Some questions about assisted conception

[blessedatlast]

I have some questions regarding assisted conception.

1. How long did you TTC before getting a referral or advice?
2. How old are you/were you when you started getting help.
3. Why do you need help?

The reason I want to ask these questions is because I have always had trouble falling pregnant. I went to the doc at 24 and they basically laughed at me because "I was so young, and had plenty of time" Finally at the age of 27 I was taken seriously but sure enough, just 2 months before my appointment with the fertility specialist I found out I was pregnant with TWINS!! The problem is now is that I don't want to wait another 3yrs to concieve again, but since it's obvious I CAN fall pregnant I think once again I wont be taken seriously.. I am terrified of getting to 40 and still having issues so I would rather get sorted now IYKWIM?? I hope this all makes sense. Thanks in advance for your replies, I realise they are quite personal questions..

[Nicole S]

Firstly, I just wanted to say how sorry I am for your two baby boy angels
BIG Cyber

A bit of a timeline for our TTC Journey
Feb 05 Started trying
Early 06 Gyno Visit
Nov 06 UTD naturally grew wings at 4 weeks
Feb and Mar 08 x2 rounds of IUI = BFN
June 08 IVF #1 =BFN
Aug 08 IVF #2 = BFP

So three years TTC Naturally then 6 months AC.
I would have been 27 when we started TTC and 30 when I got PG with our little man.

As for why we needed AC to this day after all the tests we did we were told that we just had unexplained infertility?!?!?!
If I had my time over again, the only thing I would change is to have tried AC earlier as my DH will turn 40 next year and does not want to do IVF again.

Best of luck in your journey with whatever path you decide to go on we are all here to support you

[blessedatlast]

Thanks Nicole.. But what is IUI?? I am not up on all the terms Also congrats on your BFP

Adding: Disregard, I just found the sticky on abbreviations etc

[farmgirl77]

Hello,
on the sad loss of your beautiful twins.

1. DH and I had been TTC for about 8 months when I went to the GP to seek help. I know that it is early, but I had been charting my cycle and following natural fertility principles, using ovulation prediction kits etc so was confident that we should have fallen pg during that time. What the charting showed was that I had a bit of an irregular cycle, so it was thought that this might have been our prob. I went to see the gyno about 9 months after we started TTC.

2. We started trying on my 29th birthday, and was 3 months short of my 30th birthday when we found out we needed IVF. My DH is 1 1/2 yrs older than me so we were not over the hill!

3. We initally needed IVF due to male factor infertility, so did IVF with ICSI. However after a few transfers I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition which was preventing embryos from implanting. I required further treatment for that condition in conjunction with the IVF.

I think that if you have doubts try and find a GP and then specialist who will listen to them and take you seriously. With any luck you will not need to go down the path of IVF, but it is good to know your options and have some timeframes in mind so that if you dont fall pg by a time you are comfortable with, you know that there are some other things that you could try.

I really hope that you dont need to go down this path.
Best of luck.
FG

[mgm]

I'm so sorry for your loss. As you have a history of having difficulty conceiving, I can't imagine you'll have too much trouble finding a FS who will take your concerns seriously. This is my history:

always had irregular cycle and anticipated difficulties conceiving.
to my surprise, conceived DS after about 6 months of trying (I was 33).
TTC a second time for about 20 months with no success.
Saw a FS who prescribed very low dose of clomid as a starting point. However, i conceived before I even filled the prescription! This one ended in miscarriage. Despite the natural conception FS thought I should proceed with clomid, which I did, and conceived again 3 months later (at the age of 37).

our problems were unspecified, and obviously I'm older and that reduces the chances, but DH did have a lowish sperm count. I suspect his giving up drinking may have contributed enormously to our conceiving, but of course I'll never know. Oh, and I also charted my cycle obsessively!! Anyway I'm telling you this story to make the point that sometimes fertility problems can be solved in non-invasive, simple ways. I hope this will be the case for you.

[Mildez]

I too am sorry that your beautiful boys are in heaven.
I am yet to have assisted conception but have been in the process.
My story. I started ttc in Au/Sep 08 (16months now) after two m/c in June I went to see a Gyno for recurrent m/c. He told me to come back in a year.
In July another BFP which ended in an ectopic pregnancy. I was then diagnosed with PID, endo, adhesions and now have one tube. DH also has a lowish sperm mobility and morphology but I have still been pregnant 4 times to my DH. Weather the sperm abnormalities contributed to my m/c's (not ectopic) I will never know.
I have had tests (lap and dye, BT etc) all show I should be able to concieve naturally. However my Gyno told me he will refer me to have IVF as soon as I want. He suggested ttc for another 6months but not leave it another year before heading down that track. I did tell him we were definately open to IVF/ICSI so he wasn't trying to push it on us as we did say when asked we would definately give it a go if needed and we didn't want to wait too long. IUI is not an option for us as my tube (only have one now) is abit damaged. So in 16months this is whats happened and what we know about our fertility. Another 6months we will be starting IVF if no BFP before hand. Clomid for me has never been discussed as I do ovulate every month.
I am 26 almost 27 and my DH is 28. We do have one DD together and I have another DD from a first relationship.
I definately think going on your history a FS would or should be more then willing to help you get a BFP quicker and see why its taking some time. Best of luck. Maybe you just need to make the appointment and you will get another BFP before the appointment like last time.

[grub17]

hi blessedatllast.. i hope this helps..

started TTC age 25 (me) and 26 (dh) oct 06
mentioned this at july 07 pap smear with GP - she investigates and diagnoses a very large dermoid cyst strangling my right ovary. Refered to gyno who is also a FS.
Aug 07 - operation to remove dermoid (ovary saved), check plumbing. diagnosed wth PCOS. Put on metformin. DH diagnosed with lazy, malformed sperm which are lacking directional nous.
Oct 08 - start IVF with ICSI. First cycle 2 eggs, no baby
March 09 - preggo after 2nd cycle and fresh transfer. Two on ice.

I was extremely fortunate to have a very lovely gp who doesn't go by the 'rule' of 3 miscarriages before referral.

If you feel you will get nowhere with your gp... tell a white lie about how long you've been trying... or demand a referral. it's your health, your future your body. I personally would be asking for a full work up given your hstory.

Wishing you all the luck and success in the future.

oxox

[blessedatlast]

Thanks so much for your replies.. As I said I know they are personal questions... I am all for telling a doctor a white lie about how long I have been trying, but I can't get away with it now as I need to tell them about my pregnancy and birth history with the twins.. The reason I don't think I will be taken seriously now is because I did fall pregnant naturally with twins!! So it's kind of like secondary infertility I guess you would call it.. Also the thought of IVF is terrifying due to the higher risk of multiple births.. My OB that I was under when I had the twins seems to think I would have more success with a singleton pregnancy.. Oh the stress of it all.. All I can say is it just SUX!! (In case anyone reading this doesn't know I was hosptialised at 19wks pregnant as my cervix was shortening.. I got a cervical suture but still went into labour at 23wks.. I had a 9 day labour before delivering at 24+2wks..)

[Daisie]

Hi Blessedatlast

I was just reading your posts with interest (morbid I know) but I wholeheartedly recommend seeking IVF. if your GP laughs then find another GP. My GP is lovely and I cried in her office for 20 mins when she gave me a referral. It's been over 12 months since you lost the twins and that is a long enough wait before seeking specialist help. You never know what else could be going on in there. And to put your mind at rest about the increase in multiple births... the risk is only higher if you transfer more than one embie back in. So keep it simple, just transfer one. You don't have to transfer more than one and in fact they normally just do one to start with to see how that works out for you.

Hope that helps a little. Keep positive and make it happen.

Daisie