Help

[Steph F]

My name is Steph, I am 26 and have been told that the only way we can concieve is if we have IVF.

I went to my doc a year ago as we had been trying for 6-8 months and nothing had happened. He suggested blood tests, which showed that I had a low Progesterone level. After trying Clomid for a number of months I still didn't fall pg.

He referred me to a specialist, and after more blood tests was told that our only hope was IVF. I tried to get a 2nd opinion from my mothers gynae to see if he would examine me to see if there were any other problems, but he told us that they don't do that anymore - all tests are done through blood tests. Can this be true? Can they really tell that everything is hunky dory by meer blood tests? In my heart, this doesn't feel right. I feel as if we are being fobbed off and being made to feel that the only way is to pay the mega-bucks IVF costs. [The latest is that the doc said that from my last lot of blood tests I don't have PCOS, but at least 2 doctors (1 being a specialist) said that I do - I'm confused )

My hubbies sperm was tested, and the doc said that he has abnormal sperm. He has plenty there, they are just not normal.

I mean, I don't mind paying, but after reading through the pack the hospital sent us it scares me. So much can go wrong!

Does anyone know of any other solution? (I don't mind suggestions of faith healers, or supernatural stuff like that - I'll try anything!!!)

Thanx

[ANGELA]

Hi Steph,
thought i would start by telling you my story we have been trying to concieve now for 3 years we had the blood tests and sperm tests done by our docter to start with all mine were fine but my partners count changed each time but we were told that we should be able to get pg naturally we were refered to our local hospital they did yet more blood tests and sperm tests with the same result i also had a hysotopinagram (not sure iv spelt that right) its an xray were they put dye into your tubes to see if they are blocked or not mine are fine they eventually refered us to kings college hospital were we have had our assesment and just b4 xmas had our first consultation were we were told exactly why we cant get pg my partner has normal count normal motility but has 98% abnormal sperm we were basically told we would not get pg naturally therefore iui would not work either i was hoping it would as i.v.f scares the s**t out of my we were told the only way we would get pg was by having icsi same as i.v.f just what they do in the lab is different, your prob sounds almost the same as mine have. we are now on the waiting list for icsi which i have been told i will have this year still scares me but as i see it its our only hope i do have a daughter from a previous relationship shes 7 now and is desperste for a brother or sister. what hospital are you at hun ?? i cant help you with other remedies or anything but i can be here to listen and help all i can. I am also 26 from your post it seems things have moved pretty quick for you or did you go private? we are nhs and kings have been wonderful so far.
anyway guess im going on a bit i hope to hear from you soon
Love Ang

if you need a good moan hun this is def the place to do it all the girls on here wonderful

[phil]

hi steph, welcome to the site. i'm sure you'll get a lot of advice and support from everyone here. i'm sorry to here about the time you've had. it sounds as though you've not been given much option at all.

i had unexplained infertility and hubbie had lowish sperm count. we went straight from investgations to ivf and icsi but sadly it didn't work for us although i am now pregnant. after a lot of disappointment i decided that i needed to know more about what could be done. so i'll tell you what i did and maybe some bits might be useful to you.

*read a book called natural solutions to infertility by marilynn grenville
*we both had a consultation with a nutrionist to get advice on diet and deficiencies
*i started acupunture with someone who specialises in fertility
* both of us took supplements, me for fsh and dh for sperm quality (both seen really good improvement in about 4 months)
*i changed to a high protein and organic diet
* reduced alcohol
* had monitored cycles to observe what happens at various stages and found i had low progesterone at a critical time in my cycle, which wasn't detected in the two years of regular blood tests. also discovered that i ovulate late into the cycle, which i wasn't picking up from the home ovu tests.
* used cyclogest (progesterone) after ovulation every month as i didn't produce enough to sustain early pregnancy.

steph, i don't know too much about the affects of pcos but there are girls here that do. if i can answer any questions then just ask.

best wishes,

phil

[Steph F]

Ang - thanx

It does sound exactly the same! Weird.

We are with Derriford Hosp in Plymouth. They have been really lovely about everything. Do you have to pay for yours or is it free?

Our consultation (when I book it) is going to cost £120.

Cheers

Steph xx

[ANGELA]

Hi Steph,
No we dont have to pay ours is all through the nhs hun luckily we shouldnt have to wait to long if they had told us 3 years or something we would have had to seriously think about going private can you not go nhs in plymouth?
love ang

[Steph F]

That is through NHS - that's why I couldn't understand why we would be charged for a consultation. Do you know when you are going to start the procedures?

I am going to a faith healer 2nite with my mum, you never know it might help, stranger things have happened!! I've even bought some rune stones coz one of them is the rune for fertility, I thought perhaps if I kept that under my pillow it might increase the energy, or something, and aid conception. Fingers crossed

xxx

[Traci]

Phil What suppliments were you on ? Ive tried angus castus and Cameron has tried zinc!