What do you believe gave you a BFP?

[HopeForARainbow]

I don't know why I am writing this; hoping for some miracle maybe.

I am 36, DH 37. We have been TTC for over 7 years now. I have had two natural MCs, 1 failed IVF last year, and one IVF resulting in MC this year. The MC took 2 months to resolve which has messed up my cycles. Hopefully, it comes back to normal soon.

All my coagulation tests came back within range. AMH was 17 when measured last year. On the lower side for my age but not too bad (that's what the doc said). FSH, LH, progesterone all come back as normal. Waiting for results for karyotyping for us. Awaiting a form for some more tests.

When my GP sent me to a fertility clinic they put me straight on IVF. The gynaec there said that as I have been pregnant before they don't think anything else will help like clomid or HSG or Hysteroscopy etc.

I have hypothyroid but i take thyroid medication every morning. So it's in control. I take pre-natals and eat good (at least as much as i can). I have reduced caffeine to 1-2 cups of tea (black) a day and 1 decaff. Have coffee only once in a while. Alcohol once in a while and don't smoke. I am a vegetarian.

I know so many of you out here have been through a similar or worse journey than mine. So I wanted to see if there's anything I can do to help me get pregnant or anything you recommend to prepare for my next IVF.

Please share your story to give me some hope.

Hey, I’m not sure if the below is relevant and I have posted elsewhere but thought I’d reply to you - Trying since Jan 2020 for 2nd baby and because I was a passive reader of mumsnet reading everyones tips and stories, now I have a BFP (5weeks pregnant) I thought i would share what I tried for the first time and did differently in the month when I fell.

What i did in early Nov 2020;

• SMEP. First time trying this - We followed the smep but dtd twice a day when i got a positive static smiley face CB OPK.
• Made sure I ‘finished’ after dtd as I read on here that (apologies if TMI) contractions following orgasm can help sperm move further inwards....
• Made sure I laid flat for 20mins afterwards - old wives tale but who knows.
• First time using Serenity Progesterone cream (as i am low in progesterone following blood tests) twice a day in diff areas.
• First time taking Iso Soya Flavones, having read about them on mumsnet.

Previously tried / Supplements taken

• Raspberry tea
• Acupuncture. (Twice monthly)
• Reflexology (twice monthly)
• COQ10
• Zita West DHEA
• Vit A
• Vit D
• Vit E
• Vit B6
• Vit B12
• Folic Acid
• L’Aquenine
• Zinc
• Spatone
• Agnus Castas (for a few months but messed up my cycle)
• Starflower Oil (up until Ov)
• EPO (up until Ov)
• Decaf tea/coffee
• Ate ‘helpful’ foods for each week of my cycle
• Affirmations
• Rested
• Breathwork
• Preseed and Conceive plus

All in all, could have been coincidence / fate / luck but it seemed to work. Good luck!! X

We DTD every other day over high / peak fertility and used a Fertility abbé conceived on month 2 ♥️

Keeping everything crossed for you xx

Turns out I had low ferritin. A month on the tablets and I conceived after trying for a year

A small thing but it seems to have contributed for both me and my sister. We both have endometriosis and she has PCOS so we're on everything! But the weird coincidence that we both got pregnant after years of trying was getting our husbands on Wellman. It can't hurt?? Best of luck xx

I am convinced it was through taking prednisolone every day for the first 12 weeks. BFP on 4th (and final) IVF cycle.

@Alicespring Don’t suppose you know what your ferritin levels were do you? I have chronic low ferritin, TTC with no luck so far, and wondering if this could be contributing.

Hey I tired for 2 years to conceive #1. We found out DH had problems with his sperm and we were unlikely to conceive naturally. We had a referral sent off for IVF and just after that we didn’t stop TTC but we spent a whole month getting drunk for DH birthday, friend engagement, each weekend let our hair down which is not normal for us. End of the month I was late... got our first BFP. People say to relax that is literally impossible we still DTD on the right days didn’t forget about TTC but I would say that month after being told we wouldn’t conceive we didn’t think too much about it we were just in the routine of DTD over the right times it was ingrained after 2 years 😂 and I was waiting for my period which then never came. I feel extremely lucky and I know it does not work like that for everyone I don’t really know how it did finally work for us!

@CausingChaos2

It was 6! So pretty low.

Thanks Alice

For me, it was treating my (at that time, undiagnosed) underactive thyroid. It took me nearly a year to fall pregnant with DC1.

When he was 4 months old, I was diagnosed with an underactive thryoid (Hashimotos Disease) and began treatment.

When he was 12 months old, I fell pregnant again (unplanned), and miscarried almost immediately. I had a blood test, and discovered my TSH was really high, suggesting my underactive thyroid wasn't under control.

The exact same thing happened a few months later.

Then a few months after that, I fell pregnant with DC2 (planned) and carried him to full term. I had my TSH checked literally within hours of getting my BFP and was monitored incredibly closely by my endocrinologist throughout the whole 9 months.

So in summary, I think getting, and keeping, my underactive thyroid under control.

Best of luck to you

We had been trying for 3 years so not as long as you have but I think what worked for us was the Sperm meets Egg Plan and using the clear blue digital ovulation kits. When we started that I was 41 and got pregnant 4 times in a year. We had 3 early losses but the 4th one stuck and we have a lovely DS now. I realise we were really lucky and this won’t work for everyone of course but I think SMEP made the difference for us. Best wishes

I gave up caffeine completely, didn't even have decaf, no tea/coffee/cola at all. That was my only successful round of IVF out of six. It could have been coincidence though.

Thank you so much ladies for your responses... Very helpful.

@DaffodilLilly - I have asked my GP if i can take soy isoflavones. As I read online that you shouldn't take if you have a thyroid condition. Will see what they say. I also bought starflower and EPO from tescos.. 1 tablet that contains the both. Today is my 2nd day. Should i start that from today? I know you said stop before ovulation so will do that.
I will also try the "finish off" thing. never tried that before.

@TrixIrl - I recently put my husband on Wellman too. But he forgets to take them most days. But i think i will remind him everyday to take it. That should help him

@Afishcalledwonderful - Why did you decide to take prednisolone ?

@MamaD2021 - that's a lovely story :) Christmast is here. so may be i try that. Eat good food and get drunk :) :)

@PrimeraVez - I have had underactive thyroid since 2011. My TSH was higher after last MC. So GP changed the medicine. May be I will do the same - get TSH tested more frequently. I don't understand why GPs / clinics don't do such things proactively. I have to push for every single test i want to get done ... So much work on top of ttc..

@Cityzen74 - so lovely :) I have tried SMEP before. Didn't work for me. Will give it a try again

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar - That's one thing I have not done. What do you drink if you feel like having a warm drink in winter? If leaving caffeine works for me, I will buy you Black Americano No Sugar :P :P

@Alicespring - Good pointer. I had low Ferritin last year. But it's within range now.

@Twinkle1989 - What is Fertility abbé?

It was summertime in Berlin when I gave up caffeine, so pretty warm and no need for hot drinks, but I'm partial to mint tea (especially if made with fresh mint) and hot Ribena. I also cut down on chocolate because I like dark chocolate which is a bit caffeine-like in effect. I couldn't give that up completely though.

I'd had more than three miscarriages (plus an ectopic) including miscarrying on two of my IVF cycles. I was never tested for NK (natural killer) cells but in light of my history combined with the fact it was my last shot at IVF, my consultant prescribed prednisolone to lower my immune system and prevent my body attacking the embryo - assuming this is what had been happening. You can have a test but it is not routine and is expensive. I got pregnant and had a baby boy. He is 6 today!

@HopeForARainbow Hey, yes, I got them from the same place too! I took Starflower & EPO from when I finished period to when i got the positive static face, yes. Mixed msgs about the level of EPO you can take but was taking 2 x 1000 of EPO and standard starflower oil. I didnt actually ask my GP about the soy isoflavones 🤦‍♀️! Do whatever is best for you :) Whether there’s any truth about the contractions thing, I dont know but yes, first time I made sure I did, it’s seemed to work 🤷‍♀️ keep us updated

@Afishcalledwonderful - wow, you have such a story. But glad it all worked out for you in the end. Happy birthday to your son . May I ask which clinics did you get IVF done?

@BlackAmericanoNoSugar - Oh, I love dark chocolate. I eat it as an excuse to get antioxidants :D But I have cut down a lot on chocolate too...

@DaffodilLilly - where did you buy the isoflavones from? i couldn't find it in tescos. I know what you are saying about GP... I feel like there's nothing they can do anymore to help me. I will surely keep you updated

@HopeForARainbow Boots - In the menopause bit, ironically! I felt exactly the same, I even have an fertility scan booked after my fertility consultation for early Jan that I am tempted to keep just because I don't know what will happen in the next coming weeks. I really did lose all hope the month we conceived though, I thought if it doesn't happen this month then I’ll give myself a couple months off etc. Best of luck X

@DaffodilLilly thanks so much... I will buy them for my next cycle.
this cycle i will try starflower & EPO , reduced or zero caffeine & contractions...
or probably just take a break and eat and drink :)

@HopeForARainbow thank you! I had the first three at The Bridge Centre in South London then my final cycle (the successful one) at Complete Fertility in Southampton. It took me 12 years for my happy ending one of my friends was having IVF at ARGC in London and she too was prescribed prednisolone. You take a low dose and it's a cheap drug.

@HopeForARainbow sending you lots of good luck vibes x

Well I'll never know if this contributed or not but we used a Mooncup to...err, "trap" the sperm. Kept it in overnight and also kept my hips and legs raised for 30 mins. It's a total old wives tale, but I think there's something in the Mooncup method - lots of women swear by it.

@HopeForARainbow a Fertilily is like a menstrual cup but softer, more comfortable and shallow :-)

@Afishcalledwonderful @Twinkle1989 - thanks so much [kiss] [kiss]

@ChochoCrazyCat - thank you... will give it a try i think

Genuinely think keeping my feet warm helped - hot water bottle and thick socks, plus pomegranate juice (something to do with keeping uterus warm and healthy uterine lining?) and pineapple during implantation window.

The month I did those was the month I conceived (sadly had MMC though)