Unexplained

[Ali82]

Hey ladies , I'm new to this site, and I just wanted some advice , see if anyone has similar issues to me . First of all we've been ttc for 10 years now , I am 30 , and hubby is 43 . In 2009 I got pregnant with first iui , but my beta at 14dpiui was only 5.5. My levels continued to double tho , up to 550, but i bled the whole time , at 5w4d I had a chemical pregnancy . Two months later I had my second iui , and was pregnant again , but at 14dpiui my level was 7.5 !!By the way I have never conceived naturally . Everything with hubby is great , it's all me , has anyone experienced this , getting pregnant but having super low beta hcg , and miscarrying ? I am currently 4 dpiui , I hope this 3 rd time around is the charm :-)

Hi Ali

Not sure if you are still visiting this site but just wanted to offer you my support as I noticed no one has responded to your post. I guess that is because not many are in your situation and able to offer any advise... and the same goes for me too I am afraid.

We have been TTC for 2 years and I am at emotional breaking point. Had one unsuccessful IVF and about to undergo a second. I have researched what to do to improve my outcome after learning from round one. So I have done pre-IVF supplements and special diet and am all ready to go and now my cycles have gone haywire and I keep having to delay month after month after month.

I wish I had been in your situation to offer you the magical solution, but I can't. However, I personally would find it very helpful to have someone to vent to, so if you feel the same, please feel free to write back and let me know how you get on.

I have no idea what all those figures mean, but I do know the heartbreak of trying to conceive, and going through fertility treatment. I now have a 3 year old daughter, created through ICSI. I was also unexplained infertility, and had one miscarriage from my first IVF treatment, and also lost a twin in my daughter's pregnancy. IUI didn't work for us at all.

Things that I think helped me were: Metformin, I have PCOS though I have virtually no symptoms due to keeping my weight down. My consultant prescribed Metformin and I took it for two months before and to 20th week of the pregnancy. Vitamins and honey - I had honey on toast every single day. Honey is supposed to help with fertility - hence the term "honeymoon". Acupuncture - no idea if it works or not, but at least it felt like I was doing something.

Good luck, and I really hope you get your miracle one day.

Worldgonecrazy, I can only imagine the heartbreak of having a miscarriage and losing a twin. I am only too familiar with the pain of infertility. Can I ask, are you now trying again or after all the turmoil it took to get your daughter, have you decided enough.

I have read about honey before but forgot about it. I will start having it regularly as we are about to embark on another IVF attempt - I will find out in the next few days if my body has recovered from my previous attempt and IVF will go ahead of if I have to wait a few more cycles. I didn't realise that is where the term 'honeymoon' came from!

Hi Shellster - we are not trying again. I am 40 something, so the odds are stacked against me anyway. We had two frozen blastocysts left over, so I recently donated them for research and training, in the hopes that they may help some one else get their miracle.

IVF can provide more answers than just IUI. We found out that although my eggs look perfectly normal and healthy, they have a very tough shell which doesn't allow any swimmers through, which is why I had to go for ICSI. If you can get enough eggs fertilised to risk going to blastocyst, that gives you an even better chance.

Good luck - I know it's really hard, but try to take it easy on yourself. I found that acupuncture helped me to destress and relax, even if it is only a bit of woo!

Ali82 - I am sorry to read about your story. I am also unexplained but I have never been pregnant. I had 2 IUI, neither worked for me. I am about to embark on IVF but I decided to have immunes test. It is still a controversial area of fertility and it is v expensive and not supported by the NHS. However a lot of what I have read seems to explain infertility and also multi-m/cs.
If you are interested, I would suggest reading

www.repro-med.net/repro-med-site2/

www.centerforhumanreprod.com/

Dr Beer who started the immunes testing also wrote a book

www.amazon.co.uk/Your-Body-Baby-Friendly-Unexplained-Infertility/dp/0978507800

Good luck

Ali82 - where are you at in your 3rd round now? I feel for you and know the anxiousness that comes with going through this as I prepare for my third IVF. Have never done any immunes test as Seamermaid suggests. I hope you get the answers you need.

WorldGoneCrazy - must have been a tough decision to donate your embros to research. Hopefully you have helped another suffering woman out there.