Any suggestions for a (desperate) gal in the last chance saloon

[BabyMoonPie]

DD took 8 months to conceive at age 35. I have just turned 40 and been trying for 18 months without any joy. We have been tested and there is nothing medically stopping us. I use Ovia to track everything, use the Clear Blue ovulation tests which are supposed to give you a 4 day window, we DTD every 2 days and increase to every day when the smiley faces tell us, I am a healthy weight and get exercise and have a reasonable diet. The only supplement I take is the Seven Seas trying for a baby one. I gave up alcohol and caffeine at the beginning but am drinking both again as abstaining didn't seem to help. We have agreed that we will try for 2 more months and then call it a day as that would mean that i would still be 40 when I gave birth (but this may get extended to the end of the year so we've given it 2 years). Prepared to try anything at this point - anyone got any tips of things that helped you conceive naturally at a later age? Thanks in hope

I can't give you any advice but I'm in exactly the same position as you. My DD was born a month before I turned 36 and we're ttc number 2, and I'll be 40 in December.

Like you, DH and I have both had all our tests and there's nothing wrong with us but for some reason it's just not happening. I did have another pregnancy at the end of 2018 but I had a mc 3 weeks later. Been ttc again since last year and it's just not happening.

I'm a healthy weight, try and eat well and drink in moderation. I track every month using opks and I'm taking folic acid, vitamins C & D, Coq10 and Agnus Cactus (from the end of my period to peak opk.) I'm doing everything right so why is it not happening?! It's so frustrating isn't it? I'm 6dpo today and trying not to symptom spot...

I'm not normally one for suggesting 'fertility' supplements because there is very little research that suggests they help fertility but have you considered CoQ10? There is some very promising research that it is beneficial in improving ovulation and egg health.

@Curiosity101 yep, that's why I started taking them. I've only been taking them for a few weeks so fingers crossed they work!

@Tamalama - i thought trying for 8 months was hard but this is horrendous. So frustrating. Sorry for your loss, that must make things worse

@Curiosity101 - thanks - I'll look into it

I would ask your doctor for Clomid at this point.

Also are you using pressed/conceive plus?

Preseed worked for us.

Following for advice too and wishing you all the best OP

For those who used pre seed. Did you apply internally or just use as an external lubricant?

I've only been TTC my first at 30 for four months so I'm not the most knowledgeable (yet!) but I'm trying out some fertility foods this month to see if that helps.
I've made a point of having lots of spinach, beetroot, mixed berries etc. as I can fit into every day, making sure I go over and above the five a day for fruit and veg. Also doing two glasses of pomegranate juice, a probiotic drink and 3 Brazil nuts (for hubby too) every day too. I've cut out fizzy drinks completely and switched to decaf teabags.
I've literally just thrown everything I could find on google into the mix and crossed my fingers 🤣
Sending lots of babydust - really hope you get your BFP soon ✨

@1940s both

IVF?

Thanks. I will give it a go.

Those who have used Clomid, how did it work? I do ovulate but very irregular

I had blood tests which were all ok so no need for clomid. We don't want to go down the IVF route. I'll look into fertility boosting foods - working at home all the time means I wouldn't have to field questions about eating strange things from colleagues!

We've also tried preseed and conceive plus (feels like we've tried everything )

4.5 years to conceive number 2.
We did the whole "sex every other day" thing for years as advised. Then I had some better tests and they discovered uterine adhesions, probably from the traumatic first birth, which basically acted like a coil and stopped any pregnancy sticking. Think it's called Ashermans, and according to my gyno it's the biggest cause he sees of secondary infertility, as it's only visible after quite an invasive scan, but hormones etc show up fine.

By the time we fixed this I'd wasted 4 years and was 41 so we gave ourselves 6 months and decided we'd stop trying after Christmas. He's a September baby 😃.
For the final Christmas sex hurrah we basically shagged every day of my fertile window. Sometimes twice. It was a bit awkward staying at the in-laws, but needs must....
Anyway he's 9 now so my only advice is have as much sex as possible and get checked fully.

Thanks @Freshfaced - good to know it can happen. Have been considering sex twice a day during fertile period but was bothered about quality v quantity. It's worth trying

Acupuncture?

I had blood tests which were all ok so no need for clomid. never heard of a blood test that rules out Clomid? It’s often used for unexplained fertility even if you are ovulating. I would ask for a referral or see someone privately.

Hi I'm also 40and been trying for #3 for 18 months
Had a chemical after 6 cycles (age 39) and just going through another miscarriage after reaching 7 weeks
I was going to acupuncture begore lockdown
I got a bit lazy about trying during lockdown and was consuming too much wine lol but still got pregnant
I'm back to acupuncture and bought vitamins etc
I'm going to give it a proper 6 months try with very little wine lol 😂 and no weekly cigarette
Hoping it works out

Aldo my kids were conceived in early 30s but I also had 2 miscarriages aged 29

The tip that worked for us was to have my hips elevated on a pillow after dtd, for about half an hour. To make sure the semen 'bathes' the cervix. For want of a better word!

Was in exactly the same position as you. First DD at 34, then trying unsuccessfully for DC2. She finally came along, ironically, just after we stopped trying. I was 40 when she was conceived and born. Don’t know how much difference it made, but I had some acupuncture sessions and also took CoQ10. Good luck!