should first try fixing the issues for a natural pregnancy, and I was really happy about that.

As I understood it, the reserve is most important for IVF, whereas ovulation and egg quality are key to a natural pregnancy, and the AMH test doesn't say anything about egg quality - it's mainly related to age.
I will try and get the laparoscopy done under my medical insurance, so I need to figure that out still before setting a date. I hope it can be done relatively soon though.. I'm not great with these medical things and I know that waiting for the procedure will have me on edge!

@beachbum85 if it helps ive had two Laparoscopies so happy to answer any questions. It was nearly 13 years ago though! Its just day surgery and they chuck you out as soon as you can eat something and keep it down. You get funny shoulder pain from the gas they use to inflate your stomach to get a good look but its not too bad.

Hi all I'm also past the 12 month mark on ttc well 15month to be precise. I'm 35 and trying to conceive with my 3rd. Af due monday and so getting my Hope's up that this is my month doesn't help I've been getting few cramps past few days and just not feeling myself think I'm symptom watching too much🤦‍♀️

Thank you @Motherofkittens28! That doesn't sound too bad at all...
Were your laparocopies done for endo and, if so, did they help with period pain and so on?

Just wanted to thank everyone for joining. Its so nice to not feel alone and feel supported. I feel more positive already and im genuinely looking forward to hearing some BFPs i know it'll give us all hope.

@chel93 it really is a postcode lottery when it comes to fertility. Its great that your gp was so forthcoming referring you for tests with your 2nd. Hopefully clinic starts catching up soon and getting used to the new norm

@beachbum85 thanks for all the info. Im so glad they didnt force IVF. I thought if u rang a private clinic they would just jump down that route. Do you mind me asking what clinic or will it give away who you are? And how long did the appointment take? Ive emailed to book in today. I definitely feel better about going private if its next year before even a sperm analysis. Im 34 im not willing to hang around. Luckily ive had bloods and my husband had his SA already. I did enquire about private tube test. It was 2k. I do have bupa cover but fertility tests not included so id only get it done if i had issues i think. Xx

@gemsy18 welcome. Sorry its taking you longer than you'd like for yout third. How old are your other children? Did it take a while last time? Hopefully your symptoms are positive and you can kick start the BFPs.

No, I don't mind at all @Whilstwewait - we're in London and it was Lister with Dr Alison Taylor, who was lovely, and also said not to worry about being 34 as it's a good age to be proactive but not yet time to be a problem :)
We booked the appointment about 3 weeks ago, but there was earlier availability, we just had to coordinate the consultation with my scan and DP's SA, which was tricker. Since you've done that, I think there would be almost immediate availability. The consultation itself took about 45mins. Obviously pretty pricey, but I'm very happy so far!

@beachbum85 sounds fab. Hopefully ill get an appointment handy. I do need a scan so not sure if they will make me get that done then book the consultation after. Im sure they'll get back in touch with more info soon. Im glad they said that about being 34. Makes me feel so much better. I panic I'll get tested and only have a few egss left but i have regular periods so hopefully my reserve is fine for my age xx

@Whilstwewait ye it really is isnt it, fingers crossed for you too 🤞🤞
Really does feel nice to be about of this chat as I've felt so alone, I also worry that I might of had my chance and thats me done i had a miscarriage when I was 19 my little boy when I was 21 and then a miscarriage and medical termination 3 years ago so worring thats me done now 😩

Don't know if I'm over thinking things but I'm now 4 days post ovulation and I've got heart burn woke up at 4 this morning with it i never suffer with heart burn and had it today my boobs are also very sore and been getting cramps lower belly and lower back, do use think im over thinking and too early for any sort of symptom 😩

@whilstwewait thankyou. Quite a big age gap between my two dd is 16 years and ds is 5, both weren't planned so just kinda happened but ttc with 3rd and it so far no good praying this is my month. Have you other children or this your first your ttc with?

@whilstwewait thing you should remember about AMH tests is they only ever do them on people experiencing issues, they have no idea really what rates are like in the broader population, there may be plenty of people with low reserves getting pregnant all the time. I say this also to reassure myself as my AMH is low. I had some eggs frozen at 35 when I was single and they said it was much lower than expected for someone of my age. However, my fiance and I had an accidental pregnancy nearly two years ago so it obviously wasn't a problem then (two years after I had my levels tested)

@beachbum85 it was for endo, my issue was more painful sex and bleeding, it fixed that for me. I know its regrow but the consultant I spoke to didn't seem to think it would be an issue for fertility

@Whilstwewait sorry just read thread and seen it's your first ttc with