Keep trying

Hi Nathalie. That sucks it's taking so long! Have you tried tracking your basal body temperature? It's a hassle, but it does show if you're actually ovulating. The ovulation tests don't show that. A visit to the doctor is scary, but maybe it's something simple (like a cyst/hormonal imbalance) that can be resolved quickly. It would be a shame if you then delay getting checked.

I find those home tests a bit tricky. I think it's better to go to a doctor then. They're reliable and can take action right away if something's wrong. If the test says it's not right, you'd have to go to the doctor anyway and retest. But I understand it's all scary, and a test feels like a 'safer' step.

Good luck, I hope you'll have a baby soon!

@Naat91 We also tried on our own for over a year at first, but after all the disappointments, we took the step to see the GP. I really wanted to keep trying on my own, but I just needed to know for myself first if there was even a chance it could work out.

In the end, we were referred to the hospital for tests, and it turned out my husband had 0 sperm cells in his semen. You don't expect that, of course; he's a healthy young man (28 back then), had never been sick, and you can't notice anything like that during intercourse.

Naturally, our world collapsed at that moment, but eventually, he went under the knife, and through TESE, they managed to retrieve 8 straws of sperm. Then we went into the ICSI process. Unfortunately, the first two transfers resulted in early miscarriages, but with the third, we're now 14 weeks pregnant.

Of course, it's entirely up to you how you handle things, but I'm glad I took that step back then because we never would have gotten pregnant naturally ;-)

Anyway, wishing you lots of success and hoping your wish comes true soon

That’s so frustrating when it takes so long. We went for the first two years. I had very irregular cycles back then and needed Clomid to get pregnant. However, this led to overstimulation, which made it really tough for me. Eventually, I stopped taking Clomid, and in a regular cycle that lasted a whole 2.5 months, I got pregnant with my son, even though we had already given up hope. Now, with the second one, it felt like my body had truly reset. Cycles between 5 and 6 weeks, always with ovulation. Stopped the pill in May 2018, pregnant in October, unfortunately had an early miscarriage in December, and now I’m 12 weeks pregnant again. So never lose hope! And definitely make an appointment with your GP. They’re so advanced in technology these days that most couples eventually do get pregnant. No matter how small the chance seems at first. Stay strong, girl

Hey Nathalie

We went to the gynecologist after trying for a year for the first tests. That included a sperm analysis, a blood test for STIs and to check if I was ovulating, and an internal ultrasound to see if the uterus and ovaries looked okay. Everything turned out fine, and we were told to try on our own for another year, but I kept feeling like something wasn’t right. Like the sperm couldn’t reach the egg or the egg couldn’t reach the sperm or something like that.

After two years with no result, we were allowed to come back, and they immediately started talking about IUI (insemination) with hormones. A hysterosalpingogram (HSG) was still an option, but that’s usually done after a few attempts. But after a little bit of pushing (before I had to start poking myself with needles, I wanted to have this checked first), they agreed to do it first. It turned out at least one fallopian tube was blocked.. we’re not sure about the other one, but it did seem to pass with a little pressure. According to the gynecologist, this only affects the success rate by a few percent, but I really feel like something isn’t quite right. And maybe there’s more adhesions from the C-section and hernia repair, but they’re not looking into that right now.

I’m now in the first cycle after the HSG and the last natural cycle before the IUI.

If you have the feeling that something isn’t right, don’t hesitate to go to your GP. After 1.5 years, they’ll calmly refer you to the gynecologist. The medical system moves very slowly, and before you know it, a few months have passed before you can even get an appointment and receive the test results.

Nathalie, the gynecologist, goes by protocols and percentages. There's not much you can push for there. I actually wanted to schedule an appointment for further tests during the busy period at our company, but the second year hadn't ended yet, so I could only get in at most 2 weeks earlier.
I was allowed to see the uterus scan before we started the IUI, even though the team didn't really see it as necessary. So you do have to clearly express what you want.

Hey,

Get a sperm sample tested as soon as possible. That's actually the first test you should do because it's the least invasive. Quick results and if everything's fine there, then you can optionally have the woman tested too. But the tests for the woman are more complicated, so always check the man first quickly. I wouldn't wait. You've already waited so long. And what's the big deal about ejaculating into a cup

Look, that's positive!
Hopefully it won't be necessary, but if it is, at least the 'ball' is rolling. Good luck!

I have my appointment on Saturday, it's exciting!

There are 3 (4) criteria in a semen analysis: the volume, the shape, and the motility. And to a lesser extent, the amount of the droplet. There can be a lot present, but if they, for example, all lack a tail or have an abnormal head, it doesn't help you. They can be numerous and have perfect shape, but if they don't move... yup, you have nothing to gain from it. That's why a test in the lab is useful. My husband called the clinic and made an appointment for sample delivery. The sample needs to get there as soon as possible to ensure the temperature stays correct. So I'd actually just check if you can have a sample analyzed at your clinic. I don't know if the GP can do this.