Hi all, I am new to these forums. Husband and I have been trying to conceive since March 2016, with one miscarriage at 6 weeks back in June. Family has been hounding us about when we are having kids, but just don't have the heart to reveal the struggles yet.
I am pretty convinced I have some hormonal imbalances (low progesterone) contributing to our difficulties so i made an appointment prior to the 1 year mark.
Looking for any advice on what to expect and what to be prepared for at the appointment with the OB/GYN. I want to make sure I have answers for all her questions, I just really don't know what o expect!
Thanks in advance, and good luck to all!!!
Welcome @knottie1442369217 . Sorry for your loss and the difficulty you're experiencing TTC. For us the first appointment with our OB/GYN regarding difficulty was very relaxed. It was really just about a 15 minute conversation recapping my cycle details (when was your last? are they regular? heavy? how long do they last? painful?). Then he ordered labs for both my husband and myself. Once the labs came back they called with the results and for me reviewed them over the phone and went over next steps. From there it will depend on the lab results as to what the next steps are.
Knottie1442369217, I’m sorry for your loss and that you find yourself here. I approached beginning the IF treatment process slightly differently in that I mostly skipped my OB/GYN entirely except to ask her for an RE recommendation. (We also knew from DH’s urologist that MFI was a factor, and my OB did request to see a copy of his SA, but has otherwise been out of the picture.) Regardless, I’m sure your meeting will probably be similar to our first RE appointment in that your OB will take a medical history/TTC history and either refer you to a specialist or take some initial blood work and get an u/s. I was super nervous that the RE would laugh us out of the office, but that was not the case, and I know won’t be the case for you, either.
I’d go in with some questions written down. Like, if you think you have low progesterone, bring that up and express your concern. And ask your OB what next steps will be after your initial tests.
Thank you for the advice! Just a couple days away now, getting anxious and excited to get the ball rolling. My main concern is describing period cramps and pain to the doc. I just don't know if I experience excessive pain or not! My hunch is that if I don't know, it's probably just normal cramping. But it is VERY uncomfortable and requires pain meds every month, just not sure. Any insight on degree of pain that indicates something out of the ordinary for cramps?
@Knottie1442369217 - mention it, for sure. I don't know what kind of pain meds you're on, but I'd definitely mention it.
I was just reading today about how many women have fibroids, and their fibroids aren't detected until late because they don't seek help for their very painful periods. They just think the pain is normal.
Also, if there's one thing I've learned through all of this, it's that you have to be your own advocate. No one will take better care of your body than you, or care more about it!
I told my RE that I thought my bleeding and period pain was excessive. The pain was enough to wake me up in the night and not be able to go back to sleep for an hour or more, only once 800mg ibuprofen kicked in. I was bleeding enough that I sometimes had orthostatic hypotension. I've had friends throw up from pain, though I have never been at that level (and everyone experiences these things differently). I felt like the RE really took my symptoms into consideration - and gave the impression that it was important that I mentioned it. I think it helped somewhat in diagnosing a lining issue and a polyp that I just had removed. So don't be shy!
TTC History in Spoiler
Me: 29 DH:34 TTC 21 cycles All TI cycles BFN (with letrozole, ovidrel, prometrium) Hysteroscopy + Polypectomy + D&C on 1/3 IUI #1 February 6, BFP 2/21, CP 2/26 IUI #2 March 14, BFN IUI #3 April 11, BFN IUI #4 May 11, BFN July 2018 IVF, developed lead follicle, converted to TI, BFN August/September 2018 IVF converted to freeze-all: 7 mature eggs; we fertilized 3 and froze 4. 3/3 fertilized and 1 blast! October 2018 FET-BFN November 2018 FET-TBD
Hi there - I saw you also posted on the check in - please go back to the knot, change your user name, log out of here, log back in and then your new user name should appear. Then it’s much easier for us to recognize you, tag you and reply to you in other threads
Some REs will take you without a referral from an OB. But some insurance might require the referral. So I would suggest to check your insurance, and if not needed take yourself to an RE if you already know you have problems. The one thing you have to do in IF unfortunately is advocate for yourself - or in other words be pretty pushy!
Me 43 DH 45 Married 12/2016 TTC #1 since 04/2015 AMA, DOR (AMH 0.65, AFC 2-4) and autoimmune issues (RA, APS), low TSH, adenomyosis 7 retrievals, 3 transfers
Jun19 FET BFP, due date 7th March 2020, DD born Feb20
Sep17 IVF1 - 1ER, 1F, 1ET, BFN Nov17 IVF2 - 1ER, 0F Jan18 IVF3 - 3ER, 1F, 1ET, BFN Feb18 - second opinion and additional testing Apr18 IVF4 - cancelled (E2 too high) May/Jun18 IVF4 - 4ER, 0M, 1F, 1 frozen day 3 (not best quality) Jun/Jul18 IVF5 - 5 ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen day 3 (not best quality) Jul/Aug18 IVF6 - 4ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen day 3 (good quality) Aug/Sep18 IVF7 - cancelled (cyst) Sep/Oct18 IVF7 - 3ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen Day 3 (excellent quality) Oct18 IVF8 - Cancelled (cyst and too low TSH) Oct18-Jan19 bringing TSH under control Feb19 ERA and hysteroscopy Mar19 Investigation for fibroid and adenomyosis Apr19 adenomyosis confirmed, polyps removed Jun19 FET after 2 months Lupron, autoimmune protocol, transferred two day 3 frozen embryos
Sep17 - Pergoveris 10-17 Sep, Orgalutran 15-18 Sep, Ovitrelle 18 Sep, ER 20 Sep for 2 follies, 1 mature egg, fertilized, ET 1x 2d 4-cell embryo 22/09, 05/10 BFN Nov17 IVF2 - Pergoveris 2-14 Nov, Orgalutran 5-14 Nov, Ovitrelle 15 Nov, ER 17 Nov for 3 follies, 1 mature egg, did not fertilize Jan18 IVF3 - Pergoveris 30 Dec - 8 Jan, Orgalutran 5-8 Jan, Ovitrelle 9 Jan, ER 11 Jan 3 eggs, 2 mature, 1 fertilized, ET 1x 4d 12-cell embryo 15/01, 24/01 BFN May/Jun18 IVF4 - Rekovelle 25-29 May, Menogon 30May - 2Jun, Zomacton 25 27 29 31 May and 2Jun, Cetrotide 30May - 3Jun, Gonasi 3Jun, ER 5Jun 4 eggs, none mature, two matured overnight, 1 fertilized with ICSI, Frozen day 3 but not good quality Jun/Jul18 IVF5 - Rekovelle 21-24 June, Menogon 25Jun-3Jul, Puregon 4-5Jul, Zomacton 21 23 25 27 29 Jun, Cetrotide 25Jun-5Jul, Gonasi 6Jul, ER 8Jul 5 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized with ICSI, 2 frozen day 3 but not good quality Jul/Aug18 IVF6 - Rekovelle 26-29 Jul, Menogon 30Jul-7Aug, Buserelin 26Jul-7Aug, Zomacton 26 28 30 Jul 1 3 Aug, Gonasi 7Aug, ER 9Aug 4 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized (normal IVF), 2 frozen day 3 good quality Sep/Oct18 IVF7 - Menogon 19-30Sep, Buserelin 19-30Sep, Zomacton 19 21 23 25 27 Sep, Ovitrelle 1 Oct, ER 3 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized with ICSI, 2 frozen day 3 excellent quality
Fav Quote: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return
Re: Advice on appointment (loss mentioned)
For us the first appointment with our OB/GYN regarding difficulty was very relaxed. It was really just about a 15 minute conversation recapping my cycle details (when was your last? are they regular? heavy? how long do they last? painful?). Then he ordered labs for both my husband and myself. Once the labs came back they called with the results and for me reviewed them over the phone and went over next steps. From there it will depend on the lab results as to what the next steps are.
TTC History in spoiler Instagram
Married Oct 2007
TTC Since Oct 2010 - MFI Diagnosis 2012 (Morphology 1% + High DNA Frag)
IUI x2 in 2012 - BFN
IVF #1 Feb 2018 - 9 Retrieved - 8 Mature - 5 Fertilized - 2 Snowbabies - no testing
FET#1 March 2018 - BFP - MMC May @ 10w4d
FET#2 July 2018 - BFN
IVF #2 Nov 2018 - 10 Retrieved - 10 Mature - 8 Fertilized - 2 Snowbabies - no testing
I’d go in with some questions written down. Like, if you think you have low progesterone, bring that up and express your concern. And ask your OB what next steps will be after your initial tests.
Good luck!
My main concern is describing period cramps and pain to the doc. I just don't know if I experience excessive pain or not! My hunch is that if I don't know, it's probably just normal cramping. But it is VERY uncomfortable and requires pain meds every month, just not sure. Any insight on degree of pain that indicates something out of the ordinary for cramps?
I was just reading today about how many women have fibroids, and their fibroids aren't detected until late because they don't seek help for their very painful periods. They just think the pain is normal.
Also, if there's one thing I've learned through all of this, it's that you have to be your own advocate. No one will take better care of your body than you, or care more about it!
TTC 21 cycles
All TI cycles BFN (with letrozole, ovidrel, prometrium)
Hysteroscopy + Polypectomy + D&C on 1/3
IUI #1 February 6, BFP 2/21, CP 2/26
IUI #2 March 14, BFN
IUI #3 April 11, BFN
IUI #4 May 11, BFN
July 2018 IVF, developed lead follicle, converted to TI, BFN
August/September 2018 IVF converted to freeze-all: 7 mature eggs; we fertilized 3 and froze 4. 3/3 fertilized and 1 blast!
October 2018 FET-BFN
November 2018 FET-TBD
TTC #1 Since: April 2015
Unexplained Infertility
Cycle 1&2 : Clomid 50mg- BFN
Cycle 3: Letrozole 2.5mg- BFN
Cycle 4: Letrozole 5mg- BFN
Cycle 5: HSG-normal
Clomid 100mg+ Estrace- BFN
Cycle 6: Letrozole 5mg+Trigger shot+IUI+Progestrone- BFN
Cycle 7: Letrozole 5mg, Cyst found during follicle check
Cycle 8: Birth control to treat left ovary cyst
Cycle 9: Letrozole 7.5mg+Trigger shot+IUI+Progesterone- BFN
Cycle 10: Letrozole 7.5mg, 2 Cysts found during follicle check
Cycle 11: Clomid 100mg+Estradiol+Trigger shot+IUI+Progesterone- BFN
Cycle 12: Clomid 100mg- BFN
Cycle 13-16: Natural attempts while awaiting IVF
Cycle 14: IVF-BFN
Some REs will take you without a referral from an OB. But some insurance might require the referral. So I would suggest to check your insurance, and if not needed take yourself to an RE if you already know you have problems. The one thing you have to do in IF unfortunately is advocate for yourself - or in other words be pretty pushy!
Married 12/2016
TTC #1 since 04/2015
AMA, DOR (AMH 0.65, AFC 2-4) and autoimmune issues (RA, APS), low TSH, adenomyosis
7 retrievals, 3 transfers
Nov17 IVF2 - 1ER, 0F
Jan18 IVF3 - 3ER, 1F, 1ET, BFN
Feb18 - second opinion and additional testing
Apr18 IVF4 - cancelled (E2 too high)
May/Jun18 IVF4 - 4ER, 0M, 1F, 1 frozen day 3 (not best quality)
Jun/Jul18 IVF5 - 5 ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen day 3 (not best quality)
Jul/Aug18 IVF6 - 4ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen day 3 (good quality)
Aug/Sep18 IVF7 - cancelled (cyst)
Sep/Oct18 IVF7 - 3ER, 3M, 2F, 2 frozen Day 3 (excellent quality)
Oct18 IVF8 - Cancelled (cyst and too low TSH)
Oct18-Jan19 bringing TSH under control
Feb19 ERA and hysteroscopy
Mar19 Investigation for fibroid and adenomyosis
Apr19 adenomyosis confirmed, polyps removed
Jun19 FET after 2 months Lupron, autoimmune protocol, transferred two day 3 frozen embryos
Nov17 IVF2 - Pergoveris 2-14 Nov, Orgalutran 5-14 Nov, Ovitrelle 15 Nov, ER 17 Nov for 3 follies, 1 mature egg, did not fertilize
Jan18 IVF3 - Pergoveris 30 Dec - 8 Jan, Orgalutran 5-8 Jan, Ovitrelle 9 Jan, ER 11 Jan 3 eggs, 2 mature, 1 fertilized, ET 1x 4d 12-cell embryo 15/01, 24/01 BFN
May/Jun18 IVF4 - Rekovelle 25-29 May, Menogon 30May - 2Jun, Zomacton 25 27 29 31 May and 2Jun, Cetrotide 30May - 3Jun, Gonasi 3Jun, ER 5Jun 4 eggs, none mature, two matured overnight, 1 fertilized with ICSI, Frozen day 3 but not good quality
Jun/Jul18 IVF5 - Rekovelle 21-24 June, Menogon 25Jun-3Jul, Puregon 4-5Jul, Zomacton 21 23 25 27 29 Jun, Cetrotide 25Jun-5Jul, Gonasi 6Jul, ER 8Jul 5 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized with ICSI, 2 frozen day 3 but not good quality
Jul/Aug18 IVF6 - Rekovelle 26-29 Jul, Menogon 30Jul-7Aug, Buserelin 26Jul-7Aug, Zomacton 26 28 30 Jul 1 3 Aug, Gonasi 7Aug, ER 9Aug 4 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized (normal IVF), 2 frozen day 3 good quality
Sep/Oct18 IVF7 - Menogon 19-30Sep, Buserelin 19-30Sep, Zomacton 19 21 23 25 27 Sep, Ovitrelle 1 Oct, ER 3 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilized with ICSI, 2 frozen day 3 excellent quality
Fav Quote: The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return