About to try for the first time ever, and 38th birthday next week.

KLake42

Hey y'all!

I just got back from a promising visit to the fertility doc, and I thought I'd introduce myself.  I'm so excited/nervous about this journey!

I'm about to turn 38.  I've never tried to get pregnant before, and never even been a situation where sperm and egg might possibly meet, except I guess for that one condom mishap in high school (best first day of my period ever!).  I'm bi, but mostly gay, and only ever had relationships with guys who had been snipped.  When I turned 35, I thought I would give up on my dream of conceiving a child, since I wasn't in the sort of relationship that could support starting a family.  Then I met my wife, fell madly in love, got married, settled down, and realized that I hadn't *quite* gone past the expiration date on my eggs, so here I am!

Between my age and the fact that at-home artificial insemination is illegal where I live, I went to a fertility doctor.  My blood work is not awesome-- it indicates low ovarian reserve, so I've taken letrozole and was given a HCG trigger shot to use tomorrow night.  But my follicles look good (two big fat ones today, and good lining), so I'm cautiously optimistic!

I'm trying to find the right path, letting myself feel positive and hopeful and excited, while still being realistic about the potential challenges.  I'm trying to be healthy without driving myself crazy.  For those of you who have been walking this path for a while, I hope you take the time to recognize how strong you are!!!  There is so much information overload on the internet, so many ways we can criticize ourselves for our past choices, the current state of our health, whether we're eating the right things, avoiding the wrong things, etc. etc.  This is not an easy thing.

Jags8

Welcome, and best of luck!

firebaby688

Welcome and good luck on your journey!

TheGizzmo

Welcome!

kbru88

Welcome

aulumos

Welcome!

FemShep

Best of luck to you! There's also a TTC after 35 board here, which has a great community of ladies who are very familiar with age-related fertility concerns.

nicosh8

Hello and good luck!

ecmb

Welcome and good luck!

By the way I had no idea that was illegal anywhere.  You learn something everyday I guess.

Knottie3702344

Best of luck to you on you're exciting new journey : )

DandT2point0

Good luck to you!

MagicMikki

Good luck to you! You've come to a great place with many helpful women with wisdom to share.

surferP528

lilp2015

Welcome!

mamaburdin2010

Welcome!

KLake42

Thank you all so much!  I just got back from the IUI.  I came back to my office, but I can sit comfortably, work at a slow pace, listen to music, so it's not bad.  I'm feeling fine, really.  Just weird!  I mean, part of me is like 12, and just wants to tell everyone that there's SPERM in me! Ha ha!

I have a suspicion, though, that I ovulated a little early.  I had a positive (test line matched the control line) test result when I was getting ready to take the trigger shot, and a hard positive (dark fuschia text line) the next morning.  My doctor thought the timing would still be good though.  And then my temperature spiked this morning, but I got up to pee a half hour before my alarm (thinking it was way earlier in the morning), so the activity before taking my temp might have caused my temperature to rise.

Oh well-- this is the first try.  I may be good at tests, but I'm probably not the exceptional person who strikes gold the very first attempt.  If I ovulated early, then at least I ovulated, and that's promising. Also, the donor sperm passed with flying colors-- 13.8 million, great motility, so yay on that front!

Now we wait!