TTC Cycle 18 and still waiting

[Gtcttww86]

Hi all. I am sure there are many of you in here who are or have experienced the same or currently are going through the same as we are and I am just looking for some advice / reassurance I suppose.

My partner and I have been TTC for 16 months now, I am on on my 18th cycle now and still nothing. My periods are regular, 26 day cycles, 5 day bleeds. I am ovulating and his sperm counts, movement etc are all normal (he has had a test done). I have had an internal ultrasound (and external) but nothing was found.

We are both 35 in 2 and 6 weeks time.

My concern is (and even my doctor mentioned it the first time I approached them), is my tubes and blockages due to historical surgery on my bowels back in 2004/2005//2006 and subsequent scar tissue. Would an internal ultrasound show this?

My doctors will not see me again or do any further tests now till we are at the 2 year mark but even then we are not eligible for IVF or specialist treatment due to the postcode lottery!!

Should we just wait it out or is it worth going private? Our funds are VERY limited :(

Thanks all

No. The test for tubal patency invokes putting special dye through your tubes and taking either xrays or ultrasounds of the dye moving through the tubes. The procedures are either hycosy or hsg (can also be done during a laparoscopy which is surgery).

If they won't offer ivf in your ccg, might be worth considering private... or moving.

The tests I mentioned would be ordered by a fertility clinic, not through gp.

Thanks for that. I didn't know it was through clinic and not gp. I was told gp could book you in for this. Thanks for explaining

If you have private health cover through work, that sometimes covers this sort of thing too. They won't usually cover fertility but they do sometimes cover other stuff around that.

If they can do it with lipiodol that increases your fertility chances (in Unexplained and Endo patient groups) for the next 6 months - more so than just the saline flush. That is additional cost though.

Ask your GP - I think they can book you. www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/diagnosis/ mentions referral to specialist if your HS is abnormal - which would mean your GP would have ordered it.

Thanks everyone for your comments. All given me things to think about and look into. Much appreciated

@Gtcttww86 hi lovely 🙂 I'm booked in for a laparoscopy which is a bit more of an in depth look into what's going on in there!

I'd ask your consultant if that would be an option too? Especially if you're concerned about scar tissue.

It's a day procedure but can give you a lot more information from what I'm told. And if they find anything they can potentially fix it there and then depending on what they find.

We've been TTC 15 months now, with no real explanation as to why we're not conceiving, so know how frustrating it can be xx

[quote 2021babyhope]@Gtcttww86 hi lovely 🙂 I'm booked in for a laparoscopy which is a bit more of an in depth look into what's going on in there!

I'd ask your consultant if that would be an option too? Especially if you're concerned about scar tissue.

It's a day procedure but can give you a lot more information from what I'm told. And if they find anything they can potentially fix it there and then depending on what they find.

We've been TTC 15 months now, with no real explanation as to why we're not conceiving, so know how frustrating it can be xx[/quote]
Thankyou. Unfortunately nhs won't do but I'm looking into potentially going private just because I want answers! I can't really afford it but I need to know if there is something physically stopping us or its my mind stopping us. Goodluck with your procedure. Xxx

@Gtcttww86 just wanted to say that even if they don't find anything it doesn't mean it's your mind stopping it from happening. There are simply so many things that can be off that fertility assessments can't even diagnose yet. So unexplained infertility doesn't meant there's nothing wrong, it means they don't know what exactly is wrong.

I just didn't want you to fall into the trap of blaming yourself xxx

[quote Juno231]@Gtcttww86 just wanted to say that even if they don't find anything it doesn't mean it's your mind stopping it from happening. There are simply so many things that can be off that fertility assessments can't even diagnose yet. So unexplained infertility doesn't meant there's nothing wrong, it means they don't know what exactly is wrong.

I just didn't want you to fall into the trap of blaming yourself xxx[/quote]
That's very true! And definitely something to consider also. Its such a minefield isn't it. Its very easy to blame yourself too. I've already fallen into that trap xxx

@Gtcttww86 sounds really frustrating. Are you definitely sure they won’t do the HSG on the NHS? I can’t get IVF on the NHS but had ovulation induction and could have had Hycosy and HSG. Sometimes you can check directly with a clinic that will take NHS patients - some are doing free webinars where there’s a Q&A so might be worth a try. Good luck with getting some help, postcode lottery is so unfair - I feel your pain!

[quote 39andabit]@Gtcttww86 sounds really frustrating. Are you definitely sure they won’t do the HSG on the NHS? I can’t get IVF on the NHS but had ovulation induction and could have had Hycosy and HSG. Sometimes you can check directly with a clinic that will take NHS patients - some are doing free webinars where there’s a Q&A so might be worth a try. Good luck with getting some help, postcode lottery is so unfair - I feel your pain![/quote]
Thankyou. I will double check but they did say anything else that gets done would have to be self funded. Yes I think the postcode lottery is cruel.