LTTTC and Unexplained infertility

[babymaybe]

Hello Ladies

After some months of posting on the TTC forum last year, I've decided to come back but this time on LTTTC. I think after 2 years and 2 months of TTC I probably qualify!

Here's a quick overview - I'm 31 and DH and I have been TTC since Christmas 2006 with absolutely nothing. I have regular cycles and positive OPKs. We've been having investigations through the GP since middle of last year and all blood tests, sperms tests and scans have come back normal. I had my first appointment with the specialist at the hospital last week which was felt just like we on a conveyor belt and was very upsetting. He didn't listen or discuss anything with us - just said 'unexplained fertility' and prescribed 100mg of clomid plus injection.

So we're keeping up the PMA and trying this cycle naturally again and then will consider the clomid next time. Does anyone think that 100mg is a high dose when other tests indicate I ov normally? I've read that 50mg is the normal dose.

Anyway, enough about me. I'm really glad that there's somewhere like this to go and talk to people going through the same things. I look forward to getting to know you.

 

[miel]

i also have unexplained infertility like you ( 18 months) like you all our tests came back perfectly etc...but still no hint of BFP for us.

We are currently on our second cycle of clomid 50mg and it was prescribed to me for 3 month same dose and if we are still not lucky we will move on IUI with clomid but probably a higher dose...

good luck to you sweetie ...

PS: what kind of injection they want to give you ?

 

[maz]

Hi - Welcome to LTTTC - although welcome probably isn't the best word, but you know what I mean...

I am also in the unexplained category and know how bloody frustrating it is to not be able to conceive even though there is no reason for it. When I was first diagnosed as unexplained, I was prescribed 50mg of clomid with no monitoring and no tracking, but then two months later I saw a different consultant who took me off clomid and told me that it was pointless as I already ovulated on my own. His opinion was that there was no point in putting chemicals in my body that are designed to do something that I do naturally myself.

It is entirely up to you whether you take the clomid or not, but if you are going to take it, make sure you're being monitored properly to ensure you don't end up suffering from over stimulation.

Good luck with getting your

 

[babymaybe]

Thanks Meil & Maz. It's good (IUKWIM) to know that I'm not the only one in this boat!

The injection is the HCG one that I think gets the eggs released. I'm still not convinced its the best thing - and the dose just seems excessive.

Have either of you had tube investigations as to me that seems the logical next step?

Well - fellow unexplained - best of luck with the quest and look forward to talking to you more.
xx

 

[CareBear]

Hi babymaybe! Welcome to LTTC- just reading your post I felt like I was reading a post of my own! I notice you're in Suffolk do you mind if I ask if you attended your consultant appointment at the fertility unit at Ipswich Hospital? If so and you saw the consultant I did I can complete understand why you feel like you do and I also completely empahise (sp). The treatment you've described is their standard first step of treatment. I also felt they didn't listen to me at all and even my DH agreed that they didn't answer my questions. I will let you in on a secret though - the nurses in the Fertility Monitoring Unit (bar one) are much nicer and will listen to you much more. Also the clomid tabs will come in tablets that are 50mg per tablet so if you wanted to try just 50mg first there would be nothing to stop you.

Hope this helps and please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or if you would like to compare in private the name of the consultant if you are at Ipswich Hospital.

 

[miel]

yes i did the HSG test (where they inject ink in your tubes ) mines were fine but they noticed a Polyp so went for surgery for a day i got it removed ...the polyp did not stop me to get pregnant all this time but it was taking 1/4 of the space where the spermies need to swim ! so my doc wanted me to remove it so i have better chances...

 

[maz]

I also had a HSG done before being diagnosed as unexplained. If you're asking that question, I assume you haven't had a HSG done. If that's the case how does the doctor know you are unexplained. I would imagine you could still ovulate regularly and have regular cycles while having a blocked tube. If this hasn't been done, I'd go and ask for it before starting clomid, otherwise what's the point if the spermies can't reach your egg?

Good luck

 

[CareBear]

Maz - if babymaybe is seeing the same consultant I am they won't do further tests until you've tried clomid plus HCG jabs - the hospital insists on following a series of steps and will not deviate without you putting up a real argument. I had 4 cycles of clomid and HCG despite wanting a lap and dye first to rule out any further problems and they would not do the lap and dye first. Following 4 cycles of clomid and then a clear lap and dye I wanted to try a further few cycles of clomid as I didn't want to rush into more invasive procedures and I felt that just more cycles of clomid was worth a go as for me I just don't ovulate if you see what I'm saying. The consultant refused to listen and insisted on me going straight onto IUI which they do with clomid. I had to ask the nurses to appeal on my behalf to get the treatment I wanted even though it was a less expensive and invasive procedure. So to get to the point of what I'm trying to say is this hospital will just follow a series of steps regardless of who it is in front of them and what the infertility issue is or what the personal feelings of the patient are.

 

[BigFoot1980]

Hi,
I also have unexplained infertility and its so frustrating not knowing why i haven't seen a ever.
I have not been prescribed clomid yet. Probably my FS will prescribe it next time I see her.
I remember when i had the initial blood work done and i kept praying they find a problem with my hormones because i figured they could fix it but even after a lap & dye still no diagnoses

 

[ccclaire]

Hi,
I'm a fellow Ipswich hospital girl and have had the same conveyor belt feeling.

We have also been diagnosed as unexplained, put on the clomid 100mg to start off with, on my 1st appointment for the monitering unit found i had 10 foliciles! the nurse was very surprised (btw all the nurses i've seen have been great), and the cycle had to be cancelled.
In the end i ended up on 25mg (half a tablet) if i had two cycles back to back of 25mg i still got too many foliciles. So i had to have one month on them, next month off. This seemed to be the smallest dose they could put me on.

Starting IUI on my next cycle, only 2 weeks to wait. fingers crossed.

Good Luck Everyone

 

[Aria]

The injection is the HCG one that I think gets the eggs released.

You think right. .

 

[maz]

Oh, I don't know... It just seems a bit daft to stick to a rigid format, when every single couple sitting in front of them has a slightly different story. But, I guess they don't get paid to deviate ...

I hope all you girls on clomid have success with it, and don't have to go down the scary road of IVF ...

 

[hopeful4baby]

Hello!

I just want to say, that even with getting pregnant twice before, I have now been unable to get pregnant for 2 years, which one would think doesn't make sense. Had a lap&dye, all the tests, everything seems to be in a perfect order with me and hubby. I got pregnant twice very easy, although, sadly, we lost them both. So now I have been put in that Unexplained Infertility draw.

The same way round, I know people who tried for a long time with no luck and one day just got pregnant naturally.

It just makes me wonder.. Can people just go on for some time without getting pregnant at some point in their life? Especially those like us who don't seem to have any explainable reasons? It seems to me medicine still knows so little about it!

I am supposed to start chlomid 50mg, but somehow I am not keen on that idea either.

I wish you all the best of luck and me. HUGS

 

[CareBear]

Oh, I don't know... It just seems a bit daft to stick to a rigid format, when every single couple sitting in front of them has a slightly different story. But, I guess they don't get paid to deviate ...

I hope all you girls on clomid have success with it, and don't have to go down the scary road of IVF ...

Seems daft to me as well but I suppose thats the NHS for you!!!

Good luck with your cycle Maz

 

[Puddleduck]

Hi There,

I am in a similar situation to yourselves and also sit on the unexplained infertility fence.

am 35 and DH is 34 and we have been trying since September 2006 and nothing.... I have never been pregnant ever .

We went to the doctors in August last year, had bloods, SA done. SA came back normal, I ovulate like clockwork. So doctor put me on 50mg of Clomid and told us to try for 3 months, that didnt work so he refered us to a Fertility Specialist. He listened and did the usual internal exam/swabs/smear etc, these all came back clear. He put me forward for Pelvic Ultra Sound and I have just recently had the HSG (dye/xray test) also clear. So no physical reasons why we can't get pregnant. Fertility specialist has upped my Clomid dose to 100mg now and I after this month have 1 month left on it. Next appointment with FS is in May to discuss next steps IVF......

Does seem odd that I am on 100mg when I ovulate... but does seem to be a normal practice with these so called specialists.

Good luck with your journey

 

[miel]

they prescribed clomid even when women ovulate already on their own so they drop more eggs on one ovulation and increase the chance of targets for the spermies

 

[babymaybe]

Thanks to everyone for their replies - its really heartening to read all your supportive comments and views.

Carebear & ccclaire - you guessed right! Agree about the nurses though - one took time after the appointment to explain the whole clomid thing to me as i was so confused and she was lovely.

Maz - I completely agree with you and, even with my limited medical and biology knowledge, it just seems to make sense to check out the tubes first. Having said that the explanation I was given was that it increases chances of catching the egg as Meil says.

Good luck everybody and hope to see the BFPs popping up soon.

 

[michmoy]

Hi there,

I'm new to posting on forums, but felt I had to respond to this one, as I am also in Ipswich and under the care of the FMU - babymaybe, you're right the nurses there are lovely and really helpful.

I have been TTC since 2006, and have had 2 m/c, losing both at the same time in the pregnancy (7 weeks) but the consultant says there is nothing physically wrong, which a lap & dye in 2008 proved.

So, now they want to do IUI with another round of Clomid (I had it 2 years ago, when we'd had no for months) but it only has a 15% success rate. I can't not do it though, as we could be in that 15%.

Doesn't it get on top of you when you see everyone around falling pregnant at the drop of a hat?

Let's hope we all get those sticky this year ladies!

 

[babymaybe]

Hi there,

I'm new to posting on forums, but felt I had to respond to this one, as I am also in Ipswich and under the care of the FMU - babymaybe, you're right the nurses there are lovely and really helpful.

I have been TTC since 2006, and have had 2 m/c, losing both at the same time in the pregnancy (7 weeks) but the consultant says there is nothing physically wrong, which a lap & dye in 2008 proved.

So, now they want to do IUI with another round of Clomid (I had it 2 years ago, when we'd had no for months) but it only has a 15% success rate. I can't not do it though, as we could be in that 15%.

Doesn't it get on top of you when you see everyone around falling pregnant at the drop of a hat?

Let's hope we all get those sticky this year ladies!

Hiya Michmoy

Thanks for posting - its seems there are few Ipswich girls on this forum!

I'm sorry to hear about your losses. It seems positive that the investigations haven't revealed anything wrong and that they're moving you through to the next stage. You never know - someone has to be the 15%.

I'm now in the TWW of the 2nd cycle since my first FMU appointment - still convinced that I can do it naturally so haven't taken the Clomid yet. Probably next time though.

Over my time of TTC and being on this formum I've begun to realise that we only ever really hear the success stories in the real world and that's why everyone seems to fall pregnant at the drop of a hat. Unexplained or even explained infertility doesn't seem to be a popular topic of conversation. The longer I'm TTC the more people I discover had or are having treatment and the less 'lonely' I feel. Don't get me wrong, its not a nice place to be, but I figure you have to keep up the PMA.

Anyways, sorry for the rambling. I really hope that things go well for you and will be looking out for you to see how it goes.