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

Hi annabellboo I'm still here waiting with you for that miracle I didn't think anyone would post again as it went so quite after all the bfps.is this the first time using progesterone?maybe it's worked and the headaches are a good sign ??hopefully some of the others are still lurking that have used it.where are you in your cycle?well i had a really weird period 2 cycles ago started off brown blood not spotting actual brown blood then large clots went to the doctors and she suspected chemical but I didn't opk or hpt as I was rather fed up with it but my period was 2 days late so last cycle I got back into it tested 7 dpo got a positive then negative then 3 days late and brown blood then large clots and tissue so another chemical but my boobs were killing me last Monday so had a feel and milk was coming out so back at docs again who couldn't explain it just kept asking if I was sure I wasn't pregnant so to get day 21 tests prolactin and hcg bloods next week.im now 4 dpo still leaking so I'm assuming il be out this month first time I thaught good things are happening at least but now I'm just gutted as I just can't get a sticky bean we're heading up to 3.5 years I've been more positive and tried some whacky things last two cycles which seem to help motivate me and who knows seemed it helped somewhere hope your feeling better today xx

Hi ladies,

I'm sorry there hasn't been more luck. Still none for us either. Our last ivf ended in an early miscarriage, and we have three frozen embryos that we hopefully try next month. A hysteroscopy last month showed nothing wrong, but it's messed up my cycle so for the first time in three years I have no idea where I'm at! Dh is working away for a month too, so no chance of a miracle pregnancy for us just yet!

Hopefully this is the year all our dreams will come true xx

Hi lat so sorry to hear about your loss and that your oh is away there's nothing worse when you feel your missing your chance.how many ivf cycles have you had?my sil had 7 in total but got there little man in the end.nice to see the thread coming alive again I'm not any other threads and only 1 friend knows and they don't really understand.xx

Thank you Tara 😘 We've had four transfers (3 fresh and 1 frozen), resulting in 2 bfns and 2 early miscarriages. I thought ivf would be the magic cure (we're 'unexplained' and we started our first cycle the month after I turned 30 so everyone was very optimistic), but it's been a nightmare to be honest! We've got 3 frozen embryos at our clinic abroad, which we'll try soon, and after that we'll move to either donor eggs or adopted embyros. I won't ever stop until we get our second child, however it has to happen!
People don't understand it do they, not unless they've been through it? I suppose why would they, but it's still bloody frustrating and you get a lot of insensitivity! Xx

Hi ladies,
I just wanted to clock in and say hello. This group was such a massive support for me when we were going through secondary infertility. I'm now 20 weeks which still feels insane sometimes after so long trying (and quite unfair that we were so lucky when others are going through this horrid business still). I still think of you all and when I see a message flash up am always hoping it's good news for someone.

I also read a couple of articles in the guardian this weekend about people's personal experiences of infertility (including secondary), and it was nice to see in the comments boxes people being overall very sympathetic, and also some comments about how difficult and incomparable secondary infertility is.

Anyway, I haven't been on here very much at all since I got pregnant as the last thing I want to do is be a painful reminder for anyone, (god only knows how hard I found it hearing other people's news when we were going through it) but I didn't want you to think I'd forgotten about you at all. Sending you all lots of love, hugs and good luck vibes, and fingers crossed for some more good news very soon xxxx

It will work lat just got to keep the positive attitude just pray your one of those that gets there bfp after going through ivf or before your next cycle of it any further in guessing where you are in your cycle.im in the tww again 😩 My nipples are agony and again leaking get my bloods done on Friday to check prolactin levels In my mind I think it's never going to happen but I keep thinking I can't give up I'm also 30 so not quite ready to accept the fact I'm not going to be a mum again every time I try a new thing I thing this will be it 😂😂 I'm also on new meds for ra hydrocoxchloroquine which aparently are fine to take when ttc but iv been in so much pain and can't help but think the fact my body attacks healthy cells that this could be the problem but who know finally going down the testing road and getting referred to fertility doctor my oh was reluctant getting sperm tested but he is booked in for Monday to see the doctor fingers crossed he goes he suffers from depression but he's on new mess and seem more pro active in it although he's convinced we don't have enough sex he can't quite get that there's only that short window in the month and I use all my efforts then 😜.
Hi rose my god 20 weeks already don't feel like that at all yes it's hard when it's someone having there 20th kid or some junkie but when it's someone who's been through all this and made it it's lovely to hear and know that it can happen.are you going to find out the sex of the baby ?can we have a little reminder of your journey to your little miracle I love hearing success stories xx

Hi all. Sorry for the slow response. We moved house last week and are in total chaos! It's a nice distraction from my infertility however! Really really need another child to come along as this house is big and needs filling. I told DH we are getting a puppy if not!
Lat- so sorry for all you've been through.
Rose-thanks for checking in. Glad all is going well for you, it's nice to hear your update and kind works to us all.
Harry78- try some natural progesterone cream. Check dosage recommended and start using it a few days after ovulation morning and evening. Take a pregnancy test at 14 dpo if AF hasn't shown, then if negative stop using to let AF come and start the same thing the next month after ovulation. That's the prescribed method for me although mine are suppositories but I believe the cream works the same.
Everyone else I haven't said hello to I am reading and following every post. Here with you all and looking forward to more success stories soon! If not then at least we have this group to lean on in our dark times.

Hi Annabellaboo good your too busy to think of ttc well kinda lol maybe you just needed the bigger house and now youl get to full it lol.
Hi harry welcome to the group sorry you've had to join us although a years not to bad can take up till 18 months so still time yet and good your getting the ball rolling as I kinda just went with the flow for 2.5 years so now just getting tests etc.iv not had a short luteal phase but I did use to spot but has stopped now since taking certain vitamins do you take any I take mine all separate I don't know why I really should just buy a pre natal but I want to make sure I get the right dose 😂😂xx

That sucks the b6 ain't helping I hated spotting always got my hopes up it would be implantation i take b12 b6 vitiman d and c and folic acid also take evening primrose and royal jelly till ov.iv no idea about progesterone I thaught U could only get that at the doctors maybe ask when your there?have you read about Angus cactus iv heard people using that.xx

I was the same my cycles are 28 to 30 some of what I read said it shortened it so didn't want to mess about.i take it the whole cycle I would say iv seen no great improvement but the spotting stopped so they must help somehow.iv now started drinking red raspberry leaf tea up until ovulation supposed to help blood flow but only used 2 cycles so far.have you had any tests done?do you temp or take opk xx

Harry- you can buy the progesterone cream online, just give it a google. And I agree with the Angus cactus things. I too considered it but felt it had too many mixed reviews and felt it wasn't for me. I do take a bunch of supplements however and have tried all sorts over the years. I have an entire box of them it is ridiculous I don't bother with many now as I just got fed up and also it is just so expensive. Honestly if I actually added up how much I must have spent these last few years on alternative therapies and supplements it would make me want to cry I am sure. It must be equivalent to at least 1 round of ivf! Not that I want it but still...

I agree anabellaboo especially pregnancy tests even the cheap ones 😂I just buy Asda vitamins now do the same job I think lol xx

Hi all
I've been absent for a while. Still no news here. annabel that's exciting about the house move, hope you get your wish of filling up your big house with a baby!
I've run out of new ideas, read with interest the supplements thing - I too have spent stupid amounts over the years on supplements- I could cry. I just take vit b now. I've been using the ovusense monitor - has anyone else used it? It is good and tells you the exact day you ovulated, but what worries me is over the last 3 months I've used it I've had an 11 day luteal phase, a 12 day and now a 9 day - I always though luteal phase was supposed to be constant? Not to mention how crap the lengths are anyway - nowhere near long enough.
One of my closest friends had another baby a couple of weeks ago - trouble is it's her second in the time we've been ttc number 2. It's really put a strain on the friendship and I find it too difficult to be around her. This infertility really does affect everything, I hate it

Hi kitten sorry still no luck for you either I'm glad everyone is coming back tho cause no one really gets it.iv never heard of ovusence??is that the saliva test?im not sure on the luteal phase would progesterone help that?i totally get how you feel about your friend I just feel awful that I'm so bitter about people pregnancies I Read a magazine with Beyoncé infertility struggle and went on such a rant to oh that if I had her dosh I'd have had every known possible treatment 🙈🙈does your friend know your struggle to conceive?my one friend that does know is now ttc so I'm just waiting for the "I'm pregnant" first month trying 😪Xx

Hi harry mines ranges from 13 to 15 but my ovulation ranges as well from cd10 cd15 cycle is 28 to 31 I'm not sure what's best range I would think about 12 as it takes 6 to 12 days for implantation.i was the same I went over last year and got bloods that showed I ovulated then never went back but I'm now getting bloods taken again and oh I'd to go over to get sperm sample then refer us to fertility clinic.i think in my head I have a fear they'll say il need ivf and I know I can't afford it but I'm just being silly as there's lots of stages before that iv read things of people positive opk regular cycle good blood then had a tube blocked etc so best get it checked I suppose.cbfm is good I just use cheapys now as it's just to expensive for sticks lol but there was a lady on here who used cbfm and got her bfp.my oh was asking reluctant to her sperm tested but he's more on bored prob fed up listening to me 😂 They won't refer you for anything unless they have had it tested xx

Harry- your cycles sound exactly like mine before I started taking the progesterone. Ideally the luethal phase should be 13/14 days, 12 at the least. So yes 10 is probably too short from what my consultant said. If I were you I would start on some progesterone cream next possible cycle and see how it goes. It won't do any harm from what I have researched and sounds like you may really need it.
Kitten- hi again, sorry we are still here with no more luck on our side. I too have ran out of ideas. I've stopped obsessing and am just living life a little less restrictively. It helps as I really have tried everything I can naturally with no joy so I may as well relax a little. I still go to accupuncture once a month just before ovulation and also drink the Chinese herbs he prescribes. Not sure why really but I think it maybe helps my overall health and it makes me feel I am potentially making a difference one day. Think I will stop that however in a couple months as it does add up financially.
It's my little boys 4th birthday today. It's been a lovely day. I can't believe he somehow got to be 4 and there is no sibling for him. We started trying again exactly 3 years ago with a close age gap planned so they could grow up together. If I knew then what I know now....
Anyway, not moaning. Actually feeling so grateful for my DS and having just him sometimes has its plus points I am finding these days. I just always get a bit panicky when I think it may be just him forever as he has no likely chance of cousins so it will be just him in years to come. Don't want to leave him all alone. I am sure his life will be rich with friends and hopefully a family of his own one day, but it still seems sad to think there will be no relatives he can lean on or share memoirs with.
Wowza the think that go through my mind these days!
Sorry for long ramble!