Secondary infertiity at 37 but tests all ok?

Missingpieces1 · 2025-08-27T23:40:16+00:00

Hi everyone, this is my first post and I don't want to appear ungrateful as I am very blessed to have children (after alot of problems and losses) with my husband and our youngest is 11. I am 37 and my husband is 39. 4 years ago we decided to try for one more baby and we still have not yet managed to have another. I had 2 very early chemical pregnancies about 3 years ago and nothing since. His sperm has been tested and the levels are really good and all my tests have came back ok too. I even had a scan checking my follicles and they were actually quite high for my age (being over 35) also had an amh test which was good. We are not overweight and do not drink or smoke. I had a hsg and tubes are open and clear and they did find a small polyp on a scan which I have had removed. Around 2 years ago I was diagnosed with adenomyosis (mild-moderate) but they said this should not affect my fertility (although I have read contradicting stuff online). I just don't understand why I can't seem to get pregnant anymore when all of the tests we have had done have came back good? (P.s we both work and earn our own money, not on benefits). We would love to be able to do it just one more time... Anyone else experiencing the same sort of thing?

confused2025 · 28/08/2025 00:54

It might be worth looking at microbiome and immunology testing. UK clinics done test for this and it can be a big factor. With your husband, was his dna fragmentation tested? If not, it might be worth checking as the basic sperm test can appear everything is ok and the fragmentation can cause issues. What supplements are you taking? If you’re not taking Vit D, coq10, omega 3, vaginal probiotic with your folate . If he’s drinking any energy drinks etc get him to cut them out.

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 28/08/2025 01:01

confused2025 · 28/08/2025 00:54

It might be worth looking at microbiome and immunology testing. UK clinics done test for this and it can be a big factor. With your husband, was his dna fragmentation tested? If not, it might be worth checking as the basic sperm test can appear everything is ok and the fragmentation can cause issues. What supplements are you taking? If you’re not taking Vit D, coq10, omega 3, vaginal probiotic with your folate . If he’s drinking any energy drinks etc get him to cut them out.

Hi, thank you for your message. No he doesn't drink energy drinks anymore. I am taking methylated b complex (including folate) due to an mthfr mutation, ubiquinol (active form of coq10), vitamin c, vitamin d3 and I think vitamin E is included in the ubiquinol with the omega oils too. My husband is taking wellman conception max. And no his DNA was not tested in the sperm and neither have I had the microbiome test I dont think??... I think I may have had immunology testing when I had recurrent miscarriage private testing done a good few years ago.

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confused2025 · 28/08/2025 02:47

It might be good to get him to take a look at Impryl. I would def test microbiome. You can get a Daye take home test that isn’t crazily expensive or look at something more detailed liked fertylisis and I would get the DNA frag tested.

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 28/08/2025 10:52

confused2025 · 28/08/2025 02:47

It might be good to get him to take a look at Impryl. I would def test microbiome. You can get a Daye take home test that isn’t crazily expensive or look at something more detailed liked fertylisis and I would get the DNA frag tested.

Hi, he was actually on impryl for a while but as nothing was happening and it cost so much we just stopped it. Thank you for your answers.

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Strawberrryfields · 28/08/2025 14:56

Did you have any birth complications or a C-section that could be causing an issue? I’ve heard there can sometimes be implantation issues due to scar tissue.

You said you had children after a lot of problems and losses, did you ever get a resolution to those issues?

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 28/08/2025 19:09

Strawberrryfields · 28/08/2025 14:56

Did you have any birth complications or a C-section that could be causing an issue? I’ve heard there can sometimes be implantation issues due to scar tissue.

You said you had children after a lot of problems and losses, did you ever get a resolution to those issues?

Hi, thank you for your response.

I had a third degree tear after my youngest but I don't think that can affect fertility? Also when I had the investigations before they found I had the MTHFR mutation and so I had to have baby aspirin and Clexane during the pregnancy. I had also had 2 second trimester miscarriages so they gave me a cervical stitch during pregnancy due to cervical incompetence and it did work.

I had a recent hysteroscopy (when I was having the polyp removed) and they didnt say they could see any scar tissue... it is just frustrating when there is no obvious issue causing the problem.

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Strawberrryfields · 29/08/2025 08:40

Yes it is frustrating, we’ve never had a natural pregnancy only ivf so not quite the same but all our tests have always come back normal throughout. There must be an issue but what don’t know what it is.

I agree I don’t think the tear would have any impact and good that your hysterectomy was clear. I don’t know much about cervical incompetence - it looks like there’s some evidence that it could have a negative effect on fertility not just from 2nd trimester but a bit like the adeno stuff it’s mixed.

Agree with the other poster that sperm fragmentation could be worth checking. Number of follicles and quality aren’t always aligned so you could have a good number but egg quality could be reduced due to natural ageing too? This can happen younger for some people while others are fine into their 40s.

Have you discussed next steps with your clinic? Would that be ivf? If you’ve got the funds why not give it a go? It just depends how far you want to take it and whether you feel you’ll look back with regrets either way.

From my pov, after years of treatment with ups and downs it’s extremely unlikely we’ll have the number of children we originally hoped for. But going through that journey has helped me try to reach some form of acceptance with that and not have regrets for leaving stones unturned.

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 29/08/2025 09:30

Strawberrryfields · 29/08/2025 08:40

Yes it is frustrating, we’ve never had a natural pregnancy only ivf so not quite the same but all our tests have always come back normal throughout. There must be an issue but what don’t know what it is.

I agree I don’t think the tear would have any impact and good that your hysterectomy was clear. I don’t know much about cervical incompetence - it looks like there’s some evidence that it could have a negative effect on fertility not just from 2nd trimester but a bit like the adeno stuff it’s mixed.

Agree with the other poster that sperm fragmentation could be worth checking. Number of follicles and quality aren’t always aligned so you could have a good number but egg quality could be reduced due to natural ageing too? This can happen younger for some people while others are fine into their 40s.

Have you discussed next steps with your clinic? Would that be ivf? If you’ve got the funds why not give it a go? It just depends how far you want to take it and whether you feel you’ll look back with regrets either way.

From my pov, after years of treatment with ups and downs it’s extremely unlikely we’ll have the number of children we originally hoped for. But going through that journey has helped me try to reach some form of acceptance with that and not have regrets for leaving stones unturned.

Hi thanks for that, we was going to do ivf and started the process but then I changed my mind and felt kind of ungrateful as I have the children I already have and feel like people without children should be getting the treatment (even though we was paying for it) but I just thought we can carry on trying everything natural and if it doesnt happen then its not meant to be and I will have to accept it because there is always the chance you could pay lots for ivf and it still not work anyway and I know that would devastate me 🤷🏼‍♀️

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Strawberrryfields · 29/08/2025 09:51

Missingpieces1 · 29/08/2025 09:30

Hi thanks for that, we was going to do ivf and started the process but then I changed my mind and felt kind of ungrateful as I have the children I already have and feel like people without children should be getting the treatment (even though we was paying for it) but I just thought we can carry on trying everything natural and if it doesnt happen then its not meant to be and I will have to accept it because there is always the chance you could pay lots for ivf and it still not work anyway and I know that would devastate me 🤷🏼‍♀️

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There’s not a limited number of treatments to go round though, so you having treatment wouldn’t stop someone else getting it. But if it’s not for you then that’s ok. And you’re right there are no guarantees at all so if you can make peace with it without doing ivf then that’s definitely the most straightforward option.

I don’t think it’s ungrateful to want to add to your family but acknowledge it’s a different situation wanting to go from 2-3 or 3-4 children than 0-1.

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 29/08/2025 09:59

Strawberrryfields · 29/08/2025 09:51

There’s not a limited number of treatments to go round though, so you having treatment wouldn’t stop someone else getting it. But if it’s not for you then that’s ok. And you’re right there are no guarantees at all so if you can make peace with it without doing ivf then that’s definitely the most straightforward option.

I don’t think it’s ungrateful to want to add to your family but acknowledge it’s a different situation wanting to go from 2-3 or 3-4 children than 0-1.

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Thank you that means alot. I always have the guilt of wanting more because I was just born to be a mother... although I already am, I just love having babies... unfortunately for some reason it has always just been made extremely difficult for me. I really would love more and we are giving it everything we have got naturally but with our ages it may not happen, as you mentioned the quality of the eggs is a bit of a concern... I am doing all I can naturally to help it but we will see...

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Strawberrryfields · 29/08/2025 10:06

Best of luck, hope things work out.

blackberryhill · 29/08/2025 11:05

No advice but we're in a similar boat, I'm 37 and my husband is a similar age, all tests normal but can't get pregnant again (no positive tests at all in the two years we've been trying). I've just started my first medicated IUI cycle in the hopes that it works for us, or at least gives us some answers. Good luck to you!

Original poster

Missingpieces1 · 29/08/2025 12:26

blackberryhill · 29/08/2025 11:05

No advice but we're in a similar boat, I'm 37 and my husband is a similar age, all tests normal but can't get pregnant again (no positive tests at all in the two years we've been trying). I've just started my first medicated IUI cycle in the hopes that it works for us, or at least gives us some answers. Good luck to you!

So frustrating isnt it? At least when there is an answer, you can try to fix it but when everything comes back ok and it is still not happening it is so annoying! Good luck with that. Will keep everything crossed for you!

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