Am I going down IVF route too soon? advice please….

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Hi,

I'm about to embark on ivf next cycle and rather than hunt around online and read things about ivf that I'd probably rather not know, I thought I'd get more direct thoughts here.

So, just a tiny bit of background….I have a 6 year old who I conceived easily and quickly. This time round not easy. Hubby went for sperm tests. Came back bad and got referred to Guys and they basically said the count and morphology was so bad the chance of conceiving was slim to none. They told us ivf only option and sent us away with info and price list telling us to get in touch with ACU ourselves. BTW, I have regular periods. Nothing on scan and bloods all fine.

Got appointment at ACU. Hubby had sperm test done again and the results came back whilst we were there. Normal. We were shocked. They couldn't explain it but said they would still advise ivf based on the previous reading. We agreed to go away and try again for 3/4 months. We did that and nothing has happened and I can feel the clock ticking.

Now though I'm starting to wonder if enough investigations were done on me? If nothing came up on scan, then is that reason to believe I'm ok? Could there be something else wrong that maybe they didn't think was worth looking at because from the first set of results they assumed we hadn't conceived because of poor sperm. I'm just worrying that I'm going to spend a huge amount of money and it not work not because of fate, but because there may be something wrong with my pipes or something….

I'm obviously going to talk this through when I go in before the start of treatment, but I'm having to order drugs now.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Thanks
Oh I'm 35 by the way.

[threepiecesuite]

How long have you been trying?
Are you with same partner as with previous child?
My consultant says sperm analysis results can fluctuates from month to month.
No advice but I'm in a similar position. Had bloods, scan and hycosy which revealed a blocked tube. Sperm analysis was normal. NHS consultant said nothing more they could do and did we want referral to ivf clinic immediately. We can afford only one go so don't know whether to try longer before we do that. Been trying 2 years, I'm 34.

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Hi. Think I'm on about cycle 16 now. No one had ever suggested a Hycosy and now I'm starting to worry they may have overlooked me because of the duff sperm result earlier. I'm petrified of spending the money and going down the ivf route only for them to discover something that should have been found in initial investigations.

Can I ask why you got sent for Hycosy?

Oh and yes. Same dad.

[threepiecesuite]

It was just part of the NHS package of ' ruling out' tests. I had all my tests before DP had his SA.

[missimperfect]

Hmmm I think would be worth asking GP for another check or even a couple more checks of DP. Thing is that if it is your DP, then you will not just need "basic" IVF, you will need ICSI (did they explain this?) which is more expensive etc. Whereas if your DP is normal then they would prob just do IVF without the ICSI. So I would want to be sure as to whether your DP was an issue or not so you have the right AC procedure.

[Bugsylugs]

In reality they may not have suggested hysteroscopy as you have a child, may be charged for as you have a child etc.

[Suzical]

Have you had AMH tested - it's a measure of the number of eggs you have?

I have a similar story, 4 yr old child already. Husband's first sperm test couldn't have been worse, then 2 more were fine. But found out Friday that my AMH is v low and IVF recommended as next step..

[Lweji]

DS was conceived after about 28 months of trying.

You can increase your chances a bit by laying still with your bum a bit higher to allow sperm the time to enter the uterus.
And, presumably, you know that the best time to have sex is during the egg white mucous stage?
(just asking because a friend, who really should know better, thought it was 14 days after the end of the period. Instead of from the beginning.)

[Didiusfalco]

Based on what tests I have had I would want more tests if I was you. I have been trying for dc2 for nearly 2 years and same age as you. DH has had 3 sperms analysis, I have had my blood work done twice, a scan, a HSG, and I'm booked for a hysteroscopy. No problems have been found, yet, but I feel like they are checking thoroughly and actually IVF hasn't been discussed yet although I guess that is coming.

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Yep, we'd definitely be doing icsi ivf.

Also, my body is quite active in that I get loads of cm and cramping during ovulation so I've kept track of it and LP consistent etc. As I said they are confident I ovulate fine.

What is the AMH test? When I had scan at ACU they number of active follicles. Is that the same thing? I know they can't comment on egg quality.

This is why I'm slightly concerned. I didn't want to find myself taking another year to do various tests and yet the ivf thing came up so quickly it threw me. Gp and other medical professionals were of the opinion were you appear to be 'working', your husband has iffy sperm so you can either keep trying or just bite the bullet and go for ivf. I know the success rates for ivf reduce as you get older, and that is a big motivation at the moment.

As I mentioned in my original post though, if just be horrified to get to the process and then they say, 'oh yes this would never have worked because of this issue'. Does not having a Hycosy before ivf affect chances then? Anyone know?

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Actually following last post, the ACU said I would be a candidate for a risk of OHSS, so they must have measured AMH to be able to make that judgement and decide whether you should have long or short cycle?

[Jessewalt]

I am interested in your post. Ttc 1 for both myself and husband. Initial tests show he has low motility. Sperm numbers fine. I have had all bloods, scan, and was told I am "fine" and they put it down to male factor. I am now on cycle 17. No one can tell us if it will happen naturally, but they say it "might". I paid for an HSG as I did not want to continue trying aimlessly with me having blocked tubes. My HSG was normal.
I am now at the stage of feeling like I don't want to waste time, but I also don't want to do ICSI if not completely necessary. I am 33 this month.
I am getting closer to ICSI. Mainly because it has been 18 months of nothing/nada - my periods hae not even been so much as 5 minutes late!
Help - such a difficult decision. My husband also looks to me as I have a medical profession.

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Hi. If your TTC #1 don't you get a round of ivf on the nhs?

[threepiecesuite]

Anecdotally, it's said that hycosy 'clears out' your tubes a bit therefore making it easier to conceive for a few months after. Not in my case as one tube is blocked but if you're ok, this might be something to consider.

[allchatnicknamesgone]

For any of those reading thread. I spoke to doc from ACU she said that they'd done all the tests needed for ivf process. She said that even if I did go for Hycosy that would only possibly increase chances of natural conception, but would not affect outcome of ivf. So I sort of found my answer. She said in her opinion we were doing to right thing to move forward with ivf.