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?!

@missmoosh thank you! Hoping we get somewhere tomorrow 🤞
It's so frustrating that you've had to go through all that with the NHS, do you know what caused that problem?
Keeping my fingers crossed for your private tests!! Some good news before Xmas will be lovely 🤞🤞

@Foreverhopeful92 been wondering how you are doing too! Hope you're ok?

@Foreverhopeful92 didn't see your post! Keeping my fingers crossed for you scan 🤞

@Foreverhopeful92 good luck on the scan, do keep us posted!
@Natty2 yeah because I had pain in my abdomen they sent me to an endometriosis specialist not fertility, without making that clear. But I had a private lap & dye in April that they knew about and didn't bother at that point to do the tests and fertility referral properly. So just miscommunication I think! They are trying to put it right and we should hopefully have all tests done within the next 2 weeks and referral sent off.

@Natty2 and @missmoosh Thank you both! Another couple of weeks to wait yet as planning to book one then. I have never known time go so slowly!!
@Natty2 Hope everything goes well tomorrow - let us know!
@missmoosh pleased to hear they are rushing the tests through for you! That’s great news!

Hopefully we’ll have some more news on this thread soon ❤️

Hope everyone is well!
We had our specialist appointment yesterday. They will book us in for December to sign the IVF forms and apparently it should then take 2 weeks for us to hear from the private clinic that we've selected to get going!
Good to finally have a plan in place and might just be a few weeks behind your journey @missmoosh !

@Natty2 that's fantastic news!!! We can go through it together!!!!
Glad you are going to be able to start soon too

@Natty2 Great news! That’s so exciting! Glad things are moving forward for you :)

CD2 for me today, but got blood test for day 3 tests tomorrow. And the private ivf clinic has been in contact and will have initial tests this week and consultation to see if eligible on Monday next week. Praying we are and that they can get the rest of the consultation/meds ordered before my next cycle starts!

@missmoosh Fingers crossed you have some good news coming over the next week! Glad you’ve got your tests and appointment booked in and hope things start to move quickly for you now :)

@missmoosh fingers crossed for next week! Good that things are moving quickly now. You'll have to keep me updated so I know what's coming up for us 😅

@Foreverhopeful92 thank you! Hope you are feeling ok? Did you have any symptoms when you found out?

@Natty2 yes doing okay thank you! Few symptoms on and off - which is panicking me a bit - trying not to read into it too much but it’s hard!!
So a couple of days before I tested I had a bad taste in my mouth. I thought it was something I ate or that I needed to change my toothbrush so changed my toothbrush but still had it so now looking back that was an early sign!

@Natty2 how you doing? You nearly due AF/BFP...?
@Foreverhopeful92 you know I'm now gonna think every bad taste is a sign of pregnancy 😂😂😂 I'm sure your on/off symptoms are nothing to worry about it's still early days!

I had my ultrasound today, AFC is 27...dont really know what it means but seems good? Waiting on my FSH, LH and AMH results still.
Praying I have a slightly longer than normal cycle, so I can get a round in before Xmas. Clinic stops anyone starting after 27th November until new year. If my cycle comes to early though I won't have had the nurse consultation/meds ready! So need my body to perfectly time itself (wishful thinking lol)

@missmoosh haha I would be the same if someone told me that! I actually had a weird taste in my mouth last year and my mum was like oooh maybe as apparently it can be an early symptom but I then tested positive for covid!!! So I actually thought I might be getting ill when I had it the other week.

Great news that things are moving forward for you! I have my fingers crossed that your cycle is perfectly timed!
This cycle I ovulated the latest I ever have so hoping the same happens for you 🤞

Thanks for the reassurance re my symptoms! I hope so! I’m now struggling to decide whether to have an early scan! I want one for reassurance but then I’m equally scared to have one!! 🙈😭

@missmoosh yes 13dpo tomorrow which means like clockwork I'm sure AF will arrive! Temping again this month and my temp dropped today so I'm sure no BFP!
Your AFC seems good! Fingers crossed for the rest. Is this all privately now?
Hope your cycle plays ball! Keep us posted

@Foreverhopeful92 how many weeks do you think you are? Fingers crossed for your early scan if you go for one! I keep thinking about how surreal it must have been for you to finally get that BFP after all that time. Hopefully we won't be too far behind you 🥰

@Natty2 So I believe I’m 6 weeks at the weekend so about 5 and a half at the moment. Honestly never known time go so slowly! It’s crazy!
It really is so surreal, I keep having to look at the pictures of the tests on my phone to make myself believe it!! And I’m just so worried about something going wrong - as I just couldn’t imagine having to go through the last 18 months again but I am trying to really lean into it and stay positive.
i really hope you and @missmoosh are close behind! 🤞 Thinking of you both!
@Natty2 when will you test? Hope AF stays away!!

CD 1 😞 as expected! At least I'm regular
For that reason I tend to hold out testing unless I'm actually a day late!
@Foreverhopeful92 I can imagine the feeling, keep staying positive it will all be ok!

@Natty2Oh no sorry to hear that! :( Hope you have some nice plans this weekend and AF isn’t too painful! Being regular is a good sign though so definitely take the positives there!

I know you didn’t get the results you’d hoped for for your DH. Are they ordering a repeat of your DH analysis? Have they advised on anything further for him to take?

You must be hearing from the clinic soon! Hope they can get you moving through the process soon!

@Natty2 I am so sorry to hear the witch arrived again. 😢 our time will come I'm sure of it.
And yes the AMH and AFC is private, if I meet their criteria I can do a round for £2750. Thought at that price it was worth paying whilst I wait for NHS.

@Foreverhopeful92 defo stay positive, when my turn comes I think I will defo do an early scan for peace of mind!

Hey everyone, just joining to share my frustrations! ☹️

We’re on cycle 11 TTC #1, I was super naive and thought we’d have a baby by now, I didn’t even consider that I might not be pregnant! We did an at home sperm test and it showed abnormal, I’ve read mixed reviews on these though so trying to take it with a pinch of salt. Partners GP agreed to see him next month as he’d had this result and were only 1 cycle out from the 1 year mark so we’ll see how that goes.

I fell pregnant accidentally years ago the one and only time me and my partner had unprotected sex so I’m trying to see that as a positive that I can conceive, it did end in an early MC though at 5 weeks though.

I hope the TTC journey starts to be kinder to us all soon 🥰

@Foreverhopeful92 @missmoosh
Thanks both, it's always such a deflating day isn't it! Although this time I feel like there's a plan in place now so just want to get those forms signed in December!
The cost for the private is really good, don't blame you for going for it!
When our forms go off, it will go to the private clinic we have been getting tests from anyway, so we're already patients of theirs. Thinking of giving them a heads up- wishful thinking that they might do stuff before hand 😅
As for my DH latest SA, at our appointment last week the specialist seemed really surprised so has advised taking another one late November/ early December. He's been on supplements since March, but moved into Procieve after his variceoles embolisation in July. The doc recommended trying Proxseed, although I think they are much of the same?
He's still doing really well with his lifestyle changes so not sure there's more he could do! @Foreverhopeful92 how did your DH improve his? I seem to recall it improved recently?

Hi @kalixxx sorry to hear of your struggles and previous MC. Hopefully now that you're at the year mark the docs can start getting some tests organised for you. Fingers crossed you are not having to wait too long
I definitely understand the feeling of being naive. A couple of my friends got pregnant first time and you just never imagine that so much time could pass. Still waiting for my first BFP and hopefully starting IVF now will get us there!

@Natty2 Glad they are re-doing it as I think you said he was unwell and that can have a big impact. So my DH issue was count. He was recommended Proxeed by the doctor and it went up 3x the initial test result on his repeat. Interestingly the other results were pretty much the same - think morphology went up from 4 to 4.5.
It does take 3-6 months though apparently and my DH’s repeat was probably about 6 months after he started taking it.
He also took some other vitamins based on some of our own research.
He made lifestyle changes too - decaf coffee, limited alcohol initially and then no alcohol (but the no alcohol was only since July so won’t have had an effect yet), no hot baths, hot tubs etc, loose boxers. Generally trying to eat healthier.
But to be honest it’s hard to know what made a difference - potentially a mixture of things.

Fingers crossed for your DH’s repeat test!

@kalixxx welcome to our sad crew! Fingers crossed all the tests are normal for you and the results from the at home one weren't accurate!
@Natty2 is proxeed something you can buy or is it prescription? Defo give it a try if it's been recommended!

Here's hoping for new year IVF babies!!!!

@Natty2 I have briefly glanced at this thread but I highly recommend Proxeed. It did wonders for my husbands morphology and I'm breastfeeding our baby girl now. It took 6 months of taking it for us to conceive, which was the 15th month trying and the month before IVF. Keep going... if all other elements of his SA were good, then you have every chance each month once his morphology improves. Xxx

@FlyOnTheWall89 congratulations! I remember when you got your BFP