Entering into 8th cycle..

[Indianna2006]

Entering into 8th cycle…ttc number 2.

Feeling defeated and deflated even though I know odds are still on our side really..
I already have a DD who is 3 years 9 months so very much feel time is of the essence. Just desperate for it to happen now.

Feel like either people seem to fall super fast or seem like 12 months plus and don’t find many “in the middle” types.

Ive fallen pregnant 1st cycle before. And then DD took 7 cycles. So hence why this failed 7th cycle seems like a miserable milestone!

Anyone welcome to keep me company. Sucks 😫

Defo have fingers crossed for this one. I was hoping I'd get lucky month 6 (going by statistics) but it's nit to be. Expecting cycle day 1 any day now. Good luck 🤞🏼🤞🏼

@OK92 yes I usually ovulated CD13/14. So does come round fast ish. Are you nearly fertile week?

How is everyone else doing?

@FreckledMouse did I see you got your BFP in another thread?! Yay congrats. When did you test??

DH went for his SA this morning. They said results are 7 working days max. So we should know some point next week.

In 2ww so praying this could be our cycle but not convinced after 9 already failed cycles.

Xx

@Indianna2006 I know what you mean. I’m already feeling totally un-optimistic and I’m not even in the TWW yet! Due to ovulate this weekend. Haven’t been using OPKs yet but getting so tempted.

Only new things I’m trying this cycle are - not tracking (so far lol) and not drinking (read a few old threads whereby people with PCOS noted they conceived when not drinking as apparently alcohol can alter hormone and oestrogen levels (clutching at straws here!!) and I did conceive DD when doing ‘dry Jan’. Thing is I don’t really drink loads anyway so who knows. Just anxiously awaiting SA results too.

@Indianna2006 @FlyOnTheWall89 Hi ladies, we had DH SA results back and safe to say I'm a bit of a wreck. Total motility was 23% and progressive motility 17%. These were both abnormal (should be above 40% and 30%). I am quite certain this is why things haven't happened yet and don't really know where to go from here, just wish I'd found out sooner. So sad and due to ovulate within the next few days and now thinking what is the point :(

@OK92 so sorry to hear that hun.
We’re the other parameters normal?
If it’s only motility, then they can be altered. An he isn’t drastically off parameters so maybe with some specific supplement it could make a big difference if the count and morphology is okay?

Does he take supplements atm? What has he been taking?

I feel like I know DHs sperm analysis is going to come back with something. But it is just stats. Lots of people with below average sperm still do get pregnant.

Had you of kept going for a year before tests. You could of for you all know of got lucky one month. And had never of known his motility was a bit low. 17% are still progressive and does only take one as they say. But yes it tends to take those people longer…

We’re you given any advice from the clinic?

Sorry 😩 I feel like I’ll be on next week feeling the same. DH already takes supplements but when you know what the exact issue is. Easier to tailor make it I think.

@Indianna2006 so he currently just takes vitamin D and zinc. The clinic have said to do another analysis in 6 weeks time, which we will do but I’d rather get an action plan in place beforehand. He is worried he has variocele so wants to get checked for that. His count was really high and morphology 5% so just above the normal % I think. He uses the spin bike a fair bit so I’ve told him he has to stop for the time being. Ugh so sad. And deflated.

Hi @OK92 - oooo it's so deflating. Not all is lost. The scores are not too bad and with some other supplements, you'll be able to get them up. Have a look into Proxeed and Impryl - I think for motility Impryl may be better. They're not cheap by any means, but as that is his only one that isn't perfect, I am sure you have a good chance still with some extra supplements. Definitely get the variocele checked out. @Indianna2006 is right, so many men have 'imperfect' sperm according to an analysis but so many couples probably achieve pregnancy before getting tested. Don't lose hope xx

@OK92 honestly I get it. Of course you’re going to feel deflated but all is not lost.

He has a good count and morphology. So there two pluses. Not all three aspects are bad. And sperm samples can change. I reckon with a few targeted supplements in 3 months or less his motility will be closer to normal and then he’d have a normal sperm sample.

Maybe get him taking the wellmen conception? It’s a general all rounder multi vitamin for men ttc and hear good things about that is fairly cheap.

I’ve been paying a bit more for what DH is taking but may swap to wellman if this goes on for much longer…

DH has been taking his for 4 months..so we’re only like a month into where they’d of had a max effect. So anxious to see what SA says and therefore..whether we get any luck from taking supplements. You have to wait for the changes to happen annoyingly..

@FlyOnTheWall89 how are you doing hun? I’ve heard good things about proxeed. Just isn’t cheap is it. But know fertility specialist seems to recommend it. If DHs comes back with issues I shall maybe be investing.

But yes as I said. Sooo many couple prob do fall with lower sperm parameters. They’d just never know. It’s not a final end of the line. It’s a snapshot in time.

(Says me when I have a meltdown next week - remind me of this ladies please)

Thanks both. Going to order Impryl tonight I think and I also have some coQ10 he can start taking now. Plus the vitamin D and zinc. I spoke to a French fertility specialist (the same one who scanned me recently) who said to buy Gametix M. So I need to have a google of that, I imagine it’s a French brand but he said it’s the best. Who knows. Hate that it’s a 3 month wait now to see results. I guess at least medicine is so advanced now, if we do end up needing to go down the IVF route. It all just seems so far away when I’m so desperate for it to happen now!

@OK92 I'll have a look into that other supplement - I've not heard of it. Yes it feels a million miles away doesn't it, that is what is so hard. I watched something on insta yesterday with a girl who has a disorder which means she couldn't get pregnant naturally and she talks through the IVF process. Once you're done with the actual waiting times and start it, it's actually all very quick which made me feel better! She said the injections are fine once you've done them for 2 days and you feel like a superwoman. She didn't make it sound as scary as many others do x

@Indianna2006 hi hun - fingers crossed for your DH results. We are okay I think. Yes Proxeed is raved about - hope I can rave about it too in 3 months time! I've just ovulated so hoping for a miracle. It's £66 a month - not cheap on top of all the other ones too but cheaper than IVF!! X

@FlyOnTheWall89 wow £66 that is expensive. But like you said. Worth if it if makes a difference and continues to allow for natural conception.

Yeh I think ivf more feels intense. And obv all the injections etc can freak ppl. If it’s any consolation I had to inject myself everyday in pregnancy with bloody thinners from my third trimester until 6 weeks after birth. So all in all I injected for about 5 months. Once you’ve done it for a week or so etc. it’s becomes the norm. I’d have no issues now injecting myself because I had to get so used to it. But it felt like a massive hurdle at the time.

Xxx

@Indianna2006 oh wow that is so long. It certainly does feel very intense and it's all so grown up and scary. I just wanted to have sex and make a baby haha how did it come to this!!! So naive of me. Fingers crossed for a miracle between now and summertime when I think we will look at progressing with intervention via NHS / privately. X

@FlyOnTheWall89 yep..why isn’t it that simple. When we agreed to try for a second I honestly thought omg were actually doing it. We’re going to have a second baby. As I’d spent so long wishing we could when we couldn’t.

And now..I just don’t know if we are 🤷🏻‍♀️ It’s a horrible feeling the uncertainty. I deff didn’t think I’d be here nearly 10 months later questioning if we can even make it reality.

Anxiously waiting the SA. As if it isn’t within normal. I’m not sure where we go from here because we have a DC.
Does nhs investigate other reasons for me or suggest ivf and then we pay etc.

But like you say you need to try improve sperm and try for longer rly and things do happen for ppl in not ideal circumstances. But it feels an age doesn’t it.

Altho not sure how else I could improve DH sperm. He’s been taking “fertil aid” for men for 4 months. An then you can add on count boost and motility boost as extra bottles once you know a designated issue. He’s also been taking high dose vitamin C for 7 weeks and higher dose vitamin B12 as those were the main high vitamins in the count boost and motility boost so I got those to do for now as it was much cheaper than paying for the set bottles as I don’t even know if it’s an issue.

So I’d SAY I’d bad…we’ll how much more can I add LOL.

I’m not sure DHs sample seemed like loads. Think he might of been affected by the non sexual act of doing it and having to rush to get it there. So hoping that doesn’t affect things as I know from my fertility how big his sample normally is 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🙈😂

God the things we talk about honestly. But worried they will make his count lower overall obv. But again it’s just a snapshot isn’t it, you get bad samples and semen changes.

Hate the waiting!

Off for my bloods for progesterone and swab today. Then there ticked off too xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 yeah having done a bit of research it does seem less scary. I think what is scaring me the most about it is the fact it might not even work first time! The thought of going through that for it to fail fills me with dread. And as we already have a DC so would have to go private and that's obviously a lot of money. And then thinking what clinic to go to as there's so much choice with quite a range in cost. lots to think about 😂. Hopefully it doesn't come to that. I've ordered the Metafix M supplements, going off of what this specialist has said. Desperate for them to arrive!

@Indianna2006 it sounds like your DH is well covered for supplements. Fingers crossed the SA comes back all normal. Ours ended up being ready earlier than expected (like 4 working days). Good luck with the tests, definitely good to get them ticked off.

2 days late, hopes were well and trully up, then boom. Grrrrr! I'd prefer 2 days early to this again! Onto cycle 14 we go..... Damn it, damn it, Damn it!

@Teachermummy83 sorry to hear about AF. Hope she gets the message one of these days.

@OK92 @FlyOnTheWall89

Have any of you thought of trying the ferti Lily cup? Think one of you had maybe mentioned it before.
I got it a few months back and used for 2 cycles but nothing happened. This cycle I didn’t use it other than once on day of ovulation as our sex position meant to the soerm didn’t deposit deep (way tmi) 😂🙈 so I wanted to give them helping hand.

Anyway when I put it in I turned up and out my legs up the wall where the headboard is as I haven’t tried that either. And when I did and i oh BV have my pelvis tilted more the ferti Lily popped and went further up. And when I checked it was much higher and angled further back and totally covering my cervix. Whereas usually it was much lower…so realised I’d been wearing it totally wrong! Hadn’t even been in the right place near my cervix 🤦🏻‍♀️😂

Ugh. When I took it out there wasn’t much semen in it I think due to the position. But I’m armed with new info with where it needs to go.

So I’m not even out for next month but hopefully for next few months I can try this and get it in right position now I’ve realised.

I know even with sperm issues may seem unlikely. Makes more sense though as if less swimmer to have a chance you need as many up there near that cervix in the fertile mucus.

Soooo I can’t give a proper review on it as I was wearing it faaarrr too low. We shall see if it makes any difference next month.

Can’t imagine the one time I wore it correct this month would of worked as I missed most the sperm I think 😂

@Indianna2006 hahaha omg imagine if you get a BFP now. I haven't tried one - I have used my moon cup but obvs it doesn't get as close to the cervix. I might get one for next cycle. Every cycle, there is one more thing to buy/try. X

@FlyOnTheWall89 haha I know right. God I’d be fuming 😂😂

I mean the one time I used it this cycle I faffed about so much when I took it out it didn’t have nowhere near as much sperm in as normal. About only 1/3 so think that was maybe a wasted go ha.

But I’m quite hopefully to have a proper go next few months.

Honestly it had to go waaaay higher in me than I thought. It was sat more like moon up area. Which isn’t going to do anything.

The idea is when it’s in the “right place” the cervix is dipped into the pool of sperm. So you like collect it all with the sides of the cup as you push it in so majority of the sample is right there and the cervix opening is sat in it like a pool on holiday 😂 like dipping your toes in haha.

I mean it makes logical sense right. If swimmers having a hard time or count bit lower. It’s giving that a helping hand.

Deff get one and give it a try maybe… Anything is worse a shot right. And the reviews on boots are good. Take a look xx

@Indianna2006 funny you say that as I was just looking into the ferti-Lily yesterday. I think I'll give it a go next cycle, as what harm can it do while we wait for supplements to kick in for OH and hope for some improvement in sperm figures! We've booked in to see Mr Ramsey early March so I'm hopeful that'll provide some more answers and an action plan going forwards.

@OK92 yes deff give it a whirl. Can’t see it can hurt.

Well think I’m out this month. Tested and got BFN 12dpo. Fucking sucks. WHY isn’t it working. 😩 Now onto cycle 11.

Armed with knowing where the fertilily needs to sit though gonna give that a good go for next couple cycles.
I’ve also ordered something called two plus fertility. It’s fairly new in U.K. and only available here and Singapore. Does a similar job but you actually wear it during sex and a soft flap allows the penis to slide in and out past it but after ejaculation it stops any backflip of semen at all. Hence it all stays where it needs to be maximising chances again.
So I might alternate then with sex sessions with that snd fertility and see if that fucking works!! Determined something has to work!!

Quite a good read that sight though as rather the myth of it only takes 1 sperm. Actual details you need hundreds of sperm to reach the egg as it required hundreds to break down the barrier to allow one to enter. Which I never knew!
And also that for hundreds of sperm to reach the egg you need 2 million sperm to enter the cervix. And how a count of about 100m guarantees 2 million can enter the cervix as the rest die in the vagina. I mean! Man why does no one tell us this shit.

Natural conception is hard! Unless you have super sperm basically lol. Which I think maybe none of us have..oh the joys 🤦🏻‍♀️

Anyway 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️ Let’s see what this brings.

@FlyOnTheWall89 info for you above tag you so you are notified. I might join your 9 month plus group to get more info of all these further tests and what I should expect as we go into fertility testing stage.

My bloods for ovulation came back normal too. Receptionist called me and said they were normal and booked me to speak to Docter but that’s not until next Friday. Only he can give me figures and details next steps for referall. But she said “normal” so presume that means it was above what it needed to be to confirm I ovulated.

Awaiting call for DPs results. But presume he will be same. Receptionist will book him in with dr so imagine might still be like 2 week wait for me to find those out as receptionist won’t give out details. Prob only state if normal or not. But not sure I trust receptionists 😂

@Indianna2006 wow that's really interesting . Also gulp, because my partner doesn't have 100mill. A few weeks ago there was a lady who was on month 14 and her OH had 9 mill and she got pregnant. Obvs the more you have, the better that chances.

Definitely get the exact progesterone result. My partner had a 12 days wait for results but the GP spoke to him on that day. Waiting another 2 weeks would have been agony. I would push a bit personally - she may be able to send results prior to a chat with the doc and that will give you some idea as they usually have a parameter of what is deemed normal. I'm only 6 DPO rn but obvs next to no chance until sperm improves.

Xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 yeh deff still possible. Think if you had 100m sperm count you’d prob be pregnant within 2/3 months. And if you don’t that’s why it takes longer sometimes.
Doesn’t explain unexplained ppl tho. But if IVF works for unexplained ppl and then fertilised egg chooses to implant. In my head the sperm can’t be getting there and fertilising the egg right? Cos if it did one time you would get pregnant. So go figure. It’s weird how it works.

Yeh well GP may offer to email them or give him a print out. We will see as yet. I mean I’m not pregnant this month and DH already takes supplements so waiting a few more days doesn’t make a massive difference as I’m not sure what I can change even if it is bad 🤷🏻‍♀️

I will ask the GP if they refer though how long the wait roughly is. And if he doesn’t know call the clinic myself. As some places it’s agggges and I did agree with DH we won’t wait forever and a day and go private for a scan and Hycosy for me to rule issues with me out.

DH didn’t want to keep going and have a gap much more than age 5. So feel time is of the essence and I don’t have much of it!!

@Indianna2006 sorry you're out ☹️ it sucks so so much.

That's interesting about the sperm. I assume it means you need 100mill decent sperm...which we don't have. We had a count of almost 150mill but if most of them don't move or move slowly then it's really a lot lot lower than that 🤦🏻‍♀️!! I'll definitely try that or the ferti-Lily next month though. Need to try as much as poss over the next 6 months or so at which point we will likely think about proceeding with private IVF/ICSI as we'll have given DH a chance to be on supplements for a while plus don't get any NHS help anyway 😩