Trying to conceive over 40 part 2

[October1979]

Here is a new thread for us girls

@DOB78 I was very lucky. My doctor prescribed based on having had two mcs at 10 weeks and 5 weeks before my ds. She said low progesterone is hard to diagnose so didn’t see the point in the bloods. She just put me on a low dose. When I was ttc after my ds that doctor had retired and I had a fight on my hands getting progesterone. Luckily my new GP sought advice from the hospital and they prescribed it. I also said if complain if I wasn’t allowed it as I’d had it before and my ds was fine. I did have three early losses while on progesterone from a bfp but taking if from 3 dpo seemed to work for me with my current pregnancy. Definitely ask for it. A nurse at the EPAU when I had my scan said the nhs are more readily prescribing it to prevent miscarriage as the research suggests it’s beneficial. You might find the doctor just gives you it. Good luck. Xx

@DOB78 I was prescribed the progesterone by the consultant at the recurrent MC clinic (was referred after 2 MCs). I agree with @Catconfusion the NHS seem to be coming round to the attitude that it cant hurt to give it a go for women with MCs as there aren’t any downsides to taking it. (A part from a few bowel side effects!!) I’ve found GPs and even Midwives are not so knowledgeable about it unfortunately… I would certainly try and ask for it. You can also buy progesterone cream online - but it isn’t as strong.

Ah thanks ladies my GP isn't too bad to be honest. I'll try an e-consult on Monday see what she says failing that I'll ask at BEP for some advice. I'm not sure why I have to wait for BFP that may be too late

@DOB78 I’d get the prescription asap. My pregnancy last Christmas was in the early stages when I called for progesterone. With the phone call to the hospital taking so much time it was a good few days after a bfp I started taking it. It ended at just under 5 weeks. I’ll never know if getting on it sooner would have helped. Great you have a good gp. Hopefully it’ll be straight forward to get it. Xx

@DOB78 my GP wouldn't prescribe progesterone unless Consultant from Recurrent Miscarriage Clinic advised it in a letter to him. He said that GPS were not that knowledgeable about it. I phoned The consultant who was happy to prescribe and told me she would send a letter to GP and myself ( this was Monday) I am fast approaching ovulation so desperate for my letter to come through. Phoned to chase up today. I'm hoping to take from 4dpo. I would phone EPU and ask them to speak to a consultant about your case and get them to write a letter to your GP if they say no xx

@Catconfusion @October1979 oh goodness thankyou so much for the advice. I'm about 5/6 days from ovulation so may be too late this month to get this sorted out but I will definitely give them a call Monday Morning. I'm convinced implantation is the issue coz we got pregnant quickly twice till I started messing with vitamins and using opks instead of listening to my body 🤦‍♀️

Hi everyone 🤗 hoping it’s ok to jump on the thread?
I’m 42, TTC with my first for 2 1/2 years now - didn’t find my OH until too late for it to be easier I guess 😕
Fertility treatment got held up by COVID but started investigations earlier this year then got my BFP 3 days before going for a laparoscopy!
Felt like such a miracle, we actually conceived on my birthday!
Saw a heartbeat at 7 week viability scan but had an MMC just over a week later.
Had to wait week for D&C - worst week of my life 😞
This was all at the end of September. I’m now 6DPO on my first proper cycle since and, if I’m
honest, totally obsessing!
TTC at 42 was hard enough but the MC has just made it so much worse!
Investigations have all come back positive so far, really good sperm count, high egg reserve, uterus looks fine, bloods healthy, ovulation happening as expected…. I almost want them to find something wrong so they can at least focus on something 🤷🏼‍♀️😵‍💫

Meh! TTC sucks!!! Sending you all love and bucket loads of baby dust xxx

@kirinm you asked Re the clearblue OPK's I used the advanced ones and find I start having high readings at day 14 typically all the way thru to day 27 and then usually I stop testing cos it costs a fortune - I never get a peak and don't know whether it's due to not ovulating or just not enough hormone registered. I'm 41 and worry about peri menopause had bloods done recently and was told all looks within the "average range" whatever that means with exception to extreme low iron so have been given iron tablets. No idea if that has been hindering our efforts?? What I do notice tho is at approx day 16/17 the lines are both matched in darkness so I just assume that's as close to peak as I'm going to get. Hope that helps

@Kelb79 I’m so sorry you went through that. It’s so heartbreaking. Welcome to the thread. You’ll get lots of support on here.

@Gemandi2 do you have regular periods? The reason I ask is because mine are every couple of months. I don’t ovulate until day 34 sometimes. If you do ovulate late it might be worth getting the cheap opks from Amazon to save money. Hopefully it’s something like that rather than peri-menopause. It’s encouraging your test results were normal. Xx

@Catconfusion they are pretty regular tbh anything between 27 - 34 days but usually it's on or about every 28 days with the odd month being a few days longer - GP said that's totally normal - I have wondered if I end up ovulating really late and I think your right investing in some cheaper opk's may be the way to go. It's so frustrating month after month as we all know!!

@Kelb79 welcome so sorry for what has happened to you sounds really rough xx since my MC earlier this year this group has been really helpful and supportive and everyone is here for one another so welcome x

[quote Gemandi2]@kirinm you asked Re the clearblue OPK's I used the advanced ones and find I start having high readings at day 14 typically all the way thru to day 27 and then usually I stop testing cos it costs a fortune - I never get a peak and don't know whether it's due to not ovulating or just not enough hormone registered. I'm 41 and worry about peri menopause had bloods done recently and was told all looks within the "average range" whatever that means with exception to extreme low iron so have been given iron tablets. No idea if that has been hindering our efforts?? What I do notice tho is at approx day 16/17 the lines are both matched in darkness so I just assume that's as close to peak as I'm going to get. Hope that helps [/quote]
Thanks. I did actually get an obvious peak eventually on the evening of CD14. I assumed I ovulated around CD12-13 so ovulating on CD15 was pretty late for me. I had stopped doing ovulation tests about 6 months or so ago because it was all getting a bit too much.

I think I might just use normal OPKs as the clear blue are so expensive when in reality I was still checking the lines!

@Catconfusion sorry had a few days break, I'm currently cd32 had another peak yesterday then lower today and slightly higher temp 🤞🏻🤞🏻 just playing the waiting game again now! They did a follicle scan on cd12 and couldn't see my ovaries, eventually found the right one and said there was a 12mm one but that was it and never found the left one at all but as that was 20 days ago and I still may not have ovulated that's not really a surprise!
I've used so many opk this month and dtd about 20 times 😂

@Honey2 hope the results all go well, sounds promising so far!

@Tillybabs hi and welcome, I have adenomyosis and suspected endometriosis. I've no idea when mine developed but I would suspect more recently. They're not doing anything for my adeno or endo so you're a few steps ahead of me.

@Kelb79 hi and welcome, I'm sorry to hear of your mc it's a horrible thing to go through 😔

@Gemandi2 I had extremely low iron when mine was tested in January and was put on 630mg a day to bring it up, there's lots of research to prove low iron has a massive impact on getting pregnant and then staying pregnant too (I've had mc) so 🤞🏻 that was the issue for you, it hasn't helped me unfortunately but you never know!

Hi everyone, and welcome to @Tillybabs and @Kelb79.

Just a quick update from me - had my 30 week growth scan today and all looking well. Little girl already weighing 4lb 6oz!! 9.5 weeks left now until she arrives...!

Thanks for the welcome ladies.

@Marvellouslymadmum have they considered that the low iron might be linked to adeno? Do you get heavy periods?

@Littlemiss41andfabulous ooh that's a good weight for 30 weeks! Did they say they thought she'd be big?

@Tillybabs I've no idea tbh, yes I get very heavy painful periods but that's probably down to the endo

@Marvellouslymadmum oh no, I’m sorry to hear that. Odd that they couldn’t find your ovaries. I find it so confusing how follicles can form so early yet ovulation takes so long. Is there a plan in place for next cycle? Maybe as frustrating as this one has been you’ll get a bfp at the end of it. I really hope so. Xx

@Littlemiss41andfabulous that’s a fantastic weight for that stage. What centile is she on? I remember my ds being similar. He was on the 99th centile the whole way through. Ended up being 9lbs 5 at 39 weeks when born. This baby is similarly looking big. You’re on the final stretch now. It’s so exciting! Xx

@Catconfusion I don't think I'm even going to ovulate, temp back down today and Lh still in the middle, feels like a never ending cycle! At least on the others I did eventually ovulate. I've got another blood test to take after (if) I eventually ovulate then I think they'll do the next cycle the same but I will be contacting the secretary to see if they'll change or add something, I thought the idea behind clomid was to bring in normal ovulation 🤦🏼‍♀️ xx

@littlemiss41andfabulous wow that's amazing they can tell the weight already, she sounds like she's thriving!

I think we're out this month got 🙂 on opk last night but OH is ill so not been able to DTD I'm a little disappointed but trying not to let him see as I don't want him to feel pressured. Just gonna have a little sulk whilst he's at work🥺.

@Kelb79 What a difficult experience for you, so sorry for your loss. It sounds very positive that all investigations are coming back with good results. Keeping everything crossed for you.

We were definitely lied to in sex education at school convinced us we could get pregnant holding a boys hand!!! Who'd have thought it would be so difficult.......

@Marvellouslymadmum yes I'm the same just over 600mg per day apparently iron should be no lower than 11mg in women over 40 and mine was 7. I started with heavy AF's pre my pregnancy and MC but the MC bleed was like something else and every month since it's been horrendous so I'm hoping the iron will help and fingers crossed the chances of getting and staying pregnant will increase x

@Littlemiss41andfabulous that's great news it sounds like your little girl is doing perfect x

@Marvellouslymadmum yes I'm the same just over 600mg per day apparently iron should be no lower than 11mg in women over 40 and mine was 7. I started with heavy AF's pre my pregnancy and MC but the MC bleed was like something else and every month since it's been horrendous so I'm hoping the iron will help and fingers crossed the chances of getting and staying pregnant will increase x

@Littlemiss41andfabulous that's great news it sounds like your little girl is doing perfect x

@Gemandi2 mine have been worse since my iron got better, mine was 5. Something if I remember correctly but luckily it's all ok now. I'm all happy at any increase in chances!

@Marvellouslymadmum totally agree any positives to help us on our way gets a 👍