Unexplained infertility

[farfromperfect82]

Hi there I am just seeing if anyone is in the same boat. I am 38 and my partner is 36, we have been ttc for almost two years.

My AMH is 11.3 and had 13 antra follicles last count, no issues with ovaries, cysts, lining etc. Regular periods of 4-5 days, ovulation a confirmed every month. Thyroid and prolactin normal. My partner has a normal/high sperm count.

The doctors have found no reason why we haven't conceived. Both healthy (potentially can both do with losing a few pounds - working on it!)

I feel I am at a bit of a juncture with ttc - to go down the ivf route or to carry on trying naturally? Obviously I am getting on a bit and chances ivf will work are low for my age.

I feel like we are trying everything to get pregnant naturally and it's kind of taking over my life! But then ivf is going to be such a huge emotional rollercoaster. I guess maybe it's handing over that control to doctors that I am struggling with.

I just wondered if anyone had any pearls of wisdom or are going through the same thing? Or if anyone has any ideas of waiting times for NHS? I am in Kent so if anyone has any experience of getting ivf in that county specifically that would also be amazing

Hi OP,

I didn’t want to read and run. I’m sorry to hear about your struggles. I haven’t been in your exact situation but I would consider being referred for IVF sooner rather than later due to cut off dates with age. With some trusts you have to start and finish an IVF cycle before a certain age i.e. 6 months before so it’s worth checking your local area. At least if you are referred you can find out what your options are and you can then make a decision from there. Continue TTC naturally in the meantime, but try not to put too much stress on yourselves (easier said than done I know).
Have you tried the ovulation sticks/tests? They can work well for a lot of people in timing when to DTD. They didn’t work for me but maybe I’m just an awkward customer!

Have you considered fertility reflexology or acupuncture? Either of these are likely to help with relaxation and if they then happen to improve your fertility it is a bonus. Definitely worth thinking about.
I wish you both luck.

Sorry for your struggle
40 yrs ago the same happened to us..unexplained fertility. Both tests clear
Ended up adopting to 2 boys. No Doctor could understand it.

Thanks for messages 😊

Yes have tried ovulation sticks and really sure we've got the timing spot on quite a few times now. They defo help with that. On advice of doc we're having sex every 2-3 days over about two week period and ensuring we get the window.

I have read the book 'it starts with an egg' and am following that supplement protocol plus some borage oil for cervical mucus (I don't have as much as I did when I was younger!), chaga antioxidant and reishi to chill me out. Stress defo has been a factor I think so have reduced working hours, doing yoga, meditation, breath work, just started running and doing some weights in effort to get fit because I am a little over the top BMI for ivf.

Have been seeing an acupuncturist on/off for last year almost. Have got a new one as just moved and she seems great, definitely seeing improvements to overall health. She does a bit of reflexology too and have been doing some stuff on myself.

I have also given up alcohol (apart from a couple of glasses on special occasions), cut out gluten and have just been eating organic food, avoiding plastics etc all the things they recommend in the book.

Will defo get on the waiting list as soon as I can, I hope it's not too long to wait quite keen to get going now 😊

If anyone has any advice on how to prep for ivf that would be fab. Don't know know many people who have had it x

Hiya, I’m also 38 and ttc with my 30 year old partner.

I do have children from a previous relationship, and have fallen pregnant with my current partner 3 times but all have ended in mc.

We went through all the fertility tests, semen analysis, scans etc. All great results for both of us.

My situation is different to yours as I have children already if we choose to go ivf we will have to self fund it.

Are you taking ubiquinol at all?

Our fertility consultant basically said the most likely reason for not conceiving or conceiving and losing it, will be down to my age and the fact that my eggs, although I still have plenty of them, will by now just unfortunately be of a much poorer quality, so if I’m lucky enough to get one attempt to implant, it then fails due to chromosome issues.

Ubiquinol is said to help improve egg quality in older women so I take 200mg a day.

Good luck with your ttc journey. I agree with a pp that I think in your shoes I’d get the referral for ivf, and just carry on ttc naturally in the mean time.

Sorry to hear about your miscarriages, must be so hard but I guess at least you know you can conceive - hoping you get a sticky one soon x

I am taking 300g of ubiquinol daily and have been taking for over a year. My partner also takes it. I hoping it's helping with quality 🤞🏼

I take the supplements from 'It starts with an egg' - Alpha lipoic acid, N-acetycysteine, inositol, omega 3, terra nova prenatal and b-complex, vit d - plus a few herbs; goji, schisandra, reishi, chaga and borage oil.

Was trying soya isoflavones for a bit but I have stopped - they made my ovulation a little earlier which is good because I was ovulating day 20 some cycles. So who knows what will happen this month

One positive is my period does seem to be better - lasts longer, heavier, fresher blood, less pmt and been getting stronger ovulation (in sense I can feel it) with really clear LH peak - so hoping these are good signs

Running out of ideas here lol 😆