Trying To Concieve

Js_Other_Half

CheekyLittleMonkey wrote: »

Can someone advise me what to expect? Or what tests they may do? I find this quite daunting (but obviously something I want). I've never ever done one of those ovulation chart thingys either, saying that though, after this news, theres no point. :rolleyes:

It's been a couple of years since I was referred, so I am a bit hazy on the exact stuff they'll do. The consultant will decide what tests you need, and may check your immunity for rubella, etc. Once they have the results back, s/he may suggest something like clomid to help you ovulate.

Good luck with it all.

Strapped

CheekyLittleMonkey wrote: »

Just reading this thread with interest. Hubby and I had been trying to concieve for the past 16months to no joy. Went to GP, sent me to the hospital for blood tests and to see if I was diabetic. Results came back. No diabetes BUT found out Im not ovulating at all, and said I probably never have been and its only cos we are trying now for a baby that we've found out (obviously). I asked him (the GP) how come I've been having my periods as normal, on time every month (I get awfully nasty sad emotional and a total !!!!! to live with about a week before actual period too) if Im not ovulating. He told me its possible to have a monthly cycle without ovulating. The conclusion as it stands is that he has referred me to see the Gynae/Fertility specialist at the local hospital and I am waiting for the appointment to come through.

Can someone advise me what to expect? Or what tests they may do? I find this quite daunting (but obviously something I want). I've never ever done one of those ovulation chart thingys either, saying that though, after this news, theres no point. :rolleyes:

Hi, I had the same problem. The fertility specialist that I saw explained that normally they would do an internal exam to look for any obvious abnormalities, and then make an apt to scan fallopian tubes for any blockages. However, in my case (as yours by the sound of it) the problem was very obviously hormonal - not enough progesterone - so she just put me on Clomid straight away. You have to have bloods taken (for a baseline) and then come back at a certain point in your cycle to have bloods taken again to see whether your hormones are a level where you should have ovulated. If not, they up the dosage. With me, she upped the dosage to the max on the third cycle and also prescribed an injection, can't remember the name offhand (but I DO remember that it was something extracted from the urine of post-menopausal women lol!) that completely kicks your hormones' !!!. I got pg that 3rd cycle :cool: Fortunately, just the one (as the injection thingie increases the chance of multiple ovulation :eek: )

BTW, after pregnancy and birth, hormones corrected themselves, which is apparently quite common, and #2 was conceived as soon as we started trying.

honeypop

Can someone who is or was ttc recommend an ovulation kit? Obviously moneysaving is the key here so something basic and reasonably priced will do, no need for whistles and bells!

We have been ttc for 6 months, I know as a bigger picture this is not actually that long, but I am curious to check that (or when) I am actually ovulating. From having an extremely regular period, down to knowing what time it will start, as soon as we decided we were ready to start a family, it became really erratic. We are not ‘trying’ as such, as in putting a lot of focus on it, more like ready if it happens and enjoying the process, so I don’t think the stress of trying has anything to do with it (this is the most common reaction I get).

So I thought at least knowing my ovulation pattern would help, I do the checking CM thing but it’s not always obvious, neither is going by the days as my cycle seems confused at the moment.

Strapped

honeypop wrote: »

Can someone who is or was ttc recommend an ovulation kit? Obviously moneysaving is the key here so something basic and reasonably priced will do, no need for whistles and bells!

We have been ttc for 6 months, I know as a bigger picture this is not actually that long, but I am curious to check that (or when) I am actually ovulating. From having an extremely regular period, down to knowing what time it will start, as soon as we decided we were ready to start a family, it became really erratic. We are not ‘trying’ as such, as in putting a lot of focus on it, more like ready if it happens and enjoying the process, so I don’t think the stress of trying has anything to do with it (this is the most common reaction I get).

So I thought at least knowing my ovulation pattern would help, I do the checking CM thing but it’s not always obvious, neither is going by the days as my cycle seems confused at the moment.

Ovulation kits work out really expensive. Cheapest methods are the temp'g etc. I'd recommend Personna though. Works like the ovulation kits (detecting hormone surge) but tracks your cycle all the way through. If you don't know what I mean, it's an electronic box which you use in conjunction with wee sticks; you wee on a stick on the mornings that the box tells you to, and stick it in the box to be read. This builds up a pattern of your hormonal changes over time. It's supposed to be used for contraception ("green" days and "red" days) but works just as well for those ttc. Handily, it also displays a little "O" symbol when you are ovulating (or not, as it turned out in my case :rolleyes: )

You can buy it in Boots - been a while since I got mine but I think it was about £30 for the box + about £10 per pack of sticks. The sticks are supposed to last 1 month, but once you've used Personna for a while, you don't need all the sticks in a pack each month, so if you buy a couple of packs with the same batch numbers, then it's OK to make eg 2 packs last 3 months. (Need the same batch numbers so that sticks from different packs read the hormone levels exactly the same).

HTH.

mrs_metal

The cheapest ovulation stick's I've found are on Ebay and they were more sensitive than the boots ones! It was about £5 + £5 p & p for 40 ovulations tests with 10 pregnancy tests. I worked out buying them from Ebay rather than Boots saved around £100! :j The Ebay shop did them in packs of 10 up to packs of 100!

I wanted to use the test sticks to work out my cycle properly, I know the charting is supposed to be very good for that but with the charting you know after you've ovulated and with the sticks you know before. (also I'm like a zombie in the morning so I'd never remember to take my temp before I get out of bed )

shelly

honeypop wrote: »

Can someone who is or was ttc recommend an ovulation kit? Obviously moneysaving is the key here so something basic and reasonably priced will do, no need for whistles and bells!

We have been ttc for 6 months, I know as a bigger picture this is not actually that long, but I am curious to check that (or when) I am actually ovulating. From having an extremely regular period, down to knowing what time it will start, as soon as we decided we were ready to start a family, it became really erratic. We are not ‘trying’ as such, as in putting a lot of focus on it, more like ready if it happens and enjoying the process, so I don’t think the stress of trying has anything to do with it (this is the most common reaction I get).

So I thought at least knowing my ovulation pattern would help, I do the checking CM thing but it’s not always obvious, neither is going by the days as my cycle seems confused at the moment.

I was advised by a fertility specialist not to waste money on any kind of ovulation predicting thingys. He said the best advice he would give anyone who is ttc would be to have sex regularly. Its best to have sex every 2-3 days. Any sooner (i.e everyday) and the sperm won't be of good quality as it hasn't had time to develop properly but leaving it any later than 3 days and the sperm is dying/dead.
By having sex every 2-3 days also means that the sperm is either waiting for the egg or arrives just after the egg.


Hope that helps

Strapped

shelly wrote: »

I was advised by a fertility specialist not to waste money on any kind of ovulation predicting thingys. He said the best advice he would give anyone who is ttc would be to have sex regularly. Its best to have sex every 2-3 days. Any sooner (i.e everyday) and the sperm won't be of good quality as it hasn't had time to develop properly but leaving it any later than 3 days and the sperm is dying/dead.
By having sex every 2-3 days also means that the sperm is either waiting for the egg or arrives just after the egg.


Hope that helps

Not a lot of good if you're not ovulating though! We'd still be trying 8 years on :rolleyes:

shelly

Strapped wrote: »

Not a lot of good if you're not ovulating though! We'd still be trying 8 years on :rolleyes:

I understand that but honeypop didn't say she wasn't ovulating, she just doesn't know when. Had she said she wasn't ovulating I wouldn't have given the advice.

Strapped

honeypop wrote: »

I am curious to check that (or when) I am actually ovulating.

Having sex won't tell her this.

shelly

Strapped wrote: »

Having sex won't tell her this.

Maybe an ovulation kit won't either, thats why my specialist advised not to waste money buying such things. I have had several blood tests to confirm if I am ovulating or not. The doctor has said that not everyone ovulates each and every month but for the month I had the blood tests I know I was.

honeypop. I would advise not to start introducing kits and tests and stuff into your relationship as they just pile on the pressure. If you don't get the results you want its awful.

I am by no means a health professional. I am just speaking from my point of view as someone who has been ttc, had 2 losses and is still ttc.