TTC for 18 months or more. Moving onto iui/ivf/icsi.

[lucieloos]

We have relocated from the conception board where we were previously chatting under the thread 'ttc for 10 months or more'. A lot of us are now long term ttc-ers and are going through infertility treatment or looking to take steps in this direction so we feel this might be a more suitable home for us!

Feel free to stop by and say hi and hopefully we can share the journey together and make it a little easier along the way!

Thanks for the welcome maple. After some frenzied googling, I have decided to totally ignore medical advice take the informed risk and take the clomid without follicle monitoring scans. At 50mg (lowest dose) it's unlikely to do very much over stimulation anyway (I hope) and chances of multiples with fairly low morphology and 18 mths without a single fertilised egg seem like a chance I'm willing to take. From what I've seen it can take a few months for clomid to get going so hopefully I can have a monitored cycle next month and it be a more active cycle as a result. Worth a shot anyway as sick of doing nothing while we wait for IVF to start. On my phone on the commute so can't scroll to do a detailed hi to everyone but am reading along (and learning!). Thanks for having me!

Welcome Geeup. It's worth a try.

Hi all!

Just popping back to check up on you all. Fx to those going through treatment.

geeup I would strongly recommend that at the very least you book yourself in for a scan 7 days after you finish the clomid so you can see what's happening both to your follies and your lining. Without that information it is a bit of a waste of a cycle. And you need to stop with clomid every 3 months or so so don't waste it! There are clinics that will scan you - I had some scans at the well woman clinic opposite Chelsea westminster hospital and my sonographer was perfectly happy to interpret the results on the spot (I did have a doctor but I didn't see her til the end of the cycle). You need in particular to know if clomid is thinning your lining as there's not much point taking it if it is!

Any ultrasound direct clinic can do follicle tracking scans - don't need to go to a fertility clinic.

If clomid thins the lining then that's important information - the Clomid can 'work' but counterintuitively make it harder to conceive . If you know about this from an initial cycle then can manage with oestrogen tablets / switch to Femara or injectables in a subsequent cycle

Good luck!! Xx

Gee I agree with stealth if you can get a scan - my first (and only) clomid cycle I was on 50mg and I had 3 follies but lining was 5.6mm. I think I originally had/have thin lining anyway but everyone responds differently! Good luck!

Thinking of banana and bean today xx

Yay for a shorter cycle Lozza - what were they usually again?

Thank you so much ladies. I'll try and get myself booked in to one of those clinics for a scan 7 days after I finish. Will do a ring round on Friday. First night seems ok - no sweats or anything. Fx it stays that way!

My cycles really vary - anything normally between 34-60 days! Usually on the higher end of that scale too! So a 30 day cycle is definitely an improvement for me! Can't believe I'm getting excited about a shorter interval between AF! what has happened to me! Lol x

I had my hysteroscopy yesterday evening, Dr was very pleased, said he was feeling much happier having seen the endometrium was looking so healthy. There were some very very minor filmy adhesions, but these went as soon as he flushed with saline, nothing needed resecting. There was a small calcified area, but again this went with saline flushing, no instruments needed. Copper coil is in, biopsy is done: he said I'd probably feel quite battered as he flushed the uterine cavity out so many times (think he said something like 7?!) and he jacked my cervix open a fair bit

We knew I didn't have Ashermans syndrome, but we didn't know quite what to expect when he got in there. So very relieved to hear it's looking healthy, and we're at least starting from a solid base. The key test will be if I get a decent period in 3/4 weeks after my first HRT cycle 🙏

Realised my first egg collection was 12 months ago exactly to the day. 'Only' had 3 more ECs, 2 transfers, 2 pregnancies, 2 losses, 1 D&C and 2 hysteroscopies since then! Quite a year...

Banana I hope you aren't feeling too battered today- you've had so much going on this year really hope the copper coil works for you - have my fingers crossed for a good bleed!! So pleased everything else looked healthy!

Good news banana - fingers crossed the coil works!

So tonight has been interesting - watched two health related programmes - one on the diabetes epidemic which has made me think a lot about my diet and exercise or lack of it. The other was the programme with Sally Phillips and Down's syndrome screening talking about the NIPT. That was definitely food for thought and one big ethical debate!

That aside I have been reading loads of pregnancy announcements and wishing it was me! One day hopefully! The joys of being infertile - wonder what's it like to just get pregnant so easily!?

Hope everyone is ok!

Hi all,

Sorry i haven't been around for a while, i have been away on holiday and works been busy! I have tried to catch up on everything that has been going on with you all, so much has happened!

Welcome to all who have joined reciently!

Congratulations to everyone with bfp's there seem to have been lots so great news and hope yr all doing well.

Banana im so sorry to read about all you have been through over the past few weeks and 12 months, i dont know how you stay so strong and positive with it all. Look after yourself, it sounds like u have a great Dr on yr side!

I'm waiting for delivery of my drugs ready to start my first ever ivf cycle, start sniffing next Sunday! Mixed emotions, excited to finally be starting after so long waiting but scared about side effects etc..... and scared that it might not work.

Hope everyone is doing ok to you all xxx

Got my AMH back - it's 84! A tad high but consistent with PCOS I think? Who knows!

Hope everyone's ok! Xx

Yes lozza that's consistent with pcos.

Very consistent with polycystic ovaries!!

Mine is 62.2 and that is considered high

Pelvic ultrasound will likely confirm a very high antral follicle count, with the ovaries likely having a characteristic 'string of pearls' appearance (tiny follicles clustered around the outside of the ovary resembling a string of pearls)

Not everyone with polycystic ovaries has the syndrome (ie not everyone with PCO has PCOS)

But if you have other symptoms like irregular or absent ovulation, acne or hirsuitism, being overweight, that's all pretty indicative of PCOS

That said, not everyone has the classic symptoms of PCOS. When I was diagnosed the consultant said 'I know you probably didn't think you could be PCOS because you're not fat and hairy but that's a myth'. When I told the GP about the diagnosis she was obvs not very clued up about lean PCOS as she said she'd never heard of anyone with PCOS who was underweight (bit of fertility education needed there methinks)

My PCOS acne however is very much making itself known, argh!!

Oh well, now I'm on contraception I can start using the full on chemical warfare acne creams you can't use when TTC. Double pronged approach with the metformin to try and enable me to not have to wear full on foundation every bloody day!!

I'm on the overweight side of PCOS but glad it's been reconfirmed officially because I haven't had any investigations for ages and my GP said everyone seems to have PCOS these days and uses it as an excuse for weight problems!

Oh well that's killed a week waiting for that news - one week close to sperm analysis #1!

Banana, great to hear that your hysteroscopy went well. I didn't have the full assay.....I just got one figure. Maybe I will get the full assay done if the next transfer doesn't work. I had the endometrial biopsy and that came back ok. I remember asking Dr. Sher a question once and in his response he mentioned that the bloods were more important - my head spins when I try and make sense of it all.

Raeside, there are others on here who already have a child so don't worry. Whatever the circumstances infertility sucks and going through IVF is tough.

AF arrived here at the weekend. Have my scratch booked in for a few weeks time and then get going on the next AF hopefully.

Thanks JustTrixie.

Had my hysteroscopy at City Fertility today. Good news is that womb looking lovely an youthful and doing what it should be doing at this stage of my cycle. Bad news is both fallopian tubes were described as 'obliterated'. Basically I'm sad that the last 2.5yrs we've been trying it was really never going to work and I've gotten older that whole time, losing chances.

Stupid everything! Go back next week for follow up and protocololabnjng. I've a whole lot of questions to ask but of you amazingly experienced crew out there any recs bout what to ask if you were a 42yr old first timer with an AMH of 8.8?

Tia.

Gah. Protocol planning! Bloody phone and cold fingers.

Good news about the womb Rae - really sorry to hear about tubes did they say why they were "obliterated"?

I had my scan today - been on 37.5iu Merional as I responded too well on 75iu. 2 good sized follicles but need more time to grow - back for a scan on Friday then hopefully IUI on Monday.

Hope everyone is ok - been a bit quiet! X

Nice work on the follickes, Maple!

When he said 'obliterated' I remarked it was a very strong word! I have a follow-up with him next week so may ask more then. I'm guessing he means collapsed/blocked...

Good.news about your latest results Banana.

Hope you get more information Rae at your next appointment.

Had another scan. My consultant asked if I had a positive opk yet (I'm day 12) I said no. She seemed surprise and went on to say that I have a collapsed follicle and she could see fluid so I'm guessing that means I've ovulated early. I've been using opks for a few days all negative. Ive also had a tone on EWCM today and yesterday but my opks are still negative. Not sure what is going on in my body ATM. So confused!

Hi all its been very quiet on here - just checking in on everyone.

Have you got your follow up this week Rae?

Paige what OPKs do you use? Do you test twice a day? Could you have missed the surge?

I have been at a scan today again - just want follicle now at 16mm and lining 7mm. Back on Wednesday for another scan. Feel a bit disappointed that we only have one follicle - I know IUI stats aren't great anyway but after almost 15 days of jabbing it seems pointless as I ovulate normally anyway! Sigh.

Hello ladies and welcome to all the newbies,
Nothing to report here, just checking in really.
Maple, you've had really varied responses to stimulation haven't you. I know you're disappointed but I feel like shoving the sperm right up past the cervix has to give you some edge over trying naturally so definitely worth a shot. Good luck!
Trixie, how are you doing? I will be IVFing at King's in Jan so I'm just treading water till then. Lots to keep me busy as getting married in December which does take the edge off every month.

Hi all,

Hope everyone is doing ok! Nothing much to report here either!

Started down regulation on sunday, glad to finally be getting our first cycle going but also really nervous!

Star congrats on your wedding in December, hope the plans are going well

Xxx

Just popping into say hi!

Star, congrats, a December wedding sounds lovely!

Hope, good luck with your cycle! Scary but exciting.

Trixie, hope all is going well with you and you are gearing up to get started next month

Banana, glad all went well with the coil and keeping everything crossed for a good heavy af for you!

Hi to everyone else xx