Age 39 - steps to take TTC

[Anonymous]

Partner and I are moving to try to conceive our second child this year. First child was conceived at age 34 on first cycle. A variety of factors have prevented us from trying for #2 until this past cycle (no luck). We are now (just turned) 39 and 37. Wondering if I should head to the RE right away? If so - is Shady Grove the only option in the DMV? What about Kindbody?

Should we try ovulation strips for a couple of months, then pursue RE + Clomid (+ IUI?)? Not quite sure where to begin but realize that this may be a lot more complicated of a journey this time around.

[Anonymous]

Here is what I would do if I were in your shoes. Keep in mind, many people will have different advice that is impacted by their own experiences (I got pregnant very easily and naturally at 37 and am having a much different experience with many rounds of IVF at 40). I would start with ovulation strips as well as a Proov test to determine if you are ovulating. If you aren't ovulating (which there is no reason to think you aren't, but this is good to confirm), go immediately to an RE. If you are ovulating, at 39, I think I would try for a few months. Are you 37 or 39? Female age is much more relevant here and for fertility, there can be a notable different between 37 and 39. If you are 37, I'd try for 5-6 months before pursing RE. If you are 39, I'd try for at least 3-4 months before pursuing RE. IVF sucks and IUIs aren't that much more effective than trying naturally, so I would certainly give it a try on your own before going to an RE. Once you go down the RE path, it still takes some time to get going. A lot of people think it is a waste of time to bother with IUIs. I take no position at that because at 40, we went straight to IVF after trying for 6 months. However, we have not had success after three transfers and are actually considering trying an IUI or even going back to trying naturally, which is a very unusual path. We've not tried naturally for over a year because of all of the IVF. I actually think if we'd just stuck with trying naturally, we'd probably be pregnant by now (but again, we're an unusual case and most people have better luck with IVF). As for clinics, SGF is fine if you only need very standard, cookie-cutter care. A lot of women find success there. I would not go there if you need outside-the-box thinking. I really like CCRM.

[Anonymous]

Ovulation strips, sperm analysis for DH, and set up an appointment for yourself what would be the beginning of cycle 3 or 4 of trying. IME if you need to do IVF it will take like 4 months before you're actually in the first cycle, so that gives you about 5-6 months of trying naturally and maybe catching a winner, and if so you can cancel the ART. If you're still not pregnant after that time you'll be ready to actually start IVF instead of being 4 months out from starting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ovulation strips, sperm analysis for DH, and set up an appointment for yourself what would be the beginning of cycle 3 or 4 of trying. IME if you need to do IVF it will take like 4 months before you're actually in the first cycle, so that gives you about 5-6 months of trying naturally and maybe catching a winner, and if so you can cancel the ART. If you're still not pregnant after that time you'll be ready to actually start IVF instead of being 4 months out from starting.

This advice comes from getting pregnant easily at 35, trying "naturally" for a year beginning at 38, and only now, at 41, in my first tri with an IVF baby. If I'd known how freaking long the IVF process would take I would have moved to it immediately, but I just thought the big difference was between ending up with a 3 or 3.5 year age gap. Hah.

[Anonymous]

It takes a while to get on a clinics schedule for a consultation. I would get on the schedule now and keep trying (with letrozole and ovulation strips if you want) in the meantime.

[Anonymous]

If you start IVF today you won't have a baby until 41 most likely if at all. At 39 most of my day 6 embryos were abnormal. So, I, personally would start the process.

[Anonymous]

I would lie to your primary and say you've been trying 6 months, get the lower level testing done (TSH, AFH, AMH, salpingogram for you, semen test for him). Realistically it will take 3 months to see the RE. Try very hard at home those three months then take it from there. Take egg and semen supplements now

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ovulation strips, sperm analysis for DH, and set up an appointment for yourself what would be the beginning of cycle 3 or 4 of trying. IME if you need to do IVF it will take like 4 months before you're actually in the first cycle, so that gives you about 5-6 months of trying naturally and maybe catching a winner, and if so you can cancel the ART. If you're still not pregnant after that time you'll be ready to actually start IVF instead of being 4 months out from starting.

This advice comes from getting pregnant easily at 35, trying "naturally" for a year beginning at 38, and only now, at 41, in my first tri with an IVF baby. If I'd known how freaking long the IVF process would take I would have moved to it immediately, but I just thought the big difference was between ending up with a 3 or 3.5 year age gap. Hah.

I wasted a year trying while my husband had virtually zero sperm. Unless you are 22 it is dumb advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ovulation strips, sperm analysis for DH, and set up an appointment for yourself what would be the beginning of cycle 3 or 4 of trying. IME if you need to do IVF it will take like 4 months before you're actually in the first cycle, so that gives you about 5-6 months of trying naturally and maybe catching a winner, and if so you can cancel the ART. If you're still not pregnant after that time you'll be ready to actually start IVF instead of being 4 months out from starting.

This advice comes from getting pregnant easily at 35, trying "naturally" for a year beginning at 38, and only now, at 41, in my first tri with an IVF baby. If I'd known how freaking long the IVF process would take I would have moved to it immediately, but I just thought the big difference was between ending up with a 3 or 3.5 year age gap. Hah.

I wasted a year trying while my husband had virtually zero sperm. Unless you are 22 it is dumb advice.

Getting a sperm analysis is dumb advice because your husband had zero sperm? Makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

I was in an almost identical situation and I did go to the RE and started with the tests etc. The RE told me that since we had conceived easily four years earlier, it was likely that we would again and to keep trying while we were going thought he process. Six months later I was pregnant and she’s five today and an awesome kid!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was in an almost identical situation and I did go to the RE and started with the tests etc. The RE told me that since we had conceived easily four years earlier, it was likely that we would again and to keep trying while we were going thought he process. Six months later I was pregnant and she’s five today and an awesome kid!

PS I used temping and OPKs

TLDR: hedge!

[Anonymous]

I went to the RE when I was 41 after a few losses TTC #2. They did whatever tests and scans they do and then said, essentially, we’ll take your money but the odds are that IVF will not be successful. They showed me a chart that was disheartening.

We started researching adoption but then I got pregnant naturally a few months later. Healthy pregnancy and healthy child, now 5. We were (and are) incredibly fortunate. In all I think it took about a year to conceive #2.

Here’s what I did: I read “it starts with the egg” and followed quite a bit of the advice in it, including avoiding a lot of plastics. I stopped alcohol and caffeine, took prenatal vitamins, as well as some of the supplements suggested in the book. I went to yoga regularly to help lower stress. I did weekly acupuncture focused on boosting fertility. We used ovulation strips and “pre seed” lubricant.

No idea if any of those things made any difference at all, other than the ovulation strips to know when I was ovulating. I did feel pretty good physically though and it made me feel like I was doing something, which helped.

Good luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to the RE when I was 41 after a few losses TTC #2. They did whatever tests and scans they do and then said, essentially, we’ll take your money but the odds are that IVF will not be successful. They showed me a chart that was disheartening.

We started researching adoption but then I got pregnant naturally a few months later. Healthy pregnancy and healthy child, now 5. We were (and are) incredibly fortunate. In all I think it took about a year to conceive #2.

Here’s what I did: I read “it starts with the egg” and followed quite a bit of the advice in it, including avoiding a lot of plastics. I stopped alcohol and caffeine, took prenatal vitamins, as well as some of the supplements suggested in the book. I went to yoga regularly to help lower stress. I did weekly acupuncture focused on boosting fertility. We used ovulation strips and “pre seed” lubricant.

No idea if any of those things made any difference at all, other than the ovulation strips to know when I was ovulating. I did feel pretty good physically though and it made me feel like I was doing something, which helped.

Good luck to you!

Yes to all of this. Plus,

- take husband in to get his semen tested. Use a fertility clinic for this; they have on-site labs which provide comprehensive analysis.