Ttc for what feels like an eternity? Then you've found your bus! No fertile unicorns here, only infertile donkeys!

[notyetamumbuttrying]

Buckling up our are usual riders...and their stats on the fertility/infertility train 🚂
@Annny27 29, no1 since June 19
@RobinRose 27, no1 since Oct 2019
@kerrym87 34 no1 since sept19

@Motherofkittens28 39 no 1 since aug19
@Yutes 34 no1 since aug19
@Crazydoglady123 32 no2 jan19, ivf in April21!
@Marvellouslymadmum 41 no3 since April 18
@Tofu35 35 no1 since sep19
@Hayley19835 38 no1 oct18
@Narwhal88 32, no1 since jun19
@Dogmum13 29 no1 since dec19
@SlothMamaToBe
@Theawkwardblonde no1 for 18 months
@CreativeThinkerTequilaDrinker 15 months ttc ivf in June, ov 8th April
@2020mission 33 no1 14 months ttc
@Sjhigs 37 no1 since sep18 ivf consult mid April
@crazycatlady1981 39 no1 since Oct18, ivf in May
@PeanutButterBrownies
@Juno231 33 no1 since jan20
@clolo 31 no1 since jun19
@Aimzie 28 no1 4 years NTNP 22 months ttc
And me 😊 35 in a matter of hours no1 since sep19, ivf may/June

@2020mission from my experience, I've always had a swab for thrush/bv and another for sti/std to rule them all out. I had a smear a couple of weeks ago and they did a sti/std swab. Try not to worry, if your red she may have just irritated the area! The gel can't do any harm can it!

@2020mission I think they have to refer you for the red cervix as it could be a bunch of stuff other than HPV - eg cervicitis comes to mind. As for thrush - it's quite common to have mild thrush as part of your cycle without you noticing if there's just a little bit near your cervix. I've certainly been told at previous pap smears that I had a little bit of thrush which I had no clue about then. Doesn't sound like anything to worry about but I'm glad you're getting the fertility and gynae referrals!

@Aimzie it's hard to know if and when to tell family, I nearly told my mum the other day when I was talking on the phone to her but didn't! I would say he's right though at least a cp is something but they are pretty clueless of what we've actually even going through all these months while all they'd been doing is asked to 'perform' at the right time!

@Crazydoglady123 I think you know my view on that one 😂 I'd be like all of them! Lol but I would love love love twins personally so I would also say two, I know there are higher risks for twins though so it's a hard decision

@Annny27 I've probably missed your H&M shop now but I'm taking -deep breath
Pregnacare conception
Vit b6
B complex (high dose)
C
D
E
Magnesium
Epo
Ubiquinol
Maca root
Think that's it!

@Motherofkittens28 sorry you're feeling down lovely, one of my friends had their baby last night too - I feel so bittersweet about it and seeing the pics I'm just so broody and jealous but also happy! Hope you feel better soon.

@2020 I've had thrush many times and I've never had any smell with it but often itchy and sometimes sore not always though, and very rarely the discharge. I get it when I have antibiotics it's a nightmare! I spoke to the doc on Monday who said she was referring me to fertility but I've had a letter today come through saying I'm being referred to gynaecology so I presume it's all the same department

I've had a lot of thrush @2020mission, what did she diagnose it based on, sight? I just diagnose myself nowadays and buy otc stuff like a pessary or cream, but as @Juno231said you can get it very mildly and it's more common in the luteal phase, your period naturally restores the balance of everything in there.

Definitely do not get cottage cheese as such, but I know I have thrush fairly often even without it, and usually with antibiotics like @Marvellouslymadmum (but not this time, so far hmmmm).

Drink your kefir and eat yogurt, balances the bacteria in case you do have it.

Last month I caused myself to have the opposite of thrush when you have too much good bacteria . Who knew it was even a thing, but I started to have the same symptoms after taking a probiotic supplement. Stopped as soon as I realised this was the issue.

I have a gynaecologist referral too for "fertility" @Marvellouslymadmum

Actually, maybe drinking yogurts doesn't help with vaginal thrush, I might be talking rubbish. I just drink a little of them myself because I seem prone to bacteria imbalance in the digestive system as well as elsewhere...but if a probiotic supplement taken orally can change the vaginal bacteria balance then I assume food stuffs can too.

@2020mission I've had thrush loads, in my experience you know you've got it because its damn uncomfortable! I've never had smell or discharge though, just pain!
@Juno231 my last smear just before our first ivf cycle actually was positive for HPV but they aren't worried about it, I just need to have another smear next year, and I've had zero symptoms. I was freaked out when I got the letter but now I'm just letting all this crap wash over me!

@thislittlebird @Marvellouslymadmum ahh fingers crossed the mention of gynaecology referral is just for fertility then as I was worried she saw something bad as she mentioned it right after the smear after saying my cervix was red and she could see a bit of blood 😬 my last smear was October 2019 and came back completely clear... I'm sure the nurse that time said it looked a little irritated and said I might bleed a little after but she wasn't bothered back then 🤷‍♀️

When I speak to her next week for the blood results I might ask her again. She only did the smear early because I mentioned the pre AF spotting. The spotting is only ever the run up to AF surely anything bad would be bleeding throughout a cycle?

@thislittlebird she didn't do any swabs related to thrush or even ask me if I'm having any symptoms, she just said she could see a lot of creamy CM in there and decided that was it. She said it's normal for the cervix to be red but its usually only seen in pregnancy or women taking hormonal contraceptives.

@Juno231 yeah I'm relieved they are happy to refer me already was expecting a longer wait! I was worried about getting the smear at 5 DPO with the slim chance I've conceived this cycle incase it might interrupt things 😐 she seemed to think it was fine though.

@thislittlebird I do the same just off down the chemist each time lol funnily enough I've only ever got the cottage cheese thing when I had it when pregnant with my son! I'm glad someone else has the same referral I assume it must be standard 🤷🏼‍♀️

@Motherofkittens28 I think the smell part is a bit of a myth as I've never had that either!

@notyetamumbuttrying happy birthday lovely! Hope you have a good day 😘😘

@Motherofkittens28 ah I got that letter in 2017 saying I had CIN3 which are essentially pre cancer cells and need to be removed. It's ridiculous how complicated our plumbing is!

Smell is a BV sign though no? My thrush sometimes is purely a burning sensation and other times when it's really bad it's like I've got a pot of cottage cheese down there 🤢

Happy Birthday @notyetamumbuttrying 💐

Yeah @Narwhal88 it's still a risk anyway with IVF even with one being transferred.

@Motherofkittens28 was yours private? Sorry to hear you're having a down day today lovely. I know it's hard but your wedding sounds like something to keep you busy planning?

Haha @Marvellouslymadmum you'd be asking for them all to be transferred 🤣

@2020mission sounds like your thrush has fast tracked you! Whoop whoop!

Omg my OH having his bloods taken for screening today...he was soooooo embarrassing 😂😂😩😭 Considering his well over 6ft and built and was sat in the chair with the most loveliest nurse, nearly in tears, sweat patches on his t shirt and had to bury his head in his jumper while she did it 🙈 Can I disown him?

@Crazydoglady123 yes it was, im too old for NHS where we live.

@Crazydoglady123 yes you know me well already 😂 I'd have a whole litter transferred 🤦🏼‍♀️ your oh hiding his head in his jumper and nearly in tears made me laugh lots

Hope you're feeling a bit better now @Motherofkittens28

Well, gynaecology sounds the same as us so it’s probably a sped up standard referral @2020mission. Fingers crossed the letter comes soon.

I have thought about the prospect of us having IVF if the next six months don’t result in pregnancy (which would be private I think) and specifically about how many they’d put in. I think I’d go one only, unless it was my third go or something. Dunno, hard to say but my colleague has twins from her first round of ivf so I’m probably swayed by seeing her being fine but at the same time I’m not convinced I’d be cut out for having twins if that makes sense. One child would be fine if we could just get to that.

Our referral was gynae too its all under one department really but you need the gynae investigations to figure out the best option. As for how many embryos the clinics are under the regulatory body who are quite strict about how many to transfer and reducing multiples. Saying that I work on special care and twins are nearly always born early (mostly not by much) and they don't let you go past 37 weeks for complications, there is an increased risk the more you have but you're carefully monitored anyway and the chances of all implanting are not guaranteed. Most twins don't come to us or need very little input x

@Motherofkittens28 best of luck for Thursday! What was your recovery time like before if you can remember? Just trying to gauge how much time off work I'll need. Hope you don't feel as down today? Getting baby news from anyone you know always cuts deep I feel. Must be worse in your situation so don't beat yourself up too much.
@2020mission I've had thrush before and you usually know when you've got as your so itchy!! But maybe everyone is different. I'm glad they're investigating now and you've been referred. Hopefully the clinic can give you more answers. Thanks for the bday wishes! I actually feel a bit hungover today 😵
@Theawkwardblonde thanks, it was nice! You getting time to relax yet?
@Hayley19835 thank you 😊
@Crazydoglady123 haha your OH 😂 it's always the big men that can't handle things like blood and needles lol!

Feels good to be going in the right directions, anyone have any tips or things I should ask when I get my phonecall with our results ❤️ so nervous but just want some answers now!
I told my daddy yesterday about my CP, I moved down south with my DF so I have none of my family here & it just made it all so much easier for me, felt like I just had my whole family's support in it. My poor daddy was so angry at the world lol he's like if I was asked 2 people I think would make the best parents it's you & Daniel and people here with 8 kids hanging out the windows and social workers at the door.. Lol it really makes you wonder how is it fair like & why it happens to us 😕😕 but that's a sesspit of misery not worth going into

@aimzie I totally feel you. There was a baby that was murdered by their dad and mum and I was so angry! Why do THEY get a baby and the joy of parenthood :(

P.s thank you for all the vitamin recommendations- will reply to previous messages layer and show you my haul haha!

I know I actually can't cope when I start to think of that. But the optimistic me believes that we will cherish it so much more when we get it because we will feel utterly blessed❤️❤️
Oh yesss show me everything you've got. DF has put me on a supplement ban, I'm not allowed to go over my 15 a day now, hahaha he said at this stage id do more damage adding more hahaha never mind the money I blow on it.
I was going over my monthly budget today and I spent 500 this month on all the tests and supplements etc, I near died looking at it.

Thanks @notyetamumbuttrying I'll just take this pessary pill for thrush tomorrow incase it is thrush. Must just be lucky and don't get symptoms!

I'm a little concerned about this relactagel I've to insert for 7 days though because it states on the pack not to take if allergic to shellfish (it contains oyster). I've never tried eating shellfish as my mum is allergic to shellfish so I have no idea if I am ok with oyster 🤷‍♀️ I wish they had just given me antibiotics. I've had a small amount of shrimp as it's in the green Thai curry paste I buy but that's all. I really want to clear up the BV though if I do have it as apparently it can lead to miscarriage or PID 😬

@2020mission if you are worried put a small pea size amount somewhere on your arm or leg and then leave it for a few hours to see if you have any reaction/ redness/ swelling. If nothing then highly likely you are not allergic to it

Just came across this thread and the title alone brightened my day🤣 brilliant!

@Narwhal88 ahh that's a good idea! I see there's a cenestan BV gel which seems to be the exact same thing but no mention of shellfish allergies so if I get any reaction I can buy some of that. Thanks 👍 apparently it's semen that causes the pH alteration so I'm blaming my husband haha never a problem until he started depositing his semen 😅