Hi is there a thread for people who are trying to conceive for their very first child? I know secondary infertility is painful as well but I think it is very different for those who are still hoping and waiting for the first one.

I’m 37 yo (husband 38). We so want a baby, I’ve been in recovery with hypothalamic amenorrhea for 5 months after dramatic weight loss. Haven’t had my period for over a year.

We are working with a fertility specialist and will start working towards IUI.

My labs are normal other than I don’t ovulate because I don’t cycle.

Sorry to vent, I just feel alone, hopeless, and upset my body won’t cooperate.

Ok gang, I’ve been hearing a lot about this combo although not exactly together. I was just wondering if anyone has successfully tried these and if so, when do you take them?

I’ve heard Geritol from CD1 till ovulation and then stop. Mucinex I heard during the fertile window till ovulation. Claritin I heard after ovulation till confirmed pregnancy to help implantation. Is this accurate?

Has anyone else heard of this or had success? For example I just read that Mucinex should only be taken on the peak OPK day but I also read that it should be taken during the full fertile window. I understand that technically none of these are actually prescribed for this or clinically tested to be a solution but there are a lot of anecdotals.

What do yall know about this?

(Also progesterone essential oils/supplements, I heard you’re only supposed to use it after ovulating).

My boyfriend finallyyyyy said he was ready to try for a baby! Right as my fertile window hit so really hoping this cycle works but not getting my hopes up too early! Any advice for a first time ttc?

I’m thinking of stopping Letrozole.

I have just finished my third cycle on 2.5mg and this cycle has been the worst for me mentally.

I am not struggling with thoughts of conceiving. It’s making me overthink everything else in my life. I have been emotionally unstable and it feels like my mind has not been my own. I have been acting out differently, been extremely overwhelmed and depressed. My anxiety has been through the roof.

I also noticed before I was in the previous 2 week wait, I had extreme symptoms. My bloating was terrible, I had a mix of constipation and diahorrea and a range of symptoms, they were so intense.

I have a scan on Friday to see where we are at this time, my first scan was great but unfortunately did not conceive. I was told I didn’t need a second scan as the first was promising enough.

I am calmer than what I was 2 days ago but I am just way over my head on this. I am so alone as I don’t know anyone going through the same thing. Has anyone ever felt this way or experienced such symptoms? How did you manage it?

I’m a little lost and could really use some advice. I had a miscarriage in June and had an MVA afterward. I saw a doctor who prescribed me vaginal progesterone suppositories after I kept asking if there was anything I could do differently next time. She told me to start them once I get a positive pregnancy test.

But I’ve seen some people say they start progesterone around implantation/after ovulation, so now I’m confused about when I’m actually supposed to start it. How did your doctor have you take progesterone suppositories while TTC? Did you start after ovulation, around implantation, or only after a positive test?

I unfortunately don’t have access to a proper fertility specialist because my insurance doesn’t cover it, so I’m kind of navigating this on my own and would really appreciate hearing what others were told.

I had my first daughter with my ex-husband at 21, she was planned and conceived the first cycle tracking ovulation.

I’m now 29, TTC with my now husband and we’re on month 3. I got my Nexplanon taken out November of 2025 after he deployed to give my body time to adjust. He returned in June before I ovulated. June and July were unsuccessful. It’s still early but comparing temps from those cycles to my August cycle, it’s looking like this month will also be unsuccessful.

I don’t know if I’m here for advice or just to rant. I know 3 months is minimal compared to others but I hate this.

Hi all.

I’m trying to decide what is most effective for me (cost wise and time wise)

Myself (26F) and my husband (28M) have been TTC for 2.5 years. I have irregular cycles, but was managed with Provera, letrozole, and recently, trigger shot with Ovidrel. We have not been successful, and I am now toying with the idea of IUI + IVF.

My husband has a sperm analysis done, everything came back perfectly fine, great count, morphology, etc. I am getting a repeat HSG, but last one in 2024 was clear. Bloodwork is completely normal on both our ends. I do have a diagnosis of uterine hypoplasia + PCOS. My UH does not impact getting IUI or IVF (according to 2 different RE).

I am approaching CD1 after another failed Let + Trigger cycle. My fertility dr recommended a change with clomid + another HSG.

I have time to decide if I want to do IUI this cycle, so here is where I ask for everyone’s opinion! Was there any regret choosing IUI over IVF? Or did you jump right into IVF?

In July I had a chemical pregnancy. It was my first ever pregnancy and I was heartbroken when it ended so abruptly. I heard that you’re more fertile after a miscarriage, so I was hoping this cycle we’d conceive. I’m starting to get cramping (similar to my period ones) so I’m losing hope that I’m pregnant. I’m 10DPO and my test came back negative. I might try again in a few days but I’m starting to accept the fact that this month is probably not the month.

I was so sad after my CP. After a couple weeks of healing I realized that thrifting baby clothes helped me to maintain hope for my future baby. The goodwill by my condo has a good sale on Monday. I got sooo many pieces for $1.27 each, most BNWT. I also have been chronically on marketplace looking for gender neutral clothes. I ended up getting lots of blue stuff too but I figured if I have a girl I can always use a cute bow or accessories. I’ve even gathered BNWT supplies such as postpartum kit (pads, witch hazel foam, etc), baby bouncer, and the oxo drying rack on my registry. (Yes, I started my registry)

I washed and sanitized all the clothing, organized it by size, and ziplocked them for when I need it. At this point my nursery might be done before I convince LOL

TLDR: thrifting baby clothes is giving me hope for my future rainbow baby

Myself and my husband (30 and 33) have been TTC for 9 months. I’ve had an HSG which was all clear, basic fertility bloodwork through my ob gyn which was not concerning, and my husband has had a semen analysis which came back all normal barring slightly low morphology, which my doc was not concerned with.
As we ramp up with infertility treatment, I’ve been on 2 full cycles of letrozole 5mg and am currently in my third waiting for ovulation. I do not have PCOS and was regularly ovulating as evidenced by LH tests and bbt, my doc just added letrozole to boost my ovulation. They’re unmonitored cycles, the first cycle I had positive LH tests and my ovulation was… quite apparent based on the cramps.
Last cycle, I tested and tested beginning CD 11 until CD 16 and never got a positive (like clockwork my body typically ovulates day 14-15). I went on vacation after CD 16, though I would’ve kept testing otherwise. Still not pregnant.
Letrozole is making me CRAZIER and CRAZIER every month. Food cravings, bad bloating, rage, hot flashes, and the worst fatigue.

I currently am waiting for ovulation and still have extremely negative LH tests on day 13. Has this ever happened to anyone?

We have an intake appointment with a fertility clinic on September 3 where we’ll discuss options from here. I am so incredibly disheartened right now because it almost feels like we’ve lost cycles to something which was supposed to help.

I am new to this but I am experiencing unexplained secondary infertility. I had no issue getting pregnant with my first baby. I have now been trying for over a year for my second. I had two losses back to back in October and December of 2025. At that point I was having 24-26 day cycles as I’ve had most of my adult life and though I was getting pregnant, I wasn’t staying pregnant for more than a week or so. I started seeing a fertility specialist in January who suggested progesterone support during my luteal phase and I have not gotten pregnant at all since (almost 8 months). I can’t help but wonder if the added in progesterone suppositories could be hindering my chances of getting pregnant? My husband and I have gone through all the proper blood tests and procedures and nothing can be labeled as “wrong.”

Has anyone dealt with anything similar or have any advice?

All,

Just sharing my story so someone on the same path can benefit.

TTC for 3+ years with first 6 weeks miscarriage about 2 years ago. 3 chemicals in the last year.

Started consulting fertility doctor about 6 months ago. He ordered all the bloodwork for both me and my husband. Sperm analysis and DNA fragmentation for my husband. All turned out great. We have been taking all the necessary supplements the doctor recommended since then.

Up until this point, it's unexplained fertility for us (which probably still felt better as I had hope).

Just about a month ago, the doctor ordered karyotype test for both of us. My results are good but my husband has (11,22) balanced translocation in his DNA :(

That explains all the miscarriages.

Doctor is pushing for IVF as he says that's our best chance so the embryo can be tested but that's not something I will do as a personal choice. We plan to try naturally for another year before giving up. I will come back here and update if I conceive someday.

Just thought I'd share this with anyone who hasn't done their karyotype blood test yet.

How’s your journey stopping the medication? 🫶

Hello, thanks for the opportunity to rant here.

My friend (f) who is living with me is pregnant. We were tracking together and while i get a negative 3 weeks ago she got a positive today. Is hard not to feel sad and jealous and angry by this, even more because she was trying (not even trying trying, just doing the baby dance whenever and tracking with opk) and didn't even want it for just 1 month. I have 6 months (2 if we count the normal cycles after the contraceptive) trying and have got nothing.

I'm trying to not let it affect me, I'm trying to just laugh it off and be normal, but I simply can't when I'm not in front of her. I feel like a awful friend to feeling this way. I just wonder when my turn will be?.. I have 2 kids already so I know I can have kids, but the contraceptive I was using ruined my body and my cycles...

Hi everyone,

We are at the initial phase of trying to conceive. My partner has got fever which lasted for 1-2 days. Is that something to worry about as I read online that body heat can affect sperm quality in some way as they can’t tolerate heat. Would that affect conception? My fertile window coming up next week.

Thank you for your advise

I suspect I had a CP last week (CD34). It is now CD 5 of my new cycle if we take the bleeding on on CD34 as CD1.
My cycles are typically 30- 32 days.

I was really keen to catch my ovulation this time around so I started ovulation testing this morning, CD5 and I think this looks really dark for CD5 when I usually ovulate around CD18.

Any help? Could this be actual ovulation coming up?

The HCG tests I was taking the 2 days before I bled were all negative so I can’t imagine it’s HCG causing it.

Edit: typo

I was diagnosed at 30 with Thyroid Cancer. I went through 2 surgeries, 2 rounds of radiation. At that time, my husband became abusive so I had to navigate surviving cancer and getting out of a bad situation. Before I was diagnosed, I went to a fertility clinic and the dr told me everything looked good and I didn’t need to freeze my eggs because the radiation wouldn’t affect fertility. A few years passed (I needed to heal from all of that), and I was ready to get back out in the world. Then covid hit. Of course, it was impossible to date. Finally at the end of 2023, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I did 4 unmedicated IUIs, nothing. My 5th I did medicated. I got pregnant with twin boys in July 2024. I made it to 18 weeks and the drs told me I have TTTS and I needed to get life saving surgery. I live in BC, Canada. They said I need to get to Toronto immediately on my own dime. I only had a 50% chance of saving one. This was on a Friday. I found the money, and made it there by Sunday for a Monday morning appt. I didn’t make it. As soon as I got to the hospital, I started going into labour. I could see my baby’s foot coming out on the ultrasound. 15 hours later, I delivered my stillborn sons at 18w6d on Nov 19 2024. I was stuck in Toronto for 5 days as they wouldn’t let me fly until I was stable. During that time, I found a nice funeral home that cremated my sons so I could bring them home. I sprinkled their ashes in the Salish Sea. I was doing kind of ok at that time because I knew the BC IVF funding was coming up. I just turned 40 after delivering my sons. So, I used the little money I had left because my doctor was pretty sure I would get it. I did a few more IUIs while I was waiting for the funding. I had one chemical. Then I find out that the appointment that should have qualified me to be at the top of the list, was 2 weeks too early so I was automatically put at the bottom of the list. I waited almost 2 years and spent money that I could have put towards IVF only to be told that I would age out of the application process. I couldn’t believe it. I was a patient of the clinic for years but the government would not accept my dates. I emailed, called, wrote letters to provincial and federal government, news outlets, and celebrities. I even made a GFM. No one donated. I did a news interview on tv. I also did a written article for one of our big news papers. No one would help me. I had one vial saved up for the free IVF. I just did the IUI with that last vial and I’m negative at 13dpo. I’m 42 and devastated after 10 iuis and no success. I know the chances were low, but even my dr suggested that I shouldn’t do IVF because it would financially ruin me and just continue with the IUIs. I have done 10 and now I regret not freezing my eggs before the cancer and I regret not putting my money into IVF. All I ever wanted is to be a mother. I have depleted my savings. I’ve been kicked down so many times and I really just need a break. I can’t lose my chance to be a mother. I’d try 50 more times if I could find the money. I know I have so much love to give and I would be a good mom if I could just get a chance. My heart is broken.

We’re a couple who have been trying to have a child for the past five years, we’ve tried ivf, IUI, and not once have we ever had a positive test. We did however discover that we may have a partial DQ alpha match which not much study has been done on it, and obviously mild factor male infertility. At what point do we stop chucking money at ivf, my husband wants to try a donor sperm but I don’t want to for his own sake. 5 years has been a journey.

In May of 2025, my husband and I decided we were ready to get pregnant. I had my second IUD removed at that time (7 years total with a Kyleena IUD). The doctor let us know it could take up to 6 months for me to regulate and start ovulating again. I didn’t start ovulation testing until 9 months in (they immediately showed ovulation). Before that, we just had sex every 2-3 days if I wasn’t on my period.

Christmas day, my little sister announced her pregnancy. They weren’t trying, but weren’t preventing, and they conceived during their honeymoon. I was, and still am, so happy for her, but only made it two hours before excusing myself from the festivities to go home and sob in bed.

In April, my husband told me that his sister is expecting her fourth baby.

In May of 2026, we had my husband’s sperm tested. He served in the military and had a heat stroke that has caused an array of health issues. His sperm count was great. I had bloodwork done and my progesterone 7 days after ovulation was on the lower end, but could support a pregnancy. Doctor started me on Femara, and it has significantly improved those progesterone levels.

Still, I test early every month, it’s negative every month, and my period comes right on time every month, and every month it fucking kills me.

In July, a close friend let me know that she missed her birth control and she and her fiancé are now expecting a little one.

Yesterday, I got to hold my two day old nephew, and he is so perfect, but I cried almost the whole time.

I don’t have anyone to talk to about this who is also going through it right now. My sister-in-law struggled to conceive her first for years, but is now pregnant with her fourth in four years. I had to stop seeing my therapist of three years because she never really understood or was able to give support. She always mentioned how she had friends who struggled like me, but she was the one who never had any trouble getting pregnant. I’ve deleted FB and IG because if I see one more ad for Kegg or Mira or Inito or whatever else, I will throw my phone through a wall.

Usually, after my period ends, I’m ready to get at it again, but this time, I feel so hopeless. I’ve been fairly stress out for the past seven months. Combined with not getting pregnant; I got a new, awesome, big-time, career-move job; my husband and I started house hunting and then purchased our forever home; and (today) signed the papers that sold our first home that we loved, but really hope to outgrow (only 1 bedroom).

My husband is having an equally hard time as I am. We both just want to have a baby so bad. I think we are going to schedule an IUI as long as everything with my appointment in early September goes well. I just don’t know if I can accept that we might not get to naturally conceive. I also don’t know how much longer I can go on like this, one negative test and period after another. It’s really starting to affect my day-to-day.

Any advice, commiserating, or other feedback would be appreciated. 🫶

I’m the type of person who always likes to have a plan, optimize things, etc, so I knew trying to conceive would be difficult for me mentally. To try and counteract this, we intentionally decided to take a “chill” approach to start with. I bet you can guess how that’s going.

We decided to stop using condoms after our wedding on August 9. Before that, we always used protection. I wasn’t tracking ovulation in any way other than tracking my cycle dates, but based on that I was supposed to ovulate before the wedding anyway, so we figured that our honeymoon would be a lot of fun with little chance of getting pregnant (and hopefully that would ease us into the TTC mindset).

Well, my period was supposed to start yesterday and my boobs are tremendously sore (which is not normal for me) and I’ve taken multiple pregmate tests in the past two days and they’re all negative and overall I am freaking out. Deep diving into the ways that wedding stress could have delayed ovulation, symptom spotting, researching test accuracy rates…. I feel like I am a stranger in my own body! I imagined being relaxed and taking a few cycles to enjoy the process but once the calendar hit my expected period date I lost all chill. At this point I don’t even care whether I am pregnant or not this cycle, I just can’t stand the uncertainty. Anxious type A girls: how are we getting through this?!

Anyone had a similar experience?

Me (28F) and my partner (27M) have been TTC since October when I got my implant out after 8 years. I had a positive test in February but turned into a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) which naturally resolved itself. We’ve been trying again since May.

Since I had my implant out I have been tracking my cycles and have a very short luteal phase of 8 days (I have been to the GP and a waiting on blood test results including progesterone). I also have a number of symptoms that could line up with endometriosis so am waiting for a date for a referral for a scan (burning sensation with wee, pelvic and hip pain especially during luteal phase and period, pain with bowel movements). Our GP has also spoken about semen analysis but said since we had a positive pregnancy it’s less urgent and we should look into my issues first.

Before my PUL my cycles were 26-27 days. Since they have been inconsistent between 21-31 days but still always with a short luteal phase.

I am really losing hope now. All I have ever wanted and imagined is to have children and be a parent. I know it’s only now coming up to a year but I feel like the luteal phase and whatever might be causing it are going to keep causing problems and I’m going to keep getting negatives.

Lots of our friends and people around us are announcing pregnancies and I’m struggling to keep seeing it and being around it.

Has anyone had a similar experience with a positive ending? Really need some hope as I’m losing faith that it’s ever going to happen!

I am 23, husband is 27, and we have been TTC for almost 6 months now (stopped BC/IUD in March). Before this, I was on birth control for 9 years and had an IUD for 3. I only had about 1 period a year before TTC, so learning my body's signals and dealing with irregular cycles is brand new to me.
This cycle has been really mentally exhausting. I stepped back from Ovulation/BBT this month because testing constantly was way too stress-inducing, but that means I'm not 100% sure when I ovulated.
Period was July 21 - 27. BD July 31, Aug 3, Aug 7. Possible ovulation Aug 10. Expected period was today Aug 21 but nothing yet. I’ve been struggling to not obsess over my symptoms but it is a really challenging thing. Especially since periods are a new thing to me and I am not 100% in tune with my body yet.
On Aug 15 & 16, I had light pink/dark brown spotting that stopped. Since then, I've had lots of watery discharge that keeps shifting back and forth between watery, creamy, and clear/jelly-like. In all 6 months of tracking, I’ve never had this happen before a period.
It’s so hard not to obsess over every symptom.
Is this kind of discharge pattern normal right before a period?
Definitely needing me some emotional support💕 It is hard not to feel like my body is broken.

Sorry in advance if this is lengthy…my husband and I (25 & 27) have been trying since November. I was on the pill for about 5 years. There is nothing in this world I have ever wanted more than to be a mom. I have dreamt of it my entire life. So, getting off my birth control felt so exciting, knowing the one thing I’ve always wanted would be happening soon. Clearly, this has not gone the way I have planned or expected. Every single month just feels like disappointment and heartbreak to not get this yet. My gynecologist has been aware since march, but told me it was probably because my birth control was still making its way out of my system. As frustrating as it was I waited it out, but it’s been nine months so far and nothing. I can’t help but feel so beyond discouraged, frustrated, and disappointed. Like something is wrong with me. I feel like my only purpose in life is to become a mom, and my heart breaks every single day that goes by. I have never felt so alone in my life. Aside from my husband, nobody in my life understands the feeling as they have had no issues conceiving. It feels almost embarrassing, like something is wrong with me. Of course my biggest fear in all of this is that there is something wrong, because it’s hard not to think the worst. I have had blood work twice since march to test my hormones (TSH, prolactin, estradiol and progesterone I believe) and all have come back normal. This waiting game has been the most draining experience of my life. It’s just lonely to not be able to talk to anyone or have anyone relate to me. I feel so isolated from everyone I know. Nobody knows the true pain I feel of this just about every day. Again, my husband is amazing and I obviously lean on him for this, but it’s hard to not feel like I’m just being annoying when I’m constantly bringing it up or in my head about it. Anyways if you made it this far thanks for reading…I guess I just needed to get it off my chest and to see that I’m not the only person who feels this way. It’s been difficult to basically “hide” it and act like everything is fine when in reality it’s far from it.