39 & 1st time TTC. Is it too late?

Hi Jacqui-May

It's harder to have kids the older you get; when you're in your early 20s, there's roughly a 25% chance per cycle, which lowers to under 10% when you're over 35.

That said, I know ladies who concieved naturally in their early 40s, so it obviously can happen!

I'm not an expert in this area, but I doubt you'd qualify for publicly-funded IVF anyway, because you've only been trying since July. You have to have a certain number of points to get on the waiting list, and although the older you are, the more points you get, I think you'd have needed to be trying longer to get enough (anyone who knows more, feel free to correct me here).

At the same time, maybe it's worth a trip to the Dr to get checked over? The might not refer you to a fertility clinic until you've been trying a couple more months, but it would still be worth doing.

Best of luck!

Hi Jacqui May
My long term partner and I are/were in the same situation. I am 39 and he is 34. We have been TTC for 6months. With my 40th birthday just around the corner we decided to see a fertility specialist to see if we actually could have kids. I've never been pregnant, never tried before, so we thought we would put the guesswork behind us.

We went to fertility associates in Wellington and they did a few bloodtests throughout my cycle and a sperm analysis on my partner. I would highly recommend it, as they can tell you what your egg/ovarian reserve levels are, and your partners sperm count, they can pretty much tell you your chances of conceiving naturally or if you need a little help or if something is not quite right what options are available to you.

As for public funding... unfortunately they told us you have to be TTC for 5 YEARS!!! and under 40yrs old to be eligible!
We paid for our tests and consultation which came to around $400.

Hope this helps.
Tanners

Hi JacquiMay and welcome

At 38, after 2 years of testing and a slack GP, I made an appointment myself with a fertility specialist and managed to get public funded ivf at 40.  Although I only got one chance (not two for those under 38).  So if you want to go that route, I recommend that you start testing now to save time and after 6 months book your own appointment with a fertility specialist.

Also in the meantime, you can chart ... its easy... you just need a thermometer and join "fertilityfriend.com" its free.  Charting helps give you an idea of when you ovulate and how long your luteal phase is.  You can join us at the "charting" thread and the "waiting to ovulate" and "the two week wait" threads.  The girls are very helpful and supportive.

No its not too late but do go and see your GP and talk things over with them. They should be able to help. In regards to the time you bleed i wouldn't worry about that too much i Knew a lady once who only bled for 1/2 a day and she has 2 girls. As long as you have your af it doesn't matter how long its for.

I am in the oppsite situation as you i'm 31 and DH is 45 i do worry about this.

Wow - thanks so much for your kind words of wisdom ladies!

I feel much better after reading your posts - I spent a day trying to search for threads in the weekend about us 'older first time TTC'ers' but couldn't find anything so was feeling a little on my own.

I will definitely make an appointment with a doctor up here (we have just moved so if anyone has a recommendation of a good TTC doctor that would be fantastic - I live in Hobsonville but don't mind the drive to the city if that's were the good Dr's are (and its a great excuse to go shopping).

After that, an appointment at fertility associates might be on the agenda to see if we are good-to-go naturally or if we need some help. I didn't think we would qualify for funding - we have been having relatively unprotected sex for nearly 18 months so if I was really fertile it would have happened by now I'm guessing (although 6 of my friends have become pregnant or had babies since I've come off the pill - they are younger though).

I'll also join fertilityfriend.com & start charting - thermometer on the shopping list as I type!

Thanks again - its reassuring to know I'm not the only 'older TTC'er' out there!

I wish you all the best & I'm sure I'll be reading some success stories from you all very soon!

Blessings

JM

So the 5 year thing... who's to know you haven't been trying that long? I mean if it gets you extra help...