TTC for 18+ months and feeling low!

[Natty2]

I'm fairly new at this forum and decided to join after TTC since the start of 2022
We discovered earlier this year that my DH morphology was low, although all other results were normal. He implemented life style changes straight away, and even went through a varicocele embolisation a few months ago, so we're waiting to see if that's helped.

Having gone through the rest of the year undergoing tests everything seems normal, so the NHS are not letting us even get on the IVF list until 2024. It's been such a long, physical and emotional journey and there seems to be no end in sight.

Anyone else going through similar things? I feel like I live life in 2 week cycles and it's so hard to try and not think about it all!!
Any tips?!

@Natty2 I think I would rather go straight to ivf tbh! Been such a long time I want the big guns now!
I hope they are just progesterone cramps for you and nothing to do with af!

CD1 😞

@Natty2 oh I'm so sorry! Pour yourself a nice big glass of wine, and have a hot as hell bayh. Not long now until the new year, where we can both hopefully get going on IVF.

@missmoosh how are you doing? Just over 2 weeks until my specialist appointment so actually looking forward to that!

@Natty2 CD1 for me too today 🥲 onwards and upwards

Sorry to hear about those of you who are on CD1. I’m a little bit behind you all as only about 3 dpo due to a very late ovulation this month!
Still waiting for my scan so we can be referred, but we have had some good news - my DH had his repeat semen analysis and his results have improved so that feels positive!
Just hoping (fingers crossed) we at least get referred this year even if wait for appointment is long. Planning to have a Hycosy in December so feel like I’m just counting down to that as a next step - that’ll be about 21 months by then.

@LucyLoopyLu 😞
Did you have much luck at your appointment recently?

@Foreverhopeful92 that's great news about the SA results! My husband has his next week which will be over 3 months since his op 🤞
Fingers crossed for you referral too! Or that this will be a lucky cycle for you 🤞🤞

@Natty2 Thank you! It was a nice surprise as the count went up more than we thought - although morphology seems harder to increase! Hopefully means the lifestyle changes and vitamins are working though!
Good luck for your DH’s results!
Hoping we have some news soon on this thread 🤞

@Natty2 aw thanks for remembering.
It was a bit disappointing tbh. She asked me some really basic questions and said next steps are for a hycosy. But I have to have a rubella test and chlamydia test before they will even book me in, and couldn't give me an idea of waiting times. I should hopefully get my blood and swab sample done this Friday.
It's frustrating as I waited ten weeks for this phone appointment so if they were more joined up with the GP I could have had the tests sorted while waiting.

@LucyLoopyLu im sorry to hear about your appointment! I feel your frustrations with the slow process with it all! Hope the next steps go quickly for you!

@LucyLoopyLu
Oh that's really frustrating! Hopefully you won't have to wait too long for the hycosy after bloods. Fortunately I had mine done the month after the referral so fingers crossed 🤞

@Natty2 sorry just seen this! I'm alright think I'm about to head back into fertile week, but not tracking. Have had way too much alcohol last couple weeks so probably already ruined any chances anyway!
Ahh not long until the appointment! I hope you get some answers! Mine is next week, getting nervous!
@LucyLoopyLu sorry to hear you are CD1 again and that the appointment wasn't what you hoped. Such simple tests GP should have known to request! I have had my rubella checked but no recent chlamydia test, maybe I should look into that this week...before my appointment 🤔
@Foreverhopeful92 amazing news about the SA! Fingers crossed for you in your tww! Think this thread is due some luck!

Ladies…. I think this might be it! 😭 I’m so scared that this is a faulty test or something is going to happen but I have to share because this here is hope ❤️
12dpo I believe, fmu and petrified it’s too faint! I hope this is the start of something and the start of some luck on this thread for everyone ❤️

@Foreverhopeful92 this is great news!!! I'm so pleased for you and keeping my fingers crossed that the line keeps getting darker.
Have you taken anymore tests?

I've been ttc for 2 years with a MC at the start , my partner had less than 1% morphology which he reversed himself in 2-3 months. I started the first IVF tablets 2 days ago with a view for egg retrieval around 6th November . I took a test last night and two this morning as I was getting ovary pains which could of been the meds but all of them are positive. I still don't think it's real I'm convinced it's a load of false positives but there you go there is hope. Im full of emotions I cried my eyes out because they cancelled my IVF after a 6 month wait list even though I've had 3 positive pregnancy tests it's all very tough and draining .

@LizzeyBenett I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this has worked for you before ivf!! I've heard so many people end up getting pregnant naturally as they start the ivf journey
How did your husband improve his morphology?

@Foreverhopeful92 Congratulations!! I am so pleased for you! Do let us know how the line progression goes!

I had my appointment, they referred me to the wrong person...back on a waitlist for me. I cried a lot but nothing I can do about it...

How's everyone else doing?
@missmoosh did you have your specialist appt this week? Mine is next Friday
We had some disappointing news, this week as my husbands SA came back weirdly worse than March, despite all the changes and vitamins etc.
The morphology went up though from 1 to 2.5%
We're really confused with how much the other factors went down though, as they were above average before!
We think it might be because he was SO unwell when he took the test and also it's been 3 months since his embolisation, so 3 months ago the sperm may not have been producing well due to the op?
In someways, it will hopefully mean we get on the ivf list before next year and just hope in the background he's actually improved overall!

@missmoosh oh no I just read your message 😢 so sorry this happened

Thank you , he cut out all alcohol and started a regimen of different supplements including CoQ10 and fenugreek. I actually watched a video on YouTube the couple were called fab and Elle and they were in the same boat only I think his results were worse , they went through what they did and took and fell pregnant naturally with twins. It's worth looking up there video because I definitely think it help my OH fix his morphology

Thank you so much @Natty2 and @missmoosh ! I can’t quite believe it and just praying the lines get darker! I’ve taken one more test (a boots early one) which has a faint line too but I’m trying to hold out from testing too much as I just know I’ll get in my head too much.

im so sorry to hear your news @Natty2 - to reassure you illness (in particular I have heard covid) has a big impact on sperm so it could well be down to this. I hope they run a repeat for you so you can get some clarification. Also apparently the vitamins can take 4-6 months so it may just be slightly too early to show up on the test. Fingers crossed you have some next steps.

@missmoosh im sorry to hear about the mess up! I would have cried too! The waiting game is so hard! I hope they can put you at the top or at least push to get you seen earlier if it was their error!

@LizzeyBenett thank you for the recommendation, we will check it out to see if he can do anything else to help!

How is everyone doing? @Foreverhopeful92 hope all is going well!
@Natty2I'm sorry to hear about the analysis, sending my best wishes for your appointment tomorrow!
Sorry I have been quiet, took a while to get my head around the appointment. Turned out they didn't do anything right, so being sent for all the tests and then the referral to the right place will be sent off.
Because of the delay I had a look and it turns out I can have one private round of IVF, without losing any of my nhs rounds. So we have gone ahead and booked in for initial tests at a private place in a couple weeks time. So praying my cycle plays ball and we can get going after my next cycle and squeeze it in before Xmas! (That might be wishful thinking)

Thank you for checking in @missmoosh ! All okay so far! Still early days and counting down to when I can have a scan but trying to keep my anxiety in check and stay positive ❤️

Sorry to hear about your awful appointment :(
i hope that the private appointment is better and you manage to move forward with next steps and your cycle plays ball before Christmas! 😘

@LizzeyBenett I think we must be quite close together in dates. Hope you’re doing okay!