Anyone else awaiting fertility referral?

[MallonMary]

Hi all,

Been ttc (unsuccessfully!) for over a year and just found out there's a problem with DH sperm (low mobility and zero normal forms), so awaiting referral to fertility clinic to seek further help/advice.

Just wondered if there's anyone else in a similar situation about to embark on this journey too?

Also similar success stories welcome :) x

@chochaw don’t ever give up, the people that say you are selfish, ignore, they aren’t worth your time and they don’t understand!

The hardest thing I take is when you hear things like ‘I’ll probably just get pregnant tonight’ or ‘if I look at him I fall pregnant’
If only that was the case here. I don’t get down when AF arrives, for some reason I find the few days before AF the hardest. When AF comes I see it as a new chance to try. But when I start spotting I struggle a lot.
I’m not officially out yet, but you know when you just know. I know I’m not pregnant, I don’t have any feelings telling me otherwise.
I surprising took the news of Rochelle Humes pregnant with her third quite badly. How does someone get dealt such a good card? Beautiful, can sing, present and have 2 children and a third on the way!? Come on man!!!

Anyway that’s my ramble tonight, bring on the round of clomid.

Hope you sleep better tonight xxxx

Hi ladies, good luck with Clomid! And @Chochaw hope the side effects will ease off! @Morpho123 I keep my fingers crossed for you ! I've just ordered more Preseed online, I really hope some miracles will happened during this lockdown. I generally feel okay until maybe 2 days before my AF, obviously the anticipation of becoming pregnant really get me. But once my AF is here I get quite deflated for a few days then I try to stay positive again!
Stay safe ladies! xx

Hi ladies, well the cramps have begun so expecting AF anytime.
I always tend to come on in the afternoon/evening. Would that be CD1? Or would it be the next day ? I need to work out when to take clomid xx

@Morpho123 I count CD1 as if you are bleeding properly by midday. I started mine at 10pm on Sunday so I counted CD1 as Monday and took 1st clomid at 7pm on Tuesday CD2.

I had hot flushes again last night but only woke up twice so not too bad. Only 2 tablets left. I wonder how its going. I will start taking OPKs from tomorrow. App says 30th for ovulation but ibthjnk it may be earlier with the clomid x

@chochaw thanks Hun, it’s always so confusing. I feel really upset about it. I know we’re all in the same boat but I’m feeling deflated now, like how many more months do we try, we agreed we would go to ivf once everything opens again but try clomid until then.

Glad to hear your feeling okay! I just want to get started now. Defo start OPKs sooner and just keep an eye on them. My fingers are crossed for you! Xx

@Morpho123 sorry to hear you are out this month. We haven't been given clomid. Didn't get that far in our investigations. We were doing HSG, ultrasound, and additional blood tests after Christmas. But some has been cancelled. On CD20 atm. The pregnancy announcements sting so bad. I have so many floating around atm and a few new borns. I have had to hide them on social media to give myself some breathing room. I am thrilled for them but cannot cope right now.

@Chochaw yes, definitely struggling to stay positive at the moment. Usually work takes my mind off things so I'm trying to stay as busy as I can but it's definitely harder being in the house. I think this month hit AF hit me much harder than usual after a nurse suggested this was our best shot after have the HSG done. Sorry to hear you have had those comments. I think if you have this yearning nothing will stop it until you conceive your second. Nothing selfish about it. Hope you sleep better in the next few nights.

Hi @Cat028 I understand the HSG comments, they said the same to me but this was my third month with no success! So I think they shouldn’t say that really!
AF arrived this morning and man this cramping is something else! I only get on bad day, so I can cope with a hot water bottle. I am gutted but once I know it’s on its way I’d rather it just start so I can start a fresh.
Clomid will start tomorrow, not getting my hopes up though but on the same thought process as @Chochaw - hope you slept better! I know I’m going to get the night sweats for sure!

Let’s hope these fertility centres open us ASAP so we can all return to normal and get help xx

@Morpho123 I agree I don't think they should say anything. If it happens great, but it puts so much more hope on these cycles. I was so upset when I came on last month. Heartbreaking! Fingers crossed for you on the clomid. I totally get what you mean about a fresh start.

Last clomid just taken. Flushes not as bad last night but I woke up with terrible shoulder pain and I remember that being a possible side effect of a blood clot and I started panicking and couldn't get back to sleep. I put some deep freeze on it and it seemed to ease until I pushed my daughter in her swing and I realised that's how I must have hurt it cause it came rushing back. I think you must go looking for side effects when you take these and I am probably more anxious because I'm not being monitored this time. I took an OPK today and it had a feint line so clomid definitely working. This is day 6 and I normally don't get any lines at all until day 14 and ovulate around day 17/18.

I like your fresh start outlook. It much more positive than the wallowing in self pity that I do.

I was reading up about clinics on HFEA website and it doesn't seem as if they will open anytime soon. They have to get basically eradicate the virus before they reopen or show that they virus has no impact on pregancy at any genstatuon which they won't have enough data for at least a year and those who are already pregnant have had their babies and they can monitor them. By closing they are ting some people last chances away as their clocks are ticking.

What age are you all of you didn't mind me asking? I will be 31 next month. Been trying to get pregnant since I was 25. My daughter was born the day before my 30th.x

Surely they can’t expect us to all wait a year!? That’s not fair is it 😭😭 just when my husband agreed to go straight to ivf we got put on lockdown 😂 typical of my luck really lol!

I’m 32- early March, and I said I wanted a baby before 33... fat chance of that happening now 😂 but I want two/ three children so obviously I don’t want to leave it much longer for the first!

I haven’t read any side effects, I just know I need to drink loads as I’m scared of ohss and being told off by the doctor 😂
I should read really! I’ll put that on my to do list! I’ll take my first pill tomorrow! Glad it’s already working for you! You will ovulate roughly 7 days after so you will probably be earlier this month! Xx

P.s girls if any of you need a ‘pick me up’ listen to the luanna podcast as it’s hilarious.
Or for a fertility pod listen to ‘big fat negative’ full of info and funny too! Xx

@morpho123 I had OHSS after our 1st IUI. It wasn't very nice. I was thinking about it this time too. Do you think I should miss a month between cycles of clomid if this round doesn't work in case there is any leftover follicles that develop into cysts? We won't know as we won't be getting scans to check at the beginning. Night sweats were awful last night!

I'll give those podcasts a listen later when I cut the grass.

Let's hope the good weather continues.x

@chochaw hmm I really don’t know... maybe see how you get on? Was it painful? Like how did it feel? I think they say to drink loads of water. I’m worried I really don’t want it! How do you get rid of it if you get it lol.
I’m taking my first tablet tonight and I’m nervous lol!

Lovely weather today! X

@Chochaw I'm glad it's looking like it's working for you. Fingers crossed we will have some good news on the page. I really hope it doesn't take that long to reopen. I don't know how much more of waiting I can take. So impatient already. I'll be 30 in August. Trying for our first.

@Morpho123 ooo I'll be checking out those podcasts. I love them. I listened to fertility life raft with Alice Rose. Some hard stories to listen to on there though but so inspiring. You definitely have to be in the mood for them though.

Hi all,

Hope you don’t mind me joining,

I’m 27 TTC #1. My DP & I have been trying for 17 months. Just as we went into lockdown I was prescribed clomid by my local hospital. Neither of us have had any issues identified by any tests we have had (although I was prescribed Cabergoline by a private endocrinologist due to slightly elevated prolactin). I am expecting my period within the next couple of days so should begin to take them CD2-CD6. I am currently CD27 (but I don’t even bother getting my hopes up anymore!!)

Hope everyone is well given the circumstances x

@Cat028 Iv heard of that podcast, I’ll give it ago. I always thought I’d have a baby by 30 but it just doesn’t happen how we plan right?

@etonmess20 will you have scans/blood when starting clomid? Iv just popped my first pill- they are meant to scan me but obviously under the current circumstances they won’t be, I just didn’t want to wait any longer! I waited 4 months for the results so decided to start now after getting the all clear on everything! Let’s hope we have some positive stories next month!
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on and if you get any side effects! Xxx

@Morpho123
My symptoms were mild and I didn't need any treatment. It went away itself within a couple of months. I didn't know I developed it until I went for scan to start cycle 2 and there were cysts and nurse asked me about abdominal swelling. I just thought I had period cramps and bloating. I normally only get cramps for a day or 2 but it lasted for a few weeks. My belly went massive though. I get really bad water retention. When I was pregnant I put on 2.5stone in 3weeks and my feet went from size 5 to barely squeezing into my husband's size 9s.

@Cat028

I really hope that it is not that long too. You feel like your life is on hold for everything.

@etonmess20

Welcome to the group. Were you supposed to be getting scans along with your clomid? That is good. There will be 3 of us on the go with clomid so statistically we are at a greater chance of some positive news from us.x

@Chochaw from the sounds of the phone consultation I had with the Dr I don't think I would have got any scans etc anyway as there was no option to delay treatment. I hadn't even really thought anything of it until I saw that other people had monitoring. It is so nice to finally have people to talk to about it all, my DP is as understanding as he can be but it's not quite the same as someone having the same treatment at the same time

@Chochaw ps- I am alllllll about positive news, think we could all do with it tbh ❤️

@Etonmess20 has your husband had a sperm analysis? Because most of us in this group have morphology issues, but I know this isn’t the case for all! It’s weird that some offer scans with clomid and some don’t. Which is why Iv decided to take it now and not keep waiting Xx

@Chochaw I also get terrible water retention 😭 it’s awful isn’t it, I know I’ll balloon when pregnant! Let’s hope that statistically we should get some good news from someone this month. Fingers crossed for everyone as always! I’d love it if we all have our miracle ASAP! I’ll let you know if I get any side effects! I was so nervous to take the first one 😂 xx

@Morpho123 yes DP has had 2 SAs done, 1st one there was a slight motility issue & the 2nd one was completely normal. We've been lucky really that we've got such a supportive GP & that my private endocrinologist specialises in fertility & was telling us what to ask for. Would you have got monitoring if you'd have waited? To be honest I kind of feel there's less pressure on now as we're both working from home so can DTD with less time pressure!

@Etonmess20 that’s good news then! Maybe the clomid will be your perfect answer! Yes I would of got monitoring if I had waited, Iv got 3 rounds so I’m hoping I’ll be able to get the next cycle monitored if it opens up again! Otherwise if they don’t open again for some time we will be moving straight to a private clinic once they open.

Let’s hope for some April/May success ladies ❤️ It’s national infertility week as of tomorrow I think.... thinking of you all and sending all my love and wishes to you all! We are strong and I can’t wait til we can all discuss our bumps/ babies growing up ❤️

@Morpho123 I'm hoping so, although I would have preferred the HSG beforehand so I knew my tubes were clear because I now worry that that is the issue. I was given 4 rounds of 50mg for 2-6. Have you been given the same dose for the same days?

@Etonmess20 yes exactly the same dose, but for 3 months xx they have given me a trigger shot too, but they need to administer that, so obviously I won’t have that this cycle until I can go back xx

@Etonmess20 Welcome! It's good that you have been prescribed clomid so you can keep going like the other girls here. Fingers crossed for you.

@Morpho123 yeah, I was hoping to have had our 1st by 30 too but that isn't going to happen. My DP doesn't really see the rush. But I really feel a ticking clock because I have a pretty small family after losing my mother, dad and grandmother. My grandfather is 94 and I'm desperate for him to meet his first great grandchild.

@Chochaw it really would be so long. But onwards with the positivity!! What you experienced sounds painful. Did it take you long to recover?