Struggling to conceive at a year

[Bobbi44]

Hi,

I would like a bit of advice and I suppose reassurance. I've been trying to conceive for almost a year with my partner with no luck so far :( I had some private fertility tests and all came back normal except my oestrogen which was slightly low but nothing too severe. I spoke to my doctor and they reassured me that it's negligible as its only 2 marks out of the normal range,although the private doctor summary suggested a cream. When I informed my doctor they said no that wouldn't be suitable. I have irregular periods, but use an app and LH sticks to track LH surge. Despite frequent sex around my fertile days nothing is happening. I'm starting to get down as im ready for this step in my life. The difficulties are hard to overcome some days as I have a difficult past ( some trauma related to a previous pregnancy that at the time I decided not to go through with). I'm really scared that it won't happen and feel like my doctors don't take my concerns seriously. I dont know what to say to them next or what I should even do. I take vitamins, am healthy, excercise, and don't smoke or drink. Has anyone else been in the same boat at all and what can more can I do?

Thanks in advance.

I forgot to add I'm in my very early 30s.

Did your partner get tested?

I would ask for a referral to fertility services or book a private appointment if you can afford it.

@Bobbi44 your partner needs to have a sperm analysis which will give you a clearer idea of if there is anything on his side that isn't in order. Then once you both have all those tests in place, you'll be referred to a fertility clinic.

No not yet, he is nervous and putting off. I still can't help getting anxious thinking its me though.

Thanks, I cant afford it atm. Did the private blood test to see anti mullarian etc

I'm sorry but you're going to have tell you partner he needs to get tested. I have a few friends who wasted literal years of trying, tests and became depressed with the stress of it, only for the issue not to be with them at all. By then they'd been trying for 2-3 years.

Are you definitely ovulating? Are you based in the UK? You can order a blood test from MediChecks which can confirm your progesterone levels. If they're over a certain amount then you'll know if you have ovulated. I believe it's around £49.

I know, I've tried but he says it stresses him. I don't want to waste years to be honest but would like to know im ok either way.

Iam not sure. I use an app and basal body temp chart. Sometimes it confirms other times it doesn't. I had wondered this too whether I'd been ovulating. I had a blood test with my doctor and it came back low progesterone but they said it was normal for time it was taken. I dont find them helpful. They told me that based on my results and the fact that I have regular periods and conceived years ago that I'm fine. I dont particularly find them helpful as keep saying I'm ok. My private, more thorough blood test, found that everything else was in normal range bar my oestrodiol, which again i flagged to my gp and they said it was only slightly low and wouldn't effect my ovulation and isn't indicative of premature ovarian failure.

Yes, iam UK based and may try that again. I have an appt Friday so going to really stress to them the issues and how it is impacting me. I am obviously happy that the tests haven't shown anything bad as such but it's not explaining why I'm struggling so much and they're not even considering whether a slightly low estrogen level would impact the whole system. I personally believe it can, body is sensitive and a believer that if one thing is out of kilter it can have a knock on effect

If you're in the UK and you haven't conceived in over a year then you should be entitled to full investigations (not just blood tests) on the NHS (once your partner has had a semen analysis, as a previous poster said). If neither you nor your partner has a child, you should also be entitled to one round of IVF on the NHS. Your GP should refer you to an NHS fertility clinic (although you can also get NHS funded fertility treatment through private clinics too). Good luck

Yup it's time to get an NHS fertility referral and for your partner to get tested. It could be that all your tests are fine cause you are fine but he isn't!