Any suggestions?

[visitor10]

Hi all,

I'm a first timer at all of this so please bear with me.

My husband and I live in Canberra and have been trying to fall pregnant for the past 2 1/2 years approx.

For the past 4 months I have been on Clomiphene and have had a HSG & pelvic ultrasound. Along with that I have had the usual blood tests and tried numerous ovulation kits (I am unbelievably over tests!!). I have tried almost everything other than assisted conception and it all seems to be coming up perfectly. I'm not overweight and live a relatively healthy lifestyle ie no heavy drinking, no smoking, no caffeine etc. I think sometimes you would rather that you know that something is wrong with you rather than not so that you know how you should treat it.

Has anyone else been having the same problem? Does anyone have any suggestions as to what else it may be?

Thanks for taking the time to read my babble!!!

Good luck everyone!!!

Rara :-)

[Lenny]

Hi,
Welcome.
Are you seeing a FS?
You didn't say whether your DH has had any testing done? That's a really easy thing to get looked at and can answer about 30% of fertility issues.
Also, you did an HSG, but no lap yet?
I'm not saying you need one, but i was TTC for 2 years and had 4 cycles of Clomid (but DH was unavoidably unavailable for the last one!!). I had loads of tests and ultrasounds and an HSG, but it wasn't until we went to a new FS and he said let's do a laparoscopy, and it turned out i had endometriosis. Once removed, it ups chances of natural conception by about 70% i think. So, that's a step that CAN be taken.
There are bound to be other possible reasons too, and options that can be explored. And also, some people just have unexplained infertility too.
Good luck, and i hope you can get some answers. You will get lots of advice and information here.
Jo

[visitor10]

Hey Jo,

That is excellent...it definitely gives me something to think about. I forgot to say that Brian (my husband) has already had a semenanalysis done and again everything came up trumps!. But no I haven't had a lap done...one of my friends suggested it but my spec hasn't said anything about it at all really. I thought that perhaps that was out of the question since everything came up clear with my HSG & u/s. Maybe that could be my next option..

Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly.

Must go to bed now.

Rara (aka Rachel)

[sammy88]

Hi Rachel,
Did you ovulate at all on the Clomiphene?
SAM

[Deanna76]

Hi Rara

My DH and I have been TTC #2 since Dec 04. All investigations including lap, HSG, u/sounds, hormone levels and hubby's SA have been perfectly normal! I have been on Clomid 50mg (as a hormone turbo boost as I have always ovulated normally) for four months and have had two IUI's both with two follies. So far unsuccessful, however hopefully we'll have better luck this month with IUI.

Good luck with your TTC journey - hope you get some answers and a BFP soon!

[visitor10]

Hi Deanna & Sam,

Wow Deanna...you & I sound very much alike in our journey. Really nice to speak to someone who is going through the same thing! We started trying in the Feb of 2005. Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. Have just been trying to get on top of things. Was a little down last week as I knew that things were going to turn out negative once again. Yep I've been on Clomid for the past 3 months (I've just started taking my 4th round yesterday) and ovulated ever since I went on it. My spec said my body went crazy when I started to take them.

What makes this whole experience even worse is that both of my best friends in the entire world are both 6 months pregnant and fell within 2 months of trying! How frustrating.

I wasn't going to have another Drs appt until end of July but decided to bring it forward a month.

However saying all of the above I'm trying to think rationally about all of this (though easier said than done). My husband and I just bought a new home in March 05. The backyard is yet to be completed...and as I said to my husband...I'm certainly not going to be sitting in the dust with a baby...

Must get back to work....If you feel like it don't hesitate to send me another thread. I promise to get back quicker next time!

Rara

[satya]

My ex and I were told we had unexplained fertility after all the testing was completed (including the lap). I had one pregnancy in 8.5 years of trying. This occurred after 3 years and it was 3 months after coming off clomid. Sadly it ended in an early m/c. I never went on to assisted conception and as it turns out I'm glad I didn't as we are no longer together.

I now have a new partner and things are looking far more hopeful. This time it took only 9 months to get pg but it still ended in m/c. It's looking like I could be more fertile in my 40's than I was in my late twenties & early thirties.... I just need to get a sticky baby next time.

Long term ttc can be a really hard journey to go on but I think it will be made much easier by using the BB forums. There's always someone here to give you some much needed advice. Although most people seem to get answers on their infertility some times you just never get an answer. I hope you get some good news soon.

[visitor10]

My God...I have nothing to complain about...two mcs...that must have been hard for you. You sound like you are definitely staying positive though which is a good sign. I'm already realising the benefit of having the support of members of the bb....

Rara
Me: 26 DH: 31

[Deanna76]

Hi Rara

Just wondering if you are taking any 'natural' medications to help things? I have taken Vit B6 after ovulation for the last two months and it did make a difference to my progesterone levels in the luteal phase. (previosluy 24 --> 70). My DH also has been taking Zinc for about 6 months. I have a doc's appt at 4pm today for day 10 u/sound, unfortunately DH won't be available for IUI next week (work commitments) so we will be trying 'naturally' this month. Fingers crossed.............

[Muppity]

Hi Rara

Sorry - I didn't see you post until now.

I think that for head of population there must be more pregnant women on the streets of Canberra than anywhere else in the world - or at least it seems that way!

Sorry to hear that things aren't working out for you. Has your specialist suggested what the next step could be?

Taffy

[visitor10]

Hi Deanna & Tara -

My spec only recommended Blackmores Pregnancy tablets & some folic acid...but that stuff is mainly for the baby so no I haven't really be advised to take anything such as Vit B6...it couldn't hurt to try anyway. Brian is currently taking fish oil & multivitamins.

I hope everything goes really well with your u/s Deanna! Every day & every test is a step closer to having that little bundle of joy wrapped up in your arms. That's the way I'm trying to look at it anyway. Last night one of my close friends came over who has a little bub named Benson. He is only about 2 months old but he is adorable. He is part Phillipino. I know it is sometimes so hard to be around little babies but at others it is just so comforting!

By the way....this may sound a bit nieve (again I'm only new to bb) but what does IUI stand for? Is it where the sperm is injected directly into your uterus etc? Just that is what my spec is considering doing with me if nothing positive comes up by July...I don't know whether I would rather get a lap done beforehand so I know that other attempts will not be in vain....what do you think?

PS There are tonnes of pregnant mothers in Canberra! It must be the cold weather! Deanna, I see that you live on the Gold Coast. I used to live in Oxenford. It is beautiful up there. I would much prefer to warmer weather & the beach any day! I also have a stepson Jordan who is 8 years old so we have to stick around here for a while....

I think that is perhaps why my husband and I began to try to fall pregnant only after a year of being married as we wanted something that was ours. Jordan is a great kid however so we are very lucky!!

Rara

[Deanna76]

Hi Rara
Yep, IUI is intrauterine insemination - sperm is washed to seperate the poor swimmers from the good and injected directly into the uterus. After our third attempt at IUI(probably next month) if I don't have a BFP the FS said he would 'have to investigate things further'?? I think he will repeat the lap because it will have been 15 months since I had it done. The only thing they found last time was minor adhesions from right ovary to broad ligament from previous appendicectomy / cystectomy. Guess I'll know more in a couple of hours anyway.

[Lenny]

Rachel,

I don't know whether I would rather get a lap done beforehand so I know that other attempts will not be in vain....what do you think?

Discuss this with your FS. I spent months taking Clomid and feel like i wasted so much time, when a lap would have diagnosed my endo & adhesions and maybe things would have gone along a lot quicker. We hadn't gone to IUI before the lap (although we were considering it) thankfully! It would have wasted a lot more time and money than the Clomid did.

I am a lap fan, just because it diagnosed my problems, which otherwise would have gone undetected. But this is a decision you, your DH and your FS would have to talk about.

Jo

[Deanna76]

I agree with what Jo said - have the lap to rule out any pelvic/ovary/uterus issues then start the clomid if all else is normal. I found the lap and division of adhesions wasn't too painful - I was able to work after a couple of days off (3) and apart from some pretty intense shoulder tip pain (which I still get!?!?) was back to normal fairly quickly. Good luck with whatever you decide to go ahead with!

[visitor10]

Hmmm...

As said previously it has definately given me something to think about. I don't want to go through another 3 months of trying and then having the lap done and finding out that it was a big fat waste of time when it could have been diagnosed beforehand. I will speak to my fs about it but I think I will push the issue a little bit more with her...the specs down here in Canberra always seem to be in such a hurry to get you in and out!!

So I would only need to have 3 days off work do you think to recooperate? I've never had an op before so it would definitely be a new thing for me.

Must be off to go to a tupperware party (even though tupperware is a little out of my price range, a party is always a good opportunity to catch up & have a chat to the girls!!).

Talk soon.

PS Deanna...how did you go yesterday?

Cya!

Rara

[Lenny]

Hi Rara,

So I would only need to have 3 days off work do you think to recooperate? I've never had an op before so it would definitely be a new thing for me.

My lap was my very first op too, but it went super smoothly. I was fine and could have gone back to work after 2 days off, but i was given three days and I had it on wednesday, so that was nice - i had a long time to relax. The shoulder tip pain was the only pain i really had, and that's hard to imagine until you've had it. But it passes.

I hope things work out well for you.
Good luck

[Deanna76]

Hi Rara
U/sound only showed two 9mm follies and very thin endometrium - apparently not that good for day 9. FS wants me to come back for repeat u/s on Wednesday. He mentioned possible hormone imbalance in first part of cycle (?follicular phase) that even on Clomid my follies aren't maturing fast enought to ovulate on day 14, which is what is 'normal' when taking clomid. I generally ovulate day 17 -18 and have a 26-29 day cycle. I have repeatedly mentioned this to him however it seems to go in one ear and out the other.

When doing an OI and IUI cycle the trigger injection is given on day 12-13 and IUI done on day 14. I tend to think that because my body wouldn't be ready to ovulate on day 14 that immature eggs are being released that have no hope of being fertilised.

Hopefully this knowledge may lead to a BFP??? FS said that on Wednesday follies should be 19-21mm and he will trigger me then (day 14) and instruct DH and I on timed intercourse as DH isn't available for IUI.

Fingers and toes all crossed for nice big mature follies on Wednesday!

[visitor10]

Deanna - I will be where you are early next week. I'm really praying for you Then there is the tww which is just as painful!!!Let me know how you are going okay? Have you got things planned to distract yourself? I find that is the only and best way to get through it....

Jo - Thanx Jo for your helpful advice. I think I might have to milk it for all it's worth and get a bit of time off to recuperate

Sorry I haven't replied in a while....have been very busy over the weekend.

Talk soon

Rach

PS If you haven't noticed by now I love all these smilies!!!!