9 months+ trying to conceive, still losing hope, still trying

[BritInNZ]

Continuing the earlier thread ladies before we run out of room... will tag in who I remember but feel free to tag others I may have missed. And newbies always welcome!

@Aubyone - pregnant! Adding in case she wants to keep in the loop 😊
@kmbegs
@FlyOnTheWall89
@Hopefullywaiting01234
@Tinkerbell098
@LucyAnne34
@MaryTeenOfScots

@Tinkerbell098 sorry to hear your news ❤️ I def think it will take time to sink in but as the other girls said, you have some answers now and it’s something that can be sorted or worked around. I know everyone has a completely different story but my friend had a very similar situation - they advised on removal of her tube and then ivf. Which she did. Ivf was unsuccessful however she then went on to have two natural pregnancies! Couldn’t believe it. I always think of her when I’m worrying it will never happen. X

@Tinkerbell098 so sorry! I understand how you feel, though. It is very overwhelming the whole TTC process itself so naturally you feel big emotions. After being prescribed Clomid after my appointment with my gp and being referred for laparoscopy if we don’t succeed in 3 months I cried in the toilet at the doctors. 🙈 For me this is either one step closer to a baby or eventually IVF, and it’s quite scary! 😬🥺

Hope we can all manage this … the constant prodding and procedures and everything. ❤️

My situation is totally different to the rest of you girls as I already have 2 children who are 5 and 2. So when we started TTC a third I didn’t expect to have any problems. The GPs continually told me it could take up to a year and it was highly unlikely we would need any intervention we already have two. Now we are on month 12 I feel really worried. We will have to pay for IVF and now I have the guilt about whether it’s right to spend out savings on IVF when we could be spending it on our two existing children 😔

Hi @Hoping43 - interesting. How long did your other two take? What tests have you already had done if any? Hoping someone on here might be able to shed some light on what to get checked etc. also, how old are you if you don't mind me asking xx

@FlyOnTheWall89 hi! I’m 35. I conceived my 5 year old first month of trying when I was 29. My second took longer (eight months) conceived just before I turned 32 and we started TTC a third when I was 34 and 3 months and now I’m 35 and 3 months. We’ve had SA (normal), day 3 bloods (normal but FSH was 9.6 and the cut off is 10). I was concerned but the nurse at the clinic didn’t seem to be. Transvaginal ultrasound and my AFC was 13 on day 15 of my cycle, lining thickness was 9.5mm and I had a dominant follicle measuring 18.5mm and I ovulated day 17. My cycles vary 28-34 days. I always get positive OPKs. Any thoughts would be much appreciated! Thanks xx

@Hoping43 oh wow you've had loads of tests already. I would definitely seek further advice / reassurance re the FSH score. What was your LH? There is quite a lot on the internet about the ratio between LH and FSH. Higher FSH correlates with diminished AMH scores, but if you've had a good AFC, then I would presume your AMH can't be that bad. Maybe it is just taking a bit longer this time. Are you taking Vit D? A DNA fragmentation test could be something else your partner could get tested. Low Vit D, inflammation, high DNA fragmentation and subclinical thyroid issues are the most common causes of 'unexplained fertility'.... so you need to tick those boxes. Lots of girls on here have had a HSG too incase of blocked tubes... that might be a good next step too x

Thank you lovely ladies for the thoughts. I really appreciate and really happy to have all your support and be able to talk to a group of ladies who truly understand. I'm feeling better today, cried most of last night, and I needed that.

@FlyOnTheWall89 that's a really quick turnaround and hope your appointment goes well today. Please feedback on how you get on. If you've found any good threads regarding initial stage of treatment, please share with me.

@LucyAnne34 thanks for sharing your friend's story, it gives us all hope. Miracles do happen.

@lilrosemarie yes, not looking forward to all the constant tests, scans, appointments etc. Let's get through this together.

@Hoping43 it all looks good to me, but our bodies are so challenging and sometimes things work, sometimes they don't. Sorry I can't shed any light as my knowledge is limited. Are you on all the supplements etc?

@FlyOnTheWall89 thanks. I have had my thyroid checked last year. I don’t have my specific results but I was told everything was normal. I’m guessing the issue is on my side as my husbands results are all normal and we already have two children and in fact his results were better than when we were trying for our second.

Haven’t had vitamin d checked for a while but in the past it has been low, however, I take 4000IU a day which I believe is more than enough.

What do you mean by inflammation?

I am seeing a consultant in 2 weeks and hoping I will be referred for HSG as I had a c section with my second so I am a bit worried there could be some damage.

I think it’s probably going to boil down to egg reserve and quality but I don’t really understand as my AFC was apparently normal x

I think you should probs get an AMH blood test - they are not expensive and I know lots say to ignore mostly as its generally used as an indication for how you'll respond to IVF, but I think it is a good one to know, even if it is to tick a box. You will need one anyway if you go ahead with IVF in the future. Ye that is loads of Vit D. Even with normal sperm results, he could still have high DNA fragmentation. We are seeing a top urologist in a few weeks so I will let you know if I find anything else out about this when we go. Hoping yu get your BFP soon x

@Tinkerbell098 thank you. I take ubiquinol, pregnacare, vitamin c, vitamin d, vitamin e and omega 3 x

@FlyOnTheWall89 thank you. Is your infertility unexplained? I had my AMH done but they won’t give me my results over the phone so have to wait for my appt 2 weeks on Tuesday. Not sure what to expect with my FSH being higher and my AFC being normal x

@Hoping43 no, we have MFI (unexpectedly as my OH is v healthy, normal chap although does have stressful intense job) hence referral for IVF but we want to see a urologist to see if there is anything we can do in the next 4-6 months rather than going straight to IVF. He has been taking Proxeed for 6 weeks now and he has another sperm test at the end of the month so we hope to see some improvement. We are 32 and 34 so didn't expect issues and it has all got v grownup, v fast.

@Tinkerbell098 I will let you know what they say and what to expect x

@FlyOnTheWall89 I hope you get the answers you need. How long have you been trying now?

It’s all just such a frustrating process. I just can’t get my head around having two and now not being able to have another. It’s so strange x

My GP suggested inositol. It’s supposed to be good for fertility. I’m taking vitamin D, C, folic acid, zinc, inositol powder, omega 3. I started inositol this cycle. And I’m starting Clomid today for six days.

Will see if we are successful. 😬

@lilrosemarie which country are you in? I’m hoping I might be prescribed letrozole before moving to IVF. When we saw a consultant when trying for our second she said I may not be ovulating as my cycles vary 28-34 days. I do always get positive OPKs but don’t always have symptoms of progesterone rising after x

@Hoping43 I’m in Slovenia.
My cycled range from 27-32 days as well. And I had a crazy cycle last month that was 50 days long, but according to my gp it looked normal on ultrasound so I probably ovulated late. :/ I never feel ovulation and I didn’t use opks long enough to really see when my ovulation usually falls. I used them once or twice and I got a positive I think once. So I PRAY Clomid helps! 🙏🏻🙏🏻

I’m glad I was prescribed it before moving on IVF. We are lucky as in Slovenia 6 IVF procedures are covered by insurance for everyone. Even if you already have kids!

That is amazing re the amount of IVF cycles covered @lilrosemarie. Hope something work for you.

@Hoping43 we have been not using any contraception for a year. I came off the pill 15 months ago and we were careful ish for the first few months. x

@FlyOnTheWall89 have they told you that you could still conceive naturally? What are their thoughts after you reach the 12 month mark? That’s what scares me as google pretty much says it’s over after 12 months without help 😫😫.

@lilrosemarie that’s amazing. It would probably be more cost effective for us to move to Slovenia 🙄

@Hoping43 I was going to ask if you've had a C-section as I've heard that can do some damage, although rare, so a HSG/hycosy might shed some light into it.

@FlyOnTheWall89 fingers crossed your OH gets good results for the next SA and you can avoid IVF, but good that you've already got the funding in place if you need it.

@lilrosemarie oh wow 6 cycles that's amazing! My CCG only funds one round, so most likely I'll have to go private.

I hope we can conceive on Clomid and we don’t have to go through ivf at this stage. 😬 We do really want a baby so if we have to … I guess we will.

I wish we all had the same chances no matter where in the world we are.

@Hoping43 nooo you totally can still get your BFP. There was a lady on here who got hers in month 14.

No there is always a chance of course, but just a very low one with our stats. We would need IVF with ICSI. With supplements and careful changes I think he could get his SA up, its just a case of by how much and then how long it would take.... Imagine if someone could answer that Qu haha. x

Just back from acupuncture and the lady said there are more and more women needing IVF and it's really concerning. She said she didn't start the business to just specialize in fertility, but over the past 5 years, it has moved from 75% of the business consisting of fertility treatment to now over 90%. She said back then she only used to get people in their 40s facing issues, then it moved to 30s, and now she is seeing more and more people in their 20s needing treatment. My consultant said a similar thing yesterday that it was getting more and more common. What is happening to us???

Not sure how helpful it is but here goes...

After initial appointment 2 weeks ago, this was the first appointment with the lady who will be my lead consultant for the process.

I need to have a HSG, so I'll call the hospital on the first day of next period. Rubella test also a necessity.

When we want to begin, we call the nurse.
-we will have long protocol (most common)
-it's about 1 month total of various injections .
-somewhere in there they do a stimulation start scan to check ovaries and lining.
-then they encourage follicles to grow. Scanned 3 times a week.
-when follicles are mature, trigger injection

• egg collection is done under sedation and pain relief and takes 15-20 mins. On the same day, partner gives a sample. They can make a decision on the day whether to do ICSI or not.
• then embryologist calls with an outcome
• fresh transfer day 3 or 5 (only 1 to be transferred)
• then the TWW

They also prep you for all the things that could go wrong - won't list all of them as there are loads, most resulting in them having to freeze the embryos and then do a frozen transfer.

Success rates are 40% per cycle at that clinic for my age. For 32, she would expect more like 13 or higher AMH, so that confirms it's a bit low, but okay.

-Slightly increased chance of eptopic pregnancy

• no increased risk of miscarriage
• counciling is part of funding

• no hard or fast rule re sperm required for it to be IVF rather than ICSI but she did recommend a DNA fragmentation test which you can't get on the NHS.

-quietest times: June / July (I'd start the next cycle basically). December is 2/2.5 months wait.

Hope that helps anyone on the verge of going through the same process.

So much to take in and quite overwhelming, but okay. X

@FlyOnTheWall89 thanks so much for that. That's exactly what I needed to know, the initial steps, timelines etc. My AMH is also on the lower side at 12.6, but she said it's fair, not the worst, which is why she pushed me towards IVF rather than waiting around for longer, which I understand.
Just a bit confused, why did they say there'll be increased chance of ectopic? Thought they transfer to the uterus, is there a chance it can travel up to the tubes? So strange!
Does the NHS funding also include frozen transfer if the fresh cycle fails?
I agree, a lot of information and so much to take in. At least you are fully informed now and have time to prepare. Have you decided if you will go for it in June/July time?

@Tinkerbell098 no clue - spontaneous pregnancy as she called it, is a 3% risk and IVF is a 5%.

I have a feeling there is a small cancellation fee and then you go onto a frozen transfer protocol and it's less injections and some other tablets to prepare your lining.

We will make a decision after we have spoken to Dr Ramsay I think. I would love to start in June but I will have to see what my partner says. x