13 months in & feel like giving up 💔

[ccxo]

We have been trying for 13 months as a relatively healthy 31 and 34 year old. All tests are ‘normal’ according to the GP and internal scans I’ve had done but have had 3 chemicals.
I am taking a prenatal, vitamin c, vit b complex and vitamin d and just added omega 3, we are both taking coq10 and he’s on a men’s prenatal, using opks and bd on the right days and it’s just not happening! I have even tried the whole ‘baby aspirin’ for the last two cycles 💔
I don’t know the point in this post but I just want to know what I’m doing wrong and what everybody else is doing to help - what worked for you, please? 🥺

I’m so sorry to hear what you are going through. I had two miscarriages last year back to back, one was an early miscarriage and the other was a chemical. I have myself a month to rest and tried again but nothing seemed to work, it took me 3 cycles in order for me to conceive this time around. I know it me less time than you are trying but I do think having miscarriages can mess up your hormones and ovulation days. Me and my husband were both taking vitamins and trying to be healthier but nothing seemed to work . I did stop taking folic acid and I conceived not saying it helped but I was taking them around the time I conceived.Have you tried using the clearblue advanced ovulation tests? I got my peak and fell pregnant.Hear to talk whenever you need advice xx

Sorry to hear you’re struggling 😔 similar timeframe here. Have you tested vaginal Microbiome? Definitely one to look at if other tests have been ok as can be a silent cause of infertility/miscarriage

ETA: gp never mentioned microbiome but I’d heard a lot on podcasts, and both my acupuncturist and fertility specialist said it’s important to check

Also recommend the acupuncture with a fertility specialist. It’s not just the acupuncture, she’s reviewed my blood test results and recommended other tests.
I also had a private consultation and am having some private tests, alongside NHS process to speed things up a bit. I’m a bit older than you and getting worried as I’ve always wanted at least 2 kids, so didn’t want to wait xx

I know people don’t like to hear it but taking a small break wouldn’t be the worst idea.

I’ve read so many stories of women that pause TTC and they fall pregnant almost straight away because they’ve relaxed.

@ccxo first of all you're not doing anything wrong. Can I ask what was the timeline of the chemicals? I haven't had a chemical but I've had an MMC. The two cycles after that were all over the place. Shorter luteal phase and shorter cycles overall.

Thank you all for your messages, I really appreciate it! 🥹 I don’t really know what I’m hoping from this but I just don’t have anybody around me who understands and it’s a lonely place. Everybody just says to relax and it’ll happen when it’s meant to happen which I don’t disagree with but I just always feel like why me, especially when everybody around me seems to be popping them out!
We had our first loss in June of last year, then the second two have been both August and February. My periods are honestly pretty regular and my cycle is 26 days.

@ccxo I'm very sorry for your losses. It's devastating. Do you track ovulation? I wonder is your luteal phase on the shorter side.

If your cycle is only 26 days when do you ovulate? Is there any chance you can speak to a private fertility clinic? Do you ever get any odd spotting?

I always have spotting 2-3 days before my period and every month I get excited thinking it’s IB knowing full well it’s just the norm 😩 my LP is about 10 days most months give or take a day or two which I believe is on the lower side? My day 21 bloods showered progesterone of 23.4 which my GP says is ‘normal’ but I’m convinced it’s too low to sustain a pregnancy and this is what my issue is but she isn’t so sure and won’t refer me further.

Hey, my last progesterone was 20 and fertility specialist said that’s ok but on the low side. Do you think you definitely got the right date as it’s quite hard to and progesterone fluctuates and you can miss the peak. Usually they retest if under 30?

@ccxo my friend had this issue, and she was diagnosed with suboptimal ovulation. It’s where you ovulate but the egg doesn’t reach the quality or maturity it needs and this causes low progesterone which was under 30 every time. You need a progesterone level of 30 or over to sustain a pregnancy & that is likely why you have a v short luteal phase. Her GP told her that her progesterone was normal and so she carried on trying for the full year & nothing.

she went private & the specialist said to her that the progesterone was not over 30 & said that any progesterone or aspirin wouldn’t work as it’s an issue with the egg itself due to the suboptimal ovulation.

she was given letrozole which when they got her dose right after three months, she fell pregnant that month and now has a baby boy.

don’t believe what GPs say all the time as the guidelines for progesterone are 13-46 BUT for confirmation of successful ovulation to sustain a pregnancy is over 30.

please go back to the gp or better privately and you will likely get the help you need.

I think it sounds like low progesterone too. Before my first DC I had a short luteal phase, would spot sometimes from 4DPO, also I got insanely sore boobs after ovulating and my skin was awful. It took over a year to conceive my DS. I’m sure it was low progesterone based on all those symptoms.

After DS I think my body righted itself as my cycles became more regular, no spotting/soreness/spots and I have conceived second DC after the first cycle.

Thank you all, it’s really helpful to hear other people’s stories and views. I have definitely thought it might be a progesterone issue but when I questioned the GP she said that it was in ‘normal range’ but I think I’ll push harder.
I have read that there’s no problem in taking progesterone as there is no thing as ‘too much’ but I also thought a GP couldn’t prescribe it and it had too be a fertility specialist? Is there anything I can do to help improve my luteal phase in the mean time or increase progesterone naturally.

Thank you again, I mean it 🥹

What was your TSH number?

“normal” is up to 4.5 but for TTC it needs to be a lot lower, like <2.5 and many GPs don’t know this.

Vitamin b6 helped increase my luteal phase and my progesterone increased, was taking alongside Proceive prenatal. Also I was under a lot of stress and sought counselling to help reduce this and now feel much calmer. Stress has an impact on your hormones.

yes I think gps don’t like to prescribe progesterone. I went to a private online clinic (reputable) because it would be such a delay waiting for nhs appt and he did a review of my previous tests results and suggested trying progesterone for 3 months. Feels worth a try!