What would you ask RE?

GBW

Hi - just curious what you would do...  I am going in to see my RE in a few days.  It will be my second consultation with her.  I saw her for the first time about a year ago (July 2008).  DH and I had all of the testing done - we both "passed with flying colors" - everything came back totally normal for me and for him.  The RE said if we were not pregnant within four months of seeing her (we had been trying for a year when I had this initial consultation), that we could try unmedicated IUI.

Out of my own stubborness, I've now let another year pass by (so two years total of TTC on our own).  I now feel like it's time to take some next steps.  I'm 37 (and a half!) and I'm not getting any younger here, right?  Ha.

If you were me, what would you be asking?  I want to ask her if unmedicated IUI is still the way to go, but what else would you ask?  Would you ask if you could have some of the testing done again, even if she says it's not necessary? 

I just can't imagine what the problem is here...  My cycles are totally normal, I ovulate each month, all of our tests came back great...  I just don't get it...  I did get pg once (on our first try ever...  oh the irony...), but I miscarried at 9 weeks...

Thanks for any opinions you may have!

MDBeachbride

I am sure others will have better advice I just wanted to say good luck.

 

I am 38 and all of our testing has come back ok too.  We've been trying since Dec 08. 

panda246

Do you recall what tests were previously performed?

GBW

Thanks for the good luck wishes!

As for testing: cd 3 bloodwork... My FSH is 6, my progesterone levels are normal, thyroid function is normal, estrogen levels are normal...  DH's SA was approx. 130 million with normal motility, morphology...  I also had a sonohysterogram (SHG) and my uterus is normal, no fibroids or problems.  They could also see from the SHG that my tubes are open and clear.  I did not have the HSG since the RE could see everything she needed to see when I had the SHG.

Then, when I got a positive OPK and a peak reading on the CBEFM, I went back to the RE's office and had an internal u/s to confirm that I had follicles.  Follicle size was normal and uterine lining was of the thickness it should be.  Internal u/s cofirmed ovulation coincided with the postive readings I got. 

Charting that I've done is totally normal.  I still use the CBEFM and I ovulate every month.  Really, not much left to do other than an HSG since I never had it, but I don't really know what it would show that is different?  Is there anything else missing here?

hollymichael

I think you are doing the right thing by getting back in to see the RE again.  I think she will probably want to repeat some of the tests since it sounds like they were done close to a year ago.  It seems like SA results can change quite a bit, so I would ask her if you could have that redone.  I know some RE's do a post coital test, but I don't know if they always do that or if it is really necessary.

I would probably try either an unmedicated IUI or a low dose clomid IUI.  It seems like it is probably time to try something new.  I would probably ask to do the clomid IUI.  Maybe you are having a weak ovulation or something and the clomid could help.  Also, with IUI, the sucess rates are much higher with more follicles and the clomid may give you an extra follicle or two.

We are no longer unexplained, but I can see how it would be really frustrating.  BTW, we also got pregnant the second time trying and nada since then so I know how you feel.  Good luck!

melaniesc

We were kind of in a similar boat. I had 2 natural mcs before going to an RE and getting testing. All of my stuff came back normal - DH came back with low motility and morphology so we finally got some answers. I did 2 medicated IUIs and had a chemical pg with the 2nd one. I jumped straight to IVF and had DD - she's now 14 mos.

  I kind of feel like we still don't have all of our answers because I am a low responder to meds, so feel like there must be some other issue. I'm an impatient person so I took a very aggressive approach - albeit we didn't have DD till 2 yrs. after we first started TTC.

  I'm not sure if there's more tests you should do, but I might suggest DH get retested. Also, I'd probably be more aggressive and start with a medicated IUI. You can ask RE for opinion, but I doubt they'd object given your age and how long you've been trying. Good luck.

leffe1

Good luck GBW! Keep me posted on your appt and next steps!