TTC aged 33 - on month 7 now - is there any light at the end of the tunnel?

[Lookingforhope26]

Been TTC for nearly 7 months now. Had MMC in January. I’m 33. Been taking folate, vitamin d, coq10, multivitamins, limited caffeine, no alcohol. No idea what else to do but nothing seems to be working. Boyfriend has just purchased conceive plus vitamins for us both plus the lube to try and help.

I had baby with previous partner aged 29, only took one unprotected incident for that to happen.

Took 3 months to conceive baby which miscarried - but on the month used OPKs it worked. Have been using OPKs every month since miscarriage.

partner is 37, he doesn’t have any children/never tried until relationship with me.

so many questions and worries running through my mind…

am I too old now?
is something wrong with my body?
do I need to spend all my savings on IVF?

Just don’t know what to do. It seems everyone else I know has conceived quickly which doesn’t help, and many on second or third child now, even people much older than me.

i feel hopeless now, I want a baby (preferably more than 1!) with current partner so badly. It seems impossible.

please let me know if there’s anything you recommend or any tips.

thank you.

Hey 🫶🏻 I’m the same age as you and we’ve been TTC for 5 months now. Have you had any fertility tests or checks at all? I’m currently 11dpo but if this month is not successful I think we’re first going to look at semen analysis for my partner (similar age as yours) see how that comes back and then I’d like to get some things potentially looked at too depending on the outcome of that. Hopefully we’ll both see those positives soon 🤞🏻 it sounds to me like you’re doing all the right things! This is the first cycle I’ve tracked with OPKs and everything was timed well so I’m just trying to be hopeful this is the month x

Sometimes it does just take a long time for no obvious reason. It took me and my husband 17 cycles to conceive and I'm now feeding my 2 month old while I write this. I was 31 and he was 32 when we finally fell pregnant. All tests had come back normal and my cycles were regular, I still don't know why it took so long.

Keep doing what you're doing with the vitamins and limiting caffeine and alcohol. It took a good 6 months of me talking coq10, and a few months of eating clean and healthily before we conceived. And I can't say for sure if this is what helped but I took cough medicine for mucus coughs the month I fell pregnant, it helps to loosen the cervical mucus which helps the sperm along.

I know it seems like forever when you're in the trenches and it's so tough, but keep being consistent with the changes you've made and I really hope it works for you soon!

Have you cut out plastic and phalalate use as much as possible?

Not had any checks yet. I’m having 21 day progesterone test next month. I ordered Hertility test - but when I tried to get blood from my finger it was impossible so have to try again. Dr said I have to try 18 months before she refers me which seems ridiculously long.

is your partner going to get nhs or private semen analysis? As was wondering if the nhs did semen analysis after 6 months? X

Aw, wow. 17 months, that must’ve been so hard, but worth it in the end 🩷

I eat a lot of healthy food (I’ve been vegan since 17) but maybe I need to cut out treats and eat cleaner?

I had been taking mucus cough medicine when last fell pregnant but I’ve took it often during ttc recently but never worked so kind of given up with that!

ironically when I first got pregnant, I had been going out drinking loads and always had about 3 cups of coffee a day! I was fit and healthy otherwise mind. I was out drinking shots the week before I found out too as had no idea! However, I was nearly 5 years younger when I conceived so maybe that has made a massive difference!

Half of fertility problems are male related so there’s no point worrying about anything you’re doing until your DP is tested.

If you’re paying for Hertility then he can pay for his own much easier test.

Oh, interesting! I’d actually been reading about Hertility recently. Likely private as I think based on my age the NHS would want us to be trying for at least a year before they offer any help and now we’re ready I don’t want to wait any longer than we need to. (I knew it could take a while and that 5 months isn’t actually a long time and still within normal range but I don’t understand how people “accidentally” get pregnant when we’re doing all the right things and it’s not happening as quickly as others!)

18 months is a long time! It’s typically 6 months if you’re over 35 and 12 months if under.

as one of the pps said the male fertility plays a huge part so I’d definitely go down the route of partner having semen analysis first as it’s less expensive than all the female tests!

Ugh, I relate to this situation so much - 36 and on month 7 now. Tests (private) all came back totally normal with markers all toward the high end, so no reason it’s not working.

I’m not cutting out treats, all caffeine etc, because that’s just not sustainable for me if this goes on for much longer. No advice here, just solidarity.

Hi OP,

When I was 33, whilst trying to conceive baby number two I conceived on my first cycle but I miscarried about 3 weeks after, and strangely enough it was in January too, so very similar to your story!

Me and DH started trying again straight away (whilst using OPKs) and got frustrated as nothing was happening. We had conceived on our first cycle with our first baby (and obviously our second pregnancy) ao we weren’t used to it not working and as the negatives kept coming we didn’t understand why.

I joined the conception forum on Mumsnet (theu have monthly thread for people trying to conceive) and the support helped massively and it made me see how common it was for pregnancy to take many months and that getting pregnancy straight away was a luxury that many women didn’t experience.

Me and my husband continued having sex around my fertile periods but ultimately it took 8 months before I conceived again after the miscarriage (so there is still hope for you).

So if you haven’t wandered over to the conception boards yet I recommend it as it was incredibly helpful for me.

The best of luck to you and I hope you get your positive test result soon.

I’m the same age and currently 10w 2d pregnant… trying for 3 years! And its happened naturally when I finally let my body relax and stopped putting so much stress into conceiving. Please don’t lose hope, you’re definitely not too old!
your partner can get a semen analysis through his GP if thats a concern at all.
You need to question your GP again though as it should only be 12 months of trying before they refer you when you are over the age of 30.

Hi OP I am 34 and been TTC our first for 10 months with no success at all not even one BFP. I think the hard thing is the mystery, when it gets this far you don't know if there is something wrong (as of course you fear there is) or perhaps it will happen eventually but just hasn't yet. We are booked in to speak to a gynaecologist as I do already have a known fibroid although it shouldn't be affecting fertility as far as they know.
I know that 7 months is long when you're trying and keep getting disappointed but it is still within the window of what is normal. The fact you've conceived before is also really promising, I'm hoping your next one sticks. 🤞 Have you discussed your worries and experiences with your doctor yet?

Hi OP
Im 33 and have been trying for my second for over 3.5 years now.
Tried everything, bbt tracking, opks, vitamins etc etc
Eventually spoke to the docs and go referred for fertility tests which all came back as normal surprisingly.
So unsure why we cant get pregnant - officially diagnosed with unexplained secondary infertility.
Ive seen others have their 2nd, 3rd and 4th baby all in the 3.5 years Ive been trying and I havent event got a hint of a bfp.
As youve been trying got 7 months, your gp may suggest waiting for 12 months before you can be referred for more tests. If you are able to afford then proceed for private fertility testing.