Hellobee Boards

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: my biggest problem is loss so it's a little different. The first time I barely ovulated for a year, then did 4 clomid cycles that were bfp/loss, bfn, bfp/loss, bfp/sticky. Second time it took about 9 months because we went to RE quickly after third loss, then after more testing we did about 4 clomid cycles again, some with iui, one bfp/loss, then we took a break and got our second sticky bfp. We just tried for #3 and got a bfp first cycle but lost it at 11w so not sure what this round will look like.

2. the first time I wasn't ovulating much at all (90 day cycles) and they said probably pcos, but I've had other drs say not. Unexplained otherwise.

3. See below

4. first sticky bfp was clomid 100 with TI. had two early losses on clomid 50 before that. Third early loss was no treatment; then went to clomid and iui for a while, one early loss and several bfns. And got my second sticky bfp the cycle after we stopped move cross country. So for me I think treatment probably didn't do much once I was ovulating, and my problem is probably something we can't test for yet.

5. We saw an RE for #1 because I wasn't ovulating. We went back when I had another loss trying for #2. This time nothing so far. I've had every test under the sun done (some twice!) including for repeat loss but as my RE once said, we can only test for a small percentage of problems really. So if we can't make this one work we'll probably quit trying vs go back to re.

6. find a community here or elsewhere. I didn't have any real life support and didn't feel comfortable talking to most but the bee helped, as well as doing a private online journal where I could vent vent vent. It can feel like such a long road.

Great thread!

1. BFP after 3+ years trying.
2. Sort of unexplained IF. My husbands SA did show some low morphology, but we were told that shouldn't be a problem because count was high.
3. I did three cycles of clomid; then 2 IUIs; then for IVF, I did two weeks of BC, followed by estrogen, progesterone, follistim, menopur and lupron,
4. A FET of two embryos.
5. Obgyn for clomid; RE for the rest.
6. Don't be scared. And do what you need to do to have peace of mind.

@mrskansas: Great idea! I remember also coming across that old thread, it encouraged me so much when I was really worried about TTC leading up to my RE intake appt.

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: For #1 it took 2.5 years (roughly 23 cycles) for #2 (and possibly 3 ) cycle #5 but we didn't wait very long to go to our RE.

2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) and/or loss history: unexplained infertility at first and then some morphology issues.

3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): none for #1 got our positive right before starting ivf, #2&3 clomid with an hcg trigger

4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): none for #1 for #2&3 we did iui

5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): OB-GYN did initial testing then referred us to an RE

6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? If you aren't happy with your doctor push and find someone who will listen to you. We switched REs which cost us a few cycles but were SO much happier with the new RE and he listen to us and really heard what we needed.

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: For DD, it took about a year and a half. For DS, it took 15 months.
2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) Week ovulation for me and low morphology for him.
3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): For DD, I was on provera and 100 mg of clomid with my OB. This is 3 months after a miscarriage at 11 weeks. For DS, clomid wasn't working with my OB, so we were referred to RE. We did two rounds of clomid, trigger shot, and IUI which both failed. We then decided to take a break and got pregnant naturally.
4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): None for both.
5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): OB with both. Nothing worked when we were with RE trying for #2, so when we got pregnant naturally, just went back to my OB.
6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? Take care of yourself first and foremost!

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: My DS was conceived on month 13 but cycle ... 6 I think of TTC

2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) and/or loss history: I had PCOS

3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): Metformin and progesterone

4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): None

5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): OB who is a fertility specialist but not an RE

6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? Be kind to yourself.

After my Infertility diagnosis with TTC LO #1 my fertility really changed and a conceived my subsequent 3 pregnancies really easily (pregnancy number 3/4 was an early loss and I am currently 9 weeks pregnant). Don't lose hope for the future. Some people's fertility really changes after their first pregnancy.

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: For take home baby #3 - A little complicated -- I had 4 chemical pregnancies then got and stayed pregnant but had a TFMR at 18.5 weeks for fetal anomalies. We waited 4 months to TTC again. Our first month NTNP we got and stayed pregnant. I'm now almost 28 weeks with a seemingly healthy baby boy.

2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) and/or loss history: See above. After the 4 chemicals (and we also actually one prior miscarriage before DS1), I had a repeat loss panel done. My numbers came back normal with the exception of AMH - my AMH was very low for age 35 - .66. My mother had early menopause so I wasn't totally surprised.

3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): None

4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): None

5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): My OB did the loss panel for me and with the low AMH referred me to an RE. I made an appt but never had to go because we got pregnant with the pregnancy that we ultimately had to terminate. When we eventually decided to NTNP again, we did not pursue the RE. We just hadn't even gotten that far yet, mentally.

6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? The loss road is a long road and no one can really understand it unless they've traveled it. It is lonely and isolating. There were many times that I wanted to throw in the towel and accept our family as it was. But in the end, I knew that the only thing standing in the way of me and another baby was fear of more heartbreak and loss. Having endured a late pregnancy loss (and having survived it), I knew that I could get through something awful again if I needed to. Ultimately, I did not want fear to rule my life. I'm not a success story yet, but I hope to be one soon.

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: oddly, 18th for both DS1 and DS2.

2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) and/or loss history: endometriosis and PCOS. For my first, we just could not get pregnant. When trying for my second, I had a chemical and a blighted ovum before my sticky bean.

3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): IVF for both

4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): IVF for both

5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): RE, acupuncture

6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? Infertility is a long, lonely road. Find people you feel comfortable confiding in. We told a lot of people and it made me feel better (and also helped avoid those awkward...when are you going to have kids questions). Don't be afraid to question your doctors or push for something you want. Also don't be afraid to get a second (or more) opinion. Somewhat embarrassingly, I wound up seeing 5 different practices over the 5 years of fertility treatments but I have no regrets about any of the switches I made, just some of the places I stayed too long). Also - don't be afraid to try therapy. When trying for #2 I got to a dark place. It really helped going and speaking to someone.

1. The cycle # you got your BFP: probably like 20 or so

2. Your/Your partner's diagnosis (pcos, dor, low count, etc.) and/or loss history: Severe Endometriosis (stage IV), AMA, slight DOR

3. Any medications you took on your BFP cycle (clomid, femara, injectibles, etc): Injectables, progesterone, HCG trigger

4. Any procedures that were performed on your BFP cycle (IUI, IVF, FET, etc): IUI, plus surgery to remove large endometriosis cysts from my ovaries

5. Doctors you saw (OB-GYN, RE, Urologist, etc): RE

6. Any advice or words of encouragement you want to share with those of still trying? My number one piece of advice would be to follow your intuition. I knew something was wrong because I'd had severe cramping with periods since I was about 14. No doctors had suspected or even mentioned endometriosis. It was so severe that there's 0% chance I would have ever gotten pregnant if the cysts remained on my ovaries. They were completely blocking the speed from reaching the egg. I followed my gut and finally was diagnosed by an amazing RE. The first cycle after recovery from my surgery, we proceeded with injectables and IUI and found out we were pregnant 12 days later. If you feel like there's an underlying problem that hasn't yet been diagnosed and/or treated, don't wait. Take action and find an RE. OBGYNs don't have all the answers when it comes to fertility. Reproductive endocrinologists do!!

Love reading all of these!

@periwinklebee: I ended up preferring the OB. After my 2nd loss, I asked my midwife if I could get further testing and she told me they usually wait until 3 losses. After my chemical, I called and told them I'd had a 3rd loss, and they basically told me it didn't "count" because it was too early and that next time, I should wait to test until my period was a full 2 weeks late. It really rubbed me the wrong way. The next time I got pregnant, I happened to have an annual check-up with my PCP scheduled right around when I got my bfp, and when I mentioned my losses to her, she suggested that I start on progesterone (which the midwives had not mentioned). She called the OB in my file (the one who had done my D&C) to get the prescription, and then I basically just switched over to the OB at that point. The OB and midwives work in the same office, but they have different attitudes about certain things and after several losses, I ended up preferring a bit more intervention as opposed to less. Like, a few times my OB had trouble finding the heartbeat using the doppler, and she mentioned if she didn't find it soon, I could have an ultrasound (the midwives would have just been like, "oh well"). My OB also told me that she would have done testing on me after only 2 losses. I don't know if it's because my OB is actually the one doing D&Cs often, and the midwives don't, but she was way more understanding of my loss history than the midwives were.