11 months TTC what else can I try!?

[dory0]

Hi 👋
Been TTC #1 for 11 months. Will go to GP or pay privately for tests next month if still no BFP but just wanted to ask if there’s anything else we can try!?
Periods are regular but with spotting last few days of most cycles. Had an ultrasound and day 21 progesterone, both normal.
Get a peak on OPKs every month and have done BBT most months and confirmed ovulation.
Both take vitamins. I’ve upped my exercise a bit recently. Both have a normal BMI and eat pretty well.
DTD every other day minimum during fertile week and always on the peak day.
Would love any ideas on what else we can try!?

Sounds like you've got it all covered @dory0 - you and your OH should get some tests done so you know where you stand! It might just be a case of it's taking you a little longer. Good luck!

When this happened to my husband and I we discovered that his sperm was the problem so it's definitely worth getting tests done as soon as possible just in case.

We were put down the IVF route and I had a HyCoSy test (where they flood your tubes with dye to check for blockages). Strangely, it stopped my end of cycle pre-AF spotting and I was pregnant two months later.

We think the solution was a combination of the HyCoSy and the fact that I started taking evening primrose oil and red clover in the days before ovulation which gave me EWCM for the first time ever. As my husband's sperm have low motility we guessed that the EWCM helped them move along.

We followed the same vitamin routine since we've been trying for number two and got pregnant after three months (versus 16 with my son), sadly it ended in missed miscarriage but we were thrilled to discover that it seems to be much easier this time round.

Good luck!

Ye @TheBirdintheCave we are the same. Very similar stats and position as @dory0 but found out we have MFI - nothing to suggest this would be the case. Book via your GP. It's super easy and I found it quick! You'll need your day 3 bloods and your partner will need a SA.

Pop to your GP and get the ball rolling. Don't bother paying for private at this point (unless one of you has a child already and therefore don't qualify for NHS)

Your husband needs a sperm analysis and they will likely retake your tests. When you do you day 21 bloods make sure you adjust them for your cycle and do them a week after your ovulation.

Other than that, have you noticed any patterns around ovulation? If so dump the ovulation tests. They can just cause more stress. Once your in the system for testing just keep DTD regularly without contraception, tracking only when you need to for testing.

It took us 2.5 years to get pregnant and were diagnosed with unexplained infertility. We were advised to try proxeed which we did. I got pregnant 4 months after us both taking it, twice.

Interesting that you took it too @Twizbe - what is it supposed to do for women? My OH takes it for low concentration and it has completely sorted his morphology. X

Tbh I don't think it doesn't anything magical for women. I think that's why the female one is a fraction of the price of the male one.

My DH's SAs were normal so I think we were recommended to take it as prep for IVF.

Interesting just reading about the Proxeed for men in the previous posts.....I got pregnant easily after my DH started taking simple L-Carnitin (he was on a big standard multivitamin anyway to cover other minerals etc). Just ordered off Amazon. We had 8 months of nothing and then 3 positive months in a row (the last one stuck, now 30weeks).

I was also taking soy isoflavones however, so who know which worked 😅What we do on the TTC journey!!

I'll/we'll definitely stick to the same things again for the next attempt in a few years!

(Sorry, I meant to add that L-Carnitin and a couple of other forms of it are the main ingredients in the Proxeed!)

You can get a sperm count and sperm mobility test very cheap over the counter/online.

Maybe try not drinking alcohol and caffeine.

I’ve heard some people have also cut out gluten with success.

Increase your fruit and water intake.

Have you tried looking into seed cycling?

Have you tried a fertility lube? I think we used one the cycle we conceived.

Good luck OP, it’s still very much possible x

Cutting our gluten or something like that will only help if it's causing inflammation which is one of the causes of unexplained infertility - make sure you're taking Vitamin D. If your partner cycles, or wears tight boxers or loves saunas etc these will be having an impact.

Yes @Regenbogen22 the combo of ingredients is pretty good for sperm.

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. Interesting to hear what has worked for others. Cycle day 1 today so feeling disheartened we’re still waiting.. going to get on with contacting the GP hopefully for some more tests. Will try evening primrose oil and preseed again this month, did both a while back but gave up on them. Caffeine intake is within the recommended amount I think but could go full decaf. Alcohol is minimal, only about a couple of drinks a month for me but DH a bit more. Will look into some of the other suggestions on here, thanks everyone 🙏

Eating 10 portions of fruit/veg a day helped me!

@FlyOnTheWall89 do you know anything about vitamin d? My acupuncturist told
me for optimal fertility it should be 100pmol and mine is 64. Finding it hard to believe it could be the issue but willing to try anything right now

Don't cut out caffeine or booze. TTC is no fun, don't get rid of the fun stuff until you have to

Hi @dory0 we were in your exact position a few months ago and I could have written your post. We finally got our BFP on month 12 having decided we’d get tests done if it didn’t happen then. The only thing we did differently on our successful month was use conceive plus lube.

TTC is such a difficult time look after yourself. Keeping my fingers crossed for you and sending lots of luck.

Two fab tips I got from mumsnet! Ubiquinol supplement for egg quality (I'm late 30s so think that was my biggest hurdle), as well as evening primrose oil to increase cervical mucus. You take it when your period finishes then stop once you've ovulated (it's not safe in pregnancy). I also drank pink grapefruit juice during fertile week to increase my mucus. It took five months to conceive (as compared to first time afew years back) and the month we conceived was the most EWCM I've had (every day for seven days rather than just a couple of days). We also started DTD on cycle day 4 so I think the combo of that as well as all the EWCM helped to keep all the sperm alive and ensured there was LOADS up there waiting for the egg! Good luck OP. TTC is so awful so I feel your pain X

Ah congratulations @PurpleSpottedLeopard and thank you 😊 will try preseed again this month!

Thank you 😊 I’ll be trying evening primrose oil again and think I will be buying some pink grapefruit juice too! It is hard feeling disappointed every month, but fingers crossed for this month!

@dory0 it really is. Every month is like a roller coaster! The disappointment when the period comes, then the pressure to DTD lots and potential hope you might have conceived, the relief when fertile week is over and you can temporarily relax, and then that dreaded week of symptom spotting before period due!!! X

Have you tried the fertilily? I’ve bought one but not braved it yet! But read really good things on here about it. Also cinnamon tablets to boost fertility ( have a google ) not a commonly known one.

I know most people in the UK are deficient and that the only tablets the fertility doctor at my clinic checked we were taking was Vit D and folic acid. I take Vitabiotics 1000 which is 'optimum strength'. It's also listed as one the more hidden reasons behind unexplained infertility along with inflammation. @Hoping43

We went to see a private urologist and asked about booze. Neither of us drink very much but I had got to the point of never even having a glass a wine and he said if we shared a bottle of red a week that would be totally fine and he said keep it to 1 cup of coffee a day.

I’m in exactly the same position as you except I’ve not had any tests yet, currently gearing myself up for that. It’s so hard seeing what feels like everyone get pregnant within a few months yet here I am 11 months TTC with not even a hint of a BFP 🥴

It’s really tough isn’t it. Fingers crossed for us both and everyone else that’s still waiting!

Any updates OP? X

Sorry just seen this. Yes, I’ll never know what changed but at just over 2 years TTC I had my first ever positive pregnancy test, just before we were due to start IVF. I have a 6 month old baby and feel so so lucky everyday. Sending love and hope to anyone waiting ❤️