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

Thanks Anna I know I usually never symptom spot as I never have any lol
Rose I'm glad to hear it's going smoother this time round fingers crossed this is it for you!
Hippy thanks I know I was realy positive and done meditation about imagining a baby growing and clear any blockages etc so prob just got my hopes up every time I try something new I think this could be it.how are you feeling today?
Mrskittenpie im sorry you've still not had that bfp and the siblings at school is heartbreaking and you just see pregnant bellys year after year even my ds teachers have had second baby's since he started.
Bloop it realy sucks that your feeling so low but don't give up maybe taking a break if you don't get bfp this cycle and don't opk or track it's maybe cause of what you went through and you know you should have had your baby you lost you are a strong woman who had to go through all that heartache and still do on a daily basis I realy pray you get your bfp soon xx
Well full flow today so cd1 and ready to start cycle 100000 lol
Can I ask for a catch up on how long everyone has been trying?
Yesterday I was talking to a guy who had a baby through nhs ivf first try when he said she was 2 and half I nearly choked as I thaught she was only coming up on 1 I remember Wanting to ask how they got a free round when they had a kid already but didn't as I don't want any1 knowing I'm trying lol so iv now been trying for 4 years

Thanks rose - this is such a supportive group. I'm sorry to hear the nurse was so clueless though.
tara - I know - it's horrible isn't it that people are just having lots of babies in the time it is taking us to ttc - I can't get my head around it when I keep hearing the announcements, then the pregnancy goes on, then the births, then so on.... and I'm still plodding on with nothing to show for it - apart from increasing bitterness. In answer to your question this cycle will be month 29 - so nearly 2 and half years and every supplement, alternative therapy, diet/ non diet has not made a scrap of difference.
In other news I've decided to decorate the room that was supposed to be for the new nursery - so it will have a futon etc, maybe some kind of reading/relaxation room - it'll be good to concentrate on something to do and the room just looks so pathetic standing there empty

Yes, we had the same issue kitten pie, with the spare room- I've made ours into a study and that feels a lot better. Also was a bit embarrassing when we showed people round the new house and they were asking what the small empty room was for- now it's a study!
Thanks for the tips closephine about hcg- they didn't even tell me that- ,just imagining now the turmoil of having a false positive test, 😬. Not feeling teeeibly optimistic about this IUI it has to be said- just realised I'm having the insemination day 14 of ny cycle so for all they know I could have ovulated early anyway and missed the boat altogether. Just don't think the clinic are really thinking about it and it seems like we are all guessing- maybe that's just the nature of IUI and that's why the success rates are so low.

I know kitten pie the bitterness I have is discusting I actually hate myself for actually uttering the words why do they get ten kids and I can't have two lol I live across from a chemist that runs a methadone programme and there's a couple who I give credit too getting clean but they have a toddler and a newborn and I just think how the hell is that possible and a cousin who had a kid same as my ds then broke up with him for 7 years then had another kid then broke up again and a school friend announced her 6 th pregnancy I mean ffs lol but here's hoping you spend loads of money decorating and you have to redo it as a nursery lol.
Rose I have read loads about iui being low success rate but watch some you tube videos there is loads of success story's aswell I think we just try so hard it's hard to choose the positive story's as we just have it in our heads that it's never going to happen.is it a private clinic your at cause that's pretty crap if the nurse seems to be clueless it won't put much confidence in you xx

Hi everyone! I've just been catching up...
Rose - is this your first round of IUI? Wishing you so much luck! Where are you in your cycle, and when will you be due?
Closephine - are you doing anything in prep for IVF in Jan?
Bloop bleep - did those pains turn into anything more? I'm crossing my fingers for you! And Anna? You must be due any day now too...?
Kitten - hello!! Yes, I remember you! I'm sorry we're still on these boards. I wonder what happened to prty and everyone else on those boards. It seemed to sort of fizzle out, didn't it? That sounds like a great idea about decorating the spare room - a good project to sink your teeth into... I'm still on here being hippy, and doing accupuncture. But no progress...
Tara - and kitten - I know just what you mean about everyone else having a growing family so easily!! Why is it just so easy for some?!? Look at my sister for Pete's sake - just had her fourth!!!
Tara, to recap for you, I'm 39, our ds is 9, and we've been officially been trying for 27 months. I had a reaction to an injection in my hips when ds was 3, and to cut a long story short, was on medication up until a few months before we started trying again. I had a coil fitted from quite soon after he was born (no hormones), then had a mirena coil (with hormones) for about the last two years. Never dreamed we would have such difficulty, and our trying has coincided with ALL our friends and family deciding to start their families!! We were about 10 years ahead of everyone for some reason...
So today I am officially due, and when I woke up and wee'd: nothing on tissue! I tried to remember that's happened to me before, it takes a few wees to start on due day, if I've not already started spotting. But of course, I started thinking hopeful thoughts, only to go again in about half an hour and see brown when I wipe...!
Anyway, trying my best to stick with the positive mindset, I've got myself a coffee (I've given them up for a bit), and written a list of things I am grateful for in my life right now... now, wish me luck getting through the day!! X

Hi hippy thanks for the update as I google all the time and come across boards and there kids are like 2 and you just think god that's not long ttc lol think this is the only one I found that I can realy relate to as everyone has been 3 years plus and we're all trying different things from alternative to medical so iv learned a lot.so sorry you had spotting that's how I started off on Monday and now I'm bleeding heavily like changing every two hours.i tried to cut down coffee aswell but just couldn't do it 4 kids how lucky at least you have baby's to cuddle tho.i think I'm going to give opk a miss this month and just dtd every other day so I'm not counting dpo after last cycle.xx

Hi Tara - yes, I'm actually hoping for a nice heavy one, as they're normally light, and I've been trying to build my lining with supplements. And I am so thAnkful for my 4 nephews, I love them so much, and they are like my surrogate kids, so yes, I am very lucky to have them. I'll add them to my gratefulness list!! Onwards and upwards! I hope this is a good cycle for you... where are you up to in terms of treatments? What's your approach these days? X

Hi Tara- it's privately funded but at an NHS hospital so perhaps explains the slight ineptness, though everyone else apart from her has been fantastic.
Hippy- yes it's my first cycle of IUI- I'll try and be positive but I just have a feeling we're going to be heading for IVF eventually.

Hi ladies. Well done hippy for remaining so positive despite the signs of AF arrival. Enjoy your coffee! I still have a few days left until AF due. The mild possible symptoms I had a few days ago seem to have mostly faded, but I do still have a headache on and off and I just went to the toilet and when I wiped there was a bit of yellowish/light brown cm. Not really that before (spotting used to be red/pink when I had early AF signs) and pretty sure I don't have any infections. Maybe it's just a new early sign of AF on it's way. Want to believe it could be possible still this month but also afraid to get hopes up too much. My skin is also very clear and I look healthier than usual which I am assuming is the result of my extra healthy diet these last few weeks.
Clospehine-I have been meaning to ask you, has DH had any more SC results since he has taken that course of antibiotics? Am hoping they has been some improvement so to help your chances in January with the ivf. Not long now, you must be counting down. Which clinic did you decide on in the end?

Rose I realy hope your one of the lucky ones and it works first time and you don't have to endure ivf.
Hippy iv not done much to be fair I just kept thinking it would happen then started opks then mentioned to the doctor so tried another 6 months and got bloods done that came back fine for ovulation and hormones dp has still to get sperm checked then doctor will refer us but I don't know why we keep putting it off I guess I just know if we go down that root and say it's ivf I just don't think financialy it's a possibility for me as sil had it 7 times and then it's kind of like an end think I'd rather have that hope if u know what I mean.iv not had a scan on my overys since 2 years ago when I had treatment for abnormal cells but at the time there was no blockages etc but that could have changed.so I'm now been taking supplements for about 3 months.what about you I know you did say you also don't think ivf would be for you xx

i can never keep up with who said what on my phone so apologies for always appearing ignorant.
Best of luck Rose. I know of someone who's had iui twice and had successful pregnancies both those times and she's over 40.
Thanks Tara! You're right and every month I swear I'm not going to try but around ov time I get a little crazy. I've been actively ttc for 19months and been not very careful for much longer than that.
Hippybird - nothing as yet. I thought perhaps there was a squinter of a second line on a test today (10dpo) but I think it was just looking so hard I could see the chemical strip that would react if it was bfp. Unusually I'm not spotting yet but also don't feel pregnant. Every symptom under the sun but that's the norm these days
Anna - my fingers are crossed it's your month. When I was pregnant I got the yellow/beige cm but ever since my mc I've had that a few days before af so no ideas if it's a sign

One thing I did wonder about - some months around 8/9dpo I get very similar to v early preg symptoms that are more convincing than normal - similar but know they're no pg symptoms- cramps, pressure in pelvis, boobs ache, constipation & nausea/dizziness, it makes me wonder whether I've been successful but by 10dpo it's all gone. It's not every month that I query success so I'm wondering if perhaps those months I was successful but something in my body won't let it progress. Last pg (& mc) I knew by 9dpo and in my first I knew immediately.

Anna - that is the same description I would give the spotting/cm I have been having. I don't know if you recall but for a few months it happened really soon after ovulation (2 days) until AF. Last month I think it was about 10dpo it appeared and so far this month I'm 9dpo and waiting for it to show up! I'm wondering if it's something to do with the laparoscopy... mine was back in Feb, but I wonder if it is something to do with having a clear out down there. Obviously hope in your case it's a pregnancy symptom but it seems odd that you've described the same thing as me and not long after your lap.

DH had another test last week so we are waiting on the results now... we have chosen Serum in Athens and have a telephone consultation in a couple of weeks. Nervous but pleased to get the ball rolling.

Bloop - I get the same as you, some months I think it's possible, others I seem to know it hasn't happened. I've had a few 'evap' lines over the years and still don't know if there was anything real in them and they just didn't work... the only really significant symptom I had with DS was a very particular cramping in the night and after going for a wee! Now I look for that. I haven't had it once in the 3 years we've been trying...!

Bloop- I am exactly the same with the time implantation would happen I some cycles get major pg like symptoms for a few days that then disappear. I am convinced that something is trying to happen in there and it gets stopped for some reason. Interesting. Wish I could figure out what the hell to do to let it happen!
Silly me just couldn't resist an early test this month. Bpn at about 11/12 dpo. Technically I am not totally our yet but feeling less hopeful. Plus all symptoms apart from an ongoing headache have gone.
Closephine- glad you decided on serum, I would also be choosing them if we ever did decide to go down that route. Let us know how the telephone consultation goes and also DH test results. Fingers crossed they are improved.

Oh I've heard a lot of good stuff about Serum but the travel costs just seem to push the prices up. I'd love to know if that's not the case (in case I win the lottery)

anna wonder if there's something we could do to improve implantation. I've thought for a while there's been something wrong with my lining but I've no idea how to find out. Ridiculously light (for me) periods for the past year makes me think something has changed.

Bloopbleep, I too have had lighter periods for quite a long time now (I think at least a year, if not two), which makes me worry. However, during my ivf cycles I have always had really thick lining so the doctors think that in normal cycles it will also be thick enough. Could you not ask for a scan one month around ovulation, which should show the thickness. There's so much to worry /obsess about isn't there!?

We are waiting to start another ivf cycle (well I'm ready but dh doesn't want to do it), in the Czech Republic (Reprofit). Including travel and accommodation, our cycle will cost around £3500, which is over £1500 than our local clinic! Good luck to you all, I hope one day soon we can all announce some happy news on here xx

over £1500 cheaper

Thanks lat! It's interesting your lining looks good even with lighter periods. As I'm. It getting help from NHS I'd need to pay for consultant appointment and scan privately which sadly isn't possible right now.

£3500 incl travel seems like a great price. I may start looking abroad next year when my financial situation improves if nature is still being a nasty bugger

Pre AF insomnia has kicked in so it's safe to assume I'm out. Not surprising as DH's results came back - 0% morphology so yeah.... totally fed up.

I've been meaning to post this... I've realised that DS's class has 5 only children in it. Obviously I've counted! I think one may be from a single parent family but the others all have parents who are together. I guess I don't know the circumstances and it could be through choice, but it's oddly comforting for him to not be the odd one out.

Hey closephine - I can't sleep either. Sorry to hear about oh's morphology. Is there anything that can be done about it?

I'm due af, day after tomorrow (well technically today) - had all the usual signs that af is on her bastarding way :( And I even had (tmi) constipation which I only ever get for more than one day when pg. harrumph!

There are a few only children in dd's class at school but the majority come from families with 2+ kids. Interestingly dd is less keen on a sibling since seeing how they all interact.

Hi bloop, is not being pregnant not enough of a punishment? Why do our bodies take sleep from us as well?! Nothing more we can do on the morphology front, just going to have to hope they find some useable swimmers when it comes to IVF.

My DS is very curious, loves biology and how the body works. The other day he started quizzing me on how babies are made etc. He's seems to have some understanding of wombs, eggs etc. he wanted to know if I still had 'the little balls that make babies'. I feel so guilty. He'd be such a proud big brother. You shouldn't have to understand that life isn't fair at 5 years old.

Closephine, my dd asks frequently about my 'eggs', and the other day, after she overheard a conversation between me and dh where we discussed giving up, she said 'no don't give up Mummy, you only need one good egg'. It broke my heart. We rarely discuss it in front of her but she has obviously still picked things up anyway. I'm sorry to hear about your dh morphology. On the ivf board on Babycentre, there are lots of women who have used Serum and they all say great things about it. Best of luck you you.

Bloopbleep, I'm sorry you'd have to pay. Have you had any tests on the NHS? One of my preliminary tests was an ultrasound scan to check my womb, and looking back at my notes, this included information on the thickness. Good luck to you x

Morning ladies. So AF turned up last night- a few days early! Only a 23 day cycle this month. Haven't had one this short in a while. Slightly relieved to not have to stay out the wait but not sure why my cycle was so short. Bummer.
Bloop and lat- I wouldn't say my periods are lighter, if anything slightly heavier. From the scans I've had in the past my lining has been fine and apparently perfect for making a baby
Sorry close about your DH sperm results, that must be a disappointment especially after the hope it could have been a hidden infection that the antibiotics would have cleared. How does he cope with it? It must be pressure on him I imagine.

Just catching up on all your posts this morning- so many so bear with me for not catching all of it, also very light periods here- -and always something that stresses me out, but apparently my womb lining looks ok on scan so don't know what to make of that.
Closephine- I'm sorry about your dh's morphology- how ridiculously frustrating for you- great about serum though and I'll be really interested to know how you find it. - hopefully a somewhat nice holiday with it I hope?
Sorry about the AFs and impending signs of AFs ladies, rubbish. 😞.

I had the insemination yesterday and have been told to bd last night and tonight to cover all bases- and there I was looking forward to a nice break from it this month! It would have been nice if they had scanned me to see if I had ovulated already or was due to, but they didnt😠.

Shhhhh I see two lines...