18 months :(

[greekgirl84]

Hi,
i am new to forums but feel i need to talk to people who understand. everyone keeps telling me to stop stressing and relax but i am so desperate for a baby. i am happily married since july but we started trying in feb 2010 after our engagement. My husband longs to be a dad and gets so excited when we talk about it. i was having regular periods up until about 4 months ago when they have gone from 28 days to anything ranging from 25 days to 33 days. as you can imagine being 5 days late this week i was so excited so was heartbroken when i actually had a period.
i triend ovulation kits with no ovulation showing so i went to the docs and it came back that all is well with me so i know i can get pregnant.
I have cut out caffeine take folic acid, have put on a stone as was underweight and doing everything by the book…
Any other tips on how to know when I'm ovulating when my periods are so irregular lately would be a huge help.
hope to hear from some of you soon.. and share some advice and stories .
x

 

[Joey2011]

Hi Greekgirl!

It's easier said than done but the biggest ttc lesson is that it's never too early to go to the docs again and tell them you want more tests, insist on them, that's what I did.

My cycle ranges from 29 days to 33 and it's completely normal for cycles to shift, just start writing everything down and you may actually start to see patterns. When I have a short cycle I ovulate around cd12 and 13 and with a 33 day cycle I ovulate cd15/16 and my luteal phase is always 17 days minimum.

Knowing your pattern can help you keep calm when those longer cycles come and there's no good news, it's completely gutting I know.

I invested in a clearblue fertility monitor and find that helps to take the stress out of knowing when to try. My rule of thumb is making sure we do the baby dance from cd10 until cd18 as a minimum.

Good luck and you're not alone!!

Xxxx

 

[greekgirl84]

hi thanks for the message.
yeah i have recorded the length of my cycle the last few months and try to estimate when ovulation will happen. Like i said being a few days late makes me excited as i was so regimented on 28 days. i will look into the monitor as others have recommended it too.

Can i ask another question : sorry if its a bit crude for people ... but lubrication... is it a no no- a family issue is we all are very tight so i cant have intercourse without lubrication. i have read on some sites that mybe that doesnt help so i bought the ones especially for fertility... i have been using conceive plus but still nothing.

 

[itisbabytime]

when you went to doc and they said all is well - did they give you anymore info? after 18months of trying they really should begin investigations if thats where you feel you are at and are ready for.

you need progesterone blood tests done at 7dpo to check that you are ovulating and your partner needs a semen analysis. these are generally the first 2 things done.

do you haev any other conditions like endometrisis or PCOS or anything like that?

do you monitor your cycles - ie check for fertile mucus, chart temps etc?

there are only a few days a cycle that you are fertile so making sure you have sex at the right time is paramount. maybe starting with a clearblue fertility monitor or using ovulation tests may be a good place to start whilst also going to the GP?

good luck

 

[greekgirl84]

Hi , I went on day 14 for the blood test he said it was a progesterone test so guessin that was all normal. thats all he said and when my mum said is ther anything we can do now he said no she will just get pregnant. so he wasnt really willing to take it further. which got me down... my husband said he will go for tests on his semen and go docs next week.
I did the clearblue ovulation sticks and nothing showed up which is what led me to go docs for blood tests. i am going to buy a monitor as a few people on this site seem to recommend them.
i havent monitored my temperature as i have always felt daunted by it and knowing what to do... but think after a few days of research that is my next step.

 

[Vickyxx]

Welcome to the forum chick.

I got fobbed off when I first went to see my gp so I made an appointment to see a different doc who was really friendly and helpful.

I would ask for an ultrasound on your ovaries so you can rule out pcos.

I use lube all the time, I have tried conceive plus but prefer preseed as it comes with applicators but you can only get it online, I get mine from ebay. I would def avoid normal lube as it kills the sperm.

 

[laurat]

Hey Greekgirl, welcome to the forum! Theres a lot of lovely ladies in here who are in the same boat and willing to help! Xx

 

[Gizzy Kelly]

Hi lovely welcome to the forum!

I have read your posts and think you need to go back to the doctors and ask for a scan to check your ovaries. After 12 months they should really be referring you to your local fertility hospital. The blood tests should be done on days 3 and day 21.

Use either pre seed or conceive and start peeing on a stick (ie ovulation sticks) or buy a clear blue fertility monitor. Get the ovulation sticks first they are cheap from amazon and start using them around day 8-9 until you see a strip. Keep using them until you get a positive.

I dont think your cycles sound too bad actually so dont worry about that. I take evening primrose oil and will prob start agnus castus at the end of the month which helps regulate your cycles.

If your doctor refuses to refer you, and you dont want to wait we got our initial investigations done at a clinic in Harley street. They were fab. I dont mind giving you the details. They did a scan, a amh blood test to check egg reserve and my hubby got a detailed seman sample.

Best if luck.

Love giz xxxxxx

 

[LouiseB]

Hiya Greekgirl

Your cycle sounds fine to me - it's only been 4 month out of the 18 you've been trying that they've been a bit variable but they still average out at 28 days long...

Honestly, if it was me in your situation i'd be getting my husband off to have a semen analysis and assume for the moment that everything is fine with you.

If he sperm test comes back normal then i'd start looking into having an ultrasound done at cd 10-14 to see if you actually have a follicle or not.

Also, go on the internet and buy some more sensitive OPKs like these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Highly-Sensitive-Ovulation-Fertility-Strips/dp/B001G7P62S

Please don't allow the stress of your husband wanting a baby to add pressure to yourself. Focus less on your individual roles and more on you both wanting a family together xx

 

[Gizzy Kelly]

Lou, just seen your post.. is there is a difference in the cheap OPK's then?? These look like the ones I use but i says at the top' highly sensative' on Amazon?? Giz xxx

 

[LouiseB]

Yeah, there seem to be three different sensitivity ratings.

Ideally you want to use the one that shows no line unless you are getting your surge so if you are getting lines all the time get less sensitive and if you don't ever get a line try the more sensitive ones

I think 20 miu = sensitive, 30 miu = medium and 40 miu = low sensitivity.

Here is one of the ebay sites that sells all the different ones:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACCURATE-...Health_HealthCare_RL&var=&hash=item68c7bed9ad

Put in "Ovulation" and the "Strips" and then choose the sensitivity.

 

[Gizzy Kelly]

Thanks hon. I had no idea. I have always struggled to gets lines on them until the last 2 cycles. Will ry and get the highly sensative ones.

Giz xxx

 

[greekgirl84]

Hi thanks all for the advice.
Can ou send me the details about going private as i think thats what needs to happen . I realised today I was kidding myself its been 23 months as i have been trying since feb 2010 so even worse.

 

[itisbabytime]

re the lube - concieve plus is fine. dont use any other regular lube as it will kill sperm.

 

[greekgirl84]

Thanks that's what we are using ! Still no luck...

 

[Kay Kay]

Hi greekgirl, the girls have given you good advice, I just wanted to say hi and offer support. I've also been trying since Feb 2010, it's a horrible feeling to reach the 2 year mark.

After a year of ttc and the initial bloods and OH sperm test were ok, we were referred to the assisted conception unit at our local hospital where they did a scan and OH did another sperm test. After we were told all was ok I was put on a 6 month (which turned in to 7 month) waiting list for an HSG, which checks your fallopian tubes for blockages. I got impatient after a few months and went private for that test, it cost £377. The results were my tubes are clear. I'm now on a waiting list for IUI.

The main thing is to get the ball rolling with tests etc cos it can all take ages. If you can afford private then just go for it.

Your cycles sound better than mine hun, I vary from 27-39 days lately. The opks are a pain when you have such varying cycles but it's worth persevering with them cos it gives you a better idea of your body - pretty much what Joey said above. It's a pain peeing on opks for days on end but at times it has helped give me a sense of control and something to focus on.

Good luck with it all and FX it will happen for you soon xxxxxxx

 

[greekgirl84]

Hi Kay Kay thanks for your message. Yes two year mark is quite depressing isn't it. Everyone around me is getting pregnant and not even trying, which is hard. Especially when my cousins hubby said " getting pregnant is the easy part it was just bang and that's it we are having a baby!"
Thanks for the advice I needed a bit of guidance what to do next , do I need referral from the doctor as Maine told me to go home and just get pregnant when tests came back ok. He doesn't think there is reason to refer . X

 

[Kay Kay]

Yes, go to your GP and insist on being referred to the hospital. After ttc for a year they should refer you anyway. Makes me angry when doctors don't do their job right! TTC is hard enough without having to fight with the professionals that are meant to help you.

You cousin's husband is extremely ignorant but unfortunately there are so many people like this out there. Also makes me mad! Everyone around me is pregnant too, esp at work. I swear there is an annoucement at least once a week. The other day someone in work said 'god every single person in this place seems to be pregnant!' and I just had to smile and say 'oh I know' but actually wanted to scream 'I'M NOT!! I'M NOT YOU STUPID INSENSITIVE IDIOT!' We have to believe this is all making us stronger, cos if it isn't then I might as well book my place at the loony bin

Good luck and let us know how you get on at the docs xxxx

 

[Tinkerbell3]

Go back to your GP and insist they refer you to a fertility specialist, it's been 2 years so if there was nothing wrong it's highly likely you'd be pregnant by now.

I wouldn't worry too much about your cycles, although they are not exact same length every month they are pretty close and sometimes the smallest things like stress, being unwell etc can delay ovulation by a few days.
I used the OPK's in the past and never got a true positive so worried I wasn't actually ovulatiing, but I chart my BBT and that suggested I did and then when we were initial.y referred for investigations the first thing they did was check I was ovulating with a blood test 7 days after ovulation, it's I ports t that's it's done 7 days after or as close as possible, I actually ovulated later than usual the cycle I had mine so has the test at 5DPO but it still showed I had ovulated.
I was also sent for CD3 bloods and a Hycosy scan to check my womb, ovaries all looked ok and there were no problems with blocked tubes again all was fine and OH was sent for a semen analysis test, to our shock his count was pretty low. I never thought that was going to be our problem as when he was younger an ex g/f was pregnant but I guess these things change.

You never really know what's going on or what could be causing you problems until all these tests are done, so make sure your GP sends you for them (and at the correct time of your cycle) or refers you to a fertility Dr who will do them.

 

[itisbabytime]

defintately dont hang around - after this long you should be referred. like KK said if you can afford it go private, the NHS waiting lists are ridiculous and timing is very imporotant. Im only late twenties and have been told that my ovarian reserve is low . good luck.