Balance of probability against us....

[Missirregular]

First thread! Here goes...

27, married, clear scans, camera negative PCOS blood tests ok, normal smear and ok swabs. Cycles.... All over the place. Never regular, this year... 35, 47, 53, 35, 63, 28, days apart and waiting now for af for 54 ( and still in limbo!) before each AF I get bloated tummy sore breasts and often confuse this, test and get a BFN. Sometimes I get spotting. If this wasn't enough....Hubby had a testical removed as a child. one at home male fertility test came back low (although I don't think I did it properly) second one 70days later came back ok.

Actively ttc since feb although been off the pill for 2 years with regular sex.

I can never do all this temp check or chart stuff as I don't know when AF is due and just no good with keeping to the rules! I also don't understand how people can check cm with regular sex - semen is often discharged for a few days after and we have sex every 2 to 3 days. It is never clear! Enjoying the sex but starting to think it will never happen. Can't afford ivf and not avail on NHS in our region....

Haven't spoken to anyone about my feelings only my hubby.....looking for support and advice particularly from anyone with similar woes

[Newmama99]

sorry to hear about how you feel. I can't really relate to your situation, but I have heard that regular reflexology treatment do help boost your fertility.

I also heard of specific diet supplements that also help. May be worth looking into?

good luck.

[piprabbit]

So the tests show that you are ovulating? It's good news that they've not found any problems and it sounds like you've had loads of checks. It's a bit odd that they didn't automatically check your DHs sperm, I thought it was standard to check both individuals quite early on during investigations.

It might be worth trying some OPK sticks to see if you can work out when in your cycle you are ovulating, just so you can make sure you are having sex at the right time (although it sounds like you've got that covered ).

Less alcohol, less smoking etc. could improve sperm count too - but it will take a few months to have an effect.

Don't give up hope. I was told I'd never have children. Spent a couple of years trying and failing. Finally had DD. Decided to spend another couple of years trying and failing. Ended up with an ectopic. Told I'd never have another child, then decided to go for IVF privately and now we have DS. IVF wasn't an option when we were first TTC, but a few years later after the ectopic it was something we were in a position to do. It's funny how things can work out.

Good luck.

[Missirregular]

Thanks, yes no ovary problems found, neither of us smoke, socially drink. Dh didn't want go to FC to check just yet so I had all the tests and got an at home one, that's the next step, just hate this long limbo every 'cycle"

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

Hi Missirregular,

Who actually carried out these tests and when were these done?.

No seemingly recent blood tests or semen analyses? (note that is plural). Any test result over 6 months old should be discounted as well. You need up to date test results.

Have they actually evaluated you to see if there are any thyroid problems?.

They've missed something fundamental here and it is all too easy to be fobbed off; cystic follicles associated with PCOS can and do disappear only to be replaced by further cystic follicles. Also it can take a highly skilled sonographer to spot such follicles. Both of you should be tested further to see where the problems lie; it could be that you are both subfertile.

OPKs are not worth using at all if your cycles are like this; they can cause more problems than they're worth in terms of more worrying.

Spotting in itself should be checked out further to ascertain the cause; sometimes it can be a sign of low progesterone.

Please seek medical advice and get referred asap to gynae at a subfertility unit. You should be referred asap given the problems that both of you have. DO not take no for an answer!.

Home fertility kits are really not worth doing or are actually worth the money; seek proper medical advice instead.

[Missirregular]

Hi thanks Attila blood tests done 1 month scan and internal camera including smear and swabs done in April. Will certainly get on to the docs for further tests and referral. Thanks

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

You certainly need up to date test results. Anything done over 6 months ago should be discounted. Both of you should and need to be tested further by a gynae as it is all too easy to be fobbed off.

[EuroShagmore]

Did your "day 21" (really 7 days past ovulation) progesterone test confirm that you are ovulating? That cycle history really does scream "PCOS" at me.... What were your day 2-5 LH and FSH results?

Your husband definitely needs to be properly tested too. Apparently infertility is 30% female factor, 30% male factor and 40% unexplained. A recent study using a new sperm test found sperm DNA fragmentation problems in 80% of the unexplained samples, so that means a higher proportion of male factor issues. He should certainly see his GP to get started with testing.

[bugoven]

Hi miss I am in an almost identicle position to you. My tests also came back fine.

I bought an at home fertility kit which shows OH has produced "enough" sperm (can't remember the numbers) but it tells you nothing about quality.

He is booked in for January with the local NHS specialist. What he has to do is no worse than the various internals I've had. One of those internals revealed I cervical erosion (confirmed by 3 medical professionals all looking) which may explain the spotting.

Hope he does the right thing. I will be so relieved to know either way. Good luck

[Luckystarfour]

Just to add to this conversation regarding 'sperm factors' I have had three failed ICSI cycles - where the sperm factor is thought to be the issue, along with very very mild immune difs on my part. This round (cycle 4) we had IMSE - which is a very powerful magnify glass they use to select the sperm. they look for vascoules in the sperm (which is damage) and grade them 1 - 4 - 1 = no vascoules - which is very unlikely for most men, 2 good, 3 not so good, 4 really not great! We have found that if you have male factor fertility - you really need need to get to the bottom of these investigations and run your cycle with the right level of detail. Otherwise you can be wasting 1000;s of £ssss and a whole heap of emotional. I hope this is helpful :-)

[Mandy21]

I agree that you need better, more thorough tests and you need to push your GP for a referral to your local fertility clinic. I also wanted to suggest getting hold of a book called Natural Solutions to Infertility by Dr Marilyn Glenville. My H also had a testicle removed after cancer and then subsequently had to have chemo - he was sub-fertile for a while and when it did come back, he had low quality (but we did get detailed SA to confirm this). We managed to conceive naturally twice following the book although it took longer 2nd time (it might just have been a fluke - am sure others will say its a load of rubbish) but IMHO its worth reading through and adopting the principles whilst you wait for a referral.