Why cant I get pregnant

cinderella2010

Ok I have been trying ttc for over a year now with no joy....I have in the past been diagnosed with PCOS and mild Endemeterisois.....I dont seem to have the symptoms of PCOS any longer as my acne had vanished and my tummy is now normal again and the excess hair is gone plus my periods are very regular and not nearly as painful as they used to be......I know when I ovulate as I can feel it but yet I cannot get pregnant - what is my next step, if I go to GYN public how long do I have to wait and what is the most likely course of action - Clomid...can someone please advise me of the steps I need to take......I find this so distressing

crazy cat lady

The best thing you can do is to go to your GP and explain that you have been TTC for over a year. Your GP should then refer you on for further tests with a fertility specialist.

Are you sure that you are ovulating? (are you getting positives on ovulation prediction sticks?) I think Clomid is generally used to induce ovulation.

You may not have a problem at all! You could just be stressing too much which is delaying conception. I know how much pressure you can put on yourself when you keep getting negatives every month, it can be really disheartening and it doesn't take long before you start thinking that there is a problem. Has your husband had semen analysis?

I had 2 friends who were trying to get pregnant for a while. One of them went away to France for a few days and came back to a positive. She thinks it was the letting her hair down and forgetting about it for the weekend that did it for them. The other friend started acupuncture and swears that she was pregnant after 2 weeks of going to her.

I don't think its a matter of 'can't get pregnant' but more 'whats the delay??' If you start thinking that you 'can't' get pregnant, then I believe the negitivity will hinder conception. Try and stay positive, however difficult that may be!

Good luck x

cinderella2010

Thanks Crazy Cat Lady - my partner thinks he is fine as he has previously conceived with another lady before we met - and he refuses to think its him so I would rather get me checked before getting him involved....
I see what you are saying about staying positive - I will visit my gp during the week and get the ball rolling....I must start using those ovulating sticks too...I say I know I am ovulating as I can feel it but with my PCOS perhaps the eggs are not mature enough and that could be the problem however on the other hand I dont have any symptoms for PCOS for over a year and my cycle is very regular....I worry as when I was first diagnosed back in 2004 the GYN said not to wait past the age of 29 to start trying and I am past 29 but she also said that no woman should wait past that age as infertility is on the rise....I will also get acupuncture too and see if that helps

lynski

it may just take some time, give yourself a break. I was ttc for 9/10 mths before my son and and the same for my daughter. sometimes it just takes time.
good luck. Acupuncture FTW too and take a look at the hyponosis cds on changeyourmind.ie, i think there is one for conception, will relax u if nothing else.

cinderella2010

yeah I am just a bit down today as I got my period yesterday.....I will start thinking positive again now - get some ovulating sticks and book in for some acupuncture

crazy cat lady

I don't know if you've heard of the book 'trying to conceive, an irish couples guide' by fiona mcphillips but apparently its very good and might help you to understand your cycle even better and maybe help you pin point exactly when you are most likely to conceive.

Anything is worth a try before going down the whole assisted reproduction route

DetectivFoxtrot

I second what all the other posters said. Plus I'm going through it myself so know exactly how you feel, it's hard to stay positive when your period shows month after month after month! You're a llowed a day or two of being down in the dumps.

Go to your GP and ask for a referral to fertility specialist (I dn't think you shoudl wait any longer, as you've had PCOS and still have the endo, so they could be contributing to your fertility issues (see my thread 'HARI referral' for what to expect at your appointment, am not assuming you'll be referred there, but I'd say the protocol is similar across the various fertility centres).

Just regarding your OH. He shouldn't dismiss that the issue is on his side. I know of men who have conceived babies but then went on to have difficulties, it's not always the woman. Is he by any chance on any medication that he wasn't on when he conceived his first baby? Is he obese? Does he smoke now and didn't back then? Any recent health diagnoses? Lifestyle factor can contribute, and lifestyle factors change as years progress. Also if you see a specialist they will not put you on Clomid before they do a Semen Analysis on your OH, they need to rule that out first before giving the female any drugs.

I've learned thsat Clomid isn't just given to trigger ovualtion. I am ovulating and I will probably be going on it. If you are ovulation but something is off (e.g. low progesterone) the Clomid will promote stronger, healthier ovulation, and thus create better conception chances. So even though you're ovulating as you say, your ob/gyn may still prescribe it.

best of luck to you

alde

Its so hard to stay positive when you keep getting your period month after month. You feel like all you do is talk/think about getting pregnant 24 hours a day. I again am on the 2 week wait and hoping this month is the month. Baby dust to all.

cinderella2010

Best of luck Alde - I am keeping my fingers crossed for us all....am using those ovulation sticks - got them in Boots ownbrand they were offer €17 for pack of seven. Have used on so far and its a negative - will test again tomorrow and see if the LH is stronger.
Has anyone found those ovulation sticks any good

cinderella2010

Also you know what I find hard - I have had a few friends recently have abortions and I find it so upsetting and I don't judge them but I also wish they wouldn't discuss with me as I am pro life and by me discuss I feel like I am condoning it....I mean what I have said to my friends is that its their body and their choice but inside I am screaming and asking god why not bless me I will have and love that baby
I am prob just very sensitive to it all as I am not conceiving

Disambiguation

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alde

Thanks Cinderella if its a bfn this month I will try the boots test sticks next month.. I used the first response this month but I think I started testing too early there was only 5 sticks in the pack and I did not see the surge and also I was testing the wrong time of day to I think. That must be so hard on you to listen to your friends and to be honest its quite selfish of them if they know the heartache you are going through. Anyway please god we will all have some good news on here soon.

DetectivFoxtrot

Hi Alde

Don't buy those expensive ovulation sticks - they are a rip off! Here are the ones I buy:

http://cgi.ebay.ie/50-OVULATION-PREGNANCY-FERTILITY-TEST-TESTS-FP-chart-/140436232173?pt=UK_Health_HealthCare_RL#ht_9074wt_911

It is a combo pack of pregnancy and ovulation tests, and you decide the combo you want. e.g. in a 50 combo pack you could get 35 ovulation sticks and 15 pg tests - whatever suits your needs.

I go for the 100 combo pack myself. I usually order 70 ovulation tests and 30 pg tests, that gets me through 3 cycles, but my cycles are long and erratic so I have to use a lot of ovu sticks . These are such good value. And becasue they're cheap you don't feel guilty about testing a few times a day around the surge. When I see my sticks starting to get a bit darker (and I feel other signs coming on like change in cervical mucous, ovulation pain etc.) I test 2 or 3 times a day, as it's so easy to miss the surge. As a PP said never test for ovulation with first morning urine. I test with second morning urine (say 10.30am) mid afternoon (say 4pm) and evening (say 8/9pm) - this is only on the suspected surge days though. I regularly have seen no surge in the afternoon, but then get a blaring positive surge in the evening, so it is easy to miss.
some people find it difficult to read the non-digital ovualtion tests (is it positive, is it not positive? etc). If you find it difficult you could buy some digital ones (Clearblue - again much cheaper on eBay than in chemist) and when you get what appears to be a positive on the non-digi you can then back it up with a digi. This way you'll only use one digi a cycle, so a box of 7 will last you ages.

hope this helps

p.s. just search 'pregnancy test' in eBay and you'll get all the different varieties on offer, ovu combo packs included

cinderella2010

Hey Alde I actually have a short cycle between 20 and 26 days on average its 23 days - this being the reason to test early

alde

Thanks Detectiv, thats useful information. I will order some of them for next months cycle. My period is due on Friday. I dont hold out much hope, really dont feel positive about things this month.
Thanks Cinderella , I should probably be testing more than once a day.

alde

Well girls I think its another big fat no for me this month. Started having my usual period pains this morning. Its so frustrating :mad:

cinderella2010

Oh I feel you pain - you get your hopes up and wish and pray and have yourself convinced then bang your AF arrives.

But but but has it arrived???? Are you certain they are p pains...

I am hopeful again this month - have been at it like rabbits - please god let it happen this time - although I have been using ovulation sticks and I should be or have ovulated and they were all negative

barbiegirl

I find having a good cry works wonders. Then I pick myself up and get on with it. You can only do so much, then try to relax.
I have to say I've found the Merrion Clinic great but any fertility specialist is where you need to go next

cinderella2010

I have never cried over it - I think if I did I would never stop

I am waiting on appointment with consultant - I live in Munster so its a different story down here
GYN first - then if that fails - fertility specialist

alde

Well Cinderella, there she was waiting for me this morning when I got up out of bed :mad: Im going to the doctor today, didnt get a positive lh surge from the opk tests im wondering now if maybe im one of them people that doesnt ovulate mid cycle. I have a friend who ovulates straight after her periods

DetectivFoxtrot

alde maybe you just didn't ovulate this month, it's very common and nothing to worry about . If you buy the cheapie tests you can test all through your cycle and it won't cost much, gets a bit tedious though after a while...

cinderella2010

Period now due in next tue - I hope I dont get it and I will have conceived

Still waiting to hear on my appoint for GYN

alde

Hopefully you have conceived this month and the dreaded af stays away :rolleyes:

cinderella2010

Fingers crossed - but I dont feel any different so its unlikely

Had a dream last night I did an early first response test and it had a BFP

alde

Oh hopefully your dream of a positive test will come true for you this month . . . I am waiting on blood results this week from doctor to see if I am ovulating or not. One day we will get there.

cinderella2010

I have been extremely emotional since the weekend - I feel like nutty mcnutty
what will I be like if they put me on clomid
I cannot stop crying
I hope this isn't a bad case of PMS

Silcocky

I'm with you Cinderella....today is CycleDay34 (but I reckon I Ovulated on day 25 or 26, as is fairly normal for me) so would be due Tues/Wed - here's hoping neither of us (or anyone else waiting to know) will get it.

cinderella2010

fingers crossed for us
I dont feel pregs so not (or at least trying not to) get hopes up
I am still waiting on my appoint for GYN

My period comes between 23-26 days (day 21 today)

is there a baby making dance we could maybe try
would try anything at this point :P

cinderella2010

Is it too early to test if my period is due on tuesday
how soon can I test - already feeling anxious

crazy cat lady

The first response tests say you can test up to 6 days before your period is due, they are not 100% accurate if used early tho. I've always found them the best tests, much better than the digi ones.

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you

cinderella2010

Got home today and found my appointment for GYN not for ages 20th October