Trying to Conceive at 42 and Sustain a Pregnancy
by Barbara S
(Toronto, Ontario)
Hi Amelia,
My husband and I were trying to conceive for 5 years before getting pregnant. I was taking my BBT (although I admit I wasn't sure what I was doing) and we made love every other day. In January 2008 I got pregnant which ended in a miscarriage 6 weeks 2 days later.
We decided to see a RE. After blood work, a sperm analysis and a sonohysterogram, we were diagnosed with unexplained fertility. The RE prescribed Letrazole 2.5 mg Day 3 to Day 7 and timed intercourse the first cycle which ended with a BFN. The second cycle I was prescribed Letrazole again (same dose) and an IUI which turned out positive. I was 39 and gave birth to a healthy baby boy at 2 months shy of my 40 the birthday. I had a c section.
Anxious for another we went back to the RE for #2 when our son was 8 months old. We went straight to Letrazole and Puregon injectables 75iu. The second IUI was positive although I miscarried 6 weeks 6 days later (May 2011). Still desperate for a second child we went back for a 6 more IUIs, which all failed. The RE said the next step is IVF but we can not afford this treatment.
My husband and I decided to try naturally so I looked at my lifestyle and made changes: I started to take and record my BBT with assistance from Fertility Friend. I lost 26 lbs, since January 2012,
I started to see an acupuncturist specializing in fertility weekly since April. He was able to reduce my period from 34 days to 30 and it is now a bright healthy red colour, little or no clotting and not as heavy as it was prior. It lasts 4 days vs before it lasted 6 days. I no longer have brown spotting at the beginning of my period and my cramping has gone done. I reduced my coffee intake to one cup a day from 5 and started taking herbs and supplements.
We went back to my RE and asked to do more treatments, so last month we completed another IUI with Letrazole, Puregon 150iu and menopur 75 ml and the ovidrel trigger .... all which resulted in a BFN. My follicles on Day 11 were right : 2.5, 2.2; 2.0 and left: 2.9, 2.5, 1.5. Also I am not confident that IVF will work as the sonohysterograph resulted in no polyps, fibroids and my tubes are open. The sonohysterogram also stated my uterus in anteverted and possible adenomyosis. In September my Day 3 stats were FSH was 10, e2 was 84. I also had my AMH tested in December 2011 and it was 1.1.
I would like your professional opinion do you think IVF is the right treatment for us?
Thank you,
Barbara