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

nichart20

sexki11en wrote: »

Hey ladies. I haven't been around for a bit so I will read back shortly. Went to the doctors yesterday and got my blood test results and DH's SA results. Not too sure what to make of them but from what i've read, it's not looking great.

My results were:
LH 6.9 - seems fine
FSH 10.0 - on the high side. From what i've read, this could suggest poor egg reserve and/or quality and recent research shows high FSH levels have a poor outcome in fertility therapy.

Progesterone levels on CD19 (I tend to have a 26 day cycle give or take and also according to my charts) were 22 - too low to suggest OV.

DH'S results were good for the main:
Volume 4.7 (should be more than 2ml)
pH 8.1 (should be more than 7.2)
Viscosity normal
Antisperm antibodies 0
Concentration 31.9 (should be more than 20)
This is where it gets not so good...
Progressive motility 49 (not too bad - should be greater than 50%)
Normal forms/morphology 7% (should be 15% or more) :eek:
Motile normal sperm concentration 1.1 (should be more than 1.5)


What i'm reading from this is that I could have poor quality and/or number of eggs which aren't releasing and DH has 7% of swimmers which are normally formed so even if the blighters get up there, theres nothing to fertilise anyway!:eek:

We've both been re booked for the tests to double check the results which means another 3 month wait at least. DH is already taking (and has been for about 6 months) wellman conception vit's and i'm going to look at what else he can take to improve his results, but i'm not aware of anything I can do for mine? My temping has consistantly showed OV apart from the month after my bloods were taken strangely when it looks like I had an anovulatory cycle.

Can anyone with a bit more experience in this advise me if i'm reading the results wrong?

SK x

Hi SK,

Glad you have got your results back. I can't offer to much advice on your results, I was told my FSH levels were on the high side. On your OH swimmers this can change from month to month I think its 3 months it takes for his body to produce the sperm. My OH 1st sperm was below what it should have been but the next one came back ok, not super but improved. Hope someone can offer some better advice. Don't give up hope though x x x

liloandstitch

I think your conclusions re fsh level are correct - they are an indication of how hard your ovaries are working - the higher the number the harder they are working. I think you are on the high side of normal. How old are you - as obviously the older you are the higher it will be. I am 41 and my last fsh was 11. I am getting another one soon - will let you know. Soya and Agnus Castus are the usual suspects for improving a ladies egg quality, and losing weight, reducing caffeine, alcohol etc etc. I am currently taking soya and feel better than ever! (read back over the last 2 ish pages for instructions) It may well be that the fsh level was high because you didnt ovulate, and isnt your normal level at all. I would wait and see what the repeats say. It isnt unusual to have a non ov cycle, out of the 13 af visits a year, I believe that the stats on the number you will actually get preg on is a lot lower due to egg quality, non ov etc.

DONT LOSE HEART - it takes one sperm and one egg to make a baby - both of which you have ! Try and stay positive and keep as low stress as possible -that can also stop you getting pregnant! And yes, it does take 3 months to increase the quality of sperm. If you google, it should tell you what helps increase the morphology - there may be specific amino acids that you could get hold of to help.

HTH and others may have more advise for you - hope it goes well - Much love - lilo

jujugaboo

sexki11en wrote: »

We've both been re booked for the tests to double check the results which means another 3 month wait at least. DH is already taking (and has been for about 6 months) wellman conception vit's and i'm going to look at what else he can take to improve his results, but i'm not aware of anything I can do for mine? My temping has consistantly showed OV apart from the month after my bloods were taken strangely when it looks like I had an anovulatory cycle.

Can anyone with a bit more experience in this advise me if i'm reading the results wrong?

SK x

Hi SK,

I was told to increase partner's sperm mobility etc is to make sure the vitamins have got L-Arginine and L-Carnitine in. Zita West to a one for a male on her website which has these in. Sorry I can't help you on your side though.

sexki11en

Hey ladies, thank you so much. I'm not getting too worried about the results - it's too early for that, just couldn't make sense of what they actually meant.

Lilo - I'm 31 this September so I think my FSH is a little high. My progesterone test showed no OV although it was done on day 18 not 19 - but having said that, I usually OV between CD10 and 15 according to my charts. I've been charting for approx 15 cycles now and never had an anovulatory cycle until.....

.....I tried Soya Isoflavones last month and my chart showed no OV which panicked me a bit as they've always showed an OV (even though now my hormone levels are suggesting no OV!) so I didn't dare try them this month. I might give them a go next month and see what happens (once i've had my tests done - don't want to skew the results)

I could stand to loose a little weight I guess (am about 10lbs over the top end of my "ideal" weight according to the BMI charts) have given up caffine, alcohol is an area i'm working on and the smoking has got to go, I know! We eat healthily and are both taking our vits.

I know there are things to help DH's sperm so i'll research that and also look into AC as well as read a bit more about soy to see which could be best.

Thanks again ladies, you're all great

SK x

nichart20

My AF has arrived today and I have a scan at 10.00am tomorrow to see if the cyst has gone if it has I can start DR. I am keeping my fingers crossed it has x

jiblets1

Good luck nichart. (A scan on a Sunday?)
I've got a scan on Monday - day 7 of stimming. I'm a bit confused because I've realised I have 10 days worth of my stimming drugs. I thought I was expecting to be on it for a fortnight - maybe more? I thought I'd paid for all my drugs, but I guess there's more to pay for...
OH can't make it to this scan, so I'm taking mam. Never thought I'd have something put up my hoohah with my mother in the room...

sexki11en

Ohhhh godd luck Nic - have everything crossed for you here (except the obvious as OV is looming!) :rotfl:

SK x

nichart20

Thank you ladies, I had to call the on call mobile I expected for it to be monday but think the lady with the on call mobile is going in to scan me

SK - hehe, my first thought was no keep them open but that sounds a little wrong x

Jiblets - I really hope scan goes well monday hoping you have a good amount of good quality of follies, maybe they only gave you the minimum amount rather than you paying for lots that you might not need. Then if you need more you can order it.
The room I get scanned in the size of a broom cupboard so can only fit me and the nurse in x

nottslass_2

jiblets1 wrote: »

Good luck nichart. (A scan on a Sunday?)
I've got a scan on Monday - day 7 of stimming. I'm a bit confused because I've realised I have 10 days worth of my stimming drugs. I thought I was expecting to be on it for a fortnight - maybe more? I thought I'd paid for all my drugs, but I guess there's more to pay for...
OH can't make it to this scan, so I'm taking mam. Never thought I'd have something put up my hoohah with my mother in the room...

How long you stimm for depends on how quickly your follicles grow. Most ladies stim for between 8 - 12 days, so 10 days of drugs will probably be about right.

You'll find out how your follies are growing at your scan - depending on how you are doing,they'll ask you to return for another scan the next day or the day after.


When the majority have grown to the ideal size You stop the stimming drugs and do your final injection to induce ovulation 36 hours before EC.

I quickly realised that if they asked you to go back for a scan the next day you were almost ready, but if they they didn't want to scan you for another 2 days,you had a bit "more growing to do".

Hope that made sense.

nichart20

Had the scan this morning and it's not gone, I have an appointment to go back on day 21 for another scan but she said it is unlikley it will be gone as if it was going to go it should have gone with AF might then need to wait until net period and scan again. She is going to speak to the doctor tomorrow and phone me to let me know what he wants to do as they also have the option of having it drained, she also said it will probally be changed from short protocol from long and change my DR drugs. A bit confused at moment will be clearer tomorrow, very fustrated we can't get started

Hope everyone else is well x