2023 TTC 35+ Part 3

[VixFromThe6ix]

New thread!!!

The other one filled in so quickly. I'm happy that many of you are finding this space supportive and helpful.

@VixFromThe6ix sounds like some awful 70s band. The positive nancys

@Eirlys1986 I love this! Yes!!! To being excited for the next pregnancy!!! Screw you, miscarriage!!! 🖕

The only thing horrible about this group is gonna be my tone 😂

@VixFromThe6ix 😂. Ohhh me too. Bad bad singer 😆

Hope everyone’s doing ok.
Ah @Eirlys1986 it must be so hard doing the job you do after your loss. It’s so good you’re able to stay positive and hopeful for the next pregnancy though. Hope you’re ok.
I can see a line @H0pefull! Have you tested again?
Been catching up on everyone’s messages and hope everyone is doing well wherever you are in your cycles!

I feel like I’m forever obsessing over my BBT but this month it’s gone absolutely insane!!! I have had both one of the highest temps I’ve ever had (post-ovulation, so crazily high for pre-ovulation) and one of the lowest temps I’ve ever had, all in the space of a few days! (Photo attached) It’s really making me worry what’s going on with my hormones 🙈😩

Hi ladies,
My journey to TTC #2 has been a struggle and after loads of tests have found low iron, high testosterone and unknown reason for spotting. Shorting my luteal phase to 6dpo on some months before spotting.
All other scans and bloods are fine, DH has excellent swimmers etc etc.
Anyways I lost a shed tonne of weight to reduce the testosterone and it worked 😊 and now all levels are fine. The last thing is the spotting as I'm worried that if I did fall pregnant, It wouldn't stick.

Anyways I finally had my gynaecology appointment today at the hospital this is from when I was referred at the beginning of the year for spotting..

doctor was lovely. She wrote down everything that has been happening, I've told her about the fertility tests and scans, about the previous abnormal smears, about the ivf tests and private smear, about the recent hospital letter and recent smear

She said spotting can be caused by either: up to a year from the Implant being removed, or a cyst they can't see on the scans they have done, or hormone changes due to age.
She said that as the last scan didn't see any cysts, she will order a camera scan for me, to look into further if there is a cyst they can't see. She did a routine check of my cervix just now and said that externally it looks healthy . She said she will also prescribe me progesterone tablets to take 10 days before my next period (I need to miss this month as its too close). This will hopefully help me normalise the period and may even stop spotting. It may even help lengthen my luteal phase and I'm really hoping fall pregnant naturally!!!

She is has written a prescription for the tablets and will book the scan and then a follow up appointment in 3 months to see if any of this has helped and if I have had my smear results yet.

Feel happier to have her listen and she was really caring and understanding.

My question is; has anyone found that taking progesterone tablets helped them conceive? Even if blood work was showing progesterone levels are fine?
Thank you for any stories or help anyone is able to give! Xxx

@Mrsspoon3 I have but still getting similar results it’s so hard to know if it’s evap lines or not😩 I thought they would be getting darker if they were real but not so far.
AF due tomorrow but cramping quite a bit tonight so we will see what that brings 🤞🏻
tried not to get my hopes up but it’s easier said than done isn’t it 😔x

@VixFromThe6ix @Eirlys1986 LOVE The Positive Nancy's 😂 I can picture them (flares and hairbands and long flowing locks)... Also... Yes! Screw You Miscarriage!! I've also been doing some work on how to allow myself to be excited about a future pregnancy. As you said, each little bean deserves it's moment to be celebrated. And I feel like, if it did sadly end with another loss, at least I would have made the most of it for the time it was with me... That said, I know it's going to be super tough some days!!

@Mrsspoon3 I don't know anything about bbt I'm afraid. Maybe worth starting a thread as there are tons of knowledgeable ladies on MN who might have some insight!

@Floralsandsmiles so glad you got a good doc - it makes such a difference! Sounds like things are all moving in a really positive direction too. My sister had progesterone pessaries to maintain pregnancy after 1 MMC and 3 chemicals in quick succession. As far as I know they hadn't identified low levels beforehand but her two pregnancies since (with progesterone pessaries from moment of BFP) led to my niece and nephew being born. Not exactly the same I know as she was conceiving but still, might be helpful to know. I hope it really helps you!

@H0pefull ah that's nerve-wracking isn't it. But tests before AF are soooo early, maybe your HCG just hasn't had time to ramp up yet? Keeping everything crossed for you. X

Really lovely to see lots of positivity in the group and great to read about your experience @Floralsandsmiles I'm on day 12 of my 7th cycle of ttc.

@Mrsspoon3 I'm sorry I'm no baby expert. I did it once cycle and it just confused the heck out of me... Hope someone helps. If not try posting in the forum as probably more eyes will see it and will have more input for you.

@Floralsandsmiles a good doctor makes such a difference, doesnt it? As for progesterone, I had to take it. Mine was low and was the cause of my spotting. (Shorter luteal phase, uterus walls didn't have time to thicken enough to house the embryo). Spotting caused both my miscarriages sadly but after taking progesterone, my bean stuck!!! I swear it was the only thing we did differently and in my opinion that's the only thing that helped us hang on to the pregnancy third time around. So I hope this will be the case for you!

@Mrsspoon3 ugh I mean I'm no bbt expert!! Lol this autocorrect is Wilding!

Morning all,

AF due today but this is the result on a 6 days early test, don’t think this month is the one. Feeling so stupid for feeling devastated but I can’t help it 😔

Thank you @SnookyPook 😊 really happy to hear that the pessaries worked for your sister 😊 I knew of progesterone helping for Women with a progesterone deficiency, and after they have conceived to support pregnancy but just not heard of prescribing it in tablet form when no deficiency identified. The doctor said it was to be taken x3 times a day 10 days before AF is due and this is to support the spotting. But I'm frantically searching if this will help us conceive too and increase pregnancy chances.. its just the first case I've heard of it when no deficiency? Xxx

Hi @VixFromThe6ix 👋 thank you for your reply! Yes a good doctor makes such a difference and makes you feel heard! 😊
So glad to hear that the progesterone helped you conceive and I'm assuming stopped the spotting? (I have heard of people still spotting and getting a BFP and continuing to spot throughout pregnancy). I understand prescribing due to a deficiency found for you, I just haven't heard of it being prescribed when there is no deficiency found (mine was totally fine on progesterone levels). So purely just prescribed for spotting. I am just really hoping this will lead to a successful pregnancy! 🙏🤞 xxx

@Floralsandsmiles Hi, I am taking them too from 4dpo every cycle now. Dr said no like real research they help but they won't hurt for sure.
I had lots of cp, most likely qualify of the egg rather thsn progesterone...but to be on a safe side the one good egg has the ability zo stick 😅

I was on a progesteron during my pregnancy before with my son, from week 20 as cevix got short and they were trying to keep the baby in....well managed till 32w. So that's why I'd rather take them now..
They are horrible though, increasing the pregnancy type symptoms and you feel like- o that's the month 😒

👋 hi @TT82 great to know you have been prescribed too! Thank you for replying!
So you take from 4dpo every month and has it stopped spotting?or you didn't have that and took for other reasons?
How long have you been taking it?
I had progesterone pessaries also when I was pregnant with my DS from 20 weeks, due to a short cervix too, how uncanny is that!
So taking these now, you say symptoms are bad? Please tell me how long you have been taking these for and what symptoms you have encountered? I am making mental notes to prepare myself to ignore. Xxx

@Floralsandsmiles I am 41, since 40 had 4 cp (last cycle incl). After 6m and first cp my dr said it is more age related and egg quality..but that I could try. So since last September I was on them but only one every night from 4dpo (as if too early it creates mucus and like might prevent from fertilisation). Then was nothing till last cycle (well maybe a few cp but i didn't test early at all). Last cycle I was on them, but still cp which tells me egg quality an issue. But then I worry with age and previous two premature deliveries (both kids at 32w also this funny shape of uterus heart like), so decided still take them.
I didn't have spotting (even implantation 😟). I am due to start ivf process after this cycle, they said I can continue taking progesterone when in between trying naturally, even to increase 2 per day (each 200mg), but that no real evidence I need..

So I take them. You need to have day liner all the time as too much mucus but otherwise they are ok... Just yes at the beginning you might think - o tired, breast sensitive and bigger, must be pregnant so early....nope just progesterone 😅.
I do the tests like 13-14dpo and if negative stop taking them.

Good luck!

@H0pefull sorry about the negative digital this morning, it may be that this was a chemical pregnancy but it’s still possible that it’s just too early for the line to be dark enough even for the digital to be reading something. I hope that either way you get some concrete certainty soon, either with AF coming or a stronger positive test so you aren’t in limbo. Keep us all updated xx

Thank you @Eirlys1986 🤍 hope you are ok xx

@H0pefull I’m sorry, I was hoping this was the one for you.
It’s completely normal to be upset by it, we all allow ourselves to think ahead to getting our bfp so it is upsetting when it doesn’t happen.
Hope you are doing ok, lots of hugs 💜

@xxcxdonxx thank you ❤️ I think it’s because this is the first even hint of a positive that we’ve had since our miscarriage last June my mind just got carried away and assumed this would be it. Hopefully AF comes today for some confirmation.
lots of love to you xx

@Floralsandsmiles wow that's been a long wait for your appointment! Won't hold my breath on getting mine any time soon then. Sounds like she's been very helpful though so hope things help.

@H0pefull so sorry about your negative, I'm out this cycle too. Caved in and worked out the dates last night, any time from Sunday to Wednesday I'd have been expecting AF so thought I'd test this morning and nothing. I'd have put money on a positive, been feeling quite sick the last few mornings which I've never had before. Slight cramping on and off but I've had that for a while. No PMT and no other usual signs AF is on the way. I can only think that this is either a longer cycle than usual or its going to be like after the first mc in that AF arrived with no warning signs of spotting, PMT or cramping at all. I do feel quite deflated today.

Going to get some of the cheaper ovulation strips next time to use alongside the Clearblue as Clearblue are costing a fortune.

So sorry to hear that @RoseH36 ❤️ still fingers crossed for you that AF doesn’t arrive 🤞🏻 if it comes for both of us then hopefully we’re in the TWW together again 😂xx

@H0pefull thank you, looks like we'll be in the valley of torment around the same time, along with @SnookyPook. I just feel quite confused to be honest. Feels like my body has been playing tricks on me. Used 2 different tests as well, the frer ones have never let me down so trust their result. Used it alongside a Babyplan one to see what those are like as much cheaper.