Conception

[KC11]

Hi. I'm KC11 and new to this site. I need all of you to help keep me sane. I have been TTC for almost 4 years now. I am on a waiting list for IVF on the NHS. I have to have an Aquascan done next week. I've been told it is painful and I can't sleep worrying about it. Anyone got any advice?

I'm so sorry to hear of your ttc troubles KC11 -- it can be so difficult. As scary as all these fertility tests are, you will probably feel a great sense of relief when you finally can pinpoint the problem (that way you know what you are up against). In the event that all tests come out as normal and you are given the "unexplained infertility" label, then IVF is very successful in tackling this.

I've never actually heard of an aquascan before -- is it similar to an HSG where dye is injected in to your your fallopian tubes to see if they are open? In my experience, many fertility tests come with horror stories but, for the most part, end up being absolutely fine.

Before my HSG, I was exactly like you petrified and sleepless from stories I had heard of how painful it could be. It turns out I was in and out in 5 minutes and the only "pain" I felt was a slight cramping when the fluid hit my tubes (much like I feel in the early days of my period).

You will be fine!!!

My only advice to you in undergoing all these exams is to have your partner's sperm tested if you haven't done so already . We always forget that 50% of fertility issues originate with the male.

Good luck to you!!

Hi. It's so nice to have someone answer! I wish i knew all the abbreviations to use!! Hubby has been tested two years ago and again nov '08. Normal results for him. He is convinced its my eggs that are "useless". Been married to him over 8 years and he can sooo say the wrong thing!!! All my friends and cousins have had heaploads of babies. I am still jealous and very nearly 35. I don;t even want to think of another birthday non-PG. it's not fair. Today I am on Day 1 of my cycle and the cramping is severe. The Aquascan is apparently where they fill you womb with water and then view the surface of the womb to look for any areas of concern. I had a large fibroid removed in March '04. I think I must have adhesions on/near the scar tissue. Two weeks ago I thought someone was pulling my insides out the pains were so bad. I am worried that the AquaScan will show something bad that will make the NHS IVF clinic decide not to let me start IVF.

Hi KC11

I have not heard of an Aquascan either, but it does sound a little like an HSG. I had an HSG a couple of months ago and, for what it is worth, that was uncomfortable rather than painful and was over inside 5 minutes. I was totally surprised after reading nothing but horror stories of people screaming and fainting from pain on the internet! I think the important thing when people are fiddling with your nether regions is to relax and take some deep breaths.

As for whether the results might mean they don't start IVF, my HSG showed a "filling defect" that they thought might be a polyp or adhesions. My clinic (a private clinic) would not take things further until I had had it checked out. So off I went for a hysteroscopy which showed... nothing. I know the thought of ending up with more tests is frightening (and things dragging on is a depressing thought), but IVF sounds like such a hard thing to go through, so it must be worth doing whatever your doctor recommends to give yourself the best chance possible.

And I bet your eggs are not "useless". It's a bit insensitive of your DH to say that, but then when I had my first ectopic I told my husband that it was because the embryo had inherited his lousy sense of direction. So I guess we can all be less than fair at times! TTC definitely brings out the worst in me...

I'm new to this as well and don't know all the abbreviations.

Sorry to hear about hubby's remarks -- men really don't know what to say sometimes!!
At 34, your eggs are going to be fine (so get that worry out of your head!). Even if you produce a few odd bad ones (which every woman does) you have plenty in reserve at your age (especially if you are healthy and don't smoke).

Adhesions can definitely cause tremendous pain (even if they are minor). I have them from an appendicitis operation I had ten years ago -- the pain mostly happens during sex which isn't so good for ttc! I may have my gyne remove them laporoscopically if I don't fall pregnant in the next 6 months.

I completely understand how scary all these tests seem but there is SO MUCH science can do nowadays to help you have a baby. Even were you to have scar tissue and fibroids, these can be removed before you have IVF to maximise your chances of having a healthy pregnancy.

The most you can do now is to be as healthy as possible for when you either fall pregnant naturally or through assisted conception.

I recently bought Marilyn Glenville's book Getting Pregnant Faster and found there to be so much invaluable info on making your body a "baby friendly" environment regardless of your specific fertility issue (fibroids, endometriosis etc.)

It WILL happen!!

xx

My husband also has a lousy sense of direction. Maybe I should buy my DH a Tomtom! I had hycosy scan in summer 2007 which revealed clear tubes, which were not twisted. Until Sept '03 (aged 29) I had been on the pill for about 8 years, had no problems at all and then onw weekend it all changed. I spent the whole weekend day and night in the bathroom, flooding blood (TMI) and it all went from there. I ended up in hospital a week before Christmas having a blood transfusion because I had lost soe much blood my red blood count was down to 5.5. The nurses wondered quite how I had been driving, walking and working without collapsing. Had a myemectomy to remove fibroid size of grapefruit in March 04 and was told not to get PG for 1 year. Started trying exactly a year later. Nothing. I've had six cycles of Clomid... three IUIs ... nothing..... I know what you say about accepting the doctor's advice. If something needs to be investigated further of course I'll do what they say but the delay is doing my head in. I always expected/wanted two children. Now I will truly be grateful if I get one.

Hi babyboom. Thanks for your advice. I will get Marilyn Glenville's book. Sounds helpful.

I agree with what you say about pain during sex. not exactly likely to put us in the mood is it?! Sometimes I know we have to have sex but it's the last thing I actually want to do. My (male) GP is pretty rubbish, just says "take paracetamols". Doesn't he understand I am trying not to take pills or drink or eat bad foods?!! I am trying to be a conception friendly temple where baby making will miraculously happen.

Are you TTC?

I have had the Aquascan done. It was horrible. Thank god no-one could hear the swear words in my head!!! I kept thinking i can get through this, imagine how painful childbirth is. I survived the Aquascan and the good news is the hospital have said it is ok for me to proceed to the proper IVF. Hurrah for me and Hubby!!!!!!!! Very nervous and get butterflies everytime I think that's it becoming reality. Never thought four years ago I would need IVF. Fingers crossed.

Good luck, KC11. FWIW, paracetamol will not harm a pregnancy in any way. It is perfectly safe to take throughout pregnancy and while breastfeeding so if it helps then definitely take it.

Hi babyboom. I have started injections of Buserelin on 1st March 2009, which is to down-regulate my hormones. Apparently doctors use this drug to treat prostate cancer in men!!!!! I was a bit alarmed but trust that Bart's hospital know what they're doing! . I have to give myself an injection into a roll of belly fat at 8am every day for 17 days, then I go to Bart's for a baseline scan. It that looks how it should they then tell me to start evening injections as well as the morning ones!!!!! Those will make my ovaries produce several follicles. I don't yet know how many days I do both injs for but then the next step is another scan for the ovaries to be viewed and the number of follicles to be counted. I think I've remembered this right. I'm a bit scared to think too far ahead so I'm just going to do the morning injs and try to take one day at a time. I am busier at work than i had been which is a god-send. Too much time to think is not good for me. How's things with you. Anything exciting happening?

only just read this thread but wanted to say good luck and thinking of you
x

Thanks Horton.
I have a headache today but I'm drinking a cup of water every half hour, which seems to be making it slightly better.

Saw my youngest cousin yesterday, just two months old, born on Christmas Eve. Made me realise that at the end of the IVF cycle i could have made one just like her. All seems too real and vivid. It gave me butterflies.

Bumping this for my own benefit, as I'm about to go for an aquascan... does anyone know why they recommend no sex between first day of period until the aquascan? Is it just to make sure you're not pregnant when they do the (somewhat invasive) test? Or is it an infection issue?

OK possible TMI but a) I just want to know because 10 days of enforced no sex is annoying and b) if it's just about pregnancy risk no problem, we use condoms, we're not TTC naturally as I'm going for IVF in order to access genetic testing for an inerited condition I have.

For reference... I asked about the "no sex before aquascan" rule and it is to do with the possibility of getting pregnant (which I took to mean, sex with condoms should be fine). And I had my aquascan today, and it was a bit sore during and for about an hour afterwards, but really just similar to a bad period. (I know that the medical profession always say that, but this time it actually was! Mind you I was on dihydrocodeine left over from my last miscarriage). It's only about 3-4ml of water that they use, like a couple of teaspoons of water, and it takes about 10 minutes.