How long did you ttc naturally before going more aggressive?

ellajune2012 · September 2012

I'm not sure I'm quite ready to move on to more aggressive methods... yet... but I'm just wondering for those of you who started injections/IVF/etc... when did you know it was time?

Right now: I use opks and track my temp (most of the time), but that's it really (well this cycle I'm using preseed... not sure that counts as an 'aid').

It's been a while though with no luck and though I think at least some of that had to do with the ginormous fibroids that were taken out last spring, and I know from the m/c last December that I *can* get pregnant.... as you ladies know time is not going backwards & I'm not 20-something anymore... so I'm just trying to weigh my options. I don't even fully know what they all are... so any of your experiences would be helpful.

robbensm · September 2012

Well think the first thing is to have a conversation with your doctor and possibly a consult with an RE. At 35+ we aren't spring chickens anymore and time is a precious commodity for us. With that being said, just because you find out what the options are does not mean that you have to pull the trigger that very second. Finally you should find out what your insurance will cover & what you can afford OOP because that may affect your timeline too. Hang in there!

babystoli · September 2012

I had a follow-up to my original post-m/c appt. last week. At first I was annoyed (since that would have been the week of my anatomy scan)... but... it was good to have some questions answered. She also was much more proactive than my original doctor (who is leaving their practice, and he was wonderful, just conservative in his approach). The new doc said if I am not pregnant again by December, to come in again to discuss options & everything. This will be 3 months of actually TTC after miscarriage & 5 months after the miscarriage.

jbelle · September 2012

We have been trying naturally for two years (I started at age 34). At one year (and into age 35), we did all the testing and everything came back fine.

I wasn't yet ready a year ago to move on to medication, but now I am ready. After a few more tests thiscycle with my OBGYN's office, I will (almost assuredly) move on to medicated cycles with an RE (age 36). Why now? Who knows exactly. I guess I needed to give it the old college try before I moved on?

From the get-go, we have continually reserved the right to a) decline something that seems like too much and b) to change our minds and opt to try it. The decision you make tomorrow does not have to be the one you made yesterday. It's okay to change your mind. Don't want to get more aggressive now? Perfect. Want to get super aggressive next month? Go for it.

There are lots of different roads that can get you to the same destination; take the one that's right for you when it's right for you.

I would make an appointment with an RE (hilarious words from someone who hasn't done that yet!) and find out your options. It sounds like you're like me and "knowing is half the battle." (GI Joe!)

Best of luck! I hope for you and I both that we get pregnant this cycle and these questions can be dismissed.

ETA: So sorry about your miscarriage!

SCSmith2011 · September 2012

We tried for 8 months before trying Clomid. I only took Clomid for 3 cycles and hated it so much that I just needed a break before going back to my RE. We just met with him a couple of weeks ago and it looks like IVF is next for us. But I can't bring myself to pull the trigger on that just yet. So we are going it naturally until at least December and then make a decision about IVF.

ocho2002 · September 2012

With DS #1, we tried 6 months and then went to an RE. I got PG on my first round of Clomid 50 mg. We are trying for #2 so we went right to RE. 3 rounds of Clomid 50 mg. I responded well but all BFN's. We just did another round of Clomid with a trigger and IUI. Waiting to take a HPT next week.

MoBlair · September 2012

We just started this month TTC. I think we will give it a year, until we seek help.

happywifemomofone · September 2012

We started TTC at age 40. We tried for one year before having a consult with a RE. 3 years later, we wish that we had gone to RE after 6 months-as time is a precious commodity. Guideline is usually that if you are over 35, see RE after no BFP in 6 months. If nothing else, you can get a better understanding of the options and their costs. We are in a holding pattern while we save, not where we'd like to be at our age.....but had we known all our options earlier we might have been able to plan better? I have also found that hanging around here is very useful to seeing what your options are. Our RE recommended that we go straight to IVF, because of my age. But most ladies seem to do Femara, IUI, then IVF.

lmielocl1 · September 2012

I think the guidelines say for women over 35, to see a specialist after 6 months of TTC - but that is just a guideline and all depends on your situation & of course being ready!

For us, we went to a RE after 1 year with DS#1 (although I wish I had gone earlier since it took us 3 years) and we went right away with DS#2. We lost DS#2 in June at 18w and are back at the RE now TTC again.

As mentioned, you could always talk to a specialist and get their opinions on your options & get the testing done -- and move forward when you are ready.

I would highly recommend if you have not already to have a SA done for your DH! It is something that can be done early to help rule out any issues on his side.

Wishing you the best!

Alicialgb · September 2012

We got married in December (we're both 40) and per my OB, went to see an RE after 3 months of trying. I'm so glad we did!! Found out that at age 43 you can't use your own eggs. :-(

We were both tested (took forever, also a good reason to go early!) and were listed as "unexlplained fertility." DH's sperm report wasn't great but it wasn't impossible. Due to my thin uterine lining, I couldn't take Clomid, I was put on Letrozole 2.5mg and the trigger. It didn't work. Second and third tries were canned after a round of cysts and the Letrozole was upped to 5mg and my ovaries didn't cooperate. The Dr. decided to give it one more try on the 5mg before going to injectables and it worked! I'm convinced that it worked the 2nd time (maybe unrealistically) because my DH's numbers took a nose dive but the Dr. on call (who said not to worry because after washing the numbers improved and he was putting them where they needed to go) had me stay on bedrest after the procedure AND did the IUI on a full bladder (said it tilted the uterus to a better angle). I was also immediately put on progesterone and I continue to take a baby asprin daily until 10 weeks.

While I know it's frustrating to go through the RE process, trying with no success is just as bad. I wanted to know what was going on and be able to make decisions to our benefit. Good luck to you!!

AlexisLA · September 2012

We started trying when I was 36. After about 8 months we decided to see an RE and are going through tests now, all of which are coming back normal so far. We just started using preseed and I started temping, cleaning up my diet more and getting acupuncture. I am 37 now. Depending on how the tests come back, we'll probably try any recommended meds for a few months. If that doesn't work we'll go to IUI I'll be 37 and a half by then. I don't want to do IVF. Our insurance covers most fertility treatments. We'd like to have 2 children so that impacts our timing as well. Do what feels right for you but as the others mentioned it's a good idea to get tested and know your options sooner rather than later.

Snapdragon333 · September 2012

I finally made an appointment to see a RE after one year of trying. I really wish that we had gone earlier. I had been temping also and using OPKs. I didn't know that just because my temps had a normal pattern and was getting positive OPKs that something else could be wrong...it may have been my endometriosis affecting things. I didn't even know that I had it until I had an ultrasound done at the RE's office which showed that I had an endometrioma.

Even though you're not ready to get aggressive yet, you could at least get the basic labs drawn and ultrasounds to see if there are any other problems. Once I made the first appointment with the RE, I had to wait a month or two to even see him. There might be other unexpected bumps along the way that could delay things for months (like having surgery for endometriosis). I REALLY wish I had gone sooner...

chucktgirl · September 2012

happywifemomofone:
We started TTC at age 40. We tried for one year before having a consult with a RE. 3 years later, we wish that we had gone to RE after 6 months-as time is a precious commodity. Guideline is usually that if you are over 35, see RE after no BFP in 6 months. If nothing else, you can get a better understanding of the options and their costs. We are in a holding pattern while we save, not where we'd like to be at our age.....but had we known all our options earlier we might have been able to plan better? I have also found that hanging around here is very useful to seeing what your options are. Our RE recommended that we go straight to IVF, because of my age. But most ladies seem to do Femara, IUI, then IVF.

Pretty much the same as the above poster. We tried for almost 3 very uneducated years before seeking out a RE two months ago. Wish I had done it from the very first moment of TTC at age 38.

diana.filipi · September 2012

We didn't use any protection or birth control for years. When we married in 2006 we really took notice of that fact. In 2007 we began doing IUIs but after having 7 failed ones and no insurance for IF we took a breather. My husband got a job that does provide IF coverage and we started doing IVF right away, that was 2009. Since then of course we've done it again and now I have in process on our third IVf journey.

How long did you ttc naturally before going more aggressive?

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