Trying for a baby (12+ M/not straightforward)

homeaway

Nicki wrote: »

No, sadly we are out, this month and quite possibly permanently. We went to see the consultant last night, and his starting point was that OH's SA was now so poor that our only option was IVF with ICSI. The success rates of this given my age, and the fact that I also have a fibroid which is of a size which would reduce implantation chances by 50% are not encouraging for us at the moment. Added to which we had said from the outset that we wouldn't go down the IVF route again. Having said that, I think OH is wavering. We still have a lot more talking to do, but it seems that as far as conceiving naturally or semi-naturally is concerned, its not going to happen for us.

I'm not sure whatever happens that I'll be going down the IVF route at the same clinic as when I complained last night about the nurse, I was told that she was known to be ""abrasive" but was the only one they had at that clinic. Tbh IV is stressful enough without having to put up with unpleasant behaviour by the nurses on top.

Hi Nicki, i really feel for you . I have done quite a lot of reading and have found that royal jelly can possibly help for both male and female fertility. Maca is meant to help female fertility not sure about male. Some women take evening primrose oil.There is a natural remedy that is meant to help with cysts but i cant remember what it is. If you go to ovusoft.com they have a thread on iui/ivf fertility as well as others which might have some useful info for you. If you are interested in going down the alternative route it might be helpful to have the cyst monitered while taking some alternative remedies. i wish you all the best. Have you looked into acupunture?

liloandstitch

Hi Nicky, so sorry to hear your news. There is a lot that you can do to improve - my DH had a lower count because of of a vasectomy reversal. He takes a vitamin called Wellman, which contains a couple of amino acids which are apparently needed for sperm and a vital mineral is zinc. There are all sorts of things about keeping sperm cool - boxers not pants for example, and no sitting in hot baths, in front of hot cookers etc (apparently gordon Ramsey has a low count cos of cookers - and he has 4!!!) Alcohol and caffeine are factors and general fitness. All that said, all DH does is take his Wellman (from boots etc) omega 3,6 and 9 bombs - he is overweight but he does not drink alcohol, smoke and drinks little caffeine. His count is now perfect - so in my view, the supplements do work (oh and he is 55!) You should also take a good multivitamin - I take the preg ones inc folic acid, and my omegas as well. Dont know much about fibroids.

If you have a progesterone imbalance, I believe you have a luteul phase of less than ?10 days in your post ovulation phase of your cycle, IE if you have a 28 day cycle, if you OV after day 18, your LH would be too short to sustain a pregnancy - you should be able to work it out from your IUI cycle (unless you took progesterone pessaries of course!!!) I think it may also affect the oestrogen part of the cycle. I use a natural progesterone cream during the 2nd half of the cycle - but I know I do not have a LH defect - and I must admit it does help (I think!!) - I certainly know how the progesteron affects me, anyway - and i think that a lot of the symptoms people get before a BFP are actually increasing progesterone in their body - sore boobs etc, as this is exactly what effect the pessaries and cream have on me. I know when you are having IVF they give you pessaries to try and improve the chances of implantation, so I think what the heck!!!!

Dont give up sweetheart - we call our little boy our gift from god, as with all the problems we have had, we never really thought we would be lucky enough to have him - and now we are pushing our luck wanting another one!!

PM anytime if you need support - Lilo

myaccount08

(early) morning all,

So sorry you are feeling the time pressure Nicki. We're fast running out of time too and it’s such a panic and added pressure. Just horrible There are loads of things you can do for sperm count though. You could start taking Vit B6. This will even things out and boost progesterone production, most women get an extra 1-3 days on their luteal phase. You can take 50-100mg each day (+ prenatals) and continue it through the first trimester as it helps nausea too. Because of my immune disorder I’m only on 36mg but going fine so far. Natural progesterone creams seem to be a bit of a hit or miss, but definitely worth a try. The synthetic ones are more of a placebo as the body doesn't actually convert it, but whatever works! Another great thing to improve 'womb health' is Shatavari (Indian asparagus). It's incredibly beneficial to female reproductive health. For the womb lining itself, could you get a prescription for oestrogen meds? Or would this have implications for the fibroid? Increasing fibre in your diet is supposed to help with all oestrogen related problems (PCOS, fibroids, endo). Have they said the fibroid would cause problems for a growing fetus, IUGR or preterm delivery? 3 months is a long time to have to wait, but if it would significantly increase your chances of a successful term pregnancy and give time for boosting sperm issues too, maybe worth considering?

For sperm;
Vit A – regulates sex hormones, must be taken with a multivit for safe absorption though
Vit C - reduces a high % of any sperm damage, clumping and abnormalities. 500mg per day.
Vit E - makes sperm stronger, as does Carotene. It also helps metabolise selenium.
Zinc - significantly increases testosterone and count
Selenium - continuously needs replacing
Folic acid – supposed to help with male infertility too
Vit B1 – reduces stress which is a major component in sperm production
Vit B5 – important for the mid section of the sperm
Vit B12 - balances testosterone for increased sperm production
L-Arginine and L-Cartinine (sp?) - count and motility
Multi-vitamins - for good measure
Fish oils
Protein – plays a major role in the synthesis of sperm
Maca powder - www.superfoods.co.uk is a great source
Aswagandha - another indian herb good for male fertility
Ginseng
BDing only every other day
Caffeine - a small amount is actually beneficial, green tea is probably the best all round source but my DH still has a cup of coffee here and there. Dh is driving for 10 hours a day so I do worry, i guess some things just can’t be avoided though.

I'm not sure if these would work if low count is due to structural issues, but all the studies i've read strongly support their use. I've read studies of men successfully taking Clomid for count! Have they checked his FSH and LH recently? Perhaps there is something that can be done there with meds. I know acupuncture isn't for everyone, but it's mentioned in every infertility book i've read and is supposed to help alot with sperm issues. The same with herbal medicine, its worked for me in some areas but not others.

myaccount08

Triggles CONGRATS on the BFP!

I don't think im pregnant. Perhaps it's just pessimism after so many BFN? Every other month is a BFN, so why should this one be any different. Ya know? The glands in my groin are swollen and sore again. As my reflexologist pointed out that's normally a sign of infection, so i am fairly concerned. Has anyone else had this? My lower backache is terrible, pelvic pains increasing, abdomen tight and cramping, bowel and bladder symptoms kicking in. I get these during the last week of every cycle though so i doubt its anything pregnancy related. I would love to get a BFP and for everything to go smoothly, but it feels like it will never happen Just waiting for AF to show now....

FairyElephant_2

Sorry I've not been around for a few days - internet access been restricted, and I'm so darn tired all the time that any spare time I get I seem to be sleeping! It has to be down the meds i think - the only other times I felt this tired was after the anaesthetic and the first couple weeks when I was PG before the ectopic was diagnosed......Can't find a sleepy, yawning 'smilie' but that is what I need at the mo'!
'Stabbing' is going better now - we have discovered that the best thing is to put an ice-pack on the area for a few minutes before and straight after. Still don't know why it seems much more painful this time than last though.
I'm feeling suitably bloated now, so hopefully lots of follies are developing (and it is not just that I'm getting fatter due to lack of excercise - LOL!). Scan is at 10.00 on Friday, so we shall see! It is very difficult at the mo' as lots of things happening in work which mean people want me to commit to meetings etc. next week, and I have in the back of my mind that I'm hoping to have to take a day off for EC, and then again for ET........
Other than that, still have massive headaches and tendancy to cry at the drop of a hat!
Many congrats on the BFP Triggles:T .

BIG HUGS to Nicki - So sad that you didn't get the result you (and all of us) were hoping for :sad: , but glad to hear you are being so positive and that your DH is totally on board! I agree you need to be happy with your clinic - as said before, I am not totally happy since mine has merged/moved, although I still like the people I am dealing with. If it doesn't work out this time for us, we decided we will go for 'one more time' and I have started to search out other clinics. I've stopped doing all the 'alternative' stuff (apart from DH & I taking vits) at the moment, as I think it was contributing to my being obsessive and I was getting very stressed & depressed......if this time doesn't work out though, we're going to have a 'new start' after we get back from our hols on 5th Jan, so I'll be interested to know what you are trying too!

Nottslass - sorry to read that you were so down the other day, but you 'sound' perkier now so hope you are feeling better :wave: .

Hugs & babydust to everyone - wrap up warm!

FE

FairyElephant_2

Sorry Myaccount - meant to say, maybe you could see your GP about your swollen glands? My eye was swollen and sore, and the glands in my neck swollen a couple of weeks ago, so I saw the GP and they said I had an eye-infection and prescribed antibiotics (made sure they were 'safe in PG' ones) - all swelling has gone down now, in my neck too. Maybe worth a try?

Hugs,

FE

VK-2008

hey people in now on day 36 which is so unusally to be this late, constantly tired and running to the loo and have a really funny taste in mouth when i eat certian things. so strange but tested yesterday and it said no i have a strange headache so af may be on her way im soo confused. gona to retest on fri i think

hows other ppl getting on

Nicki

Another trip to the Health shop today, for me this time.

I've started on Agnus Castus, Zinc, a good multivitamin with folic acid, Vit B6 and Dandelion Root (the last two for the fibroid specifically) together with a higher fibre diet, and cut out the sugar and caffeine from my diet. I already am not bad on vegetables and fruit. I also got some wild yam cream to try after ovulation.

OH is still happy with his horse pills, and has been very good all day with his diet.

Onwards and upwards...

myaccount08

Just note that wild yam doesn't contain any progesterone, it contains a small amount of a chemical diosgenin, which can be only be converted into progesterone through a lengthy lab process. But the body itself cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone. There's some chemicals in wild yam that resemble a weak oestrogen and some say it helps encourage ovulation if taken in the follicular phase, but there's not much evidence on that.

Fairyelephant the glands in my groin have been swollen for longer than i can remember. I've had all tests for infection this year but nothing comes back. I'm wondering if it's maybe PID since i have such awful pains in my tubes/ovary area throughout my cycle. My next appointment is coming up, i've been asking for a lap & dye for years but i'm hoping they will listen to me this time. Even so the wait is currently 6 months

Im on CD 36 today.. i wish AF would just hurry up and get it over, i hate having to wait!

sarahs999

Not posted for a while; sorry to hear your disappointing news Nicki.

I've finally had my period since my mc, and also a visit with my consultant. She took bloods and said that given my history I may well have Thrombophillia. Meaning that my blood clots too easily and so the embryos wouldn't have got enough nutrients throught he placenta. Apapretnly quite common in women like me who've had severe pre-eclampsia. I'm in two minds - if the bloods say Ido ahve it, at least i'll be able to treat it. But it wil mean that my last two babies died needlessly, and that will be very, very hard to cope with.