Hey friends, just wanted to post a clear place for the dialogue to continue. If anyone decides to start the TTC 6+ Months thread, you may want to get ideas from others here about exactly what folks would want to see included.
It would be good to get input from others how the first 1-6 months of TTC differs from where you are now (6+ months). For me, since I was > 35, with pre-existing diagnosis, at 6 months we were already starting IF testing / discussing potential treatments. Some weeks went by really fast, and others dragged on. There were weeks I wanted to ask a lot of questions / talk about my feelings / what's next, and other weeks that just I needed to internalize.
I know that we don't have to post to Dailies if we don't want to, but I also think the Dailies are a good way to get to know the people who are in the same boat as you are (the TTC boat). However, a TTC 6+ boat is more of a transatlantic passage. What's the best way to get to know ppl who are sharing this passage with you?
We also have folks on here who have experienced losses in their TTC journey so far, and those who are experiencing secondary infertility. Perhaps this should be a safe space to discuss this as well?
Those are "top of my head" thoughts.
TTC History TTC#2
Me: 41; MH: 40 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center) Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025 May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
Me: 36, MH: 34 | Met 02/2009 | Started Dating 08/2017 | Married 02/02/2020 TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022 2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis 07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis 07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment 07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS 08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA 09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required 10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN 10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic 11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN 11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN 12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN 01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN 02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing 03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️ 04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN 04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance 05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF 05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH. 06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded 07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid 08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d 09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid 11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation 12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN 01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN 02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity 03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022 05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering... 06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022 07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
Popping all of this in a spoiler because some of my comments are specifically related to TFAS for a longer period of time. I don't want to trigger anyone who is also in this limbo area who is still TTC their first THB.
I think for me personally, hitting 6+ months made pregnancy announcements, people popping in and out of the board, etc. sting that much more. People who came in after me graduating before me hurt. I'm now to a point where I recognize every single person on the grad check in threads and that hurts a bit. I wasn't as enthusiastic about TTC anymore at that point, making my participation in the daily and weekly threads harder. There was one point that we had a bunch of TFASers stop participating either because they had graduated (and we had to change the wording because of a few random announcements) or they had exclusively moved over to the IF thread (possibly because the amount of quick grads). I lurk the IF thread to keep up with how friends are doing but because I don't "go there" I don't post there or really love tit people's comments. Passing certain TFAS milestones also hurt a lot for me (I'm now at a point that I've been trying longer than I've ever needed to), and I no longer recognize most of the people who are active in that thread and can't relate to what they're going through. Might I eventually move over to the IF thread? It's possible. Might I graduate before that? Also possible. I don't know at this point but I'm also not super hopeful that it'll happen for me before the one year mark. Two more months will mark the date I got my IUD removed, another month after that is when we were able to actively start TTC. I'm in a weird painful grey area I've never needed to navigate before. I would love to have a safe space to process these feelings without bringing others down, especially with regard to the TFAS thread where so many people are so hopeful that it'll happen in a relatively similar timeframe as their other pregnancies.
Maybe something like adjustment or struggles this month / milestones / questions?
One thing I've struggled with is planning! I'm very type a and at the beginning was like "well, 9 months from now is this event and I don't want a newborn then, 9 months is this event and I'm ok being pregnant then". Once I hit 12 months I stopped GAF about those types of thoughts.
For me hitting the 6 month mark made me realize that there might be a problem and we were probably in for a long road.
TW TFAS
We conceived DS in one cycle so while I knew it wasn’t realistic for that to happen again, I didn’t have any reason to believe there would be a problem.
After passing 6 months I stopped thinking that I would actually be pregnant each cycle. I had no desire to test and see more BFNs. I also had been doing this so long and tracked everything so I knew every cycle I have cramping about 9-12 dpo or that my boobs get sore before AF so the SS became less of an excitement about potentially being KU and more of a reminder that this cycle wasn't it. I don’t have much to say to people in the dailies sometimes without sounding like a bitter bitch. Props to the long time TTGPers that continue to make newbies feel welcome.
I also went through a shit storm in my personal life that has delayed things but that happens to so many people when they’ve been at this for so long. The stress of TYC can bring out the worst in your other areas of stress and make things come to ahead. I honestly think MH’s alcoholism wouldn’t have gotten so bad if we hadn’t been struggling to get pregnant but I also think it had to get bad for him to actually admit he had a problem and to get help.
I guess I have already made this into my safe space to vent. As far as the thread it’s self I’d say monthly would be good with some bumping and new updates every week or so so it doesn’t get buried. I like @_orchid_ suggestion of milestones and struggles this month. Maybe a bitch fest every once in while.
*TW LC*
Me & MH: 32 DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU) TTC #2: 12/2019 Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18
Re: TTC 6+ Months Thread Ideas?
I know that we don't have to post to Dailies if we don't want to, but I also think the Dailies are a good way to get to know the people who are in the same boat as you are (the TTC boat). However, a TTC 6+ boat is more of a transatlantic passage. What's the best way to get to know ppl who are sharing this passage with you?
We also have folks on here who have experienced losses in their TTC journey so far, and those who are experiencing secondary infertility. Perhaps this should be a safe space to discuss this as well?
Those are "top of my head" thoughts.
TTC History
TTC#2
Mar 2024 | consult to get established with a new reproductive immunologist (Alan Beer Center)
Apr/May 2024 | required testing & waiting for a protocol
May 2024 | protocol given / decided to go back to my old reproductive immunologist, Dr. Jubiz
Jun / Jul 2024 | more testing, incl. SIS, ultrasound, and endometrial biopsy
Jul 2024 | Dx chronic endometritis; 14 days of 100mg of doxy given
Sep 2024 | Repeat endometrial biopsy; still + for chronic endometritis. 2 more antibiotics + an antiviral
Oct 2024 | Hysteroscopy turned polypectomy; endometriosis consult w/ specialist who confirmed high likelihood of endo based on symptoms and ultrasound; lots of blood tests ordered
Mar 2025 | Endo excision surgery. Stage 3 endo found! Recoveing
Apr 2025 | Planning transfer w/ RE & green light protocol w/ RI; target transfer July or August 2025
May 2025 | Surprise BFP! EDD 1/11/2026
TTC #1
TTC #1 02/2020 - 07/2022
2009 | Dx PCOS; likely a misdiagnosis
07/14/20 | Dx Hashimoto's Thyroditis
07/21/20 | 1st RE appointment
07/2120 - 08/20/20 | so much testing; no signs of PCOS
08/20/20 | Dx Unexplained; AMA
09/08/20 | IUI #1 Clomid + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
09/30/20 | Urology consult; more testing required
10/2020 | Clomid + OPK + TI + Prometrium | BFN
10/26/2020 | Starting 2nd IUI cycle, with Letrazole and with a new RE / different clinic
11/03/2020 | New Dx "poor egg quality"; IUI cancelled in favor of Trigger + TI + Prometrium | BFN
11/26/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Menopur) + Trigger + Prometrium | BFN
12/20/2020 | Combo IUI (Clomid + Gonal-F) + Trigger | IUI Cancelled due to thin lining; TI only | BFN
01/14/2021 | Combo IUI (Letrazole + Menopur) + Trigger | BFN
02/06/2021 | Switched to a new RE (TEW) ; trying naturally until we complete additional testing
03/14/2021 | Hybrid Double IUI, with Zymot (Letrazole, Gonal-F) + Trigger + Endometrin | Ovulated 4 mature eggs but still a BFN ☹️
04/07/2021 | Natural cycle while we regroup | BFN
04/09/2021 | Employer announces fertility benefits starting 05/01/2021! | Search for a new doctor who accepts insurance
05/10/2021 | New RE consult & plan for IVF
05/13/2021 | Mid-luteal IVF cycle #1 interrupted; had to get cancer genetic screening done to make sure I didn't have the same SDHA gene mutation as MH.
06/10/2021 | Aygestin priming IVF cycle #1; opted to Cx after 9 days of stims since only 5-6/12 follicles responded
07/26/2021 | Attempt #2 at IVF cycle #1 (mid-luteal start): 8 retrieved, 8 MII, 6 fert (1 PN3), 3 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 3AA, 3AA, 6AB; 3 euploid
08/09/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC | Shockingly, a BFP! EDD: 5/25/202 | CP at 4w4d
09/23/2021 | IVF cycle #2 (mid-luteal start): 14 retrieved, 13 MII, 11 fert, 5 Day 5 & 6 blasts: 2 x 3AA, 2 x 3AB, 3BB; 2 euploid
11/12/2021 | IVF cycle #3 (mid-luteal start): cancelled due to ovaries being on vacation
12/20/2021 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + Pregmune Immunology Testing; BFN
01/22/2022 | Rest cycle / unmedicated TTC + understanding uncovered immunological issues; BFN
02/18/2022 | Mock transfer cycle! ERA, ReceptivaDx, EMMA/ALICE; start Prednisone to address NK activity
03/16/2022 | Final, "Hail Mary" super-ovulation + TI cycle before FET; BFP! EDD: 12/21/2022 | MMC 05/08/2022
05/20/2022 | D&C; recovering...
06/21/2022 | Trying naturally until October 2022
07/21/2022 | BFP! EDD 04/02/2023; 👦🏼 born on 4/5/2023
Married: 10.2018
DS #1: 06.2014
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), Emergency C-Section
MC: 03.2017- 5 Weeks
Rainbow DS #2: 07.2018
HG, 19w Fetal Surgery, 24w PPROM, 33w Placental Abruption, Partial Uterine Rupture, Emergency C-Section
NICU, Chronic Kidney Disease
TTC #3: Medically Cleared 12.5.2019, had a bunch of problems and wonky cycles
BFP 10.13.2020 EDD: 6.26.2021
October 2020 TTGP Signature Challenge: Pets in Costumes
One thing I've struggled with is planning! I'm very type a and at the beginning was like "well, 9 months from now is this event and I don't want a newborn then, 9 months is this event and I'm ok being pregnant then". Once I hit 12 months I stopped GAF about those types of thoughts.
Married: 10.2018
DS #1: 06.2014
Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), Emergency C-Section
MC: 03.2017- 5 Weeks
Rainbow DS #2: 07.2018
HG, 19w Fetal Surgery, 24w PPROM, 33w Placental Abruption, Partial Uterine Rupture, Emergency C-Section
NICU, Chronic Kidney Disease
TTC #3: Medically Cleared 12.5.2019, had a bunch of problems and wonky cycles
BFP 10.13.2020 EDD: 6.26.2021
October 2020 TTGP Signature Challenge: Pets in Costumes
DS: 6/1/18 (Pre-E; IUGR; seizures; NICU)
TTC #2: 12/2019
Sept 2020: HSG possible blocked right tube
Nov 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFN
Dec 2020: Letrozole + TI - BFP!!! EDD 9/18