Saw the GP today...

[Got2besoon]

Well after 16 months of ttc number 2 and one mmc at the start, I finally bit the bullet and saw the GP this morning.

She was lovely and she's going to order some bloods and a sperm analysis for DH. She also took a swab today (for Chlamydia I think).

I'm sad that I'm at this point and a little angry too. I thought my DS would have a sibling by now and I just want this fertility journey to be over. Definitely grateful to have DS but fearful no more will come.

Is anyone else at a similar stage in their fertility journey?

@Got2besoon Hoorah! I hope it works for you :D I really do feel like it made a difference for me back in 2020.

@TheBirdintheCave Ahh, don't get me excited!! I really (really, really) hope it works.

DH just to me he was disappointed there wasn't a blockage because he wants something that we can "fix". Classic boy.

@Got2besoon so glad it was a straightforward process for you! I also absolutely hate smears and am a total chicken when it comes to speculums. Hoorah that it was easy! And I really really hope it works for you too. Keeping all fingers crossed! I can imagine my DH saying something like that about not finding a blockage, too!!

In ridiculous news that may be a bit outing to anyone who knows me well (but... what are the chances) I have effing shingles! Have had them for a week or so but only diagnosed on Monday. I'm on masses of antivirals, apparently they don't harm ttc but I sort of expect my body might be busy with that for a bit. My DH thinks they may have been caused by ttc stress 😞 I feel okay now but until today have been quite under the weather. I am extremely annoyed and as a result of this and the antivirals am not scheduling tests for another month. Great start to 2023

Hi, sorry for jumping in so late in the day but I'm in a similar position to most of you so thought I'd say hi.

I've been TTC #2 for 7 cycles now, not a sausage, nothing at all happening. Did the superdrug progesterone test and it was 27 or 28 which they said was fine but most likely a day out. I then did a whole load of tests through Forth. All fine except AMH which is only 2.7pmol which is ridiculously low so a bit concerning. Though after hours of research and paying to read medical journal papers (nuts I know!) it seems that it isn't indicative of a problem on it's own, it just makes things a bit more time-limited.

I was speaking to a friend and she recommended her fertility doctor/gyno so have booked an appointment with him on Tuesday next week. First appointment is a consultation and scan, then there'll be another scan for follicles a few weeks later, think it's about £500 initially then another £300 per scan but I would rather do it now and hopefully push things along than wait and see. Bit of a control freak which really isn't a great combo with TTC! So expensive though, then again loads of tubes of pre-seed, all the ovulation and pregnancy tests and the supplements mean that this could end up being the more economic alternative!

So glad the appointment and scan went well for you @Got2besoon , fingers crossed for this cycle. I've heard good things about clomid. The friend who recommended the gyno had some problems conceiving and did so each time she went on clomid. Certainly lots of success stories, I hope they prescribe it for me next week.

And feel better soon @oliveroses !

@Got2besoon Haha sorry 😅

We had another missed miscarriage just before New Year after getting pregnant in November so I'm back on the IVF road again 🙄 Our first consultation is on the 2nd of Feb.

I'm so sorry, @TheBirdintheCave. That must be devastating. Hope that the IVF process goes smoothly x

@oliveroses Oh, you poor thing. I hope you're back to normal soon. I know when you're TTC every little obstacle can feel like a huge mountain when you're going through it.

And you never know... I've heard the body can be good at accepting an embryo when under the weather!

@Jigglemonster Welcome! It sounds like your Progesterone levels were similar to mine. I found it quite a frustrating level. I guess we're probably ovulating, but it would be nice to know for sure!

I actually haven't gotten the invoices for my private tests and HSG yet... eep. I didn't want to ask what the bill was. Ignorance is bliss and all that :/

@TheBirdintheCave I am sorry . Fingers crossed the IVF goes well my lovely. Feb 2nd is soon!xx

Alright, I just had my NHS pelvic scan. All OK. Frustratingly, the ultrasonographer wasn't at all chatty and didn't tell me anything.

I asked if she could tell if I was going to ovulate soon, and she told me I should use ovulation strips! I guess she was just looking for anything abnormal and wasn't checking my follicle size.

She did volunteer that I have some "good looking follicles on my right side" though, so I'll take that! LH strips still negative for now and CD 12. I wonder if Clomid will delay my ovulation as its usually CD13 or 14?

@Got2besoon How annoying that she wouldn't tell you anything :( I hope ovulation happens soon for you :)

I'm really sorry @TheBirdintheCave , not long until the 2nd and hopefully will go well.

@Got2besoon yeah annoying with the level, but seems very sensitive to the exact day and when I asked about it to the online consultant they basically said it would be highly unusual to get that level and not ovulate, but googling didn't give me that impression. There's so much information, it's really hard to filter through it.

That's annoying about the ultrasound, some are definitely chattier than others. Good that she said the follicles looked good though. Have you had any side effects of the clomid so far? Do you usually get a positive LH on CD12? Hopefully you've got one by now.

@Got2besoon so annoying you didn't have a conversational person! I can't believe she recommended ovulation strips...🤨 Can clomid delay ovulation?

One of my ntc group announced a new pregnancy today and asked (jokingly) if anyone else was with them. Aargh.

@oliveroses I hate it when people do that :(

@Jigglemonster , I do think I'm ovulating as I get some cramps and other changes (sore boobs after), plus I have regular periods. I also always get an LH peak on strips. Who knows though!

My LH strips are getting darker today so I'm thinking ovulation will be tomorrow or the next day (about CD15). This is a little late for me so maybe clomid has delayed things a bit for me. Hopefully those follicles are maturing.

@Oliveroses I did think the ovulation strip comment was rich. Surely a scan is much more reliable?!!

Ugh, I just can't handle new pregnancy announcements right now. I read them and try not to process them, it just makes me too sad :(

So, I had the ovulation pains from hell yesterday (CD15). So intense it was unreal! It lasted about 8 hours. I'm hoping this means at least 2 lovely eggs thanks to the Clomid but who knows.

I'll be getting my 21 days bloods taken which should show if I ovulated or not.

We've managed to DTD at the right times so crossing my fingers and toes that this month might just be the one.

@Got2besoon Hoorah for ovulation! I think my egg popped today too as I had some cramping.

@Got2besoon @TheBirdintheCave ooh I actually love it when ovulation pains happen! None for me this month but I don't get it every month (and I'm not worried about that). Other signs of ovulation though. Fingers crossed. I've been taking agnus castus this month and we have dtd every other day so far.

Woop woop, it's ovulation central around here!

I sometimes get mild pains but this was on a whole other level. I was actually considering pain relief.

Now, for that sperm to meet the egg for all of us...! This thread is due a few BFPs.

Oh excellent @Got2besoon , interesting that it was a bit late but that you noticed it more than normal.

I'm a bit behind the O train, have my first appointment at Harley st this morning so I'm hoping that the scan will be ok and that he'll be able to recommend something or prescribe clomid.

Not sure what's happening my cycle this month, only on 7dpo ish and my temperature seems to be dropping already so wondering if that means my luteal phase will be super short 🤔

@Jigglemonster I never got on with BBT measuring. I think my sleep is too erratic, so I'd get strange readings.

How was your appointment?!

@Got2besoon I found that was the case for me too when I first started doing it, even though it still gave me a rough idea of what was happening. Buying a new thermometer has made all the difference though. My readings are definitely following a typical pattern this month. My O dip was this morning despite my cramps from yesterday so fingers crossed I get a rise tomorrow and I'll be 1dpo.

@TheBirdintheCave Ooh, that's nice to actually see the dip.

To be fair, it worked quite well when TTC my first and there is a general pattern when I try now, but I was wanting more precise curves and dips than I was getting!

I also resent having to take my temperature when I'm so sleepy 😂

@Got2besoon @TheBirdintheCave have never managed to track ovulation! I'm very impressed by those who do.

We were deliberately dtd every other day this month to see if it made a difference but I think I probably ovulated yesterday and we did not dtd yesterday (but we did the day before) and now I feel quite annoyed about it 😒

@oliveroses That's actually perfect. The day before O is the day you don't want to miss as it gives sperm time to capacitate and be waiting for the egg when it gets released :)

@TheBirdintheCave thank you, that makes me feel a lot better!

Yes, apparently ovulation day is often too late as the egg dies quickly and the sperm haven't had time to mature.

I think some studies say 2 days before ovulation is best and the day before is next best. I'd say it depends on so many factors and probably isn't the same for everyone.

I get it though, I get frustrated if we miss ovulation day.