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

@Etonmess20 Welcome to the group!
My prolactin was 650, I raised my concern to my specialist but was told not to worry about it. May I ask what was your prolactin level?

Ladies, all the best with Clomid. I hope we get some good news this month! Stay safe. xx

@Morpho123 that makes sense, I've literally just been told to get on with it effectively so who knows what will happen but fingers crossed

@Cat028 thank you!

@Limeflower2 I believe mine was literally the same on two consecutive blood tests. The first one was done by my GP & he said it was higher than he'd like so was going to refer me to an Endocrinologist but as I have private healthcare I was able to go private very quickly and my private doctor repeated the blood test (level was slightly higher but not much- say 675) so he referred me for an MRI. He said the results of the MRI possibly showed I had a "collection of cells" on my pituitary gland. I have been prescribed Cabergoline (he wrote to my GP to prescribe it as it's super expensive on a private prescription apparently). I need to go back for another blood test to make sure the levels dropped. I think I was lucky as the Dr is a fertility specialist (this is why I chose him) so he said he wanted to rule it out. Have you just been told yours isn't a concern?

@Limeflower2 it was about 3 weeks of symptoms and then I phoned to try again for next cycle but my nurse was on holiday so we had to wait till the next cycle to start. When I had te a can that month(2months later) everything was clear.

@Morpho123 What trigger shot did they give you? I had to do the trigger myself with IUI but I knew when to use it because scans shows size of follicles and nurse advised best time.

I ordered more clomid this morning just to make sure I have them on hand if this cycle doesn't work.

@etonmess20 I agree that it is good to have someone in similar situation. I love my husband but I don't think he is as bothered as me about this. I just need to tell him to turn up for appointments and he does or nag him at ovulation time for us to dtd. Yesterday was the 1st time in months when I wasn't nagging him or using tracker to DTD😂.

@Chochaw it is a difficult balance to strike isn't it, it does make you feel like you're always going "right we need to do it NOW" 😂
I'm going to try Sperm Meets Egg plan this month, but I do find it helps with us both being at home all day as there's less pressure.

Hi @Etonmess20 I did all my blood test through my GP. And GP flagged this to my fertility specialist which I'm going private. But he said there is no need to worry. I just want to make sure I have cover everything before I do any treatment.

@Limeflower2 I would perhaps push for a referral to an endocrinologist or see one privately. The one I saw was very fertility minded & said that he would put me on the Cabergoline because the NHS would want to look at it through fertility investigations. He said it may well not be affecting anything but it's one less thing.
If you're not happy it would definitely be worth a 2nd opinion
Do you feel you've had any symptoms with it? Or has it just been purely picked up through blood tests?

@Etonmess20 I had a very stressful job last year. And the first time when I had the test done it was over 1000. Then GP repeated the test again and it came down to 670. And I have changed job since. But the latest test reveals it's still around 650. I will definitely try and get a 2nd opinion once I can get an appointment. Thanks.x

Clomid ladies.....the dreaded af has arrived today (around 1pm- no spotting just usual flow). Would this be considered CD1?

Sorry to be thick, just don't want to take my clomid too early

@Etonmess20 if it’s full flow I’d class as day1. What do you think @Chochaw

Make sure you take it late in the evening when you start.
I took mine last night at 7pm. No side effects other than boob zingers- like a sharp pain through them. Any one else have this? I woke up in the night with it! But I also have implants so not sure if it’s different xx

@Morpho123 got to admit I had a little cry, think it's realising it's almost the end of TTC naturally. You think I'd be used to the disappointment by now! Thanks for your advice, will take 1st tablet tomorrow
Did you have any hot flushes yet? I think that's supposed to be fairly common. Are you on 50mg?

@Chochaw sorry missed your message about trigger- it’s ovidrel- but I wouldn’t administer it because a) I don’t know how too and b) I wouldn’t know when was the right time. So I’ll let the eggs come out when they are ready lol x

@Etonmess20 I would say class as CD1 if it is full flow and start tomorrow. I took mine at 7pm too.

I've still got hot flushes but that seems to be it for me. OPK still light. I'm going to test 2x daily. I started listening to Big Fat negative podcasts. They are quite long. I listened to episode 6 about hope and they are taking about 'the clomid stage'. Its funny listening because it rings so many bells to my experiences. One of the ladies had a baby through IVF and was talking about how she is going for number 2 but feels out of place on these forums because she has already had a kid so can't be having infertility issue but she is still struggling TTC.x

@Moroho123 Aw that's the same as I had. It is quite easy but timing is key.x

@Chochaw thank you for the advice! I'll probably take mine tomorrow before bed then too.
Thank you also for the podcast recommendation, I've only very recently started reading a lot more about TTC struggles as I think until you get to the 1 year mark you assume it'll be easy ( I did anyway!)
What OPK do you use?

I use cheap strip opk now. I did 14months of clear blue digital and they were horrible. I didn't always get the flashing smiley faces even when I knew I was ovulating due to scans is stick with cheapie ones now.
30 x One Step Ovulation Strips 20miu/ml Test Kit Sensitive Fertility Predictor Testing Sticks (Wide Width) amazon.co.uk/dp/B001G7P62S/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_keENEbMKHXDTK]]

@Chochaw strange how some things suit people differently, I've used them with no issues previously & always seem to have the static smiley when I'd expect it.

@Morpho123 how are you doing? Any side effects? X

@chochaw well I woke up really hot last night so I wondered if that was a hot flush. But other than that nothing, I feel fine, in fact I wonder if it’s doing anything at all 😂
Although I couldn’t sleep last night but I think my mind was on overdrive
How are you? Any more side effects? X

@morpho123 nothjng new happening here either. OPK not getting any darker yet. I hope you slept better last night. X

@Chochaw still no sleep for me, I got a few hours to be fair but I’m wide awake til 2-3 am! No other symptoms though! I feel nothing so hope it’s doing something. 4th tablet tonight and last one tomorrow!

It’s still early for you, what CD are you on? Xx

CD10 for me so I still have a lot of time.

Glad you are both not having too many side effects. I'm heading towards the end of my cycle and already symptom spotting.

@Chochaw I think it says you ovulate 5-7 days after your last tablet, so I would start dtd now! I felt like I was on fire last night 😂 last tablet tonight- tbh if that’s my only symptom I’m good with that!

@Cat028 what dpo are you now? Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏽 Xx

I'm 7dpo but due AF on 10dpo.

@Cat028 you have a short luteal phase? What cd do you ovulate? Xx