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

bigzippy

time2deal wrote: »

Hi ladies,

I know a few of you from the main thread, but I think I have to bite the bullet and move across to this +12m one!

Tbh I thought you'd dipped your toes in a while ago but then gone quiet. Nice to see you back (but not, iyswim )

I've been really up and down all year - some of you will have seen me on the other thread - but I feel a bit better and calmer now. And oddly less impatient, I think now I know it's not going to be quick, I'm a little calmer. Although - the glass of red beside me may also be helping.

I know what you mean. When you feel like you are simply not in control it can be both stressful and freeing - I alternate between the two, but for the most part, because I know I'm doing everything I possibly could be doing, I just have to be at peace with the fact that it's not up to me/us any more.

Anyway - hello to everyone! As a first thing, can anyway tell me if there are any options with a low SA result. Is it possible to 'extract' the little swimmers surgically? Silly question I am sure, but I'm new to this next medicalised step of ttc.

From what I've gathered it's a bit more tricky to address male infertility issues than female factors, in some ways. If the s'perm isn't getting through then they can go in to retrieve it (like I think MrsHappy's fella's going to need?). I think QQ's fella had a small dose of clomid prescribed, at one point, to try and help with his production..? If it's a low count I think they try to boost it with meds/work out why/introduce it to the egg more directly. In any case, hopefully that won't be a problem for you guys

fluffnutter

time2deal wrote: »

Anyway - hello to everyone! As a first thing, can anyway tell me if there are any options with a low SA result. Is it possible to 'extract' the little swimmers surgically? Silly question I am sure, but I'm new to this next medicalised step of ttc.

The SA will test a number of things - number, motility (how much they move and whether they swim in a straight line) and morphology (whether they have any observable defects). There are other things too, but these are the most usual things to test.

The quality of the sperm is therefore a combination of these factors. Even with a very poor motility (for example, 90% of my OH's sperm are virtually catatonic!) you'll still have many, many sperm that are perfectly able to 'do the job'. Likewise, having low numbers or lots of defects is not necessarily a problem - it only takes one!

If the sperm quality is deemed low, it can still be used for IUI or something called ICSI which, to all intents and purposes is the same as IVF but instead of letting the sperm and egg just get jiggy in the petri-dish together, the andrologist deliberately selects the best looking sperm and injects them into the eggs. If you're paying privately for IVF, this procedure typically adds £1000 to the price.

IUI is a less invasive method whereby you're given low doses of drugs to make sure you produce decent eggs, your OH provides a sperm sample which is spun to separate the good from the bad, then this is squirted up your mooer at the exact right time. It's making the best of your possible chance that month, i.e. creating the best circumstances for fertilisation, but that fertilisation will still take place as normal in your fallopian tubes and is not suitable for everyone, e.g. if you've got blocked or scarred tubes.

Sperm is only surgically removed if there's some reason why it's not present in the semen, e.g. blocked vans deferens or after a vasectomy that can't be reversed but where sperm is still being produced in the testes. In the vast majority of cases, the sperm is simply produced via a few minutes in the 'sexy room' with a couple of mags and a little pot.

Low quality sperm per se is no barrier to a successful pregnancy, but you will typically need a bit of help. Good luck with the rest of your investigations x.

TTC40

time2deal wrote: »

Oh - I should add I am 36, ttc first child. BMI 32-33ish, so too fat for NHS... although private FS didn't seem to worry about it. But then - I was paying quite a lot for her to be nice to me!

Welcome. I've just been prescribed Clomid privately with a BMI of 35. He didn't even ask / check my BMI (although I did bring it up at an earlier appt & he just said don't let it go up).

I'm not proud of my BMI by the way. Just can't seem to shift it at the moment - despite having a great incentive of TTC.

A friend who had had a vasectomy had surgical sperm removal as part of ICSI. Think the whole treatment cost them about £5000 - they hit the jackpot on the first attempt. They plan to do it again.

Peonie

I've been lurking for a few weeks and wanted to say hi.

We've been actively trying for over 2 years, I finally got pregnant in April but had a miscarriage in June. I've had mild to moderate endometriosis for over 20 years and I'm in my mid 30s. I am using fertility tests to check the right time of the month and it's showing I'm high today.

It seems like the doctors have had me on a rolling 6 months of keep trying. But at my last appointment she said hopefully the pregnancy kick started my system and if nothing happens by December to go back in. Hopefully then they'll do some tests.

Can someone please tell me what your acronyms means? I can't work them out. Thanks.

time2deal

Thanks everyone, that info is fantastic! I'm sure I'd never quite get all that from the docs.

Slightly bad news today with my AMH results coming in very low - which I gather means my biological age its higher than 36- great! We should have sa results next week, so I might wait for that before going in for another appointment. Anyone else had that test?

bigzippy

Peonie wrote: »

I've been lurking for a few weeks and wanted to say hi.

We've been actively trying for over 2 years, I finally got pregnant in April but had a miscarriage in June. I've had mild to moderate endometriosis for over 20 years and I'm in my mid 30s. I am using fertility tests to check the right time of the month and it's showing I'm high today.

It seems like the doctors have had me on a rolling 6 months of keep trying. But at my last appointment she said hopefully the pregnancy kick started my system and if nothing happens by December to go back in. Hopefully then they'll do some tests.

Can someone please tell me what your acronyms means? I can't work them out. Thanks.

Welcome peonie :wave: the first page on[url= https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4130809here[/url] covers basic ttc (trying to conceive) acronyms. Ones that might not be covered on that list are usually more to do with medical procedures - ICSI is a type of IVF, SA is sperm analysis or sperm aspiration, ACU is Assisted Conception Unit, FS is Fertility Specialist, etc. Just ask if one comes up you're not sure about

Sorry to hear about your MC (miscarriage) Hope they're right that your body will be kickstarted now

time2deal wrote: »

Thanks everyone, that info is fantastic! I'm sure I'd never quite get all that from the docs.

Slightly bad news today with my AMH results coming in very low - which I gather means my biological age its higher than 36- great! We should have sa results next week, so I might wait for that before going in for another appointment. Anyone else had that test?

I think other ladies on here have had the AMH test, but I get the impression it's usually offered more to private patients than NHS, and/or slightly older patients (I'm 30), and maybe before IVF commences...? In any case, I haven't had that test and I'm sorry yours isn't as high as it should be/you'd like

chickpea

Good morning everyone!

T2D - what was your AMH result? Mine was 3.1 aged 37 (I'm now 39) which is pretty pathetic (and consistent with the fact I can't get pg) albeit not completely and utterly in the toilet.

++++++

I have been busy this weekend. Got BIL + PG SIL + their 1 yr old baby staying. SIL has been busy caressing her bump all weekend. Ultimate rub-it-in moment was when she picked up my snuggly TV blanket in the living room and put it on herself 'this should keep my bump warm'. Also later, when we're talking about disaster scenarios and what if the worse happens and we needed to escape she said 'Well I think I'll get priority anyway'.

I guess since I can't get pg my life isn't worth as much..

Primmer

Hugs Chickpea - what a tough weekend for you

T2D - I haven't had Amh test done and am 39 but when I had my review with fs after failed ivf I have been told I can pay for Amh blood test before I have icsi if we decide to go ahead with it.

Peonie - welcome and hope you can get referral to fs soon

TeamLowe

Fluffnutter as always you're very informative and helpful, I just wish you wouldn't call it a mooer lol

Chickpea she's an !!!! an a half! Do they know you're struggling?

2 months down, 4 to go til clomid...

TTC40

Picked my Clomid up from the pharmacist today.

I had been prescribed for 4 months, but the pharmacist said it was the same cost for 6 months supply so gave me 6 months.

Let's hope it's a total waste of money & I am pg this cycle! Assuming not, I take from CD 2 to 6.

£28 for the prescription - if only everything was that cheap!