Unexplained secondary infertility and options

[bs456]

My DH & I have been trying to coceive without success for about 1.5 years without BC and with timed intercourse for 6 months.We have a 3.5 year old DD that we got pregnant with the first month we TTC.  Not so lucky the second time.  My doctor suggested I make sure nothing was wrong with a infertility specialist. We did and he said he had no idea why were not getting pregnant. Sperm count good, tubes opened up, and it looks like I’m ovulating.  He said we had unexplained infertility.

I just turned 35 and now I don’t have forever to wait. But the Dr. was really pushing for us to try AI and/or IVF soon. He said that given that we have been trying 1 year, our odds of conceiving are only 2 percent. I thought that percentage seemed really low, but what do I know.  B/c hubby and I are not sure we want to use IVF/AI, I asked the doctor whether we could use some less drastic measure like Clomid. Dr. said he would bypass that step b/c we would only increase our odds of conceiving from 2 to maybe 5 percent at best.

Given that 1) we clearly can get pregnant, and 2) no one knows why we cannot now, and 3) we’ve only been trying hard for 6 months, is there any reason why we should be in a panic to do AI/IVF now?  Are the dr’s extremely low percentages on TTC after 1 year correct?

[mamichina]

hey first of all i would like to say that im sorry for what your going thru i know how hard it is!! I just bought the product fertilaid and fertilcm i have heard very good reviews about the product so maybe you should too!! you should try this before you do something big like that!! well good luck on your decision!! baby dusttttt to your family!!!!

[hmaine]

I second the notion that those rates the doc is telling you seem low to me. I'm 31 with primary unexplained infertility and my doc wants me to try three rounds of IUI with injectables before he'd even consider IVF. He is my second doc- the first one advised the same thing. Maybe a second opinion would be a good idea.

[kris71]

You and i have very similiar stories. I too am struggling with secondary infertility. I also got pregnant fast with my son (who is now 2 1/2). When he turned 1, we decided to try for #2. Little did we know a year and a half later I would still not be pregnant. I also have unexplained infertility although I am a little older than you - I'm 38 so dr's have been pretty much blaming my age for the inferitlity. I get my period every 27 days like clockwork, I get a positive on my OPK tests every month and i get EWCM- so i'm almost 99% sure I ovulate every month. I have gotten 2 HSGs, laproscopic surgery - which showed a corpus luteum cyst so my obgyn told me i'm definitely ovulating and that is why he didn't want to put me on clomid- he said i didn't need it), blood tests, my husband has been tested etc. everything comes back normal. My FSH on my last blood test came back slightly borderline but the blood test i had 2 months prior was normal so who knows. anyway - after timing sex perfectly for over a year and still not getting pregnant and also trying acupuncture with no success,  I finally sought out an RE when I couldn't take my OBGYN telling me to just be patient anymore. Especially when friends were telling me they were pregnant and i had been trying to get pregnant way before they were even ready to have another baby! My RE also gave me a brief lesson in percentages of getting pregnant and based on my age etc etc - it could technically take me 7 yrs to get pregnant again. Of course, i do not have that time. anyway - based on everything -  he suggested to go the mildest route which is clomid/IUI - which i am doing this cycle. My IUI is scheduled for this friday. My advice to you is if you really don't feel comfortable with AI/IUI then don't do it but based on everything it doesn't hurt to try it unless you are strapped for money and/or don't have infertility insurance. The thing i really like about the procedure so far is the monitoring. The ultrasounds keep track of eggs and size and uterus lining so if there is on little thing slightly off - they can help you fix it with medication. I know clomid dries out cm and can thin the uterine lining.  i am definitely not an expert but i feel better being proactive about this (i also have  a clock ticking in my ear). I never had any idea that waiting till we were ready for kids would then turn into us having to struggle to get pregnant. The best of luck to you!!

[ita17]

I think your RE is pushing WAY too fast....JMO though.  You're only 35 have conceived once already, you've ben checked out, so why  RUSH into a pretty invasive & EXPENSIVE procedure in such a hurry???
I've been pregnant 6x's & have carried 3 healthy kids, & all those times it was on the first try too.  Now things have slow down a bit ;-/  I've ttc about 6x's naturally & 3 x's w/Gonal-f (meds) currently waiting in my LOVELY 2WW!!!!!
But now I have only one ovary/tube & even though I got pregnant already once since, & I'm 40, I still strongly feel I CAN & WILL get pregnant & deliver another (or two;) healthy baby(ies;) soon!

I would look into herbs if I were you, see a good acupuncturist, learn how to use acupressure on yourself, eat well & if you're going to try meds, maybe a low dose of injectable, or clomid ( I did the CCCT a few months ago, & clomid messed w/my cycle....I didn't like it at all)

Here's a little tip, in case you didn't already know, but have your DH take 1000-2000 of Vit. C & you take some too like 500-1000, preferably through out the day & drink LOTS of grapefruit juice during your "fertile" days & it will increase your EWCM TONS, & that can really help w/fertility;)
Good luck!

[msteri]

Even if you would only increase your chance to 5 percent, if it's what you're more comfortable with, I would at least give the less drastic measure a shot for 2-3 months.  At least you'll know that it won't work before trying more drastic measures, which aren't guaranteed to work either. Did he give a percentage of the success rate for AI and/or IVF given that you have already been trying for a year?  Also, it isn't very expensive to try Clomid for a few months.  I would go with what you feel more comfortable with.  Don't let the doctor push you into something you're not ready for yet.