When is it time to think about fertility treatments?

[jlovesdex]

Hi everyone,

My husband and I have been trying to conceive since last March (about 7 months). I honestly never thought it would be this challenging and frustrating, especially when I feel like I am doing everything I'm supposed to be doing to increase our chances of conceiving. I've been taking my prenatal vitamins for about 3 months now, I workout everyday, trying to eat healthy, cutting out caffeine and alcohol (well, I still like to enjoy some wine occasionally). I've been using my ovp strips each month and follow a calendar. We also have been having sex every other day and then every day during my 5 fertile days.

At this point I would almost prefer doing IUI and just having my doctor inseminate me with my husband's sperm. Does anyone know if that would be an option for me right now and if insurance would cover it?

The other thing I was thinking about was going on Clomid.

Any thoughts, advice or information would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[LilLeafyLea]

Hi Sorry to hear that you're having a hard time with ttc. Everyone has their own cut off points when trying naturally isn't happening for them so it's hard for me to say when you should consider looking into other options.

Personally I think 7months isn't that long and I would try to give my body more time to do its thing (very easy for me to say, possibly not as easy in practice). Most doctors recommend trying for at least a year before looking into reasons behind unexplained fertility (some edge closer to two years). Even with that in mind doctors will look at fertility treatments later down the investigatory route, say after blood tests, sperm analyses etc.

You note that you are using opk's and calendars, do you know if you are ovulating? This is another thing your Dr will want to look into. The reason I ask is because Clomid will stimulate your ovaries into ovulating so this course will be unnecessary and perhaps detrimental to you if you are already ovulating naturally.

I understand your concerns and certainly empathise with your situation j, I've been trying for 19 months/cycles now with no joy but I want to explore every possible method to conceive naturally and all that aside, I know that some things do take time and are certainly worth waiting for. There are plenty of people who were classed as LTTC here (long term trying to conceive) with success stories to sing from the rooftops. Then again, if there was a problem with myself or my partner I certainly wouldn't want to waste this time so, as I said, it's a difficult situation (I've given it too much thought) and not easy for anyone to judge when the time is right.

I would suggest your first port of call would be the doctors and go from there. Not sure about the insurance, perhaps someone else can help with that?

Sorry for the epic post, I just wanted to let you know that you are certainly not alone (plenty of fab women here) and I hope you come to a decision you are happy with. Moreover, I hope that you land that BFP before having to go down the assisted path. If you do, I hope it reaps results for you (plenty of women here can help with any questions on assisted fertility methods/concerns). You've got a great healthy lifestyle and following the 'ttc guidebook' to the letter, that's a massive plus on your side. Good luck missy xxx

 

[jlovesdex]

Thank you soooo much for your reply! Everyone on this site is soo nice. To answer your question, yes I do know that I am ovulating (at least my ovp strips say that I am). I have already been to my obgyn to get checked out. One month I did not ovulate and never got my period. Thought I was pregnant and was devastated to find out that I wasn't and never ovulated. My doctor did a bunch of blood tests for me and that is when she found out that I hadn't ovulated that month (it was just a strange/off cycle for me I guess. Doctor said that every woman has at least one of those in their life). She checked everything else out and did an ultrasound. She said everything looks good and that if I didn't get my period within a few weeks that she would get me started on the clomid. But, I did get it and I am back on track.

thank you for your info about the clomid...I guess I misunderstood it's use. I thought it was used to also regulate your cycles (I ovulate at different times each month). I am ovulating every month, so I guess that clomid would not be an option for me.

And...you are definitely right. 7 months is not that long (I just get frustrated though!). I'm sorry to hear you are going through the same thing. And now I feel like an idiot complaining about trying for 7 months when you have been trying for 19.

I'm sending lots of baby dust your way and I know that you will conceive soon! Good luck!

 

[maggie111]

Fertility treatments are normally started after 12 months, but if your OBGYN is happy to start you sooner then I would go for it!!

Just out of interest have you tried PreSeed? Lots of good results for it on the forum. We've been trying (but not charting) for 9 months now, will give it a try next month and I've started ovulation tests which I think are helpful... As I think I now know I am ovulating late in my cycle.

 

[LilLeafyLea]

Thanks J, no need to apologise though! I think everyone struggling with ttc has a hard journey regardless of the length of time. If anything, personally speaking, it gets easier to deal with as time goes on so please don't feel like an idiot 7 months is long enough when you expect to fall pregnant within the first month!

Great news that you're ovulating! That must be a massive weight off your chest. I would suggest looking into Agnus Castus if you want to regulate your cycles. There's a few good threads about it on here if you want to know more about it. Certainly discuss your options with your Dr also so you are sure you're a good candidate for it.

Now for the frustration part - I spend a lot of time here airing my grievances and it is the cheapest form of therapy you will find - guaranteed! We are all in the same situation and the support is great. Hope you stick around missy - I would absolutely love to see you with a BFP soon, that'd make my day!

Thanks for the warm wishes, hope you are right! xx

 

[Jess137]

To add to lil's post, if you want to try agnus castus, it is sold under the name "Vitex" at GNC stores in the US. That's where I got mine. I only used it for one cycle but it made my period come 5 days earlier (my cycles had been getting longer and longer).

DH and I have only been TTC 7 months, but I knew that I was not ovulating (temping and OPK's), so she went ahead and started testing instead of waiting for 12 months like normal. I say this because most people who are where I am in the TTC journey (meaning Clomid, testing, etc) have been TTC a lot longer.

I don't think that IUI is a first option though, I think there are other things that have to be tried first. It depends on your insurance but I don't think many of them would cover it.

I wish you lots of luck!

 

[jlovesdex]

thanks everyone for your replies . Should I contact my doctor before deciding to purchase Vitex??

 

[jlovesdex]

Fertility treatments are normally started after 12 months, but if your OBGYN is happy to start you sooner then I would go for it!!

Just out of interest have you tried PreSeed? Lots of good results for it on the forum. We've been trying (but not charting) for 9 months now, will give it a try next month and I've started ovulation tests which I think are helpful... As I think I now know I am ovulating late in my cycle.

Yes! I purchased PreSeed a couple of months ago. I used it once and then haven't tried it again. I was waiting for someone to give me some positive feedback on it. I guess I'll give it another try this month! Thank you!

 

[Jess137]

It's probably a good idea to ask your doctor about it, especially if you take other medications. I started it before seeing my doctor though (before all the testing and everything - I was getting desperate!) When I told her I was taking it, she had never heard of it before.

 

[TeddyBearPug]

Depending on your age you usually see the obgyn after 12 months of ttc if you are under 30. If over 30, they will usually help you after 6 months. I went to a different obgyn because i was unsatified with my current one after having 2 m/c's and him telling me he would not help me until i had my 3rd. That was 8 months into ttc and under 30 and he did some basic bloodwork and had me check my cycles for 6 months and had me come back. So it is good to go as soon as you can because they will more than likely tell you to take some more time gathering more info. After 6months he put me on clomid even though i was ovulating but my cycles were irregular and classified as weak ovulations. After 4 rounds of clomid with good ovulations, still no bfp, then i was referred to a fS. As for insurance, my insurance says they do not cover infertility, but they have been paying for alot of it. So i think it depends on your docs coding? So i guess what i'm saying is that you can find a doctor willing to help you, you just might have to visit a few. And if you do not like the way that person is treating you, find another! I told my now current obgyn (not FS) why i was unhappy with the first and he has been great. Good luck!!

 

[TeddyBearPug]

Oh, and i would recommend taking bbt's! i started last cycle and it has been the best tool to tell me what is going on with my body! if i had to give up everything to keep bbt i would!! (opk's and all!)

 

[Jess137]

^^^ I agree. You should go to Fertility Friend and sign up, they have an awesome charting course for beginners. Tracking your BBT is definitely something you should try before shelling out all the money for fertility treatments. It is really helpful when you also use OPK's and check your cervical mucus.

 

[Jazavac]

We're undergoing fertility assessment and it all started even before we oficially started our TTC journey. Long story short, the doctor checked my AMH levels and they returned absolutey horrible. I wasn't even off the pill yet, but I did have some tests scheduled for sometime down the road.

We've now been trying for three months and have not yet gotten our BFP. I'm about to turn 34 and my husband is turning 29.

 

[monalisa81]

fertility treatments become an option when you're trying for at least 1 year, believe me 7 months is ok, I know how impatient we can be but keep trying.
this is my 20th cycle and when we hit the 1 year mark we had all the tests done, all results were perfect. doctor first gave clomid for 2 cycles, then I had a HSG (which came back perfect), then we started IUI with injectables, this is IUI cycle #2. Believe me, trying naturally is fun and I hope you won't need fertlity treatments.
They say 85% of the couples get pregnant in a year.