2023 TTC 35+ Part 5

[VixFromThe6ix]

Hi lovelies,

New thread!!

Please tag whoever you can so everyone knows we are here.

Im weirdly glad I’m not the only worrier here! I’m actually starting CBT soon to help with my anxiety. Good timing as TTC will bring a bucket load of anxiety I know. Although I promised myself I wouldn’t do OPKs (only ever tracked CM previously) I have done 2 today at CD8 so totally pointless aanyway. Maybe I should throw them away.

@Supertrooper101 the analysis was while he was on the tablets already for a long time and they said it was fine… we asked about it again today and they researched it and they were like “oh topical finastiride that he puts on his scalp is fine” and it’s like yeah but he’s taking tablets, it’s not topical. So they’re going to research it some more and let us know next week. 🙄

honestly I want him to stop it now, but here we are. Everything I’ve read about it is not good either. Lower sperm count, dna fragmentation etc etc.

Also just to add, it’s making me question my clinic here…

@El1988 I’ve looked up the BNF guidelines for you:

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/finasteride/#cautions

It says “Finasteride is excreted in semen and use of a condom is recommended if sexual partner is pregnant or likely to become pregnant”. I would make an appointment for the two of you to see his GP.

NICE says:

• Women who are pregnant or likely to become pregnant should not handle finasteride tablets, especially if crushed or broken, because of the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male fetus (including abnormalities of the external genitalia).
• Finasteride is excreted in semen, but it is not known whether a male fetus may be adversely affected if its mother is exposed to the semen of a man being treated with finasteride.

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/male-pattern-hair-loss-male-androgenetic-alopecia/prescribing-information/finasteride/#adverse-effects

He needs to come off this if you’re trying to get pregnant. Hope this helps X

❤️

@Cressie2 Yeah those are the same things i have read. I was shocked that a tablet could do that without warnings on the box... even if you do get pregnant, the outcome dosent sound good..@El1988 i did find somewhere that says it can leave the system within 2 days, but the dna damage to sperm etc can take up to 90days to correct itself. ..my partner has a full head off hair, its like wth ?! I suppose if your partner had a sperm test after years of being on it and it was fine, maybe its not caused too much damage, i would be weary about the info above and the damage to a male baby tho :(

@Cressie2 and @Supertrooper101 thank you ❤️

I had no idea about the hair loss tablets! Can’t believe this isn’t more widely known/reported

Also @El1988 you are correct, frozen transfers are better. I would explore other fertility clinics if I were you. I’m so cross that the above wasn't explained to you last year and hope you are ok.

@El1988 you sound really stressed without this on top. I would change clinic, a quick google search tells you what you need to know so if we can find that, then someone who bloody specialises in fertility should already have known this. You sound like YOUR doing everything you can for a baby, but if his on that, its not going to happen. You deserve to be heard and not feel this way so stand your ground and tell your man to come off it......now lol could save you alot in ivf lol and tbf, you have had tests and scans and your fine.....so that only leaves one other fing thats stopping you getting pregnant, his sperm ( and maybe a little stress lol )

@Cressie2 wow! That doesn't make good reading does it? @El1988 worth showing them that although not good they aren't aware of it already. Never would have thought hair loss tablets could have such potential consequences.

@Supertrooper101 and @Cressie2 thank you for your support and for looking this up for me.

i have booked in for a second opinion in two other clinics because I feel like I don’t trust these guys now.

@El1988 it was only last weekend my partner tod me he was on them. So i know how your feeling on the tablet side of things. But he stopped them when he researched them.and he only did that cos its been 6mths ttc and he was blaming the black maca i had put him on lol then he fort check them! Ha... hope you get sorted. Its a shitty feeling, knowing your doing all you can,then find something like that out...will you let me know if your new clinics do actually have any info on it pls x

@Supertrooper101 of course, better to share all the info we can on here.

Honestly I’m feeling stupid and Cross with myself not to have listened to my gut a year ago and pushed for him to come off the tablets before we started TTC 🤦🏻‍♀️

@El1988 its not your fault at all. Hopefully now you can see by a good clinic who gives you all the information you both need to make informed choices and you can make a fresh start to everything. Sending you ❤️❤️

Hi guys, thanks all for sharing about those tablets- I can’t believe this stuff isn’t known more widely when in such a small group of us, such a proportion of men are taking them. This must be potentially impacting so many couples and potentially babies if that chemical is so strong.

I’be got Covid and have just read up on how early it could impact embryos, the chances of miscarriage and the longer term impact on fertility. There was nothing definite in a lot of areas but definitely nothing reassuring or good. So, feeling like if we have been lucky this time it might be a damaged bean in some way or unlikely to stick and then that we’re out of the game for a few months afterwards at least. Not a super hopeful evening, but trying to focus on AF’s arrival, when she comes, as an opportunity to focus on rest and recovery, with low hopes for a few months. Because there’s nothing we can do, so maybe making peace with that is the best thing I can do for me. 👍

Wow I have a few posts to catch up on.
Was congratulating myself on not being tempted to test the other day - then realised dpo 4 so some way to go
Feeling a bit discouraged today, it has been a long road. Hope everyone ok

@Bumblebee413 hope you're feeling better soon. Don't dwell on anything, I don't think there's been any scientific proof of it impacting anything.

@Bumblebee413 I hope you start feeling better soon. I would be worrying about the meds too x

So I tested with fmu this morning as @worldwidetravel2017 suggested, and it’s completely blank again.

@VixFromThe6ix I've taken your advice and ordered some of the ones you suggested. I must have a faulty batch surely?

Actually, thinking about it my “period” this month was hardly anything … maybe my body hasn’t registered as a period 🤔

Maybe was a chemical pregnancy if youve been trying lately
Or implantation bleed

@worldwidetravel2017 Just did a pg test which was very negative.

I think it’s all to do with me coming off the pill a few months ago, thinking about it. I’ll just wait it out and have to see what happens now.

Oh yes, for those asking my age, I’m 43 now.

@BucksOxonMum I just know the LH test strip will never be blank. It will be light if anything so that's why I was wondering how that's possible. Then I thought about it and thought maybe it's the type of test you're using? I use easy@home strips. Which ones do you use?

I've book for a blood test next Tuesday. I think it's progressing so I think this might actually be my HCG hormone not a trigger shot 🤞🏻

(My bathroom countertop progression display lol)

Fingers crossed for you! @VixFromThe6ix !

They were One Step. I’ve ordered the Easy@Home ones now, they’re coming tomorrow.