TTC tips

[Lavendartea]

Trying naturally as ivf won't be an option until coronavirus settles.

Any lifestyle tips etc that could be a help?

[ttcemmie]

Well..... if all the advice I've been given is to be believed then..... relax.... get drunk.... don't think about it. Yeah..... no specific advice as nothing seems to help!, but this is also the method I will be trying. xxxx

[LizzieBW]

Hi Lavendartea,

We are following the same plan to continue ttc naturally whilst waiting for IVF to commence.

From trying for over 4 years, unsuccessfully I can honestly say it doesn't matter significantly what you do or don't do with your lifestyle (with the exception of excess Alcohol or drugs etc). A few years ago I put waay too much pressure on myself to be exercising more than my body was comfortable, I restricted myself from Alcohol and treats completely and still didn't fall pregnant so felt thoroughly miserable and stressed. I guess my point is only do what makes YOU feel good, positive and healthy 💪the only thing I've learned is a must is folic acid and vitamin D or a joint prenatal vitamin! 💊

This also depends on the reason for your infertility. For example, in my case I have endometriosis so I am now in a good routine to maintain very low Alcohol, no caffeine, anti-inflammatory style diet which helps avoid flare ups and will keep chances of re-growth lower. Do you have a specific diagnosis for infertility, if you don't mind me asking?

The bit I find tough with ttc naturally with diagnosed infertility is we have no way of knowing what is happening around ovulation and fertilisation (the only "comfort" that IVF offers). I have always thought, wouldn't it be amazing if someone one day invents a mini magnified ultrasound that women suffering infertility can use to track the journey of the egg around ovulation, to time sex and to see whether the egg actually fertilises or whether the embryo implants...just me? 😅🤣 x

[Lavendartea in reply to LizzieBW]

I get what you mean, I can be a stress pit so don't want to add to that.

It's a mix of things for us, I do have mild endometriosis but consultant isn't too concerned about that. I also had a uterine septum which was removed before Christmas so hopefully that's helped.

There was male factor too but hubby had lost some weight and is less stressed in relation to his work so like to think there are some things on our side.

Interestingly I didn't know that caffeine could aggrevate endometriosis.

[LizzieBW in reply to Lavendartea]

Ah it sounds like you've got things working in your favour now, like you said - brilliant 🙂 that's great your Hubby is also in a better place 👍

Yes about the caffeine, dairy, Alcohol, gluten and many more! Worth looking into for anyone with endometriosis. Of course we should trust our own fertility Doctors but equally I worry some Doctors overlook the impact of endo and the "hostile environment" it creates. I am thinking of paying for NK cells and immunology testing as some research suggests endometriosis "attacks" embryos, treating them as foreign or harmful cells. Not intending to add a new stress to the mix for you but just sharing my focus at the moment. X

[cggregory in reply to LizzieBW]

OMG, that mini magnified ultrasound idea is genius! ❤️

[Afrohair]

No tips other than to try not to think about it and relax when I started tracking it got me in a dark hole so me and my partner decided not to.but in all honesty I do have a period tracker on my phone and that’s it .i don’t want ttc to take over my life so I’ve said what will be will be.i do sometimes just think when we’ve done the deed it’s just not going to happen I have endometriosis.but sometimes I have a little bit of faith the real bummer is when your period comes but I have to just hope it will happen one day I’m waiting for what could be a year and half for surgery which even then could affect my amh so have to accept whatever happens

[LizzieBW in reply to Afrohair]

I am in a similar position as you. I had the surgery last summer and was told it would unavoidably affect my ovarian reserve but they wouldn't proceed with my IVF treatment until I had my endometriosis removed and cleared up so went ahead. It's so sh*tty you're having to wait so long for your surgery 😔 I just wanted to say I relate to your experience and feelings around ttc naturally with endo, allowing hopes to get up with each cycle and then devastated when period arrives xx

[Afrohair in reply to LizzieBW]

They are supposed to protect your ovary as much as possible.did you have cysts ?as far as I know I don’t have cysts but I think their is risks just from having surgery in that area.i know it’s terrible when you get your hopes up but you have to have hope it will work next cycle x

[LizzieBW in reply to Afrohair]

My surgeon was brilliant, a colleague of a close friend so I trusted him fully. I did have a very large endometrioma and endo tissue covering one full ovary so we were unsure whether he would be able to salvage it and did 🙂 yes, I agree we need to keep hoping it will happen. Wishing you luck 🤞 xx

[Afrohair in reply to LizzieBW]

That’s good you had a good surgeon .wish you all the luck in the world x