Explore trying to conceive experiences

We tried to conceive after we got married back in 2017. Every month that passed felt more and more stressful as friends all around us were getting pregnant. At one point 3 of my closest friends all got pregnant within 2 months of each other and although I was happy for them I was devastated at the same time and hated myself for feeling jealous, so I withdrew more and more from the friendships in the later stages of their pregnancy because I found it so hard and couldn’t stop thinking, but what about us and when is it our turn to be parents - I was so desperate to become a mother. I went to the doctors to get tests and they did the lap and dye test. I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me, so wasn’t sure what they would find. I’ve always had crippling periods, but just through it was normal. The results came back I had endometriosis, ovarian cysts, my tube had grown in to the lining. They fixed it within the lap and dye operation and said I was good to go. Our doctor said he would give us the go ahead for funded IVF as we had tried for so long as it was effecting our relationship - trying each month and loving two weeks - to - two weeks, waiting for the fertility window, then the inevitable period making its appearance every month, was getting too much. We had to wait around 3 months to get started following the operation. In a he meantime, desperate to still get pregnant naturally, I used the Life and Lemons clinic in Sheffield because I had heard about their success in helping in fertility. I had a course of acupuncture, saw their dietician and had fertility massages. The great news, we were successful and I had a straightforward pregnancy, vaginal birth, no complications and was able to and am still breastfeeding. We have welcomed our now 8 month old, Teddy, to the world! He is a thriving, healthy, happy baby and we feel extremely lucky. We have two embryos on ‘ice’ so we are hoping to give him a sibling in the next few years.

Like lots of people, we didn’t have the easiest road to conception but I’m really happy to report we’re finally pregnant! The downs of the journey were big and isolating and lonely and I don’t think I’ve ever struggled more with my mental health than going through unexplained infertility. It puts a strain on pretty much every area of your life. A couple of things that I believe made a huge role in us getting pregnant: - Conceive + lubricant - A whole range of multivitamins for me and my partner - Letrozole (through assisted conception) - Cyclogest (progesterone) from day 3 after ovulation (again specifically requested through assisted conception due to endometriosis and symptoms of low progesterone) - Acupuncture (through NHS) I really recommend as much as you can getting to know every single aspect of your cycle and body and find a doctor who is really on your side.

After spotting in between periods when I was in my 20s I incidentally found a partial septum of my uterus (first misdiagnosed as a bicornuate uterus). I was worried this would be a problem when TTC, but luckily for me it was not, and 2 cycles later I had a positive pregnancy test. Unfortunately this ended in a 16 week miscarriage - uterine septums can cause a range of issues in pregnancy. In a follow up appointment with the gyno at hospital I was told to TTC again, but I had done my research and found a clinic who would operate on my septum. The NHS would only operate after 3 miscarriages. I had the surgery which was relatively simple. I was prescribed estrogen patches and progestrogone pessaries, and had 2 copper IUDs fitted for one month to help heal my uterus. This treatment is over and I am now back to TTC. The hormones/IUD have caused my cycles to drop from 26 days to 20 days, but hopefully they go back to normal soon. Hopefully I will have more success with the pregnancy this time around. There are so many positive stories for those who have septums (for those who need advice on this, there is a great support group on Facebook "Septate Uterus Support Group").

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.