Secondary infertility

[lifetaketwo]

Word vomit... so when I went into my OBGYN to discuss my pain issues and some potential thyroid problems (my hair fell out in the fall) he convinced us that my husband should do a sperm analysis due to his age (we have a big age gap). He said he was going to run some of the basic female tests with my thyroid work up and highly recommended H doing his test. He calls back and says the results of the sperm analysis were so bad he wanted us to see a RE immediately. So we did. Turns out that if these result repeat our only option is IVF, and our daughter was basically a lotto win. I’m having trouble comprehending all of this... I don’t think I even have a question. I’m just Anyone deal with secondary infertility?

[pinkpeony08]

I'm so sorry. I would head over to the Trouble TTC board as I believe several people there have had secondary infertility, though I think the technical sub board is not active.

We are struggling to have a third, though our issues are different than yours. After carrying two healthy term babies without any trouble, I now have been having repeated pregnancy loss - last spring at 11 weeks, in the fall at 15 weeks and 2 weeks ago at 12 weeks. I had a huge workup done in the fall, and most of it repeated in the last week and waiting on results. We are going to RE in a few weeks.

This is all so stressful. Take care of yourself and each other as you navigate your way through this.

Edited for typo and clarity.SaveSaveSaveSave

[nellgirl]

We’re there, too. We had some difficulty with #1 (took over a year, had preliminary workup w/ RE, but got pregnant on our own without any intervention). I’m older now by a few years and we both have some minor issues that may be affecting fertility. I just booked an appointment today with the same RE to look into testing again.
I haven’t posted on the TTTC board since I don’t know where I’d fit, but I lurk often. Those ladies are an amazing bunch from all I’ve read!

[pickel]

I’m there. We got pregnant with DS on cycle 2 in 2014 and got pregnant a second time on cycle 2, which I lost at 11 weeks. That was in August 2016 and we’ve had no luck since then. It is mind boggling how you can have no problems then be unable to conceive just like that. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this.

[Jalapeñomel]

I’m sorry.

There are lots of us here that are trying to have a second, some with IF from the first and others, secondary IF. (I thought this was posted on the TTTC board)

I have no answers. I cannot sort out my feelings most days, so I try to take it one day at a time. We are trying to decide if we will pursue IVF after three failed IUIs.

[Mushe]

I’m so sorry you got this news. Take a breath, and please do feel welcome to join in on the TTTC board. I got pregnant with DS relatively quickly (6 cycles, first after figuring out I ovulate early and timing appropriately), and then had 6 miscarriages over 4 years when we tried for a second. I am now 18w pregnant with a surprise baby.

We had dual issues, bad eggs for me, and crappy sperm for H. There is a LOT that can be done to improve sperm, short of IVF. MH took Clomid for a while, and had noticeable improvement, and he has issues with count, motility, AND morphology.

Long story short, an OB is not an expert in your options, and while it’s great they suggested you see an RE, the advice would have been even better if it stopped there.

Wishing you the best!

[lifetaketwo]

My post was eaten! Thanks everyone, and I’m so sorry for all of your struggles and losses. I ended up talking to my mom about it and she was great. I feel like it was a good first step. Maybe after we get all of the testing results I’ll come by tttc. It’s just such a shock.

[RITS]

I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this. No advice as we’re just starting testing for secondary IF ourselves but lots of hugs to you.

[claireasmud]

I'm sorry It's scary to hear this, I get it.

I have an 11 year old from my first marriage (got pregnant first month TTC), and my DH does not have any kids. We started TTC in 2016 (we were both 36 at the time) and nothing was happening even with charting, etc. After lots of testing, I was diagnosed with secondary infertility, specifically Diminished Ovarian Reserve and Advanced Maternal Age. We were told that we only have a chance of a healthy pregnancy with IVF, and chances aren't even that good. We began the process in October of 2017 and we will be transferring our single normal (genetically tested) embryo in early June. It's been a long process  

My advice is to sit down with your DH and decide what your goals are, how you feel about using different types of interventions, how you will pay for treatments (cash, financing, combo of both), etc. If you're both on the same page, then go from there. It's not easy, it sucks. But there's so much available these days to help couples who are struggling to have a baby. The first step is just to consider them. I wish you the best!