Any success stories and ideas for secondary infertility?

[Annabellaboo]

Hello ladies.
I am hoping to get some ideas and support on here.
I am 35 years old, very healthy with a 3 year DS. We have been trying to conceive our second child for 2 years now. I became pregnant very easily with my first and had an easy pregnancy.
This time nothing.
I have had all the tests the nhs provides. Progesterone normal, I ovulate, DH sperm count is normal, no blockages etc etc. I have tried charting, ov sticks, changed my already pretty healthy diet (cut out refined sugars and have lots more greens etc, and alkalised my body). I take advised supplements and have even tried acupuncture.
I do however have short cycles, sometimes as short as 21 days but averaging 24. This is a little shorter than I had before my DS.
We cannot afford IVF and I am not sure I can face that anyway.
My consultant last month has prescribed me a half dose (25mg) of clomid, which a scan showed on the first round it definitely boosted things even more with a good few mature follicles. I already ovulate but she thought as my cycles are quite short and a little irregular it may give me a boost.
I have been convinced several times I was pregnant (oh how cruel our bodies and brains can be!) but AF always turns up.
I guess what I am asking is does anyone have any other suggestions of things I could try or why I can't conceive time. I am open to theories and alternative methods.
Any experience in this subject and success stories please share.
I try not to stress about it all, but some months it just really gets you down as there is no real 'reason'. The hard thing is watching other mums around get pregnant multiple times so easily.
Thank you for listening!
Anna

I forgot to say, closephine- that totally would have been me crying in the classroom if I'd just got AF, poor you.... I hope people were nice to you!

Take it all back, pmt def kicking in- just blubbed in preschool car park- closephine it's a shame we don't go to the same school- you wouldn't have felt so unusual!

Yes I do agree bloop thanks for the reality check! I am the last person to want to take steroids, I really am. I am also just aware and concerned that it may be my only chance if I really do have high nk cells. If I ever do have to go down that route I will make sure it's under medical supervision.
Close- sorry meant to acknowledge your post about school breakdown. It's ok, I totally get it and don't worry what other people think of you. Hopefully there are some that have real compassion and empathy and realise that we don't always know how someone else is suffering. I am sure there were mostly kind thoughts, not judgemental ones. And sorry also Rose, it hits us at times when we least expect it, I have totally been there. It never goes away, we just learn to live with it and you never know when or what will set us off. Hugs to everyone today

Hi ladies,

I haven't been on here in a while as I've been (trying to!) taking some time away from boards/obsessing about infertility after our last Ivf failed. I'm really sorry there hasn't been more luck on this board, you all deserve it!

We've now had two fresh and one frozen Ivf transfer, all of which failed (apart from a chemical pregnancy). Our last cycle was a disaster! I have now been diagnosed with 'premature ovarian failure' based on AMH/FSH levels and my very poor response to Ivf drugs. Our next step is going abroad, to Reprofit in the Czech Republic, as it's loads cheaper and I just have a good feeling about it. If it fails, we would do something called 'mild Ivf' a few times, and then move on to donor eggs. I would use them now, and not bother trying to get my crap ovaries to work, but my hubby isn't at all keen!

Annabellaboo, for our last Ivf cycle I asked to be prescribed prednisolone in case of high nk cells (I haven't been tested but my doctor was ok with me using them 'just in case'). It was a bfn but that's because of the terrible quality of our embryos. For our next cycle I'll be using them again. Only a low-ish dose, and only for a couple of weeks during the cycle.

Wishing you ladies all the luck in the world! X

And Closephine, I feel your pain about your ds being at school now. My dd started too this month, and I still can hardly believe that she is at school and I am no closer to having another child! The day she started, I held the tears in until I got home and then cried all morning, and most days I still feel so upset leaving her there (though she absolutely loves it!) and even worse when I see all the mum's with at least one (sometimes 2 and 3!!) more kids. How do some people manage it?!?

I really hope Ivf is the answer for you xx

Hi ladies,
Nice to hear from you again, Lat, though I'm very sorry to hear about your failed IVF cycles, and the recent news, it sounds very hard, but take heart in the fact that your DD is so happy at her new school, that's lovely. I wish you all the best in the Czech republic.

I am now on CD 31, the longest my AF has ever gone between cycles is 31 days (on one occasion in almost 18 months). I haven't even started spotting, and usually I spot for a minimum of 1-2 days before AF starts. So I'm a bit of a mess. Plan is to test tonight, and if it's negative then I'm going to treat myself to a massive glass of wine

How did you get on rose I hope it's some positive news xx

Hi ladies. Lat- I am so sorry for your painful journey. I hope this next venture is the happy ending you deserve.
Rose- fingers crossed for you let us know, here for you either way.

Very unexciting news I'm afraid. Bfn. I hate it when my body plays tricks on me like this- still no signs of spotting either

Awe sorry rose that's so rubbish there realy is nothing worse than when it's nothing like ur usual af and late and still bfn I hope you had that big glass of wine last night xx

Shame rose sorry to hear that. I have had that recently but I did ovulate late so it made sense. Do you know if ovulation was late this month for you?

Hi girls how's every1 else doing well iv just went on fb to see a girl announcing her 6th pregnancy yes 6th just put me in a horrible mood why is it so easy for some and I know she drinks all through her pregnancys I hate being so jealous but we all try so hard!!i had to get emergency root treatment today been in agony all weekend iv not got a clue how many dpo I am we still dtd regardless and itl still not happen some people don't realise how blessed they are

thanks Tara and Anna. I think I must have ovulated late yes , I wonder if the hormone injections have affected things. Still no spotting, but I couldn't feel any less pregnant, boobs are tiny!
Argh I hate Facebook for that reason Tara, used to get me so down seeing babies everywhere. I kinda don't go on it anymore for that reason. Hope you are feeling better this evening after your dental treatment, sounds horrid.

Well if you did ovulate late then maybe there's still a chance of a bfp I mean I had 0 symptoms in my first pregnancy it was a nyt at a fortune teller and she said she seen a positive pregnancy test and we were all making a joke about it haha joke was on me lol.i am thanks rose the pain was horrendous so to just have an achey bit with the work getting done it's like relief.is this the first month on hormone injections xx

Hello all. Nothing exciting to report and so many recent posts I'm afraid I just jumped to the end ... hope you're all doing well and hanging in there.

I'm on cd9 and not sure if I ov'd early or if it's still to come.

Hi bloop same here 5 or 7 dpo had severe toothache which led to root treatment and now an infection so gave up on the opks but still baby danced so sexy ay lol.have you baby danced just incase you did o early xx

Hi all! Just a wee check in, to say I'm still here. Nothing much to report, on CD12, when I would have ovulated normally, but pretty sure I haven't ovulated yet, looking at my temps, so that's good news in the sense that perhaps the vits I'm taking are regulating my cycles a bit. Only problem is that we last had sex on CD9, and DH has got proper man flu and has refused to have sex with me last two days, so if I do ovulate today/tomorrow (would temp rise tomorrow mean I ovulated today?) then our chances would be much lower. I guess it would be a slight possibility if sperm can hang around for 5 days, is that right?
Rose so sorry about the late AF, then BFN. So frustrating and disappointing.
Anna I totally understand the need and desire to self diagnose and self medicate, I would also urge you not to self medicate, but it sounds like you weren't really seriously considering it. I can't remember, have you had acupuncture before? If not, I would really consider it, as it sounds like you might really appreciate the chance to talk with somebody, maybe bout this particular thing, as they might have some interesting answers for you. My acupuncturist has "diagnosed" me as kidney/blood deficient, and so treats me for that. That would mean I have trouble building up my lining, which is why I've been taking the various different vits too, but it's really useful to get a bit of a diagnosis and a chance to discuss things with somebody. Doctor's just don't seem to want to give you any time, even if you are getting treatment...

3 years secondly infertility after first child. Now have 4 kids. Thankyou clomid!

Oh no Tara I hope you feel better soon. Didn't get a chance to dtd as I bled for 5days then oh was away until today :(

I'm sure itl be fine bloop if you've not ovulated when do u normaly o?thanks getting there but tmi can't get the toilet out it's been 8 days tried senna fybojel orange juice etc so my belly is seriously looking like I am preggers if only it was lol.you seem pretty down beat bloop hope your doing ok xx
Hi hippy my oh has stomach issues and when he does it seems to be fertile week and when he has it's hard to you know lol we were just joking about how one or the other is always I'll some way or another at the time and I'd say the last two cycles he's realy tried even with man flu lol hope he perks up soon before you o or just dress up and try peek his interest nothing worse if you feel u miss it.
Optimist that's fantastic were you not ovulating then?xx

Hi everyone

Sorry I've not been posting much, I've not a lot to report and been feeling pretty meh about it all lately. DH has his next semen analysis on the day I'm pretty sure I'll ovulate which means we are probably out this month (as if we're not every other month anyway!) as we have to abstain for the three days beforehand.

Rose - has af arrived yet? If not, have you re tested?

Anna - how are you doing? I don't know anything about the medication you were thinking about taking but given what the other ladies who do have said, perhaps not the best idea. Can understand the desire to try anything though!

Hippy - 5 days might be stretching it a bit, I'd try and persuade DH to overcome his stomach issues in the next day or so :)

Arg! Too late - I'be ovulated, right?! Last DTD cd9 ovulation cd12 (or 13? Does it go up after you ovulate?!) what do you guys think?!

Hi all,

Good to hear, Optimist, thanks! Did you have irregular periods? How long after starting clomid did you get pregnant if you don't mind me asking?

I'm not very good at temp charts, Hippybird, but I'm not sure you've def ovulated yet looking at that one. I'd wait to see what tomorrow shows. Good luck trying to get DH in the mood! (I've been there!)

I've just started AF today, a week late, which has never ever happened, so it's been a mini rollercoaster of emotions. Just glad I know what's happening now, and plan is to have our (first) cycle of IUI this month. I'm dreading the comedown if it doesn't work, which according to stats is likely, but I feel like we've got to try something now.

Hippybird you'lp need two more rises before you can confirm ov. I've had dips with only one or two rises then another later dip with the proper rises afterwards. I hope that's what's happening here for you.

Tara I normally ov around cd12 to cd14 but there's no sign of a rise yet - that said I don't regularly ovulate these days so might not happen this month at all

Realy bloop I never knew that have you been offered clomid?i hope it happens for you it's so gutting when you miss it although it never seems to be the month you can't help but feel it could have been.
Hippy I don't temp so can't help you but I'd get bedding just incase as bloop said if you've not ov yet also I have to agree with the 5 day sperm I think if it's super sperm and great cm maybe but I think two days at a push is your hubby feeling better yet xx