TTC #1 over 35

[Clara202]

As the title suggests, if you’re over 35 and TTC your first, I’d love to hear from you! Would be nice to hear from a few of us in the same boat 🙂

Hello all, just found this thread and had a wee read through, I'd love to join. Turned 39 in December. Entering our 4th year ttc. We had ivf (failed) in June/july, a spontaneous (first!) pregnancy the following cycle, MMC (carried till 10weeks but embryo stopped at 6) and started another ivf round at Christmas. Only got one egg, had a three day transfer which has cemented in failure today (bleeding began, negative tests). I didn't know about evaporation lines or indent lines till this weekend. I now think I've read about 10 years worth of posts on here and Reddit about them. So gutting! But I'm just doing my best not to get sucked into a sad swamp.

I've not read "it starts with the egg" but I've heard a lot about the book's recommended supplements that have very positively affected egg quality. So that's my next goal (does anyone have that lowdown? If not I'll post anything I find here once I've finished my tax return heh)

Sorry for such a long first post!

You’re very welcome @Nosejug It seems like you have had quite the journey so far, but you sound extremely positive and proactive.
I haven’t read that book, I am taking coQ10 but only one tablet, 200mg. I’m not sure if I should be taking more!

CoQ10 for over 35 is 600mg per day

Thanks @Clara202 :) I’d probably say I was practicing positivity rather than feeling it heh! But that technique helped me get over insomnia 8 years ago so I’ve been trying it with ttc… it’s good to know we’re not alone at the very least :) Yes the coq10 I keep hearing about. I’m assuming boots don’t sell it, a reputable online seller maybe? It kind of makes me nervous ordering drugs off the internet 🫠

I've just ordered some from Amazon!

@Nosejug i don’t know a huge deal about it but I do know there’s 2 or 3 kinds and we need a certain form of it. A fertility doctor that I follow online recommended this one so I bought it.
@carolinep3 I am also taking a fertility supplement which has some coQ10 in it but I don’t think combined they add up to anywhere near 600mg 😣 should I increase the dosage without medical advice, do most over 35s take that much?

Funnily enough, boots do sell it. Max dose they sell is 200mg, and I read on a random website (I've done no fact checking but it sounds reasonable) that if taking a higher dose it's better to split throughout the day for higher absorbency and fewer side effects. Ok, I'm entering a new phase of pills pills pills.

Ooh thanks for that @Clara202 . I had heard ubiquinol mentioned also, didn't realise it was the same as coQ10! One less supplement to research.

Have you read the book 'it starts with the egg' very informative for egg quality.
These are the ones I've seen recommended by various people, and I've ordered from Amazon. I take 2 a day

@Nosejug @carolinep3 ubiquinol is apparently the ‘right’ one to take. I have done some research on it on this forum and there are many people on here better equipped to explain why etc but there are many forms of CoQ10 and the one I posted is the correct one. It costs a small fortune of course 😅

Ahh I see, it's about absorbency I think? Annoyingly, I've noticed it's mostly naturally present in meat. If my eggs have depleted because I stopped eating meat in my mid 20s I'm going to be pretty mad at myself. Will make sure to get the ubiquinol ones! Thanks so much for sharing the info

Those were just the ones recommended to me by my fertility specialist 🤷🏻‍♀️
I have a AMH egg reserve test in my drawer but too scared to actually do it 🙈

@carolinep3 sorry I didn’t mean that yours weren’t correct as well, I just know the ones I posted definitely are! If yours are any cheaper I’ll buy them next time.
I did one of those AMH tests also and it came back as 13.4, I did one at the GP’s office and that one came back as 9.2, so…pinch of salt and all that!

Yes my amh went up on the second testing (both nhs bloods). It’s just inconsistent measuring. But I’m really low, somewhere around 4. Amh is an indicator of how well you’ll respond to fertility drugs, how many eggs you’ll get, but not necessarily egg quality. I’ve only had a total of 4 eggs retrieved over two cycles (cryface) but they’ve all made it to at least day 3 embryos which is unusual. Often it’s comparatively huge numbers of eggs -> a handful of embryos.

we won’t get any more nhs funding sadly, so we’re going to try “natural modified” ivf which is a lot less drugs and focussed on quality over quantity. I was on max doses of everything and long protocol, and this next treatment will be much shorter (and is more affordable, kinder to my health). If anyone has any ivf q’s for low amh im happy to answer.

I was disappointed when I went to 9 after thinking I was at 13 a month ago. But then I see people with less than 1 going on to have babies so I’m not putting too much weight on it.

Those that track BBT - which thermometer do you recommend?
I track EWCM and I test with LH strips but I’d like to cover all bases and track BBT.

I am worried that I ovulate late and my cm has been and gone before it’s happening/peak LH. Then I have a short luteal phase before AF shows up.

If I can track everything then I have enough ammunition to show the GP if we get to that stage.

I’m out this cycle… CD18 and 0.11 on the LH test and my husband is working away tonight until the next weekend so it’s likely I’ll get a peak whilst he is away.

I guess at least I won’t be questioning every single thing my body does in the TWW.

Roll on the next cycle!

Approx 10/11 dpo I think. Lots of cramps the last few days, different to usual, like a needle prick feeling and not what I would call spotting as such but minuscule amounts of blood mixed with cm, visible on tissue only. Negative ultra early digital pregnancy test today. So just my body behaving completely crazily! Waiting on AF now and on to the next I guess 😣

@Clara202 If it were me I’d still have a bit of hope from those symptoms, especially if they’re not usual for you, but then I’ve thus far been proven wrong in all my hoping, so I understand it’s safer to just let go for the month.
@EEB1989 is there any chance you can travel to him if you ovulate in that window? Or he you? Or meet in the middle? My partner has more than once driven 100s of miles to dtd. We often work away from home so it’s necessary for us really. I suppose if it’s not the norm there’d be a lot less motivation!

@Nosejug I don’t think it will happen this month, I’m CD20 and my CM has vanished, so either I’ve missed it or it’s not happening. I started LH testing cd13, usually start cd10 but I’m late to peak (usually cd16-18).

Ive come to terms with the fact that we will miss this month… I think my brain needs the break tbh. It’s so draining in the TWW questioning every feeling etc.

I am going to test my LH everyday next cycle so we can’t miss it - he will be home by then too.

10/11 dpo for me today too. Planning on testing this Sunday and my AF due Monday.
I've had weird cramps this cycle too, not my usual! I don't normally cramp until AF is in full flow but I've had consistent cramping all day yesterday and 'niggles' I can't explain! But probably means nothing!! Will have to wait and see..
I'd still be hopeful @Clara202 I always thought the digital weren't the best for early testing, fingers crossed xx

@Nosejug @thejadestoneandthedragon
Since coming off the pill in September I had three 24 day cycles, but my last one in December was 31 days and this cycle is currently at day 27. With the tiny amount of blood over 3 days and the strange sensation I had in my side and stomach I was cautiously optimistic. I have no blood whatsoever today or yesterday, and the sharp pains also seem to be gone. I took the 6 days early digital but I also tried a Premom cheap strip which is apparently 10m and that was stark white as well. So I’m not really sure what’s going on but I’m hoping AF shows up soon if she’s on the way.

Evening Ladies.
I hope you’re all ok, it’s been quiet recently. I assumed I was out this cycle…I usually peak between 16-19. So started testing CD13 when I saw CM but my LH never rose.

My DH is working away and I still haven’t had my peak - I’m going to keep testing until AF arrives just incase. But I’m CD22 today and I when I wiped at work the tissue was light pink - I don’t usually spot and my cycle is anywhere between 28-33 days so it would be too early for AF.

My LH has risen slightly but only doubled - not peaked (in numbers).

Could this be implantation? I’m questioning whether I magically peaked before day 13 which is unheard of for me…just wondered if anyone has experienced anything like it.

Oh @EEB1989 no experience, but I do hope so for you 🙏. I've used clear blue digital this time around so feel a little more validated than the premom tests. I've ovulated today and on cycle day 16, a bit earlier than usual.

Hope you are all ok 💐

Thank you. I’ll keep everything crossed that it is…
Here I was thinking the count down to AF would be relaxing because he’s working away and we had missed the opportunity!

But I’m also aware it could be my body playing tricks on me… I had 28day cycles for months until last cycle when it was 33days. I’ll try not to let myself think it until I see it on a test.