I'm new here (other pregnancies mentioned)

beemallett

Hey ladies, I have frequented these forums for a while with my own questions and wonderances, but never posted so I thought I would finally introduce myself. I'm 25 years old, been married for 3, TTC #1 for 2. These last two years have been a bit hellish. More than anything in the world, I just want to see those two pinks lines. And one by one the women I am close to have been conceiving, announcing and delivering. It's been torture. A year ago, we started working with our FP to get the ball rolling. He did all our bloodwork, everything can back fine so he referred us to our OBGYN. I had my first appointment with him in February of this year, where he deemed that I wasn't ovulating regularly due to my lack of PMS. He got me on Clomid and ordered a SA for DH and a HSG for myself (which was sooo painful and mortifying because it turns out the doctor's aid is a client of mine at work) but was clear. Did those four rounds of Clomid only to be convinced each month that I was pregnant since I was feeling all these new symptoms (so that's what PMS feels like... ). DH finally just got around to SA last month (his work has been really busy and I try really hard not to nag), turns out he has a 0 sperm count. OBGYN wants him to retest since he says having 0 sperm found is rare and might have been a faulty test. Anyway, that was a week ago and was quite disheartening. However, as of today, I'm six days late. I know it just means I likely ovulated late and I've had nothing but BFNs, but hey, this is the most hopeful I've been in two years. Anyway, I'd love to get to know some of you ladies and hear your stories!

BunnyBerry

Welcome! So sorry for your 2 years of struggles.

I'm so, so sorry for YH's SA results. I hope it was faulty and that you have something to work with! I recommend that your DH go to see a urologist to find out if there is any treatable cause for low/no sperm counts. My DH was diagnosed with male factor infertility years ago, and only a few months ago did I finally get him to see a uro. He had some tests and has been taking a shot that may make a difference.

May I also suggest that you and YH immediately start working with an RE instead of an OBGYN? Prescribing you Clomid for several cycles based on a lack of PMS, and more importantly before testing YH's sperm, was very irresponsible on your doctor's part. If YH has such low counts, there was absolutely no reason for you to be medicating your body with a strong drug like Clomid (which is recommended to be used only up to 6 months total).

I also wonder if your OBGYN was monitoring you with bloodwork and/or ultrasound to make sure you did not have too many follicles (dangerous for higher-order multiples), leftover cysts (a risk of rupture and permanent harm to fertility), or thinning uterine lining (a common side effect that makes implantation unlikely/impossible even if fertilization occurs).

Since you're on a Clomid cycle and don't know when you ovulated, that's really a bad sign that you haven't received the necessary monitoring. Realistically, if you're 6 days "late," you may not have ovulated - Clomid doesn't always continue working the same at the same dose for any given woman.

I hope that the SA turned out to be a fluke and that you really are "late" for an awesome reason!! - but if not, please seriously consider moving on to an RE to make sure you get safe, responsible, effective care and know your realistic options.

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shirleymaeby

Ditto @BunnyBerry.  No matter what though, welcome to the board though.  FX you're late for realzies.

RNCrystal

Welcome! I agree with pervious posts- see a RE. Good luck

Hollowvic

Yes, I hate to repeat the same as others but go see an RE if you haven't already.  Your H has 0 sperm count?  I would get another SA stat and also get him to a Urologist that specializes in fertility.  Welcome and good luck!!!!

curve31

Sounds a lot like my situation. I will tell you that with the 0 count I would see a urologist and push for a testicular biopsy (especially if you have good insurance). I feel like we wasted SO much time trying meds and retesting and trying more and waiting for them to work. Ugh. A low count is one thing but a 0 zero count is a whole different ball game. Not many things cause it and its rarely fixable. That's probably hard to hear. And I HOPE you are luckier than we were. We are using a donor and have definately come to terms with it. We are excited to have a baby no matter how!

theholmanherd

I echo PPs suggestions of RE and reproductive-specialized urologist. I hope that test was wrong! Welcome to the board and I hope you get your BFP soon!

MrsLolaSky

I second all the previous posters about seeing an RE, getting a repeat SA, and seeing a urologist. I'm sorry to hear that you've been TTC for 2 years only to get this news now. But, I'm glad that you guys are on track for some answers and a plan. 

And, welcome to the board. The girls here are very helpful, knowledgeable, and supportive.

beemallett

Thanks for all the replies! My OBGYN did give my husband the lab requisition when he met with me in February, at the same time that he put me on Clomid; it's my husband's fault for not getting it done until now- he's infuriatingly peaceful about the whole thing which has been a huge thorn in my flesh. Anyway, I finished my last round of Clomid in June so we've been catching our breath a bit the last few months while waiting for our follow up appointment, that's why I'm not sure if/ when I ovulated last month. I live in Canada and fertility treatment is really expensive here and it's not covered in the least, that's why our OBGYN wanted to test and try as much as he is able to before referring us further to an RE. If everything keeps going the way it has been, we'll likely be referred before the new year.

lebradford

Welcome!

I would murder my husband if I did several rounds of Clomid before he got a SA. You are definitely a nicer woman than I am....

Hollowvic

Your doctor put you on Clomid before doing a SA on your husband? Oy Vey!!!

beemallett

I know, right!! It's really not my OBGYN's fault, he wrote his prescription with my assurance that DH would get his SA done right away, which I thought he would. Turns out he found the process really inconvenient so he put it off for seven months... I love my husband, I really do, but his passiveness hurt almost as bad as the infertility itself. I really never thought that he would shoot blanks so I assumed the problem was all me. I'm hoping that he takes this more seriously now that he knows he might be the issue.

Chasity08

Op...it's not your husbands fault...it's your irresponsible OBs fault. You need to see an RE stat. What your OB is doing is extremely dangerous. But welcome all the asme. I hope your stay is short.

beemallett

Forgive me if this seems like a stupid question, but why is taking Clomid such a dangerous thing? I did a little research when he first prescribed it and I didn't see anything that seemed like a red flag...? Maybe I've been blinded by my desire to just finally be a mom.

Chasity08

Taking clomid isn't dangerous. Taking clomid unmonitored is. Ask ketchup what happened to her from doing that same thing.

Hollowvic

@kkeglar13‌ sounds like we're married to the same guy. My H bitches about taking a dam supplement twice a day. Every time he has to give his "sample" he gets so weird and makes me sit in the car and he brings it out. I'm like really, don't men do this shit all the time? I told him to get over it, seriously after seeing what I'm going to go through for IVF, I don't want to hear one complaint!

Hollowvic

Glad I'm not the only one.

EmilieT10

@beemallett‌ welcome to the board. I have nothing to add but agree with PP's. Hoping your stay here is a short one. And, boo to whiney hubbies. Mine complained when he had to go for a second SA. He said it was weird. I told him I didn't want to hear it.

Sewfie

Yes to seeing a reproductive endocrinologist! Yes to getting that second SA done, stat!
Also, get a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility. If you chart your basal body temperature you'll be able to confirm ovulation. ETA: Not having pms is definitely not a scientific way to confirm that you're not ovulating.
And for sure, @iPutKetchupOnKetchup can give you very detailed reasons why unmonitored clomid is bad. Actually, you can go to this thread to see more.