Secondary infertility support group here!

[Annabellaboo]

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!

Done - I cried in the cinema watching boss baby! Stupid sneaky uppy film. I didn't see it coming somehow.

Hi there

It's been a really long time since I posted on the old thread. Annabellaboo - a massive congrats on your BFP earlier this year!! That's so exciting and it must be such a relief after all you've been through.

I thought I'd give you an update in case it gives anyone some hope or new ideas for TTC... My background briefly is that we conceived our first DD within 3-4 months and then encountered secondary infertility (after waiting until DD was just under 2 before TTC again). I turned 34 last Dec and had an AMH of 4.1 when tested mid last year (so on the low side but not completely dire). DH's test results all completely normal and no other obvious issues with either of us.

Anyway, we found out in Feb/March that I'm pregnant with twins(!!!). This was after a cycle where I'd taken a 75mg course of clomiphene (on a monitored cycle), had a month off work during our summer to relax and try and forget about the stress of the previous 16 months or so, and seeing a Chinese acupuncturist who specialised in infertility.

I obviously don't know exactly what made things finally work. But, seeing as we were given an unexplained diagnosis, I strongly suspect it was something to do with the acupuncturist (who took a more nuanced approach than the doctors seemed to). It's probably worth me saying that I'm not usually one for alternative medicine. It was a very traditional Chinese clinic and she also prescribed me some terrible tasting/smelling herbs that I had to brew up into a tea. I got a BFP within 3 weekly sessions after having absolutely nothing in the previous 16 months. I found the acupuncturist by going to a Chinese shopping centre, finding a traditional Chinese medicine shop and asking if someone there could help me. Our Chinese community doesn't seem to advertise outside their culture and it might be similar in your area, too.

Anyway, I hope that might help someone out there. Good luck to all you ladies, it's definitely not an easy road. And, again, Annabellaboo, a huge congrats and good luck for your impending arrival. I'm 32 weeks now and it's been super tough going - but all worth it and much better than where we were this time last year.

Xx

Hi folks new to this!

Brief background, have 4 year old DD with my hubby and been ttc a second child for almost 3 years. Had an ectopic pregnancy last year, tubes all fine and had various scans at the time which showed I was technically "looking good" no blockages etc!

Anyway fast forward to this year still ttc, I've had blood tests which show I'm ovulating and hubby is just waiting on his semen analysis results. Thought I would phone the Glasgow royal today as I know we are going to have to pay and they have gave me an initial ivf appointment for middle of September! They said we should have my hubbys results by then so just to bring that along.

They asked if I had amh tests which I wasn't sure as it was just the normal 21 day blood test I had done so can I just ask my gp to do that prior to my ivf appointment?

Kiwi fantastic news, congratulations!

Ally sorry I don't know about AMH testing but welcome.

Many congrats kiwi- so pleased to hear about your success story, thanks for sharing.

Ally- I had my AMH done privately as I wanted to know if it could be a reason for my unexplained infertility. My levels were fine but was glad I had it done so I could rule it out. It's a blood test that cost me £100. I imagine they will want you to have this test if you are going down the ivf route.
Good luck to you. If you are able to do any other investigations before ivf I would personally recommend it. In my case IVF would never have worked for me. Every case is different of course and I really hope you get a positive result whatever route you go down. You didn't mention your age?

Hi everyone. Been a bit quiet because i have nothing new to add really so after a lot of thought I'm going to Serum! Hopefully I can find some answers. My period is currently on route to Greece and I will hopefully be having a hysteroscopy there next month. Scared but excited.

Can I join please? I'm not very good at all the lingo yet. Have one DD aged 4, been trying for two years and had a missed miscarriage last October at 9 weeks (had stopped growing at 7). DH and I have our first appointment with a fertility clinic on 11th October and I have a long email with things I need to do beforehand! I have just turned 40 and DH is 42, so we want this to happen soon.

I'm sure I have a lot to learn from the amazing women on this thread. It's such a rollercoaster!

Hi Imogen there's lots of experience and advice on here so ask away! Have you had initial blood tests and semen analysis?

Ally my consultant did AMH testing but I know that medichecks do it through the post for about 70 quid.

Thank you Aurora. No, that's what this first appointment is for. It's seems pretty in-depth and expected to last about three hours. I'm going to try and get some of the blood tests done at my doctors in advance.

3 hours that's good! The wait is really frustrating but your on the right path to get some answers.

You guys are so supportive. Sometimes it's impossible to find such huge support even in real life. I know it's much more effective to talk, but internet sounds so much better to me. Thanks for sharing your stories. I feel so much better now.

Oops - DH and I live in Spain but still getting used to the lingo. Had an appt this morning for all the blood tests and things we need ahead of the clinic appt, but totally failed to realise we weren't supposed to eat anything beforehand! Rescheduled for next Friday...

Doh! That sounds like something that would happen to us. Expat life isn't all glamorous, eh? :)

Hi everyone,

Got my antibiotics today! But nervous about the upset tummy though.

X

Whoops forget to say I was diagnosed with hidden C and abnormal bacterial load. Marvellous.

Can I please join? I'm not actually sure if I'm facing secondary infertility but I'm starting to suspect that's the case. I'm going to go and see the GP next week and maybe you ladies could advise me?

I'm 35 TTC#2 for 10 months with one chemical pregnancy 3 months ago. DC is 2.5

I have reasonably regular cycles but over the last year have had increased spotting either side of my period. This has got considerably worse since the chemical pregnancy and my periods are now up to 4 days of spotting, then two days of very very heavy bleeding (going through super plus tampons in 1 1/2 hours - sorry if TMI) and then up to 7 days of spotting.

I have a lot of hypothyroid symptoms but apparently a normal TSH level (tested about 4 months ago but I don't know what the actual number was - will find out), but also now thinking perhaps I have a fibroid?

Also very aware that it could all just be in my head, I'm driving myself nuts with symptom spotting and starting to imagine them!

So what do you think? Does this sound suspicious or am I losing my mind? What should I be asking the GP? Thanks!!

Hi Tolerance,

You're in good company. I think I'm cracking up every Month, even though I tell myself to stop symptom spotting, and i also diagnose my self with a new condition each week since the nhs has failed to find a cause of our infertility.

I'd say trust your gut instinct if you think there is something wrong and your doing the right thing going to your gp. Make sure they do your AMH if you can and prolactin as these are not routinely done at gps.

I had private testing for thyroid all came back normal but I'd really recommend medichecks thyroid plus check as it looks at different hormones and antibodies, not just TSH. You do the finger prick at home and post it off and get results online really quickly (I promise I'm not affiliated with them lol).

It depends how far you want to take the search for answers. I've recently sent my period blood off to Greece for the hidden infections!

I've noticed that many ladies say there period has changed after their first pregnancy. Spotting suggests low progesterone so maybe you need a bit of extra.

Sorry about your chemical, I'd take it as a positive that you can actually implant- I haven't had a whiff of a bfp in 2.5 years. Perhaps that is linked to progesterone levels too. You'll know for sure when you have your initial blood tests.

All the best x

Thanks Auroras, while I'm glad I'm not alone with the symptom spotting and self diagnosis crazies, (someone on another thread described the constant symptom spotting as "hopeful fucker syndrome" - I think that just about covers it) I'm sorry you are going through this and hope you get a bfp soon!

Thanks for the info on the thyroid check and progesterone - I may have to google AMH and prolatin. Just got to convince the GP to take me seriously now!

Hope your antibiotics do the trick for you x

Hi ladies. Just checking in with you all. Auroras- that's progress with your results from Serum. I really hope the hidden C and bacteria could be the cause for you. If not are you considering going there like I did for some further investigations?
Tolerance- welcome to this thread. Well done for getting the ball rolling fairly early and not just waiting. I trusted my instinct all along that something wasn't right despite being unexplained by the NHS. Auroras is right that you should get those extra basic tests done that the NHS won't do or even tell you about. My best advice is to not be fobbed off and to not accept the unexplained label if they give it to you. Keep searching for answers yourself. Yes it does do your head in after a while (I was guilty of self diagnosing many times!) but in the end my persistence paid off and I found out my cause and how to fix it. Now i am 7 months pregnant and v grateful. I would never have been pregnant again if I had just followed the NHS advice. Good luck

Hi so me and my hubby have been trying to conceive our second child for about 2 years with no success I'm 30 and he is 31 we have a 10 year old together we have an appointment made to see our gp just wondering what will happen on our first visit as slightly nervous. 😕

Probably nothing much on first appointment. GP won't be able to do anything anyway so they will refer you both to urologist/gynecologist/fertility clinic basically.

Maybe you've had your appointment by now, how did it go?

I'm feeling frustrated and sad at the moment after being at a party where people had multiple children. I just always imagined myself with children. Not a child, children. I really want all of that relationship stuff between siblings, even the fighting. It feels lonely with one :( DS is nine so it won't be how I imagined anyway and so we want at least two more.

And of course I feel guilty and greedy for thinking that. Gah stupid feelings. Wouldn't life be easier without them? :o

Hi @annabellaboo yes I am going to serum! They said they may do Aqua scan or hysteroscopy is this what you had? I'm having a nightmare atm. I took my doxy for hidden c without water and it has burnt a big ulcer on my oesophagus which is incredibly painful so I have to wait a while and start over again! Also my af would be due when I'm in Greece so I'm now on birth control to stop it! What a palaver I feel really depressed x

Aw Bertie sorry you are having a tough time. I feel like running away sometimes to escape the million thoughts whirling round my head.