Explore trying to conceive experiences

My story is not a good one unfortunately. At 36 my periods were quite irregular and went to a few doctors to figure it out, it normalised after a while but i kept spotting for days before i got my actual period which nobody could give me an amswer for. They saod its ok i shouldnt worry.. We started trying over a year ago and I went to the NHS and private doctors too to ask what I needed to do as I'm older - any tests or anything. They advised to try for a year and then seek help if nothing happens. I was 37 at this point and right when we started trying iI was told to hold on for 3 months due to Thyroiditis - I was worried as I was already 37 but they said it wont make andifference. I waited and after 3 months they still had to put me on Levithyroxine as my levels did not normalise. I wasted 3 months there. After these 3 months I started getting irregular periods - turned out I had an polyp in my uterus that had to be removed. I had to wait 4 months for this to be diagnosed and removed and even though we tried in the meantime chances are not great while you have a polyp. It was only at this point they checked my AMH which was below the normal range and I was advised to wait with IVF, and try naturally for 4/5 months and then if nothing happens look at IVF. So I did just that - we tried and did not concieve unfortunately. Then when IVF came around they tested my hormones again and its obscenely low. i'm now starting my first round but not via NHS as I'm not eligible for funding as my hormones are too low. I didnt even know this was a thing, nobody told me so this came as a shock. I would like women to know beeter especially when they start tryinf later in lofe what they can do, how they can understand hormone levels, FSH and AMH - if i had known I would have just had it tested when i was 36 and my body started changing but not ONE doctor thought to do that. I have a friend who 'luckily' had early menopause in her family and so she asked for the test and she found out in time so could freeze her eggs. I didn't and i couldnt and with my hormone results my chances are horrible. Speaking to certain clinics especially abroad they saod they would have sent me for IVF when they found out my AMH was low. I alwyas get a second opinion - what inlearnt here is to get 3 or 4 - ot is crazy to me how I followed doctors advice this whole time and i ended up here still. It's heartbreaking to think I won't be able to have a family because doctors just generalised me, thwy'd say ' oh you are healthy, everything LOOKS good, you dont need to worry' - and then oops! And all this could have been avoided with a simple blood test for AMH levels!!!!!! Why did they not tell me?! I would have paid for it I would have done it.

"I have received diagnoses of PCOS and Adenomyosis, and despite trying to conceive for eight years, doctors have rejected me for fertility treatments due to my BMI. Additionally, I have not had a period in over three years and have experienced significant weight gain, leading to feelings of depression and anxiety. It is disheartening to be informed that I am not eligible for IVF because I already have a child. I feel let down by the system. Last year, medical professionals initially believed there was an amniotic sac in my womb, but it turned out to be a cyst. After multiple negative tests and a lack of support from medical professionals, I have sadly given up on the possibility of having more children.

Trying to conceive for my second child has been mentally exhausting. I have been using the Flo app to track my ovulation days but after a few months we’ve had no luck. It was easy for us to get pregnant with my first so it’s been a guessing game as to why it’s not happening as quickly this time. I’ve recently purchased ovulation sticks as I am hoping they will be more accurate.

I started trying to conceive my second child in February 2021. We were successful the first month and I put that down to using an oil based lubricant. However, the second month whilst using a number of supplements including vitamin c, coq-enzyme and vitamin D we conceived in March 2021. However. I sadly had a miscarriage in April 2021. We tried again when my cycle came back and we were successful. The second time round I didn't use any supplements. Before the miscarriage I wasn't anxious, but just excited to be in a position to be "trying" as opposed to unexpectedly conceiving like we did with our first. Gave me a sense of control. But I soon realised I wasn't in control after the miscarriage and learnt to trust my body and God.

Me and my partner were trying for a baby after having our first child who is now 8 years old. I was still having a period but they had become less frequent and I was experiencing more spotting that having an actual period. I was taking the contraceptive pill after having my son 8 years ago but since coming off it around 5 years ago my periods haven’t returned to normal. Trying for a baby has been really difficult as the Gp advices I may now be in early menopause. I just wish I had come off the pill sooner as I would have had more of a better chance to conceive.

Fortunately I conceived straight away

Myself and husband struggled for over 9 years to conceive. We just couldn't seem to understand why it's just wouldn't happen and we both had children from previous relationships. He had 1 son and I had 2 girls. After trying and trying with no luck, we decided to approach our GP for guidance and help. The first few visits were very upsetting as I was told that my weight could be the cause of things not happening and on other occasions we were told that we probably just weren't compatible and it just may never happen. That was extremely upsetting to hear and at one point we almost gave up. Then one day I was reading an article on IVF and started doing further research. I discussed it with my husband and he was happy to try it. I got in contact with a private clinic in South London called the Lister Clinic who invited us in. Whilst there they discussed our different options and that's when we learnt about the egg sharing programme. It's basically when you donate some of your eggs to a woman that cannot produce any in return for free IVF treatment. There were a few pros and cons, but the pros stood out more for us and we also saw it as a beautiful way to try and help another couple trying to have a baby. We had counselling and a series of appointments and tests before the final decision was made to go ahead. We were extremely lucky and very fortunate that the first round of IVF works for us and we welcomed a beautiful baby girl in April 2020.

When I received my diagnosis for endometriosis back in 2016 , I was told by several doctors and consultants that my chances of becoming pregnant were very slim, due to the amount of scare tissue (from previous surgery) and damage the endometriosis had caused. I feel that my chances of becoming a mum was just crushed and I feel into depression. I had gone through several test and private healthcare to check whether my ovaries were functioning and my egg quality as I also have PCOS. Me and my husband were trying on and off for around 2 years. I was not taking any form or oral or injectable contraceptives and we stopped using condoms. I would get really excited about taking a test and then nothing. It was mentally draining. And I just wanted to give up. I eventually took a break from it all and just focused on my health and living with endo. Just as we were on the verge of seeking IVF, Lo and behold I feel pregnant and conceived naturally. I had an amazing pregnancy (pain free from no endo symptoms) and had a bouncing baby girl in 2021. It most definitely has been a tough journey but I believe we need to listen and stay in tune with our bodies and rest at times.

Made you think about babies all the time Got pregnant quickly, did use ovulation sticks to check I was ovulating rather than when

Found out i have thin endometrium due to prolonged use of hormonal iud, if it doesnt cgange surrogacy would be the only option.