Over 35 and having trouble TTC
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Category: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Name: Planning Pregnancy (trying for baby)
Forum Description: Trying to get pregnant? Going through fertility treatment? Just planning your first or second child? There are many people out there in the same boat to help and listen and share with
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11800
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Topic: Over 35 and having trouble TTC
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Subject: Over 35 and having trouble TTC
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 9:14pm
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Hi everyone!
I'm 37 (38 in early Feb) and DH is 34. We've been TTC since October 2006 so we're now at the one year mark  We have been living in Japan and feel very cut off from information, and also the medical care is terrible (we're in the countryside). So, I'm keeping positive, but i'm also hoping to find some others who are over 35 and TTC for mutual support.
This will be our first and so I don't know anything about the medical system in NZ regarding to infertility. So I have lots of questions. Happily, we will be coming home in January 2008 but I don't know what I should do first...go to a GP? go to an Ob, Gyn or both? Or can I go straight to an infertility clinic? etc, etc. I'm also considering acupuncture. I'm currently in the 2WW with about four more days to go. If any other "older" mums are out there, please join! 
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Replies:
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 9:16pm
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Hi I'm not an older mum but I have a friend who is. She married in her early thirties and they started TTC when she was about 34. Things took longer than they thought - their guess is because of age (he's about the same age as her) - and they were starting to consider fostering/adopting when they finally got pregnant! It was about 2 years after starting TTC and by that stage they had long chucked out the thermometers and charting etc. -------------  |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 9:20pm
| i'm not older but lived in japan and had my pregnancy check-ups and such over there (came home to have baby - honestly my doctor told me that labour wasn't painful and to harden up"). where are you? hope you guys aren't with nova@! |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 9:35pm
busymum- very encouraging. i hope that happens for us. We planned to adopt too, but then last year got the big idea of trying for a biological baby. What a crazy year it's been! But we're still hoping and then would adopt number two
lizzle- god no, I'm not with NOVA! Those people are now not going to get paid, if you haven't heard the latest. I teach at a small uni in Niigata Pref. It's the real inaka...the sticks! Sounds exactly like a Japanese doc. I'm glad you got back for the birth. Did you have a good experience in NZ? I'm guessing yes, since you've done it twice
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 25 October 2007 at 9:39pm
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I would get along to your GP.
For over 35s they recommend you seek help after 6 months of TTC! I wouldn't delay looking into your options. I am 34 and will be 35 when we start TTC #1, and have some trepidation of my own as to how well it will go. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 26 October 2007 at 12:39am
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Just checking my signature and ticker...
Edited to say...DOH! I can't work out how to get the ticker and my FF chart on my signature. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55"> 
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Posted By: Lulu
Date Posted: 26 October 2007 at 10:03am
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When we had trouble TTC I went straight to Fertility Associates and saw a specialist there. They sent DH and I for a series of tests to determine if there was an explained issue causing infertility. We ended up having male infertility with a less than 1% chance of conceiving naturally. We were then rated for public funded IVF and went on the waiting list. As the waiting list was in excess of a year at that time we ended up going private (approximately $10,000) and were lucky enough to be successful first time. We now have a beautiful daughter. In NZ if you meet the criteria for public funding you are entitled to 2 x IVF cycles (if the first one is successful and you have a live baby you don't get the second IVF). One of the criteria is that you are under 40.
So I would suggest seeing a specialist at Fertility Associates or Fertility Plus when you return to NZ to get the ball rolling. But fingers crossed you are pregnant before then! Good luck. ------------- Lou http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: ItchyFeet
Date Posted: 26 October 2007 at 10:51pm
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Have you had any kind of testing just to check that everything is working as it should? Sorry if that sounds insensitive, I just have no idea about the medical service in Japan. Either way, I'd just head straight for the doctor first to check things like your rubella immunity and blood tests for ovulation, then straight to see somewhere like Fertility Associates, especially if you've already been trying for a year. I was quite surprised to get an appointment fairly quickly when we went as I thought there would be a long waiting period, but you could always leave it until you return home to book a specialist appointment. I was questioned whether I had a doctor referral when I rang but DH's vasectomy was pretty conclusive as to infertility so we just bypassed the doctor.
By the way I'm 35, and can't start trying until I'm 36 and 3 months (not that I'm counting!). We're both using the waiting period trying to get ourselves as healthy as possible and that helps too with the waiting. |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 27 October 2007 at 8:17pm
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Wow, thanks guys! That's just the sort of info I needed. I did have a GP when I left in 2004. Would I still be on her list, I guess so? Maybe I'll try to make an appointment via e-mail so I can see her to get referred to the fertility places as soon as I arrive back.
The doctor here is rubbish and she did a sperm analysis for my husband and said he had a good number, but I'm not sure that she checked for motility. She also did a test for me that I later looked up on the internet and found that it had been declared obsolete! Anyway, from that she'd recommended that I get an HSG to see if my tubes were clear. I did that at a good international hospital in Thailand when I was there for other reasons in March and, thankfully, the tubes were clear. But, they did say that there were possible uterine polyps, and/or fibroids, and/or endo. but they said you really can't tell from an HSG and I needed a saline ultrasound to find out. Plus I haven't had any fertility related blood tests at all. Itchyfeet- No worries, ask away!
Lulu- thanks for that. I had come across Fertility Associates on the net so it was good to see you mention them. Congratulations on having Jaymie!! You must be stoked.
BellaBabysMum- Thanks for all that info. And congratulations on the new pregnancy!  ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 27 October 2007 at 9:47pm
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I think I'll be somewhere around Auckland, unless one of us scores a job in another town by the time we get back. But, if we end up in Welly, I'll definitely go there.
I was thinking, if I get a referral from a GP, do you think I'd have to wait longer to see the fertility specialist than if I just went private? I'm certainly not made of money, but I don't want to waste any more time either! I forgot to mention that i also had a chemical pregnancy (ending at about 4-5 weeks)back in April this year, so I'm hoping that means it's possible for us. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 27 October 2007 at 11:03pm
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Is that all you did? Wow! Do you mind if I ask what your problem area was? How was the clomid? I've heard mixed reports about how it affects people. ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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Posted By: ItchyFeet
Date Posted: 28 October 2007 at 12:09pm
| Our visit to FA in Auckland was $210, specialist consultation and blood tests only. Unfortunately we don't qualify for public funding. Another option you may want to look at if you end up going private is a new clinic in Auckland. I don't know anyone who's been there, but they're upfront about costs on their website if you're looking at a guideline, but the focus seems to be on IVF and IUI rather than specific drug costs such as clomid. Anyway, worth a look. http://www.ivfauckland.co.nz - Link |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 28 October 2007 at 9:33pm
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Thanks Itchyfeet,
I don't think I'll be an IVF candidate anyway as my tubes are clear and I suspect that my problems are realated to polyps and or fibroids. I really just want to have the blood tests (yuck!) and a good ultrasound as a first step, plus a better SA for my husband. Do you happen to remember what things they were looking for in the blood tests? And did you have to go at different times in your cycle? Many thanks! ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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Posted By: ItchyFeet
Date Posted: 29 October 2007 at 6:19pm
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I can't remember if I had the tests just after or during AF. I think they were checking ovulation and rubella immunity, and because I haven't had anything back, then I assume everything's working on my side (the tests were only to rule out that there might be something wrong). I have other bloodtests regularly for another medical issue so all my general health ones are really good so they wouldn't need to test for those.
I have had private ultrasounds too, and think the cost was around $200. |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 31 October 2007 at 1:15am
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Well, thank you very much for all the info. At least I've got a bit of an idea of what I'm in for now and where I might go first.
I've been waiting so long that it's strange to think I'll actually finally be doing all these tests and things in two and a half months. Truth be told, now I'm feeling a bit scared as reality sets in! But I am looking forward to finally getting some answers. 
Best wishes to everyone on here! ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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Posted By: NoFearFranky
Date Posted: 13 November 2007 at 12:20pm
| I've just turned 38 and just started a cycle of IVF. As with you, time was the most important thing so I didn't bother with my GP, I just went straight to Fertility Associates in Auckland. Their waiting list for public funding is getting close to 2 years so we went privately and started straight away. |
Posted By: KiwiInJapan
Date Posted: 15 November 2007 at 7:44pm
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Thanks for replying NoFearFranky.
Hope your IVF is going well so far. I will be in Auckland too. Do you recommend any particular doctor there? ------------- http://www.fertilityfriend.com/home/158b55">
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