TTC over 40 with endometriosis

[Loulou543]

Hi everyone,
I'm 40 and my husband 42. I'm writing today because I'm feeling really down and hopeless about ever being able to have children. Me and my husband have tried every single month for 3 years (we only met each other 4 years ago so started pretty quickly). Not a single positive pregnancy test. Did all the fertility tests and got 1 round of IVF funded on the NHS which failed. The Dr diagnosed me with unexplained infertility but they are also suspecting endometriosis, however they won't do a laparoscopy to diagnose as long as I'm ttc as it can cause damage internally.

I've been to various dr's and a&e for endo symptoms for about 10 years with nobody taking me seriously, and now I just can't seem to get pregnant. We paid for 3 rounds of IVF privately, two have failed and we are now planning to do the last round in Oct. I will be 41 by then, and feeling so incredibly upset that we might never get pregnant.
My husband had great results on his fertility tests and generally, we are very healthy ppl. I have done everything that one should do to conceive with diet and exercise and I'm taking all the supplements from 'It starts with the egg' and more. I have tried acupuncture etc etc.

I'd love to hear if someone has been in a similar boat, and what you have done to get pregnant. Messages of hope are very welcome x

Hi @Loulou543 . I’ve been there, I struggled with difficult periods all my life and it’s just when I went on a fertility journey that all these symptoms were suspected as endo. I was advised laparoscopy can cause damage so I’ve stayed away.

I started ivf at 37, my first round was successful and I had my DC.

I did another round at 40, I got 7 eggs and 1 fertilised, that was a failed cycle. I was told it was down to the quality of my eggs. I got super depressed. And didn’t start another one till a year later at 41. The consultant recommended donor eggs which was even more depressing. I went ahead with ivf without donor eggs and they got 9 eggs, 7 fertilised. And out of them two were 5day blast. Fresh failed and one was frozen. I felt the clinic just gave me a generic protocol which was offered to all the women of my age. The consultants didn’t give me any advise just told me that my eggs are old and not good quality. I chose to change to Argc.

At argc , it was a completely different approach. It was tailored and I felt really looked after. They got me 11 eggs, 9 fertilised and 5 got to 5dayblast. 3 transfered and failed. But I have two frozen. I spoke to the Dr and I advised him I’m running out of time , I am 42 now and what can you suggest. He suggested that I have duo stim. Which is the best advise I have had for my age. First set of stims we got 14eggs, 10 fertilised and 6 got to 5day blast. I got them tested and four came back euploid. Second round of stims I got 15 eggs , 6 fertilised and I got 4 5day blast. I didn’t test just froze.

I am now in the process of doing a frozen cycle. I feel so relaxed because it was the best I could do. But my first 3 cycles when I was younger didn’t really work out but by duo stim I am 42 and I had better results, more eggs were collected and got to 5 day blast.

I know I don’t have a positive result yet but I am saying things can improve .. after my first cycle when only one egg fertilised I felt so hopeless , at age 40 they only retrieved 7 eggs… by age 42 it was upped to 15 eggs per retrieval … double.

I honestly think you still have some time, it may be difficult, but I met women at the clinic 41 and 42 doing ivf with their own eggs and having success. My friend did a fresh cycle and ivf at 42 and had a baby girl. It can still happen but maybe at our age we have to have a few rounds to make it. AT 40 I thought it was the end and I’m 42 now with more hope.

i really do wish you all the best xxx

Hi @Wildstar, thanks so much for replying and with so much info and insight into your story, I really appreciate it. And it's so great to hear you've had better results in the cycles you've been older. My consultant at the clinic also always says it's about the egg quality because I'm old and there's nothing I can do about it other than keep doing rounds, which I know it's true to some extent, but I do think they just go with a generic protocol. This will be my third round in Oct with my current clinic and this time they will stim with menopur instead of gonal-f, I'm hoping that will give better results. We've always got an ok amount of eggs, between 9-14 each time but only got 1 blastocyst at day 5 in round number 1 and 2. Third round was a disaster with no blasts at day 5, even though we had 8 embryos 'looking great' on day 3. So our issue seems to be the blast development, which the dr says it's down to egg quality. Can I ask what you've been stimmed with at argc?

Also, if you wouldn't mind sharing, have you done anything specific to try treat endo yourself, with supplements or anything else? I'm trying NAC for the next couple of months as it's had good results in trials.

I wish you so much luck for your remaining transfer(s) and hope you have a successful result. It's been really great to read your story and that things can improve even though everyone keeps saying it's all downhill :) xx