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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.

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Original poster

Can you really become infertile after previous pregnancies

22 replies

Nearlymyturn · 03/10/2021 17:27

Looking for some advice regarding if your fertility really can change from being good to being totally infertile.

I am blessed to have an 11 yr old DS and have had 4 pregnancies in my life (only one ending in a baby)

We have been TTC now for 18months without even a hint of a positive result. I have just turned 36 am and starting to worry that my fertility has now just vanished. Is it likely that there is now a problem or is it just my age that is causing the delay? I have had 21 day bloods and all fine. Booked for an ultrasound on Wednesday after working with my GP (or more like hounding them for help!). I am in very good physical shape but feel given then fact that we were actively trying before turning 35 I just feel heartbroken that it’s not happening for us. Can something change that would now make me infertile despite previous pregnancies and carrying one healthy child to full term?

Feeling so down about it all and don’t know what road to go down next 😕

OP posts:

Whatifsarethehardest · 03/10/2021 20:08

Hi nearlymyturn,

I can understand how you are feeling as I fell pregnant with DS by accident. When we decided to try for DD we were trying for 2.5 yrs- in that time I had developed PCOS. Have you had a scan to check all is ok? Basic bloods wouldnt be enough you would need full bloods to include testosterone levels.

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 03/10/2021 21:44

I have an ultrasound on Wednesday to check for issues but I was under the impression that PCOS would probably be fairly obvious with symptoms? I have a very regular cycle and positive OPK every month, but only for 24 hours so I’m pretty sure I’m ovulating regularly. I don’t ‘feel’ that there is anything wrong or that anything is changed. I know there are many that have been TTC for longer that we have this time, but it feels like an eternity. Despite being blessed by having one child already, it does feel like there is a huge hole in our lives which is agony.

OP posts:

whatagloriousthingtobe · 04/10/2021 06:53

I have pcos and apart from the irregular periods and acne I wouldn't have known. I actually only started getting investigated because of the acne ! I also have one child already, also accidentally conceived and we've now been ttc again coming up 5 years now.
It's bloody awful, you feel like well my body has done it before so surely it's possible but then it's month after month of negative test. We are going through ivf now and I have a thin uterine lining which is probably what's been causing the problem all along !
Wishing you all the best

mowglika · 04/10/2021 12:30

Hi I fell pregnant with my dc after 8 months and then never again naturally in 8 more years of trying. It’s secondary infertility, sadly it can and does happen

I would look into supplements (it starts with the egg is a good book for this) and maybe ask for a hycosy to check your tubes too. After that the main option is private IVF as you already have 1 child. You are a still a very good age for IVF.

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 04/10/2021 15:57

@whatagloriousthingtobe how did they discover your thin uterine lining? Will that cause you any potential issues when you fall pregnant through IVF?

I’ve been taking quite a lot of supplements and eat a very healthy and balanced diet, along with daily exercise and fitness. I am in excellent health and shape so it’s strange that there seems to be no other indications that anything could be wrong with my health, just the lack of conceiving.

I’ve actually stopped testing now and just used my period as an indicator, like clockwork month after month my period turns up on the day, it’s so frustrating.

OP posts:

Booboosweet · 04/10/2021 17:37

Sadly secondary infertility does happen, as I know. I ot pregnant with my dd on the 2nd cycle but no luck in 7 years since. I think there are a number of factors but I think some women just age reproductively a bit quicker than others.

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 04/10/2021 18:13

So sorry to hear that @Booboosweet have you stopped trying now or gone down an alternative route?

OP posts:

Dreamsupreme · 05/10/2021 11:07

Secondary fertility can sometimes be caused by immune issues. Your first pregnancy triggers your body to be on heightened alert and reject any embryos ( which are half foreign DNA). It’s worth testing things like killer cells, LADs. Dr Beer talks a lot about immunes . Best of luck

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 05/10/2021 21:12

Oh that’s really interesting, I shall certainly look into that. I’m can’t work out if I’ll be relieved or devastated If they find something obviously wrong tomorrow. The all consuming thoughts of TTC is exhausting, it is like I think about it all the time and my brain has no room for anything else 😕

OP posts:

Dreamsupreme · 06/10/2021 07:50

I totally understand. It’s like an all consuming obsession. I had 4 losses after my ds. Fell quickly with ds and no issues so it was a shock. I started immunes treatment with this pregnancy and am nearly 30 weeks. It’s the only thing I can think made the difference. Doctors said all 4 losses couldn’t be related to chromosome faults. I wish I’d looked into it earlier tbh. It can be expensive if you find you have a problem but so are rounds of ivf and the mental toll.

Dreamsupreme · 06/10/2021 07:52

Dr Shehata and Gorgy are mentioned on here for immunes a lot as a start point

IsabelHerna · 06/10/2021 08:58

Hi @Nearlymyturn I am sorry for all your struggles. Good for you, for pushing them to refer you for checks! Unfortunately, secondary infertility is a very real and painful issue that many gave to face. I wish you find what's going on soon enough :)

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 06/10/2021 20:32

So I had the ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound today. He said that everything looked structurally fine, he checked both ovaries and said both had dominant follicles which would suggest I’m ovulating normally and regularly, and there was no sign of PCOS either, so I am no further forward and not sure if I’m relieved or frustrated that there seems to be no reason for the struggle conceiving 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

whatagloriousthingtobe · 06/10/2021 20:57

@Nearlymyturn it was discovered after attempting to build it up for my fet. It just didn't respond to the estrogen I was taking, that cycle got cancelled and we tried again with a higher dose of estrogen, again barely responded. I'm not sure it it would affect a pregnancy, the problem with a thin lining is getting an embryo to stick to it in the first place.
Sorry your scan gave you no further answers, I was relieved when I was diagnosed with pcos as I thought yes there's an issue but there's things that can be done, but mine apparently goes deeper than we thought. I really hope you get some answers, it's the not knowing isn't it

Dreamsupreme · 07/10/2021 08:43

Have you thought about ivf as well, if you aren’t able to fall naturally for this long , it may just help things along . My friends couldn’t fall pregnant and both had children via ivf first time. I know you want to rule out issues first. Your egg quality should be good at 35 but can begin to decline late 30s so good time to try all options

Fernando072020 · 08/10/2021 15:27

This happened to us but with DH. We conceived naturally quickly (4 months). Lost that pregnancy and just couldn't get pregnant again. DH's swimmers had dropped significantly and had a problem with movement. All within 18 months...no major changes to his health had happened. So even the doctors were confused. We needed ICSI to conceive our son.

I'm sorry you're going through this. I drove myself mad wondering what was wrong and I had every test done with everything coming back as normal. DH had had a test early on, coming back as low but still normal. So we didn't realise it was on his part, the numbers just fell dramatically.

Holskey · 08/10/2021 16:06

@Nearlymyturn

I have unexplained infertility (not secondary though) and I was frustrated not have a reason, because there must be one! I was disappointed there was nothing to fix. But IVF went very well for me so I guess I'm glad now there was no problem in the way of that. Are you considering IVF? (I was 36 when I did IVF btw.)

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 08/10/2021 16:06

We have considered IVF but it’s a scary journey to go down and I haven’t quite got my head around the fact that that might be the next step.

It’s interesting to hear that the male factor can change, it was something I hadn’t considered given the fact that we had fallen pregnant before, I just presumed it must be on my side and not his, something we’ll defo look into 🙂

OP posts:

Dreamsupreme · 08/10/2021 17:13

Ivf is okay, I was scared too and delayed and delayed. Sometimes it’s better to take advantage of your age and get going with it

Holskey · 08/10/2021 18:16

@Dreamsupreme

Ivf is okay, I was scared too and delayed and delayed. Sometimes it’s better to take advantage of your age and get going with it

I agree with this. IVF is great when it works. It's a roller coaster but most of us with infertility are already on a roller coaster anyway. The cost might be annoying whilst there's a chance you could have a child without paying, but if I were certain I wanted another, I wouldn't delay.

dutchessmom · 08/10/2021 20:07

@Dreamsupreme I was delaying and delaying IVF all the time as well, but just now started the journey.

OP, I am facing secondary infertility myself, it's really hard to come to terms with it. It's very good that you took the steps in order to ask for help and get tested, many of us take years to finally ask for help, which only made matters worse.

Take the time you need in order to make the next step. Sending hugs and best wishes!

Original poster

Nearlymyturn · 09/10/2021 07:14

@dutchessmom did you ever find out the reason for your secondary infertility? How far into your IVF journey are you? I hope it all goes well for you, fertility struggles are so painful x

OP posts:

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