Welcome to 'Trying To Conceive Over 35'

[alicatt]

Coy - I'm supposed to get AF now. I had really bad cramps last night, the kind where your back feels like it is coming apart at the hinges. I took some aleve and it went away, but hasn't really returned today I want AF to start so I can get back on the wagon. OMG am I addicted to TTC? I want to get this darn trial over so I can do my FET!!!! Why oh why is AF so cruel? Comes to those that don't want it and doesn't come to those who do? Maybe I should just stop stressing. Thing is that I think stressing is my middle name Silly me!

 

[never_give_up]

Melly I so agree with your rant and what you said about acupuncture. I did acupuncture weekly, though not the month I got my bfp, but I am sure it played a role in helping us conceive. My acupuncturist is so encouraging. He said don't listen to the fertility doctor. He said that I would get pregnant he just didn't know when. It could be 1 year, 2 years, but it would happen. And he was right!

I meant to ask you, how did you increase your egg quality? Not sure how mine are, I'm 37, and didn't ovulate for 3.5 years, so I hope I have some on reserve. Hah!

The ladies here recommended tapioca since it is made from cassava which helps with fertility. I made organic tapioca every day. I also added geletanized maca powder and pomegranate powder to my protein smoothies.
vitamin supplements:
pre-natal
Dha
Coenzyme Q10
Vit D (during the winter)
garlic supplements

 

[alicatt]

Melly I so agree with your rant and what you said about acupuncture. I did acupuncture weekly, though not the month I got my bfp, but I am sure it played a role in helping us conceive. My acupuncturist is so encouraging. He said don't listen to the fertility doctor. He said that I would get pregnant he just didn't know when. It could be 1 year, 2 years, but it would happen. And he was right!

I meant to ask you, how did you increase your egg quality? Not sure how mine are, I'm 37, and didn't ovulate for 3.5 years, so I hope I have some on reserve. Hah!

The ladies here recommended tapioca since it is made from cassava which helps with fertility. I made organic tapioca every day. I also added geletanized maca powder and pomegranate powder to my protein smoothies.
vitamin supplements:
pre-natal
Dha
Coenzyme Q10
Vit D (during the winter)
garlic supplements

I always forget the tapioca! I wonder if that will help me with the FET?
Or does it just help improve your eggs?

 

[never_give_up]

New Pope has just been chosen.

White smoke from the sistine chapel

 

[never_give_up]

Tapioca increases your chances of having twins! So yes Ali it would help with FET so that more than one of your would stick Tapioca/cassava produce progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone necessary to prevent a miscarriage, so it is very good for you to consume immediately following conception. I eat it and icecream every night for my dessert

 

[alicatt]

Tapioca increases your chances if having twins! So yes Ali it would help with FET so that more than one of your would stick Tapioca/cassava produce progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone necessary to prevent a miscarriage, so it is very good for you to consume immediately following conception. I eat it and icecream every night for my dessert

You have a blueberry inside you! I love blueberries!!!!

OK.. what is the brand you use? I will get some! I like tapioca

 

[never_give_up]

Tapioca increases your chances if having twins! So yes Ali it would help with FET so that more than one of your would stick Tapioca/cassava produce progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone necessary to prevent a miscarriage, so it is very good for you to consume immediately following conception. I eat it and icecream every night for my dessert

You have a blueberry inside you! I love blueberries!!!!

OK.. what is the brand you use? I will get some! I like tapioca

It's called Lets' do Organic (small pearl) Gluten-free, sodium and fat free It is the same one Philomena used too.

 

[melly2]

Tapioca increases your chances if having twins! So yes Ali it would help with FET so that more than one of your would stick Tapioca/cassava produce progesterone. Progesterone is the hormone necessary to prevent a miscarriage, so it is very good for you to consume immediately following conception. I eat it and icecream every night for my dessert

You have a blueberry inside you! I love blueberries!!!!

OK.. what is the brand you use? I will get some! I like tapioca

It's called Lets' do Organic (small pearl) Gluten-free, sodium and fat free It is the same one Philomena used too.

Yum! Tapioca! Who knew?!?

Thanks

 

[never_give_up]

Amazing the new pope from Argentina took the name Francis 1 and last night I dreamt that I was at my church in Barbados called St Francis! First night that I didn't have any nightmares. Was it a premonition?

 

[alicatt]

Cramps are back, as is a headache. Groan. Come on AF.. hurry up!

 

[AngelSerenity]

Wow ladies you chatty bunch, that took me 20mins to catch up on one day!

Ali the nurse yesterday phoned and asked all my medical history to prepare for first appointment with high risk OBGYN on Monday. When she asked what meds I was taking I told her baby aspirin and progesterone. She was concerned about the baby aspirin but what if I have clotting issues? She asked if the pregesterone was OTC. I lied and said yes although I am taking the prescription one because the OB refused to prescribe it. I already feel like her and I are off on the wrong foot

HMM.. Well here is what I think about the aspirin. I don't think it is going to stop a miscarriage, I think it does help with implantation, but beyond that it doesn't really stop clotting issues from happening. If you do indeed have a clotting issue, then aspirin alone isn't going to stop it. Women who are diagnosed with a clotting issue use lovenox (enoxaprin) injections to avoid the clotting issues. So I'm not sure that you should still be taking that?
Progesterone is one of those things that if you start taking, you must continue as going off the progesterone will potentially cause a MC (I think). So you'll probably have to keep taking it until the placenta takes over. I would fess up to your OB when you see her and tell her you are using crinone. She will be mad (maybe), but then she'll be forced to give you an Rx to continue it.

Just following on from this and the subsequent posts. All my tests for clotting disorders (throm/APS etc) came back normal. However, what we have to remember is that these tests were taken while I was not pregnant. My RMC (FS) is pretty convinced that because of my history with my MCs (all but one healthy and had heartbeats etc, biospy on one had clots in the sac and placenta) that I may be suffering from APS AFTER I get pregnant, hence why it doesnt show in tests. Women's blood thickens as we know in pregnancy, some women, possibly myself, thickens too much and clots. Non-pregnant tests will not give an indication apparently for some cases whereas if you have indicators of it in non-pregnant tests you can get a care plan in place beforehand. My RMC isnt taking chances to wait until I'm pregnant again to test my levels as that could be a MC waiting to happen.

I was prescribed LDA daily while TTC and then from BFP like Ali mentions daily enoxaprin injections as well as the LDA. My haematologist described it in great terms, the aspirin is like starting the engine, putting it into first gear, but the enoxaprin is then needed to get up the gears. I think the research into the 'should you or shouldnt you take LDA' is still in its infancy and you really do just need to make an informed choice. If we listened to all the research that papers publicise we would be scared to get out of bed in the mornings! It is just so confusing, just do what your instinct is telling you and talk to your Dr. It is your body so dont let them bully you into anything you dont want to do


Regarding the progesterone, you need to stay on this until about 16 weeks so just push push push for what you need. I'll be on it until then, and I think you need to wean off it as well but your OBGYN should be able to advise on that. I hope you do strike up a good relationship, I think if you are honest and why you have decided your choices it may help them understand.

Melly I so agree with your rant and what you said about acupuncture. I did acupuncture weekly, though not the month I got my bfp, but I am sure it played a role in helping us conceive. My acupuncturist is so encouraging. He said don't listen to the fertility doctor. He said that I would get pregnant he just didn't know when. It could be 1 year, 2 years, but it would happen. And he was right!

I meant to ask you, how did you increase your egg quality? Not sure how mine are, I'm 37, and didn't ovulate for 3.5 years, so I hope I have some on reserve. Hah!

I started acupuncture too last November, I'm still sitting on the fence about it but hey if it helped me get this BFP it's worth it

Melly... I hope you dont mind me saying but your history has threads similar to mine. I used to be an athlete (mountain biking, cycling, swimming, bi-athlons). I've had gynae problems since my very early 20s and when I was about 22 my periods stopped for several years. I basically diagnosed myself with Female Athlete Triad as I had all the symptoms. I used to be a fairly intense athlete and I did a sports degree etc etc. Once I stopped competing my periods began to return but sporadically, like 2 or 3 a year. They eventually went to about 5-6 a year. When I was about 29/30 DH and I decided to NTNP but nothing happened after a few years and then we got pregnant twice but lost them both .

During all this time I was going back and forward to gynae as I was constantly suffering ovary pains, like for years. Investigations diagnosed a hostile womb but not endo or PCOS. After another five odd years NTNP and TTC I went for more tests and by that stage PCOS had developed, and blood tests indicated I wasnt ovulating regularly. I tired 6 cycles of Clomid but it didnt work for me.

I then did all the research and completely changed my lifestyle and cut out the alcohol, kept fit but didnt go mad, went on a low-GI/diary free/diabetic type diet and took Agnus Castus (Vitex) to help with my cycles and ovulation. Bingo, I got a BFP two cycles later. We lost that one as well but I fell pregnant two months later and had a DS in Nov 10 .


I now follow this routine and have no problem falling pregnant, my problem is currently keeping them.

The reason I'm telling you this is you really do need to think about everything. You're probably like me and are addicted to fitness, but sometimes we just have to give a little in order to let our bodies relax and do what they could be doing. Has your DR mentioned Clomid at all to force ovulation?

Are your cycles long? If so I would definitely recommend Agnus Castus. I went from ovulating on CD37-60 to ovulating between CD15-20 now. It really does help.

And another thought, do you chart? How does your doctor not just know that you are ovulating later? We all dont follow the average CD14-16 thing

Amazing the new pope from Argentina took the name Francis 1 and last night I dreamt that I was at my church in Barbados called St Francis! First night that I didn't have any nightmares. Was it a premonition?

I think so

 

[melly2]

Melly I so agree with your rant and what you said about acupuncture. I did acupuncture weekly, though not the month I got my bfp, but I am sure it played a role in helping us conceive. My acupuncturist is so encouraging. He said don't listen to the fertility doctor. He said that I would get pregnant he just didn't know when. It could be 1 year, 2 years, but it would happen. And he was right!

I meant to ask you, how did you increase your egg quality? Not sure how mine are, I'm 37, and didn't ovulate for 3.5 years, so I hope I have some on reserve. Hah!

I started acupuncture too last November, I'm still sitting on the fence about it but hey if it helped me get this BFP it's worth it

Melly... I hope you dont mind me saying but your history has threads similar to mine. I used to be an athlete (mountain biking, cycling, swimming, bi-athlons). I've had gynae problems since my very early 20s and when I was about 22 my periods stopped for several years. I basically diagnosed myself with Female Athlete Triad as I had all the symptoms. I used to be a fairly intense athlete and I did a sports degree etc etc. Once I stopped competing my periods began to return but sporadically, like 2 or 3 a year. They eventually went to about 5-6 a year. When I was about 29/30 DH and I decided to NTNP but nothing happened after a few years and then we got pregnant twice but lost them both .

During all this time I was going back and forward to gynae as I was constantly suffering ovary pains, like for years. Investigations diagnosed a hostile womb but not endo or PCOS. After another five odd years NTNP and TTC I went for more tests and by that stage PCOS had developed, and blood tests indicated I wasnt ovulating regularly. I tired 6 cycles of Clomid but it didnt work for me.

I then did all the research and completely changed my lifestyle and cut out the alcohol, kept fit but didnt go mad, went on a low-GI/diary free/diabetic type diet and took Agnus Castus (Vitex) to help with my cycles and ovulation. Bingo, I got a BFP two cycles later. We lost that one as well but I fell pregnant two months later and had a DS in Nov 10 .


I now follow this routine and have no problem falling pregnant, my problem is currently keeping them.

The reason I'm telling you this is you really do need to think about everything. You're probably like me and are addicted to fitness, but sometimes we just have to give a little in order to let our bodies relax and do what they could be doing. Has your DR mentioned Clomid at all to force ovulation?

Are your cycles long? If so I would definitely recommend Agnus Castus. I went from ovulating on CD37-60 to ovulating between CD15-20 now. It really does help.

And another thought, do you chart? How does your doctor not just know that you are ovulating later? We all dont follow the average CD14-16 thing

Hi there! Nice to meet you. I over-exercised for years while training and competing in marathons. I have gained 10 lbs this past summer and pulled back on running substantially, and I started to get a period in July. I had cycles that were about 30 days and I went on Vitex and I noticed it was getting more regular, however, my boobs grew HUGE and painful! That would be fine if I was an A-cup, but it was ridiculous. So I stopped taking Vitex in December, as an experiment, and sure enough my cycles are messed up again. I had a 65 day cycle this past month, so it's looking like I need to go back on it; I will sacrifice the large boobs for awhile.

That said, my husband was recently tested for sperm count and it was very, very low: 2.5 million, so this may be a whole other issue we need to contend with. UGH! That really bummed us out, so now we need to figure out what to do with him.

I tell ya, maybe it's not in the cards for us...we're trying to decide how far to take this as I'm not too keen on the idea of IVF at all. I really have my mind and heart set on making a child in my own bed. Call me crazy.

Thanks for advice!

 

[Philomena]

Sam how are you enjoying being PUPO? I remember passing the time by crocheting a baby sweater and booties. I bet that acupuncture was relaxing and you must have needed it after sitting in traffic so long! Caffeine bad for you Sam . I have been drinking decaf green tea. I know it won't replace your caffeine fix but it is better for baby.

I had smoked mahi mahi in Barbados. I thought it would be ok since it wasn't raw? oops!

if sushi is ok now, the magi magi is probably fine!

 

[Philomena]

wow, chatty bunch today! I had to go back 4 pages!!

 

[Philomena]

Sam how are you enjoying being PUPO? I remember passing the time by crocheting a baby sweater and booties. I bet that acupuncture was relaxing and you must have needed it after sitting in traffic so long! Caffeine bad for you Sam . I have been drinking decaf green tea. I know it won't replace your caffeine fix but it is better for baby.

I had smoked mahi mahi in Barbados. I thought it would be ok since it wasn't raw? oops!

if sushi is ok now, the magi magi is probably fine!

one-handed typing!! maHi maHi!!!

 

[never_give_up]

Philomena your baby girl's photos are so cute

 

[never_give_up]

Angel how are you feeling? Did you tell your dh yet? The sono tech said that the bleeding I had 3rd March was caused by a small adjacent bleed next to my placenta. She said it could either be a clot, a small tear, or separation from uterine wall. It healed within 2 days. That is why I continued taking the aspirin because I thought that it might have helped get rid of the clot but from what you said it doesn't do that without the lovenox.

 

[AngelSerenity]

Angel how are you feeling? Did you tell your dh yet? The sono tech said that the bleeding I had 3rd March was caused by a small adjacent bleed next to my placenta. She said it could either be a clot, a small tear, or separation from uterine wall. It healed within 2 days. That is why I continued taking the aspirin because I thought that it might have helped get rid of the clot but from what you said it doesn't do that without the lovenox.

Chantal the aspirin will help and it probably was a good idea to do what you did. In my mind it would help clear the clot and also help further implantation. It's just a very mild form of a blood thinner so for ladies with very sticky or clotty blood it isn't enough.

DH still doesnt know!!!!!! One minute I'm pretty positive the next feeling not as I just feel normal but I need to keep reminding myself it's early days etc. I think I can avoid the subject for another few days as DH's and my schedules mean we wont see each other much. I still trying to figure out a way of telling him without him freaking out about the timing. I have a couple of job assessments and hopefully an interview (fingers crossed) so I'm secretly hoping I can have a double celebration in the next couple of weeks, a new job and a BFP

How are you?

Ali, Coy, Sam, Phil - hi ladies. I'm off out and will be back on later, it's probably still early where you all are xo

 

[melly2]

LOL! Men! My came in a vial. It was super sperm! It was also super expensive! Still, I'm glad I found a good donor, and now I have 4 embryos just waiting for me. March cannot come soon enough! AHHHHHH.. I just want to get the FET going!

I noticed this post because I'm dealing with a DH who has sad sperm..thanks to TWO hernia surgeries and testicular cancer two years ago! What a hot mess he is! Hah! That said, we've been considering donor sperm, and my DH is actually open to the idea (especially since cancer is so pervasive in his family). Did you find yours at a sperm bank? Did you do IUI with it or IVF? Thanks in advance for the feedback...ya'll have been a lifesaver for me!

 

[alicatt]

LOL! Men! My came in a vial. It was super sperm! It was also super expensive! Still, I'm glad I found a good donor, and now I have 4 embryos just waiting for me. March cannot come soon enough! AHHHHHH.. I just want to get the FET going!

I noticed this post because I'm dealing with a DH who has sad sperm..thanks to TWO hernia surgeries and testicular cancer two years ago! What a hot mess he is! Hah! That said, we've been considering donor sperm, and my DH is actually open to the idea (especially since cancer is so pervasive in his family). Did you find yours at a sperm bank? Did you do IUI with it or IVF? Thanks in advance for the feedback...ya'll have been a lifesaver for me!

I was in a situation where I was 39 and not in a relationship, and felt that if I wanted to have kids I needed to do so now, and the idea of trying to get into a relationship and tell the guy.. do me I need a kid was not what I wanted to do. Nor was the idea of going out and finding some random guy in a bar EEK! So I opted for donor sperm. I looked at a few different sites and settled on Xytex for my needs. I did look at California Cryro, and Fairfax (these are the 3 my Dr suggested for quality and reliability reasons). California Cryro was mostly models/actors, great looking but not too much going on up top. Fairfax was more intellectual, lots of MBA's, JD's, MD's etc, but they wouldn't reveal the donor's age. I wanted to make sure I was using a youthful person so that I would get better sperm, and they wouldn't reveal the age of their donors, nor did they have grownup photos. Xytex gave me the age of the donor, had a wide range of professions, and for some donors, had baby, child, and adult photos. Plus Xytex's costs were reasonable, and the 3 month package I bought gave me all the access I needed to get photos, bios, medical history etc on the donors. So I went with them.

I did 3 IUI and 1 IVF with one donor, and while I really liked him, we didn't have any luck. After the first IVF, my FS said, well I think your issue was that your donor sperm quality was not great. So he suggested I switch to another one. Well we had much better results with his sperm, and got 6 great embryos in my last IVF.

So when you use donor sperm, you have 3 options:

ICI - intra-cervical insemination: you can have the sperm shipped to your home, and do the insemination in your home. Plus - relatively inexpensive, can do it in your home. Minus - if you have a hostile cervix, or you don't time the ICI correctly, it won't work.

IUI - intra-uterine insemination: sperm is washed and then placed into your uterus, your physician will monitor you and determine when to do the IUI, sometimes people do 2 IUIs to up your chances. Plus - still relatively inexpensive, can be used in conjunction with fertility meds, sperm are placed directly into the uterus thus bypassing the cervix. Minus - if you have blocked tubes, poor eggs, or unknown infertility, this still may not work

IVF - in-vitro fertilization: fertility drugs are used to create multiple follicles, you are monitored through the stim cycle so that the eggs are harvested at their optimum fertilization time. Then ICSI (recommended for donor sperm) is done to fertilize the eggs in a petrie dish. The embryos are incubated for 3-6 days and then placed back in the uterus. Plus - better understanding of egg/sperm quality, optional genetic screening can be done, embryos are transferred during most optimal window for implantation. Minus - stim meds are hard on the body, very expensive, risks of OHSS, still no guarantee of pregnancy.

If I were in your shoes I would have a full fertility workup: check the tubes, get your day 3 (2-4) hormone testing done, and AMH. See what if any issues you may have in addition to your DH. Then research the supplements we've suggested for both you and your DH, and then have your tests done again (3 months later) get a new SA for your DH too. See if there is any improvement, then decide whether you want to try meds, IUI or jump to IVF. I think the answer will become clearer once you see what hurdles are in front of you.

What drives me bonkers is that I'm not so sure I had to jump to IVF since my issues stemmed more from poor donor sperm quality, and possible implantation issues. So if I had the good sperm, and we resolved the implantation issues, I think that an IUI would work. Thing is that I had to go through IVF to determine this!

So my plan is this:

1) Finish the trial cycle to see if I have implantation issues beyond the NK cells killing my embryos.
2) Complete the FET(s), I have 4 embryos frozen in 2's so providing that both embryos survive the thaw, I can do 2 more FET(s)
3) Possibly do IUIs in the future using the recommended meds determined in trial cycle

BTW.. Xytex is about $750 a vial, and my FS always insists on 2 vials per cycle, just in case one of them is bad.

I hope all of this helps!