Hi y'all! Intro...

ccombs0821 · August 2014

Hi there! My name is Catherine from Kentucky...hence, y'all

My DH and I just celebrated our 4 year anniversary yesterday and have been together almost 12 years. We started "trying" in August of 2013 and we are still getting BFN's. I had a negative experience with my GYNO back in December (long story and not necessary to discuss on this message board) which lead me to finding a new one. Some dear friends of mine recommended a midwife to me and I am SO happy I made the switch. I would love to have a natural birth, however, I do know things can change when in the moment. I figured that since this midwife supports any and all birth plans she would be a great fit for me, and boy is she! She gave DH and I some great family planning tips at our first consultation and said if I was not pregnant after a year of trying to come back in to discuss where to go from there. Well, here I am in the Trouble TTC message board so needless to say its been a year and no BFP. So about 3 weeks ago I did my annual screening and some blood-work. I have been off BC for about 7 years, have very regular periods and after doing 4 months of OPK's I was ovulating when I should be. Results came back and I got wonderful news that my hormone levels were totally normal and no need to worry about IF on my end at this point. She suggested my DH do a SA and, luckily, he was on board. She totally surprised me when she said she was glad he obliged as a lot of men aren't comfortable doing so. 'Scuse me, but as women we do lots of uncomfortable things, right?! So surely he should be comfortable stepping up to the plate! I commend him and all the other men out there because I know it isn't easy. His SA results came back a couple days later and we got the dreaded phone call that we needed to see our midwife to discuss the results as they could not be discussed via phone. Talk about a long 2 days of waiting to go in! Turns out his morphology percentage was low, 3%. My thoughts= what is morphology? What does 3% mean? Does this mean we can't have children? Really, us? No way? You get the point. She suggested that with some simple lifestyle changes his morphology can improve. The fact that we had been trying for a year though, IUI is what we are most likley looking at. She suggested he get a physical, some blood-work and urinalysis then do another SA to see if his percentage was any different. We would go from there as far as what our plan will be in TTC. So here we are...DH goes for his physical in a coupe weeks and SA scheduled late September. He is hoping that with some more exercise and healthy habits that his SA will improve. We are open to IUI and whatever is needed for us to conceive, but are still learning about this whole journey we may be facing.

I am totally new here and to message boards, period! I have lurked for a couple weeks and decided why not chime in just in case I am here for a while. I am still learning all of the codes and lingo so if for any reason I am not where I should be, have said something incorrect/inappropriate or ask dumb questions please be let me know and be patient with me. I think I will catch on pretty quickly so we shall see! I am still trying to figure out the tickers, siggy's, etc is as well so I will add those things as I go.

Lastly, I apologize this is such a long post. I just wanted to lay it all out there and get my story out...and sure feels good to just do that! Small steps. I look forward to getting to know you, supporting you and learning from you all!

Cat

What we are doing:
OPK's, temping, pre-seed, charting, FF..you name it!

AnnaClaire256 · August 2014

Hey there!

Welcome to 3T. This is a great place for advice and support. I'm a southern girl and a big "y'all" dropper myself!

@rainbowbridge14‌ already gave you some GREAT advice so I'll just second what she said and wish you lots of luck with your journey!

shirleymaeby · August 2014

Welcome to the boards, sorry you have to be here but you've come to the right place for love and support. Hopefully your stay will be short. GL! (And I will echo the others that as nice as your midwife sounds you should really see an RE).

EmilieT10 · August 2014

Hi, Catherine! I'm sorry you have to be here, but as a southerner, it's great to see another "y'all" on the board.

Your story sounds similar to mine. DH and I have been married 4 years. TTC a year and after a gazillion + OPK's and - HPT's, I went to my OB/GYN who referred me immediately to an RE (reproductive endocrinologist). Have you been referred to anyone? The RE repeated my DH's previous SA and his counts were 13 and 31, morphology was at 0%. My hubby also had a physical and blood work (which was all clear) and he's currently on supplement. However, we've been told that morphology isn't something that usually improves. My RE also performed an HSG on me to make sure anatomy and tubes are all clear. I would suggest you have this completed before starting any treatments. I think that IUI would be a reasonable first step in treatments. My only two suggestions are that you see an RE...a doctor who highly specialized in infertility and monitoring during treatments and that you have an HSG (or laparoscopy) performed to make sure all anatomy is clear. Best of luck to you and let us know what you find out! I'm fairly new to this board too and these ladies are GREAT!!

EmilieT10 · August 2014

Ha. Just posted my response...it takes me forever to type when I'm not on my computer! But, yes...everything @rainbowbridge14‌ said!

BunnyBerry · August 2014

Welcome! Glad your DH was on board with the SA.

:And it'll be awesome to have such a supportive midwife when you go into labor.

HOWEVER...

Just because you ovulate doesn't mean you don't have an fertility problems (and just because you get positive OPKs at the typical time does not automatically mean you ovulate).

Your midwife is taking a very simplistic view here and while there is a chance that her treatment suggestions may work out, there's also a laaarge chance that you will waste time, money, and stress. One year of TTC without success means you are ready for the RE, not (only) for suggestions for lifestyle changes from a midwife.

As PPs said, only an HSG can tell you if your tubes and ute are clear for fertilization and implantation. (10% of infertile couples have both male and female infertility). Also, 3% morph is extremely low. That number necessitates a visit to an RE and almost certainly a urologist because there are many physical and hormonal factors that could be involved, and it takes months for any male treatments to take affect (as sperm develop). Even if YH has 100 million sperm, if he only has 3% motility to start with, the concentration of motile sperm and total motile sperm available after wash for IUI will almost certainly not be in an effective range.

I'm so glad that you are here on 3T, and I hope everything works out really well. But I feel obligated to share with you - midwives help you when you're pregnant, but an RE helps you get pregnant.

jennym25 · August 2014

Hi Cat, pp have given great advise. All i can say is Welcome and hope your stay here is short and you get good news soon.

LindseyM2012 · August 2014

Nothing else to add that PPs haven't. Welcome!

MrsLolaSky · August 2014

Welcome! We're MFI, too. Good luck to you

(and ditto on the RE and possibly urologist suggestions)

cautiouslydomestic · August 2014

Welcome!

Hollowvic · August 2014

Welcome and good luck!!!

Champs28 · August 2014

Best of luck to you! Here's hoping you get good news at your hubs next appt

Kcheese · August 2014

Welcome Cat! I am from KY & MFI as well! Hoping the best for you!

jessimi06 · August 2014

Welcome and GL! My DH has also made changes in his life/diet to help with his morphology, but hasn't had any luck over the last year. His count and motility are awesome, but his morph is always 1-2%, and the RE and Urologist didn't think there was any other way to help improve it.

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