Does anything actually work?!

[Fallulah]

Age is not on our side and we don’t qualify for IVF or fertility help due to age (we might have if GP had referred us properly on time but that’s a whole other story and subject to a complaint). All blood/hormone tests and scans have come back fine on multiple occasions. We’ve now been trying for 3 years so have decided to give it til my next birthday and then explore adoption/fostering. I want to throw everything at it!

In the early days I tested for ovulation and I use the Flo app but it’s pretty obvious when I’m ovulating without going in to detail! I take vitamin B, D, Zinc, folic acid and have taken pre conception gum**s but they messed with my cycle. My partner takes pre conception vitamins for men.

I’m being bombarded with adverts for Mira tracker, Gyna diet, Fertilily and all sorts of other drastic looking applicators.

Do any of these things actually work or are they just targeting desperate people? Is there anything else I should be taking supplement wise?

The flo app is just an algorithm, it will tell you a pattern but won't confirm ovulation. Trust me, you can have all the symptoms of ovulation but not ovulate. You need to be temping to confirm. Either old school thermometer or a device like ovusense etc.

Flo app was always way off for me. As PP said, have you tried temperature tracking?

Thank you. Well, for me, after three years of inputting stuff, Flo is pretty accurate and I know it’s only a tracker and not a test for ovulation. I know that I ovulate, I was more asking if there is anything that makes the eggs better, the sperm stronger or the meeting between the two easier/more likely. Diets, supplements, things that you use to hold the sperm in… all of which are dominating my social media ads!

FWIW I have done a lot of research into the temperature tracking and it’s not reliable if you don’t sleep well or if you regularly wake up at different times on different days, and both of those apply to me.

Try a keto/carnivore diet for a while. It sounds nuts, but it is worth a try.

I took Proceive vitamins having done research of the available vitamins. They have Proceive for men too. I also used the ClearBlue Ovulation tracker and for good measure preseed lubrication along with following SMEP. We conceived second cycle, sadly miscarried but then conceived again 2 cycles later and had our little one at full term. I was told I'd struggle due to thyroid/ insulin resistance/ weight but so very grateful for how things worked out.

There’s a lot of anecdotal evidence on here of people that have has success with Fertilily cups, and it’s cheap so worth a try! Diet wise, I personally think beyond having a balanced diet with plenty of veg and protein, it doesn’t make much difference. Assume you’ve both stopped smoking, cut down or out alcohol, cut down caffeine etc. acupuncture has a lot of anecdotal evidence of success, and can help with stress

How bizarre. I'm vegan and haven't eaten meat in over 20 years and it only took me 2 months to conceive (sorry if that sounds like a boast). I wouldn't be encouraging op to cut out entire food groups based on a post with no evidence / source provided. How old are you op?

Sorry I tried to quote the keto / carnivore post

Another vote for Procieve multivitamins. Nothing has regulated my cycles like these and I've only ever received peak on OPKs whilst using these. I know there is no evidence but trying some old wives tales like keeping your feet warm and eating nuts during the TWW might be worth a shot. I think the nuts thing is because of selenium which is beneficial for implantation.

I feel for you OP. I too had no cause for sub-fertility found- every test was normal/clear. We TTC 12yrs, multiple delays and dismissals from GP, 3 MC's and won't have children now. 1 consultant said it was just my old eggs! I did alot of reading too.

I assume you've had a hycosy/hsg and AMH checked and your partner a semen analysis? Have you ever been pregnant? Some people will swear by one thing on another, but just some things worth a try:

• Buy a 2nd hand copy of 'It starts with an egg' Handy tips on reducing plastics and chemicals which 'might' be impacting your egg quality
• I started DH on a lycopene supplement. Its found naturally in red/orange coloured fruit/veg, but some studies have shown it can improve sperm quality
• I tried to book a weekend away when I knew I'd be ovulating
• Some people try accupuncture, yoga, massage

Best of luck.

"do they work" means "do they increase your chances of conceiving", which no-one can really say for sure because you can't directly link the outcome to using the supplements. As you've recognised, once The Algorithm knows what you want, it will use that to sell you anything and everything...

All blood/hormone tests and scans have come back fine on multiple occasions.

Sorry if this is obvious but have you had the sperm analysed? Male factor makes up a significant proportion of conception problems.

And often there's nothing obvious 'wrong', it's just not happening each month. It's infuriating, I know.

Also do you mean you're not eligible for IVF on the NHS due to age? Have you checked privately?

To answer a few questions…

I’m 43 now. Even if we could afford it, this rules us out of most private ivf. MyBMI is also above 35 which rules out payment plans like Gia (I think that’s what it’s called), although I am working on that.

We’ve both had all the tests, mine at least three times because they kept ‘expiring’ and needing to be repeated each time we followed up to ask what was happening and what the plan was (I have had a really poor experience with this and my GP practice). The only one not had is the hycosys but this has to be requested by Fertility and they now won’t accept a referral.

I’ve just ordered a fertility cup and some proceive: anything is worth a try!

The irony, of a vegan saying don't cut out entire food groups.
Low carb, whether you choose to do it with or without meat, reduces inflammation which can be one of the barriers to conception.

Guys accept patients up to age 50 and with a BMI of 35 or below https://guysandstthomasspecialistcare.co.uk/services/fertility-prices-and-packages/#self-funded

You said you are already working on the weight, and losing it would be my absolute priority. I'd TTC 4yrs and was about BMI 28. DH and I both lost 10kg and I got pregnant! Unfortunately things didn't work out, but I truly think losing the weight was the only thing that changed and lead to a pregnancy.

Use the fertilily! It worked for me on the first go after over a year of trying

Ha I know but I'm not advocating the op cut out entire food groups! Just because I don't eat meat doesn't mean other people shouldn't! Just giving a different angle to your advice

Fertility was what Dr. Bill Masters used in his clinics.

My 3rd baby is a fertilily cup baby. I was 36 we conceived on the first go with the cup! I couldn't believe it had been trying 4 months at that point and I decided to just add it in there with the sperms friendly lube. My second baby took 3 years and 3 miscarriages age 29 and my 1st I had at 21 but definitely had age on my side with her. I know 2 other women in my circle who have used the cup and fallen pregnant also. Full disclosure I also used ovulation tests daily and we had sex every other day and daily the week of ovulation and back to every other day for 5 days after ovulation.

Just re-read your update. A hycosy or HCG can rule out blocked tubes and show up other structural issues such as fibroids, bicornate uterus etc. Have you ever had a pelvic ultrasound? Sorry to all the questions and completely understand you not wanting to reply. As I said up thread, we TTC 12yrs without success, so you can imagine how much time I had to read up on fertility issues!

I’d say you are trying too hard. Try to relax and have plenty of sex and enjoy it. My mother told a friend of mine to get drunk, and it worked. I’m really sorry for you that you have been trying for so long. You may be one of those couples who give up and decide to adopt and then get pregnant. I wish you well.

Have you ever experienced infertility?
I'm saying this kindly in case no-one's ever told you, but telling people to relax and enjoy sex is spectacularly unhelpful.

You can't make someone pretend to themselves to not care about getting pregnant for the sole purpose of getting pregnant!

Yes I’ve had many, many ultrasounds - I had a dermoid cyst years ago and I’m now checked every year anyway, as well as the scan specifically for fertility reasons which has been done three times.

OH will be overjoyed to hear we need to have even more sex. 😝 He would like it to just happen and doesn’t want to know about calendars, green days and schedules etc!

Acupuncture has a very good track record for getting couples pregnant.

Defo continue to lose weight. Good luck

In short, no.

Beyond all the normal stuff in terms of healthy living, diet, exercise and weight, there is no high quality evidence that has identified anything that can increase fertility.

So please don’t start eating loads of seeds or storing everything in glass jars. Everything on mumsnet is anecdotal and large population studies don’t show anything to have significant effects on fertility.