7 Months TTC, done some tests... What's next?

[Marinaautumn]

Hello. My partner and I have been TTC for 7 months. I know this is not long but I still would like to keep investigating to see if there is something specific preventing us from conceiving, that's easy to solve, as it has happened to some friends of mine (thyroid problem, or lack of progesterone during the lutheal phase).

I have done blood tests and everything came out fine (a bit high prolactine at first but then we redid them and it came out fine). And my progesterone 29.9 but I think that means fine. I have a pelvic ultrasound booked for the end of the month. My partner did the sperm count test and it came out fine too, but he hasn't done morphology or motility test.

We are both healthy, 33 year old, no smoking, barely drinking, doing sports, eating healthy, and not particularly stressed (although not particularly relaxed either).

I wonder if there is anything I should check for next. Should we check his motility and morphology? Fallopian tubes block test? Vitamin levels?

Sometimes I wonder if I am physically preventing the sperm to reach the egg by being to tense subconsciously trying for the sperm not to leak out (although I know it's irrational!)

Many thanks for your advice. Powerlessness is the word for the TTC journey in my opinion! Although we remain hopeful and optimistic : )

Full semen screening worth doing.

When in your cycle are you having your scan? Structural issues like polyps/ fibroids etc can be determined any time but the start is best for antral follicle count and shortly after ovulation is good for making sure that your dominant follicle is rupturing properly. Progesterone can be normal despite problems with the corpus luteum/ improper ovulation.

I don't think your tension will be causing a physical barrier to anything! But you could consider a cortisol test.

7 months isn't that long yet so it may just be a matter of time. Good luck!

Thank you very much for your input. I am having the scan on day 10 of my cycle. Is that a good time? We will book the full semen screening and I will ask my gp about the other tests you mentioned. Do you have any thoughts about the fallopian tubes block test? Thanks again.

How long are your cycles? Day 10 would be useful for showing if your dominant follicle is developing normally. A couple of days after ovulation may be preferable for the reasons above (plus checking your implantation endometrium thickness). Don't worry too much about this though - the main thing will be to check everything generally.

Which blood tests have you have done so far and when?

As for the hycosy, that's useful if other things have been ruled out. Depends how flush you are with the private costs. After a year you could ask for a GP referral.

How much sex are you having and are you definitely sure it's happening during your fertile window?

Each month if you do it at the right time and an egg is fertilized, it has about a 25% chance of implanting successfully. Good luck!!

My cycles are about 28 days, I have my LH peak mostly on day 11.

I've done the day 4 tests with Hertility and all came out normal (except as I mentioned the prolactin a bit high but retested through NHS and it was fine), and then I did a complete day 21 fertility test through NHS, all normal too.

I will wait the full year for the hycosy. I just wanted to rule out problems to give us the best chance.

Thanks again :)

We are doing it every other day in my fertile window which I calculated at the beginning of our journey with OPK and figured out that I have the LH peak on day 11-12, and now I just keep I loose eye on the egg white CM at the beginning and the end of the window to know when it's opening and closing.

Yes I heard those odds before! Let's keep hoping it comes soon for us

Thanks for your help!

Could you try having a cycle where you have sex every other day for the first 2 weeks? Just to make sure there's no chance you're missing ovulation!

Thank you. I could try this, but if the cm and the LH peak seem to show that my fertile window from day 7 to day 14 approx, isn't that fool proof? We sometimes do it before day 7 once but I really don't like having sex on my period. I don't think it'd be easy for me since I feel bloated and uncomfortable.

Sorry I meant every other day from when your period finishes for 2 weeks (just in case it happens a little later than you think). And if you can, every day for the 3-5 days before you think you'll ovulate.

If you haven't already, cut caffeine and sugar from your diet. And this may have been a coincidence for me, but the 3 times I conceived were months I wasn't thinking about it and more relaxed.

Thanks. I did cut caffeine and I'm not taking a lot of sugar (only sometimes pastries and biscuits but in moderation). Thanks. I really try not to think about it but it's challenging!