IF/Testing Check-In Week of 9/12

LadyMillil

@britters314TSH, prolactin, testosterone, insulin can basically be tested any day of your cycle because they don't fluctuate much. Progesterone at 7dpo confirms O and that you have a high enough level of progesterone for a sufficient LP. I checked my lab reports and LH and FSH should be low during your LP and follicular phase, so both CD3 and 7dpo testing aren't at peak levels for these 2. I believe your doctor would be checking to make sure they aren't elevated during your LP. I'm not sure about 7dpo, but with CD3 the ratio between LH and FSH is important, and I think it's high FSH at CD3 could be a sign of DOR. I did all my bloodwork with my PCP and OB and then was referred to the RE when there wasn't an "easy fix" like thyroid meds or something.

@kyersten definitely get the SA and HSG before taking clomid. If you have a blocked tube or YH has MFI all the clomid in the world won't get you pregnant, and then you've wasted half of your max lifetime uses when you really had no chance of the clomid working 

Megzb510

@ReesaAnne16 - so sorry for the BFN 

Diagnosis (If you've been):  

Cycle/CD: Cycle 10/month 14 / On BCP so doesn't really matter what CD

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  On BCP

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Waiting to start stimming for egg retrieval.  I'm on BCP til 10/5. Stimming starts 10/10. Egg retrieval is between 10/19 and 10/23 and we will be doing a frozen embryo transfer in November. 

  

How are things going? Ok. We got our calendar yesterday during our consult. It feels good to have a plan. It's also nice to give up temping. I get those extra couple minutes back in the morning and it's awesome on the weekends where I don't have to wake up at 5am to temp. 

  

Any questions? 

GTKY: Who would play you in a movie? Christina Ricci. 

persnickity

@ReesaAnne16 Sorry you're IUI was a bust. At least the timing allows for a fun weekend! 

At this point, I don't deal well with AF coming. I'm trying to follow the advice of everyone here and do something fun, but haven't been able to actually do that yet...

tamalahoops

@ReesaAnne16 I'm sorry this cycle didn't work out. I am trying to tell myself that every month my doctor is working out kinks and improving my treatment plan. We also talk about alternatives to treatment like adoption, foster care and being childfree. It helps us to remind ourselves that there will be life after infertility.

@britters314 my vote is also to skip straight to the RE. If you have options in your area I would really research and choose which is best for you. 


Diagnosis (If you've been): ovulatory dysfunction and low morph

Cycle/CD: 16 

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):  tww

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Iui #2 was last Friday. I had 3 big follies and husby's count was 10.5 million post wash with 100% motility. I'm crazy hopeful for this cycle. 

  

How are things going? I am feeling super positive this month! Hopefully that lasts!

  

Any questions? 

GTKY: Who would play you in a movie? Ehhhh I dunno. I don't really have a celebrity doppelganger but mindy kaling would be a good personality match.

ReesaAnne16

tamalahoops said:

@ReesaAnne16 I'm sorry this cycle didn't work out. I am trying to tell myself that every month my doctor is working out kinks and improving my treatment plan. We also talk about alternatives to treatment like adoption, foster care and being childfree. It helps us to remind ourselves that there will be life after infertility.

@tamalahoops  That is such sage advice; we all have to remember that there is life after (and outside of) infertility, regardless of the outcome. I have two friends who are starting the domestic adoption process, so it's nice to see someone go through it and remember that it is potentially an option for us. (and a good one )

mrsdaddario

@ReesaAnne16 I've said it, but I am still sorry for you BFN. The good news is that AF showed so quickly. (I mean, I know that's not good news.) My progesterone was still at 15 yesterday so I will have to wait until it drops for AF to show. No idea how long that will take. I'm assuming a week. That's the highest it's been after a BFN. Also, now that you do have AF you can restart treatment and you have a whole new cycle of chance! 

Elyse1384

Ha!  I responded to the fertility thread here because I'm an idiot.  Well happy Friday ladies!  Hope you're all well.

@ReesaAnne16 I'm so sorry to hear this cycle didn't work out.  I hope you get some positive distractions this weekend.

Bababatty

@felix08 I'm sorry to hear YH's count was so low. I commiserate with you; we had the same issue with our IUI on Thursday. I know how hard it is to stay positive. Anyway, FX for success regardless! 

@ReesaAnne16 I don't handle AF well at this point. My best tactic is distraction. When our first IUI failed, I had an emotional breakdown, but then we went camping and I was distracted by friends. It sounds like you've got some things to keep you busy, too. Have fun!

felix08

@Bababatty I'm so sorry you're in the same boat. I'm already mourning this cycle as a failure, though I guess there is technically still a chance. Hopefully we both get super lucky! If you don't mind me asking, what were your H's numbers?

[Deleted User]

@ReesaAnne16. So sorry to hear this wasnt your cycle.  (((Hugs)))
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/yj/hjwh9rqdurlz.gif" alt="">

So I managed to get DH's SA dropped off this morning within the hour.  Our doctor wanted him to, "recharge," for four days, but we only have about 2.5.  We should have BD Sunday night, but I wasn't thinking; I planned for Monday, but we were too tired, so Tuesday evening it was, and then the Friday AM collection.  FX it's awesome and we can just rule out MF conclusively!!!  Cos if it's borderline, the doc says he will wonder if it *might* have been okay, given a couple more days.... we shall see!  IN 7-10 BUSINESS DAYS WTF!!! LOL 

@mrsdaddario. You k ow how hard I am rooting for you.  So sorry to hear about your beta.  Really...
<img src="https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/74/xyfrub049o12.gif" alt="">

Bababatty

@felix08 2.4 million motile after the wash. I was so disheartened I forgot to ask what the total count was, and what percent this is. But going from his SA and the last IUI (2.6 million motile) I'm guessing around 22%. His low motility is nothing if not consistent.

felix08

@Bababatty I also didn't ask for specifics because I was so caught off guard and discouraged. I did call back later, though, because I wanted to know. I almost wish I hadn't, because I've been obsessively googling ever since. When is your beta? And are you guys considering moving on to IVF if this cycle doesn't work (hopefully it will!)?

mrsdaddario

@BusinessWife Thanks so much lady! As always I am also rooting for you! Is this YH's first SA? Keeping my FX for good numbers!

Bababatty

@felix08 My beta's the 29th; when is yours? We spoke with our RE after the first IUI and he encouraged us to do four IUI rounds before IVF. This was a change of tune since at our first meeting he'd said if we had <4 million at the IUI, we should discuss IVF. My insurance covers IUIs so I'm happy to keep trying for now.

However, I told DH that we needed to talk to a urologist who specializes in infertility, as our RE suggested. Our appointment is around my FW next cycle, so we'all do one more IUI--I still hold out hope for a summer baby--and then hold until we work out a plan (if any) to improve DH's motility.

What are you thinking if (God forbid) this cycle is a bust? I really hope it's not!

[Deleted User]

@mrsdaddario  thanks, I know you are too.  We are in this together!  Yes, this was his first one.  The girl at the lab asked the same thing when I dropped it off, and I was thinking to myself, oh dear, I hope we don't have to keep doing a whole bunch of these things!  It'd probably be a lot easier for him to just do it into a cup or whatever, but the way we have to do it with a non-lubricated condom that's not really big enough was kind of a comical chore, to say the least!

felix08

@bababatty Mine is on the 26th, but I think I might test out the trigger so that I can get an idea of how the beta will go beforehand. My RE said if this cycle doesn't work we could consider IVF. I don't know what to do. Ugh. That's awesome that your insurance covers!
@businesswife Why couldn't he do it with the cup??

kyersten

@mrsdaddario, @wabash15, @Everycol0r, and @LadyMillil

Thank you everyone for listening and for your advice! Definitely sounds like I have a lot more research to do. After talking about it with DH, I think I'll do the Clomid just this cycle (if AF decides to ever start) since I already have the meds.

In the meantime, I'll schedule to get the tests done and make an appointment with an RE (that is very well-known and respected in our area). It sounds like to safely continue to pursue fertility treatment, I need to with the fertility experts. Thank you all again!

[Deleted User]

@felix08. That's just how our doctor does it, since we're Catholic.  You still technically are not "spilling seed" in a way that could not result in conception, because the condom is perforated.  So hypothetically, a swimmer could still get out and fertilize an egg, if one were present.  That's why.  Maybe sounds silly, but itsfor religious reasons. ;)

felix08

@BusinessWife oooooh, gotcha.

Elyse1384

@BusinessWife I just got creepily excited to see another Catholic who is shoulder tapping science for TTC assistance.  Please don't feel the need to respond if you're uncomfortable doing so, but did you council your pastor about procedures beforehand?  Our new pastor wants to chat about our approach (I'm quite open about it).  We are "double sinners" given our need for donor sperm.  Le sigh.  Whenever will the Church join society in the 21st century???

britters314

@LadyMillil  Thanks for the much more detailed answer than my doctor gave me! I guess at my age she's not worried about diminished ovarian reserve (she said it usually starts going down around age 30 so I've got a few years) and that's why she didn't have me do the CD 3 testing.

britters314

So I just found out my insurance won't cover any infertility treatments. I thought it would for two reasons. 1) I had coworkers who make minimum wage and are really terrible with money who went through treatments so I assumed they could only pay for it with insurance and 2) in my state employers are required to cover it to an extent unless they are a religious organization and my insurance is through a church. My church doesn't have stance against infertility treatments, so I don't see why they wouldn't cover it...

I can still do my testing because my doctor isn't billing it as infertility, but I won't be able to do any treatments anytime soon. I was already planning to switch to my husband's insurance next year, which does cover it, but we'll have to wait until we've reached our deductible at least in order to afford it. We hardly go to the doctor, so that might not even happen next year. 

Bababatty

@britters314 I'm so sorry about your insurance. That's so frustrating! If your church doesn't have a stand against IF treatments, they're probably just taking advantage of the exception to avoid higher premiums. You could try advocating with HR to add it in, but your idea of switching to YH's insurance is probably easier. Have you looked into grants in your state? Some states offer to cover a portion of treatments--for example, NYS has a grant program for IVF. There are also private foundations. I think Resolve has a list. Can you save up a little in the coming months to have enough to cover your deductible next year? 

Just throwing ideas out there. I hope you're able to work something out!

[Deleted User]

@Elyse1384  Hey!  Of course, no worries.  No, I really haven't talked to my pastor at all about any of it.  Our clinic, which is also where we go for primary care, is a Napro clinic, with a trained Creighton instructor on staff as well.  So that will be our "faith-based-scientific approach," for lack of a better term lol

MHL2

@britters314 just sent you a private message about some options. 

ReesaAnne16

Thanks ladies, you are all so great

I had a great weekend away, it was just what I needed. The theme of the retreat was on contentment, which is such a struggle to have right now. It was also just nice to enjoy some nature (who knew lake michigan is warm enough to swim in in september!) and time away from routine.