Infertility and low fertility issues

Renate, welcome to the club... feel free to join us over here regarding questions about fertility issues.
A lot of people don't view that AMH level as an absolute end to one's reproductive years. Furthermore, the mere fact that you have experienced three miscarriages necessitates much deeper investigation. I see you are living in Germany; I am not sure exactly where you are located, but at age 38, I would suggest seeking out a specialized fertility clinic. Your standard OB-GYN often lacks the specific expertise required for these cases.
You are living proof that even with a low AMH, pregnancy is possible; most doctors don't necessarily link a low AMH directly to poor egg quality.

1. What did your other hormone levels look like between days 3 and 5 of your cycle (FSH, LH, E2, Progesterone, DHEA-S, SHBG, Testosterone, prolactin)?
2. What was your progesterone level seven days after ovulation?
3. Did your gynecologist count your antral follicles at the start of your cycle, and if so, what was the number?

All of these factors play a significant role in determining which type of stimulation protocol will be used.

Regarding those three miscarriages—you have every right to demand extensive testing following three losses, and any serious physician will agree and provide them.
1. Thrombophilia tests you can find information on that here
2. Immunological testing
3. Swabs—checking for Ureaplasma and other little monsters (though I assume you have already had this done)

If anything comes back positive for the first two points mentioned, there are therapies available that can be introduced either after ovulation/transfer (if you decide to pursue IVF) or once you see a positive test result. For the third point, antibiotics are prescribed depending on the findings, and the swab must be repeated.
Do not let anyone gaslight you or try to brush it off as "natural selection"... three miscarriages is not a coincidence!

Good luck 🙂

Despite having regular intercourse and everything else that entails, I haven't been able to conceive yet. My gynecologist recently mentioned that I have a retroverted uterus, so I am wondering if that might be the issue. Has anyone else dealt with something similar? Help! I’m not married yet, but my boyfriend and I are trying for a baby, and honestly, these setbacks are starting to weigh on me. I was present for the exams, but my doctor didn't find anything particularly significant elsewhere. 🙄

First thing’s first—get your guy to go get a semen analysis and do some reading yourself... there's plenty of solid advice out there

Susan Diaz91 said:To start off, maybe have your boyfriend get a semen analysis and just look things up here... there are quite a few helpful tips available.

Thank you, he will be getting tested too. 🙂 Gosh, there is just so much to read here, isn't there? But thanks, I think I've already made it halfway through. hh

Yeah... it’s been going on for quite a while now. I’ve really been wanting to get pregnant, but it just hasn't happened yet...🙂 Of course, I’ve already seen my OB-GYN, and they told me everything looks perfectly fine on my end. Honestly, though, I can't help but wonder if the issue is that my partner is significantly older than me... he's 52 and I'm 31...🤷 And sorry, I know we're probably circling back to this topic for the millionth time. But should I just try to stop obsessing over it? Like, maybe stop tracking my ovulation cycles, monitoring discharge, all that stuff? 😕

..and in most instances, the male factor is actually the culprit... regardless... whether he’s older or younger, if his sperm count or quality is off... I suspect age isn't even the primary driver here, since even the younger guys—what you might call the "pampered generation"—are running into issues. My uncle, for instance, had his third child at 49...

..just have him get a semen analysis first; that way you'll actually know where to start if there's an issue... besides, your OB-GYN can't exactly see what's going on with your fallopian tubes just through an ultrasound... they could be blocked... and that's something you specifically need to check via an HHS

neonnomad18 said:..and honestly, most of the time it comes down to the guy...whether he's older or younger, if his sperm count is low...I don't think age is even the biggest factor anymore since even the younger guys are dealing with issues from what they call the "pampered generation"...my uncle actually had his third kid at 49..

..just get him to do a sperm analysis so you can actually figure out where to start if there's an issue...plus, your OBGYN can't see what's going on with your fallopian tubes just through an ultrasound...they could be blocked..and you really need an HHS to check that...

thanks

neonnomad18 said:..and in most cases, it really comes down to the male factor... regardless of whether he's older or younger, if his sperm count is low... I don't think age is even a huge deal this year since even the younger guys have issues—you know, that whole "pampered generation" problem...

It definitely matters. It’s just that men have a much longer runway, whereas women have a much tighter window. For example, a man can theoretically have kids until he's 80, while for a woman, it's more like 50—assuming we're talking about doing things naturally without any IVF or medical assistance.

As people get older, you start seeing more issues with conception and various health risks for the kids, but for men, that usually kicks in after 55, while for women, it's after 40.

Oh, and there's also partial infertility. Not every couple struggling to conceive is stuck that way forever; some actually end up having more kids quite naturally later on.

Alex Thomas27 said:It’s all about timing. Men generally have a much longer window, whereas women deal with a tighter deadline. For instance, a guy can theoretically father kids well into his 80s, while for a woman, that biological clock really starts ticking down by 50. And that's just talking about doing things naturally, without any medical intervention or IVF.

As people get older, you start seeing more issues with conception and an increased risk of certain health conditions in children—but we're looking at men after 55 and women after 40.

Oh, and there's also such a thing as partial infertility. Not every couple struggling to conceive is stuck that way forever; some actually end up having more kids quite naturally later on.

I mean... it's not a massive crisis right now, but why do I even have to spend my time wondering what if... I guess I'll just hope everything turns out okay...

Hmm, looks like people are talking about exactly what’s been on my mind lately. So, my partner and I have been trying to conceive for about eight cycles now, but we haven't had any luck yet. We've done everything—drinking all the herbal teas, following all the folklore advice, taking vitamins, staying away from cigarettes, keeping up with the intimacy, tracking ovulation... you name it. My OB-GYN mentioned that everything seems fine on my end, at least regarding the basic stuff you can catch during a standard checkup. I was wondering, though, who should my guy actually see for things like a semen analysis or those other specific tests men need to undergo? I'm not entirely sure which ones 🤷?! Should he just talk to his primary care doctor, or is there someone else? Thanks! 😢

He could probably get a semen analysis done at a place like Quest Diagnostics, but he’ll need a referral from his primary care doctor first.

Honestly, you guys should probably just hang tight for a bit. Usually, people don't even start talking about infertility until they've been actively trying for at least a year.

That said, if you're feeling anxious, you could always go ahead and check his hormone levels or thyroid stuff just to make sure everything is running smoothly. But I mean, eight months? It's probably way too early to be stressing out.

You might want to skim through this thread: methods, ways, and help with conceiving, and here is a chat thread for women who are also trying to get pregnant. 🙂

copperraven53 said:A semen analysis can be done at a place like Mayo Clinic, for instance, but he’ll probably need a referral from his primary care physician first.

Generally speaking, I think you should probably wait just a little bit longer. Most doctors consider a full year of trying to be perfectly normal, so it wouldn't officially be classified as infertility yet.

That said, you could always go ahead now and check things like your sex hormones or thyroid levels just to make sure everything is balanced. But, I guess eight months is still a bit too early to really start worrying.

You might want to take a look at this thread: methods, ways, and help with conception, and here is a chat thread for women who are also trying to conceive. 🙂

Thanks! I've actually been active in those threads you suggested already, but thank you anyway! I mean, I know we're supposed to wait a year, but even this feels like too much... We're pretty worried. I don't know if you can relate, but it's just such a terrible feeling, especially when I have to wait 🙂 That's why we were thinking about going private for the semen analysis. As for the hormones, I have no clue where to go?! 😕 Should I go to a lab or somewhere else? And do I need a referral for that, too? Sorry, I'm just so confused :/

bluetiger212 said:Thanks, I’m already hanging out in those threads you mentioned, but thanks anyway! I know we're supposed to wait a year, but honestly, even this feels like too much... We're pretty stressed out, if you know what I mean, and waiting for 🙂 just sucks. So we were thinking about just paying out of pocket for a semen analysis, but I have no clue where to go for hormones?! 😕 Should I hit up a lab or something? And do I need a referral for that too? Sorry, I'm a total mess right now :/

For reproductive hormones, your regular insurance-based OB-GYN has to write the referral, but for thyroid stuff, maybe your primary care doctor will do it (if they're feeling helpful). My OB-GYN actually handled my thyroid tests, but only once we started the whole infertility workup—you know, when we finally booked appointments with an REI specialist.

Obviously, you could just pay for everything privately, I just don't know how much that would run you.

All those hormone tests are going to end up costing her quite a bit out of pocket through $500. I honestly don't see how it could be any cheaper—I’ve had most of mine done (including my thyroid panels), and it ran me about that much.

@bluetiger212, you should probably sit down with your OB-GYN and explain the whole situation; maybe ask them to write a referral so you can get all those hormones checked out. It isn't always the case that things show up on an ultrasound or manifest during a regular cycle, but certain little hormonal imbalances can trip things up—though, I really hope that isn't what's happening with you. Good luck. 🙂

Edit: And yeah, regarding what Saška mentioned—usually, doctors start taking more aggressive action once you've been trying for a year.

Sophia Wells72 said:All those live hormone tests are going to cost quite a bit out of pocket through $500. I don't really think it'll be any cheaper; I've done most of them myself (including my thyroid) and it cost me roughly that much.

@bluetiger212, maybe try explaining the situation clearly to your OB-GYN and see if she'll write you a referral to check all those hormones. You know, things don't always show up on an ultrasound or necessarily mess with a regular cycle, but some little hormone imbalances can still cause trouble—though I really hope that isn't the case for you. Good luck. 🙂

Edit: And yeah, what Saška mentioned is true; people usually start taking more serious action once they hit that one-year mark of trying to conceive.

Yeah, I get it now. That’s what my doctor told me too—that I should probably wait at least a year. Because of that, we'd likely end up paying for everything privately. Well, maybe not everything, but definitely a semen analysis and perhaps the thyroid stuff. But without asking her for a referral 🙄 Anyway, I think I'll just wait a few more months (since waiting for an appointment with a socialized doctor can take up to three months anyway), so I'll probably reach that one-year milestone right when my turn comes, which I sincerely hope won't be necessary 😢 Thanks, ladies, and good luck to everyone out there trying!

In cases involving infertility or low sperm motility, there are certain dietary supplements that have been clinically validated. I suppose success in achieving conception typically occurs within a window of six months to a year, though that's just my observation based on what's been proven.

Brenda Ramos33 said:when dealing with infertility or low sperm motility, there are dietary supplement therapies that have been vetted—and if they work, successful conception usually happens within a six-month to one-year window.

There’s plenty of stuff out there... though I suppose it's all hit or miss—it might fix one person's results while making someone else's even worse. Based on what people share in various forums, you can actually see sperm counts drop after taking things like Biostan, for instance.🤷

Hey everyone!

I was wondering—under what kind of circumstances or situations might a woman find out she’s infertile, or at least that having kids is going to be a huge uphill battle, if that wasn't even why she went to the gynecologist in the first place?

1. Is that something that could just come up during a standard checkup?
2. What other factors—like certain illnesses, infections, or maybe a history of miscarriages—could lead a doctor to realize there's a fertility issue?

Or is this strictly something that can only be figured out by taking specific fertility tests?

Thanks in advance, Tomislav.

You’ve got to look at this through two lenses: the structural issues and the chemical ones. On the mechanical side, we're talking about physical obstructions or malformations within the reproductive system—things like scar tissue from previous infections or other structural anomalies. These are usually pretty easy to spot during an ultrasound. Then you have the chemical aspect, which is all about hormones; you can't see those on a scan, so blood work is non-negotiable there. Fortunately, not every diagnosis is a dead end. Sometimes, the only way to get the full picture and fix what's broken is to go in via laparoscopy to diagnose and treat the issue right then and there.

Alexander Grant12 said:Respectfully yours.

In what specific scenarios might a woman discover she’s facing infertility during a routine gynecological exam, assuming that wasn't her primary reason for the visit?

Not in any of them, unless she’s missing a vital organ required to actually conceive—like both ovaries or a uterus.

Is that something you can find out during a routine checkup, even if it's just a general exam?

It’s unlikely, unless we’re talking about something truly drastic. Even if an OB-GYN spots an issue during a routine exam, they can't claim someone is infertile without more extensive testing. No sane doctor would make a definitive call like that based on a single checkup.

What other circumstances—like specific illnesses, infections, or even a miscarriage—could lead a gynecologist to determine that a woman is infertile?

There are countless disorders, illnesses, and conditions that contribute to infertility, but they rarely represent a total impossibility. In most cases, there is always at least a slim chance. How many couples have actually succeeded in having a child after being told it was impossible?
I actually know a couple who could never conceive—they’re in their 60s now—despite being perfectly healthy and undergoing every test imaginable. It turns out they just weren't compatible; both are fertile, but not with each other. That was the diagnosis given because there was simply no better explanation.

Is that something that can be determined EXCLUSIVELY through a specific test for it?

There isn’t some magic single test that determines if someone is fertile or not. The only real proof is trying to conceive—if it happens, you're capable. If it doesn't, that doesn't necessarily mean you can't.
Just kidding—not really. If a couple struggles to conceive and infertility is suspected, they undergo an entire battery of tests to pinpoint the cause. There isn't one single, universal test that covers everything.