The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Conceive when its just not happening (12m+)

QQuaver

BBT is Basal Body Temperature ie temp.
DTD is doing the deed/dance - making baby;)

I've never been to a fertility specialist before, so a bit nervous about it all.
It's probably just talking, and deciding what to do. They won't scan you right there and then would they? Take bloods etc?

I had mmc (11 weeks, baby stopped at 10) & erpc, so I'm not new to these things though:o

spaghetti_monster

Aha..... there are a lot of abbreviations on this subject!

I don't write down when we DTD - is there a good reason to? We just try to do it at the right time (according to temp and ov test) and very regularly before and after to have all bases covered.

I'm in Holland, so maybe things are a bit different. I had mmc at 8.5 weeks and then went for further investigations after my periods didn't go back to normal - and now a fertility investigation - all at the same hospital dept. I don't know what's left of those bits they haven't scanned!!

I think my appt will just be a talk, before they do more tests. But they seemed quite keen last time to give me clomid and I'm rapidly coming round to the idea!

QQuaver

alex_w wrote: »

Aha..... there are a lot of abbreviations on this subject!

Sorry:o
MMC is Missed miscarriage (miscarriage did not start on its own).
ERPC is Evacuation of retained products (operation to remove the baby etc).

I don't write down when we DTD - is there a good reason to? We just try to do it at the right time (according to temp and ov test) and very regularly before and after to have all bases covered.

I do take temps, but ov can be inconclusive. I've ordered Clearblue Fertility monitor though, so hoping we'll catch the egg (we usually miss it by 4 or 5 days).

went for further investigations after my periods didn't go back to normal

My periods came OK.
They don't do miscarriage investigation until you've had three.
I've only had the one, so have to endure two more...:(

I think my appt will just be a talk, before they do more tests. But they seemed quite keen last time to give me clomid and I'm rapidly coming round to the idea!

I was thinking of asking for them too;)

foxy-roxy

I haven't got any charts or anything like that as I become too obsessie, I have the ovulation tests but that's about it.
My period is really regular anyway so that is not a problem.
I am not sure what to expect at the first appt although it does say on the website they will do a few tests - scan, bloods, internal, test mans sperm although not sure that they will do that on the 1st meeting, thought it would literall be a chat about our history.
Ah well time will tell.

spaghetti_monster

QQuaver - My investigation was just for strange periods - over here in NL it's the same - they only investigate an mc if you've had 3.
Have you thought of getting some of those big packs of ov tests? I got some from amazon (50 for less than a tenner). Then I don't feel bad about doing loads of tests. I've found there can be about a weeks variation in the day I ovulate, so I just start testing a day or two before the earliest it could be and keep testing until it comes.

Foxy - I found that doing the temp chart and tests actually makes me less obsessive. It's like I just do these things (it's now a routine) and the rest of the time I think less about it all (instead of getting paranoid about every little twinge!)

QQuaver

alex_w wrote: »

Have you thought of getting some of those big packs of ov tests? I got some from amazon (50 for less than a tenner).

My investigations is about strange periods as well as infertility.
Have being trying since June last year, with no luck (except for 1 mc).

I had investigations long time ago for irregular periods, and they did scans and bloods etc, and found nothing. They said it's all fine, don't worry about it.

Clearblue Fertility monitor is ov tester with sticks.
Will get on it as soon as my period arrives, but as I have irregular periods, I don't know when it'll arrive:o I think I'm in luteal phase (high temp phase), so should be sometime at the end of this week or next week.

spaghetti_monster

On tinternet it says - and at the hospital they also told me - that the luteal phase is pretty fixed in everyone and indeed when my period is normal this part is 15/16 days. It's the first half up to ov that has the variation.

My problem is that now and again it seems that the luteal phase is unusually long (with negative preg. tests and no good explanation).

I've been trying a similar amount of time. My mmc was in Feb 2009 and been trying since it was safe again (May 2009) and nothing yet, just period weirdness! I think it's time to try this clomid.

At my hospital, although it's the same (gynacology) dept, it's one appt/discussion for strange periods and another for trying to conceive - although of course they're related.

QQuaver

My luteal seems OK looking at my chart, it is the ovulation that doesn't happen for a long time.

I might try Soya Isoflavones next cycle.
It is similar to Clomid, but you don't need prescription. You take it on CD 3-7.

liloandstitch

Hi everyone, nice to see some new 'faces' and lots of chat!

Had my next check up today, MRI remains clear - just got to get the isthmic smear result and Im a happy little bunny! And they are referring me to a gynae at St Barts who is a specialist in post-trachelectomy infertility and treatment so hopefully I should get an accurate picture of what I can or cant do. She can look at stretching the stitch and has the experience with IVF post op, so I am hopping and skipping at being able to talk to someone who may be able to help! The slightly bad news is that both my tubes are swollen, but hey, if I can get past cancer, slightly knackered tubes arent going to trouble me! Apparently they are consistent with endometriosis which I have had diagnosed years ago, so prob nothing new to worry about.

Anyway, good to hear about successful doctors appointments and I am sprinking the luckiest baby dust for you all XXXXXXXXXXX

Lilo

nottslass_2

liloandstitch wrote: »

Hi everyone, nice to see some new 'faces' and lots of chat!

Had my next check up today, MRI remains clear - just got to get the isthmic smear result and Im a happy little bunny! And they are referring me to a gynae at St Barts who is a specialist in post-trachelectomy infertility and treatment so hopefully I should get an accurate picture of what I can or cant do. She can look at stretching the stitch and has the experience with IVF post op, so I am hopping and skipping at being able to talk to someone who may be able to help! The slightly bad news is that both my tubes are swollen, but hey, if I can get past cancer, slightly knackered tubes arent going to trouble me! Apparently they are consistent with endometriosis which I have had diagnosed years ago, so prob nothing new to worry about.

Anyway, good to hear about successful doctors appointments and I am sprinkling the luckiest baby dust for you all XXXXXXXXXXX

Lilo

Sound as if you've had a great day lilo :j.
RE the referral, it sounds like the Doc knows her stuff and its hopefully one step closer to that BFP.I'll be sprinkling loadsa extra baby dust your way.