Conception: TTC Baby no1. The crazy lot. Thread 3!!!

[butterfly5291]

Starting a new thread...

@Iloveoreos they'll test if you're ovulating on your own first. It could be that you're just ovulating late and irregular in which case they won't prescribe clomid but there are supplements to take to bring on earlier ovulation so don't worry! 🤞🤞 For you, keep us updated! I feel like an advocate for fertility journies, I love hearing them all haha

@Originalusername6432762 welcome to the group! 👋🏻

I’m 8dpo today and like clockwork I’ve started cramping & spotting! 😭 so that’s me out this month! Af not due until sun/mon, but I’ve moved my focus to next month already! At least I can have some drinks after my wedding!!

[quote Stabal]@Iloveoreos they'll test if you're ovulating on your own first. It could be that you're just ovulating late and irregular in which case they won't prescribe clomid but there are supplements to take to bring on earlier ovulation so don't worry! 🤞🤞 For you, keep us updated! I feel like an advocate for fertility journies, I love hearing them all haha[/quote]
This gives me so much hope. Thanks hun.. xx

@crazycatlady1981
Thanks!

@Mia1985x and any one else who has experience!
What did your GP do? I had a cervical exam and a blood test at the GP and I'm not sure what to expect at the fertility clinic really (they actually call it infertility clinic which is depressing).

My partner has had his sperm checked and all was normal 👍🏻

I'm also waiting for an ultrasound as I've been getting some spotting.

@Originalusername6432762 as I contacted my GP during lockdown it was a telephone appointment. He just talked through all the details with me on health background, how long TTC etc and then referred for blood tests as well as doing a fertility referral at the same time (he was pretty confident I was ovulating as I had been temping and doing OPKs for months). Went and got blood tests done and in the meantime I also got a consultation through for the fertility clinic (like you say mine is also called infertility clinic and infertility specialist we are now seeing which I also thought was worded depressingly). Original consultation with them was about 30 mins chat with me and my husband, took details such as BMI, health history and general lifestyle questions. OH had done a semen analysis around same time as my blood tests so he discussed the results of this and explained what it all meant to us. He then arranged a 2nd semen analysis just to double check as 1 of the things they test for was slightly under average. He then referred me for an HSG scan and advised if it came back normal he would be doing a referral for IVF once we reach the 2 year mark of TTC which will be January. He said obviously if the HSG shows anything then they will look at treatment for it. So that's where I am currently. Although just last week I phoned to book HSG and was told 6 month waiting list just now due to covid. We have our next appointment with infertility clinic on 13th October so going to find out then what effect it would have on things if I just went ahead and got the HSG done privately. I've found a private clinic near me that can do it and not too expensive either.

Thats good you have already had bloods done and OH has had semen analysis. I imagine next step for you would also be a scan. Are you just waiting to hear from the clinic or do you have an appointment in with them?

@Originalusername6432762 were your day 3, 21 and prolactin levels all normal? The ultrasound will rule out any cysts etc. If there are some they'll likely do a transvaginal exam to investigate. If it's clear the next step will be an HSG. If your tubes are clear, depending on your age and how long you've been trying, you'll be referred straight to either IUI or IVF. If you have symptoms of endo, they'll do a lap. If you're not ovulating they'll try and regulate your cycles before any further treatment

While you are speaking about prolactin mine was way out of range and this really worried me😞

GP said to repeat bloods to check if it was one off or not.

Anyone here with v high prolactin?😐

@Stabal @Mia1985x
Yeah I had a blood test but doc said I had an irregular cycle so just the one which was normal. The cervical exam didn't show anything nasty either. My cycle seems to have settled though to 26 days so maybe they can do it differently?
I tried using ovulation sticks but I used loads and never got a positive. Doc said to avoid them as they can make things more stressful! I spent so much money on ovulation sticks and preg tests and vitamins in the summer and nothing has helped 🤦‍♀️
Last time I spoke to the hospital they said I was 'in the pile' waiting for an appointment!

@Originalusername6432762 just one blood test? You need to have a few at different times in your cycle. The day 21 (its name is misleading as it can be later than day 21) will confirm if you're ovulating or not and that should be the first step especially if your cycles are back to a more regular pattern. If you're not ovulating then the other tests are pointless really

@Crayon7 I had high prolactin levels in January and had them repeated 2 weeks later and they were normal. I think they're a bit iffy at certain times in your cycle! Also TMI but the nurse also told me nipple play can affect the readings as it stimulates it 🙊

@Stabal
Ok thanks I'll speak to my doctor then and see if they can do more bloods.
It's nice to feel like I'm actively working towards it rather than just waiting!

@Originalusername6432762 you're welcome! I think sometimes doctors give people the run around and not take you seriously and definitely don't expect everyone to do research on what tests should be done. Good luck!

Hi ladies!
Can I join? I've been reading and I feel so identified with a few of you!!
TTC baby #1 for over year and a half with no luck!
We have both been tested (half private half nhs... as GPs just don't really care), I am all completely good (32 years) but my hub has bad sperm. The GP has told him to do another SA to compare (it will be the 3rd) and then they will refer us to infertility.. but appointments for SA take aaaages 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️
It's just a never ending story 😞

We do keep trying just in case some baby dust blows our way anyway...

I had the HyCoSy test done this month and af is due tomorrow... but been spotting for two days on/off so no hopes.

Hope it's easier for you ladies here.. 🤞🏼🤞🏼
Xx

Hey ladies! Hope you are all okay!

I am due on AF in the next few days but have no idea how many DPO I am. Zero symptoms so not holding out any hope! I went to the gym for the first time in forever this morning. Me and hubby are going together to spur each other on. Also been eating super healthy and didnt drink last weekend. (I always have wine every weekend so this is a big deal for me haha). Hopefully all these changes if I can keep them up will help with ttc.

Good to hear experiences about referrals as this is something we definitely need to look into soon. And like you said @stabal need to get OH sperm analysis done.

@Sungirl11 hi and welcome. Your situation sounds not a million miles away from mine. TTC baby #1 for 21 months now. I'm 35 and all tests so far have been fine. Husbands first SA showed under average for one of the checks (morphology was 3%) so got another done and all ok. I am currently waiting a HyCoSy/HSG but when I called last week to make appointment once AF arrived they dropped a bombshell that there is currently a 6 month waiting list just for the scan. I've been looking into getting it done privately but have read it can effect my nhs referral for ivf that is due to happen in January. When you say you went part nhs and part private did you have any experience of this having an impact on nhs treatment? Did you get the HyCoSy privately or on nhs. I have read soooo many positive stories of people falling pregnant in the few months after HyCoSy so fingers crossed this happens for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻

@Sungirl11 and also meant to ask how was the HyCoSy for you? I've read some people say no worse than a smear and others say it was horrific 🙈

@Mia1985x hi!!
So.. i am 50% Spanish and have been having the private side in Spain (traveling back and forward)...
HyCoSy was referred from my private gyne in Spain after a full study. In the UK it's £456 (cheapest i found) and i paid 170€ in Spain 🙈 i haven't been asked for it yet in the UK but i have the RX Images so when they tell me i need it i will provide them and say i did it privately to move forward quicker.
I don't know if i will have any issues but i wouldn't think so as i won't accept anyone telling me i need to do the same test through NHS just for their "fun" and my loss of time...

The HyCoSy for me was ok, it's not nice when they put the contrast liquid through, it's like a massive af pain for less than a minute. I didn't have any blockage or anything so that was it. No bleeding or anything after, a bit of af pain at night, took paracetamol and gone.

I would ask the Dr if it would be ok to do it private to move forward as there is such a long waiting list. I don't see why they would not accept it as it's taking work load from them really 🤷🏻‍♀️

I didn't even think it hahah
Just fed up of waiting for appointments that take a million years 😂

@Mia1985x sorry!! I didn't have HyCoSy.. i had the HSG (the one done with X-Ray and contrast).

@Sungirl11 @Mia1985x
Last time I spoke to my GP she asked if I had considered going private but I really don't think I could afford it. It was a worry that she mentioned it though.

Those who have gone private - how was it? In terms of speed and cost etc, would you recommend it?

It's day 25 for me and I got a little spotting during the night so I'm resigned to start afresh next cycle. Does anyone have any rituals?? I usually have a takeaway 😂

@Stabal Fertility friend moved ovulation back again to CD23😂 I've not put any data in except temp for past week. I have absolutely no symptoms to even read into either. So just hope AF comes early so the worst is over by the wedding!

Hello!

I have been following you guys for some time now. We are still only a few months into our journey but starting to feel like it's already not as straight forward as we all believed (i.e not falling the only time you have unprotected sex!).

I have been tracking my body temp for years as I was using Natural Cycles to avoid falling pregnant originally, so I know my body well from that perspective.

I have also started to use OPKs each month and I seem to have a very small window where they are positive (24 hours or less) and so I know now I need to test a bit more frequently throughout the day.

We also tried using Conceive Plus for the first time this month. However, I am due AF on Sunday/Monday and I can already feel light cramping which suggests that we have had another unsuccessful month. Another month of feeling a little heartbroken, although not yet despondent.

Like you have all said, I am surrounded by friends and family with bumps and it's starting to get really hard.

I hope you don't mind me joining in - I would love somewhere other than my husband to chat about this. He thinks I am getting to worked up about it and as a result, making it worse for myself (there could be truth there) but I also have in the back of my mind, that taking temps and OPKs is all a part of the course!

Thank you - sorry for rambling!

@Originalusername6432762 i haven't been told that by my GP but if she does i would blame her for saying "you are still young" for so long and not testing!!
Right now i can't afford it either! I have already done enough paying for tests which they won't need to do... 🙈

@QFT123
I definitely worry too much! I don't know what the solution is 😂

@Sungirl11
I'll wait a bit longer with the nhs anyway. I've got career stuff going on so I will try to focus on that and keep bugging my gp!

@Sungirl11
I wish I had found my partner sooner so we could have started younger

@Sungirl11 @Originalusername6432762 thanks. It sounds like you done the right thing going part private in Spain. I have found a place near me that I can get the HSG done privately, its just under £500 and they do a clinic every Thursday so said I could pretty much get an appointment on the first Thursday nearest to around CD8 for me. Obviously way faster than nhs and although it is expensive I don't mind paying that but wouldn't be able to afford ivf or iui privately so that's my dilemma. I have a friend who got a scan done privately (not fertility related at all) and nhs put them back at the start of a 2 year waiting list after already being on it for almost 18 months. So I definitely want to speak to my consultant next week before going ahead with anything private seeing as I am so close to the 2 year mark for ivf referral.

@QFT123 hi and welcome to the group. Sounds like you know your cycle pretty well already which is great and increasing the OPKs around your positive sounds like a good plan for next month. I find this group a great place to come for a chat/advice/support so hopefully you will too.

@QFT123 I am due Sunday too. Will keep 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 so AF doesn't arrive for us!