Creeping into long term...

[timeforababy]

Slowly creeping in here as it's been a while TTC and nothing has happened yet

I'm 32, DH 48 and we are trying for my first. Been 12 cycles of nothing.

CD1 tomorrow as I'm spotting today so just feeling a bit bleh.

Hi everyone

 

[uwa_amanda]

Welcome to our dark little corner of society! I hope your stay here is short <---of course I don't mean that to be rude and obnoxious! Just in an "I-hope-you-get-your-bfp" way!

Feel free to rant, moan, groan, bitch, or anything else that makes you feel better! The support here is great and we LTTTCers will welcome you in here with open arms!

 

[timeforababy]

Thanks!

It's been such a crazy journey.

I've had all my bloods done, prolactin, FSH are fine. LH is a bit low. No signs of PCOS (from a scan done years ago). DH spermies are fine, slightly low morphology and he has to do another one.

I'm girding my loins to call a clinic and ask them what it would all cost...

 

[aintlifegrand]

Welcome! I have found this board to be very helpful, its always good to reach out to people that know what you are going through. AKA, going insane

 

[Just_married]

Hiya! Welcome! I second what uwa_amanda says, it's dark but friendly lol.

If you dont mind me saying, you're in UK, so am I, although I don't qualify for assistance due to my age I have been given every diagnostic test, so at 32 you can ask for a fertility referral on nhs and get all tests free, possibly asistance if you need it. xx

 

[timeforababy]

Hiya! Welcome! I second what uwa_amanda says, it's dark but friendly lol.

If you dont mind me saying, you're in UK, so am I, although I don't qualify for assistance due to my age I have been given every diagnostic test, so at 32 you can ask for a fertility referral on nhs and get all tests free, possibly asistance if you need it. xx

I can't get a referral on the nhs. My husband has children from another relationship and where we are, that's a criteria for exclusion.

We also won't be referred until we've been trying for 24 months and it would be longer before the specialist appointment and I will be over 35 when that happens so I'm just biting the bullet.

The dr took my d21 bloods which showed them I don't ovulate (I do, just really late, LP=8 days) but they still can't refer me even though they have tested and found a problem.

Sorry, I'm so angry about it.

 

[RKW]

Hi time for a baby,
Sorry to hear you don't qualify for nhs help. I think they may still provide iui though? I'm in Thames valley pct and they provide iui for patients with previous children, but not ivf. It might be worth checking.

Vitamin b6 might help lengthen you luteal phase a bit?

Sorry to be repetitive if you have already checked.

Heaps of good luck.

 

[Just_married]

Hiya! Welcome! I second what uwa_amanda says, it's dark but friendly lol.

If you dont mind me saying, you're in UK, so am I, although I don't qualify for assistance due to my age I have been given every diagnostic test, so at 32 you can ask for a fertility referral on nhs and get all tests free, possibly asistance if you need it. xx

I can't get a referral on the nhs. My husband has children from another relationship and where we are, that's a criteria for exclusion.

We also won't be referred until we've been trying for 24 months and it would be longer before the specialist appointment and I will be over 35 when that happens so I'm just biting the bullet.



The dr took my d21 bloods which showed them I don't ovulate (I do, just really late, LP=8 days) but they still can't refer me even though they have tested and found a problem.

Sorry, I'm so angry about it.

Don't be sorry, I think you need a 2nd opinion.

The nhs guidelines state that it's 12 months trying for couples under 35 and that's for diagnosis. As far as I'm aware the criteria of previous children is for fs to advise of whether funding for ivf or iui wd be given.

I know every health authority has it's own rules, but the nhs must adhere to it's national guidelines. I may be talking rubbish, but if your doctor is letting you wait until you are 35 then he/she may have interpreted the guidelines wrongly and it's worth asking for a 2nd opinion to save a needless wait.

I am 40, so I'm well above the funding age, I have a 16yr old daughter from a previous relationship, dh has an 8 yr old daughter from a previous relationship too, but our doctor said things may have changed physically in 8yrs so nhs did blood tests/urine/semen/hsg. I'm too old for 'assistance' but nhs is there to diagnose illness and IF is often caused by illness.

I'll try and fund national guidelines link xxx

 

[timeforababy]

I've had another look and this is the published guidelines for my PCT

https://www.willowgreensurgery.co.uk/Downloads/Summary_of_NHS_Fertility_Eligibility_Criteria.pdf

"The couple must be childless i.e. no living children by either partner from this relationship, previous relationship or by adoption."
"Infertility of 2 years duration with a recognised cause or 3 years of unexplained infertility."

I must have the hardest PCT ever.

However, it does look like I should have a primary care pathway that should offer me clomid etc so I will try and push for that, will ring GP on Monday.

Just had a maccyD's to cheer me up, I did run 5k today!

 

[jessPtobe]

HI there,
Im in a similar situation to you! Im 33 and hubby 51. Been TTC for 4 years, its tough.
xx

 

[Just_married]

I've had another look and this is the published guidelines for my PCT

https://www.willowgreensurgery.co.uk/Downloads/Summary_of_NHS_Fertility_Eligibility_Criteria.pdf

"The couple must be childless i.e. no living children by either partner from this relationship, previous relationship or by adoption."
"Infertility of 2 years duration with a recognised cause or 3 years of unexplained infertility."

I must have the hardest PCT ever.

However, it does look like I should have a primary care pathway that should offer me clomid etc so I will try and push for that, will ring GP on Monday.

Just had a maccyD's to cheer me up, I did run 5k today!

Congrats on 5k

Btw, the criteria you quoted is for funding for ivf or iui, not for diagnosis

Ask your doc for referral to clinic for diagnosis, you are entitle to diagnosis (sperm analysis, ovulation tests, hsg etc). Xxx

 

[timeforababy]

Hi Jess, Thanks for dropping by

 

[timeforababy]

Congrats on 5k

Btw, the criteria you quoted is for funding for ivf or iui, not for diagnosis

Ask your doc for referral to clinic for diagnosis, you are entitle to diagnosis (sperm analysis, ovulation tests, hsg etc). Xxx

Thanks!!

I will definitely ring the GP to see what else I can get but she made it clear that there was nothing else they could do.

I've had blood tests, day 3 FSH, LH, testosterone, rubella. She did 2xd21 for progesterone, I already knew that was going to be low because she refused to take them any later than 7 days before my period. I was trying to tell her my LP was only 8 days.

Hubby had a sperm analysis and has to go for another repeat as he has low morphology (but apparently you have to do more than 1 SA to be sure of the results).

I had an u/s years ago for something un-related (basically GP thought I was having recurrent UTI but I was sure it was something gut/fertility related. So they had a look at my ovaries and all were present and correct, no cysts.

I would like more investigations, my older sister has terrible endo but my younger sister doesn't seem to have a problem conceiving, having just given birth to my first niece.

Thank you for taking the time and advice! x

 

[Just_married]

Congrats on 5k

Btw, the criteria you quoted is for funding for ivf or iui, not for diagnosis

Ask your doc for referral to clinic for diagnosis, you are entitle to diagnosis (sperm analysis, ovulation tests, hsg etc). Xxx

Thanks!!

I will definitely ring the GP to see what else I can get but she made it clear that there was nothing else they could do.

I've had blood tests, day 3 FSH, LH, testosterone, rubella. She did 2xd21 for progesterone, I already knew that was going to be low because she refused to take them any later than 7 days before my period. I was trying to tell her my LP was only 8 days.

Hubby had a sperm analysis and has to go for another repeat as he has low morphology (but apparently you have to do more than 1 SA to be sure of the results).

I had an u/s years ago for something un-related (basically GP thought I was having recurrent UTI but I was sure it was something gut/fertility related. So they had a look at my ovaries and all were present and correct, no cysts.

I would like more investigations, my older sister has terrible endo but my younger sister doesn't seem to have a problem conceiving, having just given birth to my first niece.

Thank you for taking the time and advice! x

Another wee ultrasound wd be best if it's been years tho, to check for any changes, womb linIng, follicles, ensure there's no fibroids etc. Then an hsg to make sure your tubes are ok, wd be no point in starting certain treatments without it.

Good luck with it all, here's hoping you get a nice surprise bfp before you even get more tests 90% of women fall pregnant by 12 months, the odds are in your favour xxx

 

[timeforababy]

Another wee ultrasound wd be best if it's been years tho, to check for any changes, womb linIng, follicles, ensure there's no fibroids etc. Then an hsg to make sure your tubes are ok, wd be no point in starting certain treatments without it.

Good luck with it all, here's hoping you get a nice surprise bfp before you even get more tests 90% of women fall pregnant by 12 months, the odds are in your favour xxx

I shall ask and see what else we can get out of the NHS but I fear with all the cuts, I will be saving money to pay for it all. Once I've gone private, the NHS won't have me back again.

NHS stats are 87% of women in 12 months, 92% in 24 months, so I'm in the last 13% that's not pregnant after 12 months of trying.

 

[Just_married]

So of that 12%, 5 will get pregnant?

If my marks is right, that means you have a 42% chance this year?

That's not too bad when you think of it that way

 

[timeforababy]

I am going to need those statistics to work for me!!!

Just spoke to GP and in mid-sussex PCT, you will get referred to your LES (locally enhanced service) according to the guidelines I posted.

Therefore, I get NOTHING on the NHS. I will never get another dr to see about my fertility treatment on the NHS because my husband has children from another marriage.

 

[Just_married]

I am going to need those statistics to work for me!!!

Just spoke to GP and in mid-sussex PCT, you will get referred to your LES (locally enhanced service) according to the guidelines I posted.

Therefore, I get NOTHING on the NHS. I will never get another dr to see about my fertility treatment on the NHS because my husband has children from another marriage.

Was that a different gp from the one with the first interpretation? X

 

[timeforababy]

I am going to need those statistics to work for me!!!

Just spoke to GP and in mid-sussex PCT, you will get referred to your LES (locally enhanced service) according to the guidelines I posted.

Therefore, I get NOTHING on the NHS. I will never get another dr to see about my fertility treatment on the NHS because my husband has children from another marriage.

Was that a different gp from the one with the first interpretation? X

No, but I am going to complain to PALS to see what is going on.

In our area, we get bloodwork from GPs, then everything is referred to the LES under the same strict guidelines for assisted conception (IUI, IVF).

 

[Just_married]

I am going to need those statistics to work for me!!!

Just spoke to GP and in mid-sussex PCT, you will get referred to your LES (locally enhanced service) according to the guidelines I posted.

Therefore, I get NOTHING on the NHS. I will never get another dr to see about my fertility treatment on the NHS because my husband has children from another marriage.

Was that a different gp from the one with the first interpretation? X

No, but I am going to complain to PALS to see what is



In our area, we get bloodwork from GPs, then everything is referred to the LES under the same strict guidelines for assisted conception (IUI, IVF).

That sounds like a great idea!

The ivf funding guidelines say you can only apply if you have 2 years with diagnosis of explained infertility (eg your gp diagnoses the reason for it) or 3 years with unexplained infertility ( which means tests could not find a reason).

The logic in this criteria is that they know what type of treatment will be best, they assume your gp or pct if clinic will have investigated it before ivf funding application. You need diagnosis, your gp doesn't seem to realise that you're entitled to diagnosis of an illness (whatever causes IF) before any funding application can be made.

Hope pals help, I've heard some amazing stories about them xxx