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We tried for 15 months/17 cycles before getting pregnant on our own. I got checked out without anything troubling coming up in my bloodwork and was about to have an HSG. DH had seen a urologist who said his semen analysis was fine despite some low progressive motility. The month we had given up and just accepted that we needed help was the month we got pregnant. DH had been taking a vitamin supplement that I think helped his motility. I don't know if that's what for sure did it for us since we didn't do a follow up semen analysis, but I like to think that's what it finally took despite me trying b6, preseed, etc.

Lots of ladies on here have gotten pregnant on their own after a year of trying, so I wouldn't give up all hope yet but I would start thinking about how long you're willing to try naturally before taking it to the next step. A reproductive endocrinologist is a good next step if you have fertility coverage in your health insurance. Good luck to you!

@pachamama: yup! RE's are fertility specialists

Sometimes there are reasons to see one early-since I have endometriosis, mine told me to come see him if I wasn't pregnant in 6 months, despite being in my mid-20's

I hope it happens for you soon!

@pachamama: I don't know the answer to your question, but just wanted to say I have been ttc #1 for several months now to no avail and share a ton of your fears / frustrations! Hugs to you! Hope you get a bfp soon!

It sure seems like that sometimes, doesn't it? I've been trying for 10 months (likely will be going into month 11 in a week), and it definitely feels like it will never happen. However, know that you still have a ton of options being that you haven't even started any interventions yet. I've seen so many people get pregnant after trying for years, so just have hope!

First off, NO, NEVER think that you are causing yourself to be infertile.

It's not your fault. I'm not sure why we are put on this journey to wait.

What I would tell myself when I at 9 months of TTC is to hold onto hope. Hope is the one thing that will keep you strong.

I'm at month 31 of TTC (I tell you this not to make you feel bad or to lose hope, but at this stage, I'm not afraid to tell others that we've been trying this long. I'm all about IF awareness and not feeling like I need to keep this info in.) Anyway, even at this long journey, I still have hope. Some days are better than others. I question every aspect of my life and wonder what's the reason I was given this long journey to have a family. I've thought of negative thoughts like maybe we're not suppose to have kids... But those feelings can't feed my daily thoughts.

We have an IF inspiration thread, you should read when times are tough. I'll link it here soon.

Lastly, keep your head up, do what want to do. Stand by and remember the reasons why you decided to chose plan A over plan B. You might get discouraged but you have to remind yourself that you made a certain decision for a reason. This reduces the feeling of regret if a cycle doesn't work. I wish I had gone with IVF earlier and not done IUIs but I know why I thought IUIs would work.

There actually have been a lot of users here who have TTC for 9+ months. Some needed treatment, some didn't. Miracles have happened here. I don't understand why but I have to focus on my own journey and not compare to other. Though, it still happens. It's hard not to compare.

ETA: http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-inspiration-lt3/page/3#post-1992693

@Snowdrop: You mentioned that you browns potting at ten end of your period. I typically have about two days of brown spotting at the end of each cycle and I'm worried it signals low progesterone. I always thought it was just "older blood". Do you mind sharing what yours was like?

@zarzar: no not at all, I used Creighton charting with my clinic so I have a proper record. I'd have a day or two of red flow and then it would just go brown, eventually tapering off to nothing at a week or almost a week. The doctor said often people think a short luteal phase or pre flow spotting is what signals low P but there are lots of variations. The brown spotting was caused by my endometrium not developing good blood vessels through a lack of P. There was no where nutritious for a fertilised egg to implant. All I was given was natural progesterone suppositories (quite a high level though) from 3dpo. Worked first time.

@zarzar: good luck

Absolutely not, infertility is a medical diagnosis not your mind playing tricks on you. Don't blame yourself. I know it is so hard to wrap your head around why you aren't getting pregnant when there is no known reason to not be but it can take a healthy couple up to 1 year of trying to get pregnant so you still have some time. I was someone who really was infertile and needed IVF but I know a lot of people who got pregnant within a couple months and I know people who got pregnant naturally that took closer to a year or a little longer than a year.

I would recommend acupuncture. Not only will it help your chances but it will do wonders for you mind in terms of being positive and feeling better. I know this time of year can be so hard.. the last 2 christmas's I was super down because I thought I would have had a baby by then or at least pregnant but wasn't. But this year celebrating with a baby bump I can tell you anything is possible and to keep hopeful!

We waited 9 cycles before seeing an RE with minimal health concerns as well. One cycle with an IUI and we got pregnant. We are very lucky it ended up this way, but I say this to let you know that I would certainly recommend seeking additional help early. If I had known how easy it would be for us with help I would've done it so much sooner. Our insurance didn't cover in fertility related expenses, but that would be my only reason for waiting a year in your situation.

I feel like I could have typed the exact same post. We're on the same boat (cycle #8). DH just did his SA and we are pending the results.

I've TRIED to take it easy but after hitting the 6 month mark, I started to get worried and stressed.

But I really don't think stressing or thinking about pregnancy makes you infertile. So many women around the world are stressed. When I got my first two BFPs, I was also stressed. So it's not that.

Biology works in the oddest ways. Sending baby dust to you!!