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Infertility
NikkiBenzo
member
In my bag: Nikon D90; 35mm 1.8, 90mm 2.8 macro (my fave), Lensbaby Composer with macro extensions. BFP after 13 cycles and one ectopic. Lost left tube 5/19/10.
XP - Those of you who are undergoing fert treatments
NikkiBenzo
member
in Infertility
I posted this on 1st Tri but some of those ladies suggested I post here.
I am considering calling my OB to ask her about my options - I have been TTC #2 for 9 cycles and I am almost 37 years old and have had 2 m/c and a very difficult 1st pregnancy. I have a clotting disorder which caused several blood clots in my brain when I was PG with #1 and I almost died (was in a coma, had a stroke, etc.)
Anyway, what do I say to her office when i call to make the appt? What will they do for me? Is there a certain time of my cycle that she will want to see me? What if I wind up pregnant on my own after she sees me and I am in the middle of treatment - what is the treatment? Will it interfere with ttc naturally?
I have so many questions - some of the dumb - but I am very new to this issue.
Someone please tell me everything about your experience with either IUI or IVF. What happens from your first appt on?
Thanks!
Edit: I did Google IUI but I want to know the details from someone who has been through it.
In my bag: Nikon D90; 35mm 1.8, 90mm 2.8 macro (my fave), Lensbaby Composer with macro extensions. BFP after 13 cycles and one ectopic. Lost left tube 5/19/10.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: XP - Those of you who are undergoing fert treatments
It's a lot to try to understand!
First off, I would suggest that at 37 and with 9 months under your belt, go straight to a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE). Check with your insurance first to see if you need a referral - but if you don't need one, you can make the appointment yourself.
The RE is much more versed at dealing with this stuff and will want to do a battery of tests before proceeding with any treatments.
Whatever you do - do not allow a OB/GYN to offer you Clomid and then not monitor you while you take it!
Good luck!
Started TTC 05.08
Me: Stage II endo, borderline high FSH
DH: perfect
1 lap, 5 IUIs = 4 BFNs and 1 c/p
2 IVFs, 2 FETs = 1 BFN, 1 c/p, 1 ectopic and finally a sticky BFP in May 2011!
1 FET in Aug 2013 = BFP!
I would call your OB and tell her you want to have a pre-conception appt. Then ask her all those questions. It doesn't sound like you have a problem getting pregnant, but rather staying pregnant. You have had 2 m/c in the last 9 mos of ttc, right? Does your OB have you on lovenox or some blood thinner because of your clotting disorder?
I would think, but could be totally wrong, that if your OB or a hematologist should be able to manage your clotting disorder. If you aren't on blood thinners now maybe that is the reason you are having repeat m/c. I also think of RE's as people you go to to get you PG and OBs are the people you go to to keep you PG.
For me personally if I didn't have a problem getting PG then I would get on my OB about not giving you the proper level of care to sustain a PG. I wouldn't go into IF treatments unless that was my last option, mostly because it is so physically, mentally and financially draining.
Long story short I would definitely make an appt with your OB and get the ball rolling in some direction.
Me - DX Hashimoto's Disease, Hypothyroid, Rheumatoid Arthritis
DH - DX Azoospermia - Sertoli Cell Syndrome
DS-IUI #1-4 BFN IVF #1 - BFP! It's a boy!!!
This is a great source of information on IVF. It is too much for me to type. https://www.advancedfertility.com/ivf.htm
First thing, given your age and that it has been longer than 9 months, I would want to get in right away. If you can't, you may want to move on to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist - fertility specialist).
First thing your RE or ob/gyn should do is a work up - CD3 bloodwork, u/s, HSG and an SA (sperm analysis) for your DH. You need a diagnosis before you start any treatments. You may even want tests for recurrent m/c.
Also, I would lean on going straight to an RE given your age and history.
Good luck.
Hi there, I just started seeing my RE back in July and was also very intimidated at first too. Given your history, I'm not sure which they'll recommend first (IUI or IVF) but on my first RE appointment, we filled out all of our ppwk ahead of time, went in and met with the RE to discuss the issues we've been having and also to discuss what some options were. I wound up having an ultrasound that very day. Once that was done, we sat down and talked again to discuss our gameplan. Next steps from there will depend on your situation. For us, he ordered a S/A for my DH and an HSG for me (to make sure my tubes weren't blocked). We're going to do 3 rounds of IUI and go from there...
Me: 32 - Stage II Endo / DH: 36 - Low count and morphology (1%)
IUIs 1-3 BFN, lap Dec. 2010, IUIs 4-6 BFN
IVF w/ICSI #1 - ER 2/8: 24R 19M 9F ET 2/13 2-5 day blasts (no frosties) = BFP - b/g twins!
E & C Born 10/19/2012
My opinion is that an RE is best of you are experiencing recurrent losses, which is a form of infertility. I may have become biased, but through my own experiences I honestly have lost a lot of faith in the ability of OBGYN's to understand, let alone treat, issues like yours and ours. It may be worth it to go see your OBGYN first, but please don't let his/her word be the end of your search, and bear in mind that he/she might have a great RE in mind to refer you to. If he/she seems hesitant to refer you, however, I would push for it. At age 37, I wouldn't want you to waste time with a doctor who isn't best qualified to help you.
Best of luck!!
I started my IF journey by meeting with my OB and getting her thoughts and advice. From there, she recommended my RE. Make sure to check with insurance, etc, but if your OB recommends, the RE should take the same insurance, it is just working out coverage. The RE will ask for a copy of your charts and history from OB, or bring them with you. They will ask a ton of questions. The RE will make recommendations on where to start based on your personal experiences.
I am a planner as well, and wanted to know all the answers before my first RE appointment, but mostly all it did was give me more information than was needed at the time.
As far as calling the OB office to make your first appointment there, tell them everything you said in this post, and ask if there is a best cycle day to be seen. If you are receiving IF treatments, you are monitored constantly (I am in the office sometimes every day for a week) and therefore the doctor will know when you are ovulating, etc and make the accurate recommendations. You can TTC naturally, but you won't be able to tell what had worked, since you will be on medications, receiving IUI or IVF, etc.