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Infertility

Our Infertility Support forum is a space to connect with others in the same position, discuss causes, treatment and IVF, and share infertility stories of hope and success.

Secondary infertility support group here!

464 replies

Annabellaboo · 27/03/2017 16:04

Ladies-I hope we all find each other here from the original thread! I didn't realise we had ran out of room on the other thread! Shout if you are there!

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harry78 · 29/05/2017 19:57

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Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 29/05/2017 21:35

Harry, could you try another GP? My first gp was a bit iffy, second gp I just laid it on the line and she referred me. It's not right you are paying for stuff you can get on the NHS, As if it isn't stressful enough x

Annabellaboo · 29/05/2017 22:14

Ilovechoc is right Harry, it's isn't right you are having to pay for all this. These are tests that are done on the NHS for secondary infertility. Sounds like your doctor thought you could pay for it so didn't bother to refer you. If you see an actual fertility consultant they would give you more tests and options.
I also think not all doctors know much about what can be done. When I went to one doctor at my surgery for something he was asking about my infertility. When I told him what I'd had done etc he looked baffled and said he didn't know that anything was available for secondary infertility through the NHS! Wow. Scary. Even when I did see a consultant I found I had to push for certain tests. It may be worth another try with a different doctor?

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harry78 · 29/05/2017 22:31

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Annabellaboo · 30/05/2017 11:08

Harry- if you can face it I would definitely try again with a different doctor. Explain exactly what's happened and that you can't afford private and all you are asking for is a referral to a consultant which is perfectly within your rights. They should not deny you that when it is something you are entitled to. Good luck!

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Tara04 · 31/05/2017 08:02

Hi girls sorry I have been reading but not posting.
I love chocolate yea it was my go said not to mess around with hormones as it could make things worse but I'm still thinking of doing the progesterone cream as I don't feel there helping me I don't see how they can tell me I don't have fibroids pcos polyps etc with just a tummy scan,
Harry,I agree your doctor is at it my doctor isn't great but she's ready to refer as soon as sperm sample is done as for they fibroid I have read that it's not common to remove on nhs as they don't think this lowers your chances of conceiving but if your in pain and having heavy flow because of it they would so maybe put it on thick that your back is killing you every time af arrives to the point of needing time of work and your changing pad/tampon hourly just a thaught cause youv paid for stuff already that you shouldn't have which could have went towards ivf if it's needed.
Well I'm still spotting red brown that's been 21 days so far plus my 7 days af my doc phoned yesterday to say my swabs showed I have thrush but iv had no itching or burning etc it's weird blood tmi it's like bits of tissue also I'm lactating again so my prolactin must be up last time this happened was after the chemical so I don't know what is going on I'm just fed up with it all.
Annabelle that's great news your feeling better and can I just say thankyou for sticking around I know everyone says it but after the bfp announcement you never hear back lol so it's nice to see that your still supporting and rooting for us xx

AurorasEncore · 01/06/2017 20:46

Hi everyone, just catching up with the posts. I had a bit of a shock today. I got a copy of my lab report and my AMH is 44. The notes underneath said this suggests PCOS. I can't believe it! I'm a normal weight, I'm a size 10, I don't have trouble gaining weight or losing weight, I have regular periods, no excess hair or acne! It's really threw me!! I know nothing about PCOS as it was the last thing I was expecting a massive AMH, I was expecting a low one. Don't see consultant for 4 weeks so I'm in bloody limbo!! Also my internal scan was totally fine - she said I had ovulated from left side and follicles look fine - surely PCOS would have been picked up then????

Wholovesorangesoda · 01/06/2017 22:50

Hey Aurora. Sorry, I am a bit of a lurker but saw your post. I also have PCOS. Until about 2 years ago I was a size 8, weighed less than 8 stone, had a period every month (ish! Sometimes would be 6 week cycle and occasionally a lot longer, but generally pretty regular) but apparently you always have pcos, it's not something that develops. That's according to my GP, although I remain sceptical. My point being, you don't always have the general signs.

However! Having said all that, the NHS mentions the below as diagnostic criteria:

A diagnosis of PCOS can usually be made if other rare causes of the same symptoms have been ruled out and you meet at least two of the following three criteria:
you have irregular periods or infrequent periods – this indicates that your ovaries don't regularly release eggs (ovulate)

blood tests showing you have high levels of "male hormones", such as testosterone (or sometimes just the signs of excess male hormones, even if the blood test is normal)

scans showing you have polycystic ovaries

If you don't have these, I would either push for further testing or if you know already these aren't true for you I would take her 'diagnosis' with a pinch of salt personally :)

AurorasEncore · 02/06/2017 10:45

Hi orangesoda thanks so much for replying!

I really don't think this is me, I don't fit into any of the criteria! The transvaginal scan would have picked up PCOS surely that's more definitive than AMH.

I was thinking last night that because I was on the pill for many years, the type which stops ovulation and periods, I have a higher egg reserve than normal for my age?

I suppose all I can do is wait for the consultant appointment.

DH has to repeat SA as he missed the pot and didn't collect all the sample Hmm seriously man, you have one job!!!

AurorasEncore · 02/06/2017 10:46

Ps are you suffering from secondary infertility orange?

harry78 · 02/06/2017 13:27

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Tara04 · 02/06/2017 14:26

Sorry youv had that news aura although would this mean they would try clomid etc before other options?4 weeks is a long time away before you see your consultant can't imagine how your feeling maybe write things down that you want to ask like why would this be if your ovulating and no other pcos symptoms xx

AurorasEncore · 02/06/2017 17:34

Lol @harry78 glad I made you smile! I found it pretty funny too when I got over the initial annoyance.

Thanks for the tips @tara04 I think writing things down will help as I get nervous in appointments x

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 02/06/2017 18:35

Auroras everything is just so flipping slow! They spring something on you like pcos then leave you hanging, then you end up googling and worrying yourself sick.
I had my lap and dye and hysteroscopy today. All was clear with tubes/ womb etc, so great news, however ... The surgeon asked me if I had previously had op on right hand side, I replied no. He said my gallbladder is covered in scaring which is what the gp sent me for original pain scan for in first place! So back to the gp I jolly well go.
Harry it's amazing how different gp can be so varied. I have had 6 blood tests 1 amh test, 1 internal and external scan and 1 lap and dye plus hysteroscopy (hubby has had two sperm test) and I was referred in Feb. So it can be done on NHS, don't be fobbed off lovely, don't see why you should have to pay.

Maranello4 · 02/06/2017 19:25

Hi there I'm new to this group so hope it's okay to join.

I'm 39, DH is 39 and we have a DS who is 3.5. Been TTC since Jan 2016.

I'm on my last round of Tamoxifen for ovulation and our next step would be IVF, going private with BMI Chelsfield/ The Sloan. My question is how long did you wait before booking an appointment for IVF? Do I book one for when I think day one of my next cycle might be? I know it might sound completely mad but am conscious that there's a lot of waiting - waiting lists, waiting for blood tests etc....!

Ilovechocolatetoomuch · 04/06/2017 19:31

Hi Marnello.
Sorry I don't know much about ivf (yet). I would guess as soon as you have decided you definitely want to go for it, it would be a good idea to get ball rolling.

mrsroboto · 05/06/2017 21:39

hey maranello. Book a consultation to discuss ivf as soon as you can. They'll talk you through the process. What happened with us is that when we wanted to start (it was asap for us but might not be for you!) they said call on day 1 of your next cycle, then they ordered all the drugs and start taking them around day 19 of that cycle. Generally, the cycle after is when your eggs are collected, fertilised and transferred back to you.

I'd get started asap just so you know what your options are, because there is a lot of waiting! they may also want to do many tests that you haven't had already.

AurorasEncore · 05/06/2017 21:42

Hi @maranello04, I don't know much about the IVF process either but I would have thought you would have an initial appointment where they explain everything?

How is everyone else? I'm 11dpo and been so busy I've not thought about the TWW at all. Probably because I really don't think it will happen now either and starting to have appointments at the fertility centre.

It's weird, when I walk into the fertility centre for blood tests and handing over my husbands sperm sample I think, how has it come to this? Is this really happening. This is the stuff other people need to do, not us.. does anyone else think it's all a bad dream sometimes?

blackcherries · 05/06/2017 21:46

I just realised I didn't update this thread with my good news (I'm on a few running ttc/ivf threads) - I got a nice clear bfp following my frozen transfer! I was over the moon but also I'm still really wary of thinking too far ahead.
Wishing everyone the best of luck and hoping this is the thread where it all works out for us. ttc is a real headf*.

blackcherries · 05/06/2017 21:50

auroras yep that was exactly how we felt. I remember making those first calls to the clinic and trying to work out how it worked for people who'd had no problems with ttc first time round, because surely ivf wouldn't be the answer...?

AurorasEncore · 05/06/2017 22:54

@blackcherries Grin that's the best news so happy for you, I'm sure everything will be just fine! Wow we are on a roll here ladies more bfps please please please x

AurorasEncore · 05/06/2017 22:55

@blackcherries can you remind us what your investigations turned up re infertility or was it unexplained? X

harry78 · 05/06/2017 23:00

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blackcherries · 05/06/2017 23:38

Hi, it was male factor, low sperm count (concentration) and other aspects not great either. Had a fresh cycle which ended in a cp and then a frozen. All seemed pretty OK on my side so perhaps that helped.

Annabellaboo · 06/06/2017 08:04

Many congratulations blackcherries! Yay for another bfp. I hope all goes smoothly for you from here on. Let's keep the bfp's coming on here!

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