Trying to conceive/Planned parenthood/Assisted Reproduction Chat thread.

Neyite

Congratulations Betsie!

Hope its an easy pregnancy for you

Betsie_xr3i

Thanks a million, hope so too my last pregnancy went ok usual complaints but nothing major x lets hope this one goes the same x

Penny Dreadful

I went to my GP yesterday for a chat about not getting pregnant having been ttc since the end of December.
He is a very lovely man and I really like him as GP which certainly helps. He has suggested (as I'm sure they all do) that my husband has a semen analysis test done first and my day 3 and day 21 bloods. Once the results of these are in we'll take it from there. If the results of both are ok then he'll refer me/ us to a specialist.
He did ask if I've ever been tested for PCOs and I said no. I don't think I have PCOs. Yes my periods were irregular which was one of the reasons I went on the Pill in the first place and they could be painful but the other symptoms of weight gain, excessive hair, etc I never had.

I'm really glad I had the chat but it is also a very sobering experience too.

Toto Wolfcastle

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

I went to my GP yesterday for a chat about not getting pregnant having been ttc since the end of December.
He is a very lovely man and I really like him as GP which certainly helps. He has suggested (as I'm sure they all do) that my husband has a semen analysis test done first and my day 3 and day 21 bloods. Once the results of these are in we'll take it from there. If the results of both are ok then he'll refer me/ us to a specialist.
He did ask if I've ever been tested for PCOs and I said no. I don't think I have PCOs. Yes my periods were irregular which was one of the reasons I went on the Pill in the first place and they could be painful but the other symptoms of weight gain, excessive hair, etc I never had.

I'm really glad I had the chat but it is also a very sobering experience too.

I have PCOS and my only symptom was irregular periods. If you do get tested make sure they do an internal scan rather than external because when I had an external scan done I was told I didn't have it. The internal scan showed that I did. Hope everything works out for you.

bobskii

Forgot how horrible it is waiting in this hospital,pregnant women all around you and then the rest are the people waitin for the fertility doctor.

Penny Dreadful

Bobblehead Panda wrote: »

I have PCOS and my only symptom was irregular periods. If you do get tested make sure they do an internal scan rather than external because when I had an external scan done I was told I didn't have it. The internal scan showed that I did. Hope everything works out for you.

Thats interesting, thanks for letting me know. I had a pelvic ultrasound some years ago (2005/2006) and everything looked pefect so I crossed that one off my list.

Lucuma

Betsie_xr3i wrote: »

Hey everyone, got a positive result yesterday im over the moon xx

I told you, you'd have nothing to worry about! :P
Congratulations to you and your family x

Lucuma

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

I went to my GP yesterday for a chat about not getting pregnant having been ttc since the end of December.
He is a very lovely man and I really like him as GP which certainly helps. He has suggested (as I'm sure they all do) that my husband has a semen analysis test done first and my day 3 and day 21 bloods. Once the results of these are in we'll take it from there. If the results of both are ok then he'll refer me/ us to a specialist.
I'm really glad I had the chat but it is also a very sobering experience too.

Pity that it had to get to this stage for you Penny, but I suppose it's good to feel like you're doing something constructive. I haven't had my day 3 and day 21 bloods done yet. I'm off the pill a year this month so better go and get them done. I did get a hormone level check done though (the doc explained to me it was the equivalent of the day 3 even though it wasn't day 3) and from that she was able to tlel me that my ovaries seem to be in good shape, my hormone levels were what they should have been for that part of my cycle. But still need to go and get the formal day 3 + day 21 ones done. My hubby is annoyed that I made him go and get the swimmers checked before we were 1 year trying. The results put him under stress which isn't helping he said. Hard one to call!

Penny Dreadful

Lucuma wrote: »

Pity that it had to get to this stage for you Penny, but I suppose it's good to feel like you're doing something constructive. I haven't had my day 3 and day 21 bloods done yet. I'm off the pill a year this month so better go and get them done. I did get a hormone level check done though (the doc explained to me it was the equivalent of the day 3 even though it wasn't day 3) and from that she was able to tlel me that my ovaries seem to be in good shape, my hormone levels were what they should have been for that part of my cycle. But still need to go and get the formal day 3 + day 21 ones done. My hubby is annoyed that I made him go and get the swimmers checked before we were 1 year trying. The results put him under stress which isn't helping he said. Hard one to call!

Its a difficult one to know how to approach all right. My husband looked at the little jar I brought him home from the GPs last night rather oddly. I asked him when he'd get around to doing the deed, explained the need for a fresh sample, etc etc. He said (in an odd tone) that he'd get around to it. I just had to point out that doing this one thing was it for him on terms of our journey to having a baby. After having the semen analysis it was all needles and poking and prodding for me. To be fair he did normalise after I said that.
The stress thing is a big question all right. It was the second question my GP asked me. He also said to stay clear (for now) of using OPKs and charting and the like just to concenrate on living a healthy lifestyle and having sex often. In his opinion too much monitoring can lead to a stressful situation.

broody_kitten

Almost had a panic attack and barely managed to stave off tears because of my mentaller boss today. I'm normally well able for them so I reckon PMS is rearing its ugly head (AF due tomorrow)

Neyite

Lucuma wrote: »

My hubby is annoyed that I made him go and get the swimmers checked before we were 1 year trying. The results put him under stress which isn't helping he said. Hard one to call!

Is he annoyed at having to give the sample, or the results of the sample analysis?

Either way, that's his testing over. As my mammy would say, "he can offer it up" .

You are the one who has to be naked from the waist in a room with strangers with your legs up in stirrups and any number of hands and implements in your privates umpteen times before that first cuddle of your baby. Even in the event of male factor infertility, you still get all the invasive procedures. I get that its no picnic for any man, but they deffo get the nicer end of the procedures compared to us.

Penny Dreadful

Neyite wrote: »

Is he annoyed at having to give the sample, or the results of the sample analysis?

Either way, that's his testing over. As my mammy would say, "he can offer it up" .

You are the one who has to be naked from the waist in a room with strangers with your legs up in stirrups and any number of hands and implements in your privates umpteen times before that first cuddle of your baby. Even in the event of male factor infertility, you still get all the invasive procedures. I get that its no picnic for any man, but they deffo get the nicer end of the procedures compared to us.

"Offer it up........" love it:D

To be fair to him its not that he was annoyed, he would love a baby every single bit as much as me. He is very possibly nervous as to what the results of the analysis may be and it came across as annoyance.
We ladies sure do go through a lot to that first baby cuddle don't we, even when things are straight forward and happen easily.

Lucuma

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

"Offer it up........" love it:D

To be fair to him its not that he was annoyed, he would love a baby every single bit as much as me. He is very possibly nervous as to what the results of the analysis may be and it came across as annoyance.
We ladies sure do go through a lot to that first baby cuddle don't we, even when things are straight forward and happen easily.

Don't worry she was talking about my annoyed husband not yours

You got a plastic cup from your GP?! My hubby's GP told him that GP's dont provide that service, you have to go to a fertility clinic like the HARI. Hence he had to go to the HARI and shell out 200 quid for the test! You're so lucky your GP is willing to do that for you

Lucuma

Neyite wrote: »

Is he annoyed at having to give the sample, or the results of the sample analysis?

Either way, that's his testing over. As my mammy would say, "he can offer it up" .
.

He just doesn't understand why we didn't wait 1 year before getting tests done like you are supposed to when under 35. I dunno, I feel like time is ticking by, even though we're under 35.

Anyway now obviously he's stressed out because of the test results. Oh and unfortunately that's not his testing over. Coz his results were so bad, he's getting retested next Monday (and his wallet will be another 200 quid lighter!)

Penny Dreadful

Lucuma wrote: »

Don't worry she was talking about my annoyed husband not yours

You got a plastic cup from your GP?! My hubby's GP told him that GP's dont provide that service, you have to go to a fertility clinic like the HARI. Hence he had to go to the HARI and shell out 200 quid for the test! You're so lucky your GP is willing to do that for you

:eek::eek: Talk about adding insult to injury!!

My GP gave me a cup, label and a little plastic bag along with a letter for the Microbiology lab at either the Rotunda/Holles St/ Coombe - wherever is handier for him with work. I made an appointment for bloods to be drawn on day 21 (cause its closer) and then day 3 later (whenever it is to be day 3) and we had a chat.
I left his office €55 poorer and wasn't too happy with that. I'd be disgusted at a €200 charge.

Neyite

€200??

It was €100 for us a couple of years ago. (not in Dublin though) but you had to have a sample at the lab less than an hour old so you do it on the premises of the clinic.

And all my GP bloods were done by the practice nurse @ €30 a time.

Penny Dreadful

Neyite wrote: »

€200??

It was €100 for us a couple of years ago. (not in Dublin though) but you had to have a sample at the lab less than an hour old so you do it on the premises of the clinic.

And all my GP bloods were done by the practice nurse @ €30 a time.

I was told the same re: sample must be less than an hour old and so to "make happy" in a toilet in the hospital at which you're going to leave the sample. Price wasn't mentioned.
The bloods will be drawn by the nurse for €30 each time.

pennyloves

I have been so upset about everything all week and I have just logged on now to read your amazing news. I am so thrilled for you. Xxx you really fill me with hope xxxx enjoy every moment of your pregnancy:)

pennyloves

My poor husband carried his sample all the way in to the hari on the bus. He had his € 50 all ready to pay the girl at the desk and hand over the goods when she told him it was €200. He said he nearly passed out with embarrassment as he hasn't got another penny on him and no bank card. His face went purple and he didn't know what to do with the jar in his hand. ...the girl took pity on him and told him it was alright. I nearly got sick laughing when he told me, God love him!

polly27

Hi all my af is 5 days late and today i have a white discharge when i wipe after going to the loo, its not on my underwear but its like a light creamy white discharge which i have never had before, sorry if its TMI but i dont know what to think, last pregnancy test sunday was negitive. last night i got bad cramps for an hour or so and they are starting again slight cramps, when would you recommed i test and i wonder could i be pregnant, Did to deed from the time i got my implant out on 17th of oct bar 3 days after removal i had a very heavy bleed and awful cramps had that for 2 days. this will be my first baby fingers crossed so i ddont know any of the symptoms bar from ones i read, any advice would be great, thanks everyone xx

Lucuma

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

:eek::eek: Talk about adding insult to injury

I'd be disgusted at a €200 charge.

I know yeah, for that price I'd have at least expected glowing results on all tests!! :-D Pity they don't operate on a 'no cure no fee' basis!!
(or 2 for the price of 1 would be nice too ;-)

Interesting that you don't need to take the day 3 bloods & day 21 bloods in that order, I wouldn't have realised that so thanks for posting it

Lucuma

pennyloves wrote: »

My poor husband carried his sample all the way in to the hari on the bus. He had his € 50 all ready to pay the girl at the desk and hand over the goods when she told him it was €200. He said he nearly passed out with embarrassment as he hasn't got another penny on him and no bank card. His face went purple and he didn't know what to do with the jar in his hand. ...the girl took pity on him and told him it was alright. I nearly got sick laughing when he told me, God love him!

Morto, poor fella! I must tell my OH to try that trick next Monday though ;o)

Penny Dreadful

Lucuma wrote: »

I know yeah, for that price I'd have at least expected glowing results on all tests!! :-D Pity they don't operate on a 'no cure no fee' basis!!
(or 2 for the price of 1 would be nice too ;-)

Interesting that you don't need to take the day 3 bloods & day 21 bloods in that order, I wouldn't have realised that so thanks for posting it

I think the day 21 bloods when taken now won't mean anything on their own but when I get the day 3 bloods taken the hormone levels can be compared and then will tell whether things as are they should be or not.

Lucuma

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

. It was the second question my GP asked me. He also said to stay clear (for now) of using OPKs and charting and the like just to concenrate on living a healthy lifestyle and having sex often. In his opinion too much monitoring can lead to a stressful situation.

Are you going to follow this advice?!?

I think I'd be afraid to miss the 5 fertile days if I stopped using opks and the ap on my phone. Unfortunately I can't claim to have as healthy a sex life as some on this forum have done (and more power to them) we don't dtd every day......so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that between working late, committments, tiredness etc some months we could miss the days if I didn't track.

Hmm I know in theory your GP is right though!

Penny Dreadful

Lucuma wrote: »

Are you going to follow this advice?!?

I think I'd be afraid to miss the 5 fertile days if I stopped using opks and the ap on my phone. Unfortunately I can't claim to have as healthy a sex life as some on this forum have done (and more power to them) we don't dtd every day......so it's not beyond the realms of possibility that between working late, committments, tiredness etc some months we could miss the days if I didn't track.

Hmm I know in theory your GP is right though!

Well I might and I might not follow his advice.
I use the Pink Pad appall of the time as I find it brilliant for storing information. It's information that may well be of use in the future. I also just like the app anyway!
I did use OPKs a while back and stopped of my own volition as I found that I'd gotten overly preoccupied with using them and thought it wasn't a good thing. Since I stopped doing that I have been more relaxed about things. However that said I'm going to have to start keeping track sometime.
I'm coming into the supposed fertile period next week and I do tend to try to target sex around this time and have sex every second day or so for that week. I bought an OPK in Boots yesterday that has 7 smiley faces on it and I might (out of interest if nothing else) see what comes up on it this month.
I think I'm going to just go with it while we're having the semen analysis and bloods taken and wait the results of those out. Who knows maybe its just going to fall into place all by itself!!

broody_kitten

I have a weird metallic taste in my mouth the last few days, only just occured to me it might be related to ttc! AF due tomorrow and no sign, hmmm... maybe I'll test in the morning.

Edit: tested this morning and it was negative, if no sign of AF in a week I'll test again

Lucuma

Penny Dreadful wrote: »

Well I might and I might not follow his advice. I use the Pink Pad appall of the time as I find it brilliant for storing information.
I did use OPKs a while back and stopped of my own volition as I found that I'd gotten overly preoccupied with using them and thought it wasn't a good thing. .

When you did use the opks could you see that you were ovulating every month and was the date consistent?

From OPKs I've learned that in my last three cycles I ovulated on: Day 13, Day 15 and last month Day 18 (!!)

It's frustrating becasue it's hard to hit a moving target, but it would be even harder if I didn't know it was moving!!

Hence I would be reluctant to stop using opks even though I know they create tension in their own way.

Penny Dreadful

Lucuma wrote: »

When you did use the opks could you see that you were ovulating every month and was the date consistent?

From OPKs I've learned that in my last three cycles I ovulated on: Day 13, Day 15 and last month Day 18 (!!)

It's frustrating becasue it's hard to hit a moving target, but it would be even harder if I didn't know it was moving!!

Hence I would be reluctant to stop using opks even though I know they create tension in their own way.

To be honest I never quite knew what to make of them when I did use them.
I bought a batch of cheap and cheerful ones from Amazon and they were of the pink line and darker pink line to show if you were ovulating or not. I bloody hate them and the pregnancy tests that are like that too. I've almost gone blind trying to decipher a difference between pinkness of lines. :rolleyes::D Also I think I was mostly using late afternoon/early evening urine and I'm not sure if that was the right thing to do or not. I drink a lot of water and usually 2 mugs of tea by the time I get home from work in the evening and a lot of fruit too so this would make me very hydrated and so not give an accurate result possibly.

After my last late period and the trouble with lines I decided I'm going digital only. Either I am or I'm not no room for ambiguity. The OPKs I bought this time cost more but are clear in their answer.
I got the "Flowers are Blooming" message from my Pink Pad app tody (CD 14- AF due CD 33 according to it) - how quickly that comes around:) It says my fertile period is from today to next Wednesday/Thursday. To see if its at all accurate I'm going to use the OPKs this month.
By coincidence my Day 21 bloods are to be drawn on Thursday. It will be good to see what they tell (when I get my Day 3s taken) along with the OPKs.
Its a beautiful sunny day today, I'm full of the love for my husband and brimming over with optimisim about us and babies for some reason.
Maybe this will be the month when it all comes together.

Lucuma

That's funny. I am the opposite. I like the ones where you have 2 lines, because they will pick up on low concentrations also.

If I do an expensive pregnancy test, and it says negative....I would be thinking ''oh maybe there's just not enough HcG there yet to come up as a positive, doesn't mean I'm not pregnant'' whereas last month with the cheapies, when there was absolutely no trace of a second line I knew for sure - there's no HcG there - not even in low concentrations! so no deluding myself.

The OPKs with 2 lines I was confused about until Neyite and stickybean explained to me that it works something (with variations obviously) roughly like this :

Day x: very faint 2nd line
Day x+1: faint 2nd line
Day x + 2: visible 2nd line
Day x + 3: strongest 2nd line (but doesn't have to be as dark as control line)
Day x + 4: faint 2nd line
Day x + 5: no visible 2nd line

So from the above - ovulation took place on the day after the day with the strongest line i.e. Day x + 4 (approximately)

broody_kitten

Well my period arrived today which I'm pretty happy about, as I've heard for some women it can take some time for their periods to return after the pill. I had a 32 day cycle this time so it will be interesting to see how this one compares. Hope you're all well