IF Testing & Treatment w/o 9.20

inthewoods23 · September 2021

This is a place for those of us who have already started TTC, but have started infertility testing and/or treatments. You can express your thoughts, feelings, and frustrations on infertility. TTC can be a long journey naturally, then add in the difficulties associated with infertility, and it becomes a whole new ball game. The road to infertility can be lonely, frustrating, and complicated, so let's make this a place where we can vent, ask questions, and support one another. Feel free to resurrect this thread at any point in the week if you have something to say. Treat this as an ongoing conversation.

Diagnosis (if you've been):

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA):

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?):

How are things going?:

Any questions?:

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house?

gingermama29 · September 2021

Diagnosis (if you've been): PCOS

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): NTNP

How are things going?: Doing pretty well. It feels weird to take a cycle off of fertility meds but I think both logistically and mentally, it’s the right choice for me. I’m continuing to focus on my physical health and healthy habits this cycle. I’m really hoping my doctor will have a good recommendation/referral for a RE. My appointment is a week from tomorrow so we’ll see.

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Corn maize, no contest. I don’t like horror in general.

Also @inthewoods23 I’m dying at that gif. 😂

bows22 · September 2021

@gingermama29 if you feel like it’s the right choice then it’s the right choice! I’m sure the new school year is a nice distraction that will make time go by quickly too.

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained,AMA,endometrial polyps/thickening

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?) Clomid + IUI

How are things going? Good! Ready to get rolling! I will say that I talked to a nurse yesterday and her instructions for my OPKs were slightly different than what my RE said. (The nurse said once a day with FMU until I get a “peak”, the RE said to do as I normally do until I get a positive). I have to use wondfos because those are the ones we “tested” with bloodwork, it sounds like the nurse‘s instructions are more for digital OPKs? I’m just going to go with the RE’s way because it makes more sense to me and then mention the difference when I go in.

Any questions? For anyone who has taken clomid, is there a certain time of day that you took it? The nurse at the RE says it doesn’t matter but just curious if there is a preference

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? I feel like corn mazes are always muddy so for that reason alone I choose haunted house

bumblebee0210 · September 2021

@bows22. That's exciting you're getting going! I would err on what the RE said on OPKs, but I doubt it matters too much. I think I took clomid at night?

@gingermama29. Even though I am super impatient, I have enjoyed my cycle off from medication/treatment/monitoring. It's nice to focus on other things.

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL, DOR

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO (Triggered last night, ER tomorrow)

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): ER #5, part 1 of duostim

How are things going?: Good. Not as *ah-mazing* as earlier in the cycle, but still definitely my best to date. Stats in spoiler

At my day 10 visit, I had 14 measurable follicles (plus 5 <10). Two were 10's, which I think are out of the running, but the rest were in the 14-19 range. So I think I have 12 follicles that are "in range" for retrieval. I'm hoping to get at least 8.

My estradiol had been doubling beautifully every 2 days, but stalled out a little between day 9 and 10-- it grew from 1458 to 1750. That's still the highest I have ever had on day 10, and this is the largest number of follicles I have had going into a retrieval, so I'm really happy with how the cycle has gone. Obviously I'm hoping for a good fert rate, and also that the second round of the duostim goes as well.

Any questions?: @keikilove-- did you do a lupron trigger during duostim? They switched me (I usually have no worries about OHSS, and thus do a standard 10,000 HCG), and I am pretty sure it's because of the duostim. Or anyone else who has had lupron triggers-- is it different at all? I'm worried about getting lower maturity rates.

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Corn maze for sure.

hanshotfirst77 · September 2021

I reintroduced myself a few weeks ago but finally feel like I have something to contribute here so jumping back in.

@gingermama29 I have a really hard time with off cycles as I always feel like I need to have a plan to focus on but it can be so good for mental health and to just relax a little. I hope you enjoy it.

@bows22 I always took clomid in the morning. But idk if it matters 🤷🏻‍♀️ Good luck!

@bumblebee0210 good luck with your ER!

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained secondary IF, PCOS, unexplained RPL

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): still benched

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): not much but did have my consult with my RE

How are things going?: consult was good. I have a bunch of testing to schedule on next CD1. But I was relieved to hear my REs thoughts on my last embryo. I’ve been worried because the grading is pretty poor. But he is confident that the PGS status means more than the grading so I feel better about that. A big part of me really wishes I could have done another ER to bank embryos but for insurance purposes I can’t until I do this last transfer. So oh well full steam ahead. Hoping to get the testing all done in a cycle or 2 and move forward with a FET.

Any questions?: natm

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Probably haunted house

mercury94 · September 2021

*lurking* @bows22 I always took Clomid in the morning, but I’ve heard people say it was better at night for the hot flashes.

acleverusername · September 2021

*lurking*
@bows22 you're right about the digital opks & FMU, so go forth an use those Wondfos as you know how. I think the most important thing is to advise the clinic as soon as you get a true positive and not wait for a peak. As for Clomid, I always took it at night, and I believe it is mean to minimize side effects. WFIW, the same with Letrazole (it can make you sleepy).

gingermama29 · September 2021

@bows22 I always took it in the morning. That’s when I take my anxiety meds so it was easy to remember then. I had zero side effects though so 🤷‍♀️.

@bumblebee0210 crossing everything for at least 8 during your ER tomorrow!! Good luck!

@hanshotfirst77 glad your consult went well and that he was able to put your mind at ease with your embryo.

inthewoods23 · September 2021

@gingermama29 GL getting the referral! And I might just always post this thread with a hilariously_infertile pic/gif because they're so good!

@bows22 with letrozole I was told to take it in the PM. I have no idea if timing really mattered though.

@bumblebee0210 those numbers look pretty amazing to me! GL with your ER tomorrow!

@hanshotfirst77 what is your embryo graded?

Diagnosis (if you've been): unexplained, low morphology, pre-emptively self-diagnosing myself with "my immune system hates me" ha

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): Donating blood for science (aka lab tests), maybe biopsy depending on when it needs to be done, saline sono next cycle

How are things going?: you know I'm anxious to get the ball rolling when I schedule my lab draw for 2 days after I get the lab order AND write out my estimated cycle start dates and corresponding EDDs. If everything is timely and there's no setbacks getting me on the right dosage of meds, I should be able to fully TTC for my December cycle. Which means I'd have about 4 cycles (maybe 5!) for a 2022 baby. Exciting!

Any questions?: Nope

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Corn maze. We do one just about every year with my family. I like thrill... But not enough to want to do haunted houses lol. DH does love making me scream from spooking me around corners so I'm sure it would be enjoyable for him.

Speaking of screaming to the joy of DH, at Six Flags I was often commenting how much my throat hurt from screaming. I said I can't help it if I'm terrified on those first drops! So, for one of the rides I didn't make a PEEP. I had to bite my lips closed to keep from screaming on the first drop. Turns out the experience is way better for DH with my constant woo'ing and laughing during the rides.

hanshotfirst77 · September 2021

@inthewoods23 it’s a 3CC which my RE says is the lowest they will transfer. Stats in spoiler

My 1st ER I had 12 eggs, 6 mature, 4 made it to day 5 blasts and 2 came back PGS normal. 4AA and 3CC

So it’s kind of like is it even worth it? Being the lowest grade he will transfer. But I’m choosing to trust my RE (I really do love him and he’s been with me for like 5 years now so I do trust him). I just wish it would be a little higher graded. Might give me more confidence ya know

I’m excited for you! and I totally do the same thing with potential edds. Fx you get that 2022 THB!

bumblebee0210 · September 2021

@hanshotfirst77. I think (guys correct me if I am mistaken) that we had a recent member here who erm, got deleted for unrelated reasons, who transferred an untested 3CC (or similarly low) and had success. So I wouldn't write it off!

optimistgardener · September 2021

*lurky-lurk*

@hanshotfirst77 and @bumblebee0210 i don't remember the exact details of said recent IF grad/former bumpee's embryo rating, but you're right bumblebee that it was a low grading. And having myself recently done an absolute sh*t ton of reading about embryo grades, it is my strong impression that even embryos with very low gradings have a great shot at implantation if they are genetically normal. Since yours came back normal, you should go ahead and transfer it with optimism!!

bows22 · September 2021

@hanshotfirst77 I went and found the thread because I remembered the way this person’s doctor described embryo grading and I thought it was a great comparison.

Just quoting here versus linking the thread because I didn’t read the whole thing again and wasn’t sure if there would be anything triggering for anyone

“Speaking as someone too who is hoping for success with my last two remaining 6CB embryos, I would like to encourage you (and myself!) That grading doesn't matter. I may or may not have found a couple boards last week where women were sharing similar, better outcomes with their lower graded embryos. 🤷

My doctor explained it as one factor -- let's say in picking out of a room full of kindergartners and first graders, which ones were in first grade, only looking at height. Sure, you might get a halfway decent guess that way, but you might be wrong a good amount of the time, because you could have short first graders and taller kindergartners. Looking at things like reading level, or vocabulary, again might give you a more meaningful guess, but you still might not be 100% correct on your guesses. So picking THB embryos out of a cohort based on grading, or even grading + PGS, is kinda like that. We still don't know for a fact who is going to stick and stay, because there are just so many variables.”

bows22 · September 2021

Thanks all for the feedback about clomid! I’m a little scared of taking it at night because I don’t want to lose any sleep that I desperately need if I do have hot flashes, but I might secretly turn the thermostat down degree or 2 just in case!

@bumblebee0210 so glad your cycle is still going well! Your follicles are 👌

@inthewoods23 I always scream during rides too! I can’t help it! I’m excited for your bloodwork! Will they call you about the results or do you have a follow up?

inthewoods23 · September 2021

@hanshotfirst77 gotta have faith in the process. Who knows how many naturally conceived people there are that were low grade embryos. It's similar to my OB saying low morphology found from an SA is a yellow flag because we don't know how many couples have no problems conceiving when the male has low morphology.

@bows22 I'm not sure if the results get sent to the RI. They said to call when all the results come back in case they don't. I have the Quest patient portal that I will be constantly keeping an eye on starting next week.

keikilove · September 2021

Jumping back in here after living that gif😆😩: too many things on my plate (and mind) the past week.

@gingermama29 Glad to hear that you’re feeling good about taking a cycle off of treatment. Sometimes it feels so strange to do ‘nothing’ but it is so freeing, isn’t it? I hope you’re able to get a good recc for an RE that you really like.

@bows22 Yay, so excited for you to finally get to do your IUI!!! 🤗 No advice here on the Clomid, but when I took Letrozole I switched sometimes between morning & nights and never had any side effects. Hope you don’t have any of those Clomid effects either—except lots of eggs ready to get fertilized.😄

@bumblebee0210 Those are GREAT numbers! FX that you get the maturity and feet rates you’re hoping for. Very exciting! Re: lupron trigger, I have done it for at least the last 2 rounds of DuoStim. My maturity rates weren’t much different whether using just Pregnyl (10,000) by itself in my first IVF cycles or Ovidrel (250 pen) combined with Lupron (2ml?).

@hanshotfirst77 So nice to see you again here! It’s also nice to hear that you had a good consult with your RE. I’m sure this is easier said than done, but try not to stress over the embryo quality. There seems to be so much evidence out there that the embryos rise to their full potential once they implant and make up for any ‘poor’ grading.

@inthewoods23 LOL at both your gif and your self-diagnosing. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m so excited for you to get those results from your RI! FX so hard that something helpful is revealed through al the testing! And yay for 4-5 cycles for a 2022 babe💕

hanshotfirst77 · September 2021

Thanks @bumblebee0210 @optimistgardener @bows22 @inthewoods23 @keikilove

You guys are so right and I really like that comparison. Made me feel a lot better about things. Gotta remind myself to hold onto hope that my little embaby is a fighter.

shortstack930 · September 2021

@gingermama29 I'm sure it will feel good to give your body a break! Hope your doctor has a good recommendation.

@bows22 I second what others said--go with what the RE told you. I'm pretty sure I took Clomid in the evening.

@bumblebee0210 hope everything goes well tomorrow!!!

@hanshotfirst77 I definitely think it's worth it to transfer. More on this in spoiler:

Anecdotal, but just in case it helps to hear--my friend's sister transferred all of her highest graded embryos one by one and they never took so she went on to start putting two at a time in and still no BFP. She finally put her last three in all at once and they were the lowest graded to be able to transfer. She ended up with triplets who are now 4 years old! So I definitely don't think the grading is the only thing that matters.

@inthewoods23 did they say how long it would take to get the lab results back after the blood draw? I'm excited for you to get some answers!

Diagnosis (if you've been): Endometriosis

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): FET prep

How are things going?: Started taking estrogen today! AF should arrive in 5-10 days according to the RE and then we will start our FET cycle! I already told DH to tread lightly around me because last time I was on estrogen I was a raging B.

Any questions?: nope

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? 100% a corn maze. I don't like horror at all and haunted houses are not at all appealing to me.

bumblebee0210 · September 2021

Quick Update: ER went well yesterday. We got 13 retrieved, 11 mature, and 8 fertilized! This is amazing for me-- I have never had more than 3 eggs fertilize. I am over the moon. Will be back for tags, etc. later, but just wanted to say I always appreciate the support from you ladies!

acleverusername · September 2021

*lurking this week*
@bumblebee0210 I must have refreshed this page 30x in the last 24hrs waiting for your update. Wooooooo! Those are AMAZING results! WOOOOOOOOO!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/99/z8ucskec5q3o.gif

kiki047 · September 2021

*lurking*

@bumblebee0210 OMG OMG! In the spirit of celebrating small (huge!) wins:

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/oa88mwu1sDp72/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47rsy2qgcuxde0aj8vcuom0qhxj1vjfnw4qvmeoiig&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

GO LITTLE EMBIES GO!!!

@inthewoods23 I definitely read your answer to the GTKY and wondered if the same thing about you screaming on rides applied to *ahem* other aspects of your life too... wink wink nudge nudge

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/7YrnYstmGxYFa/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e473ga4et78ys8q580qbztrz9gsfuogozywz30qtb8y&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

acleverusername · September 2021

Look at @kiki047 asking the hard questions... 😉😜

inthewoods23 · September 2021

@shortstack930 the more basic labs can take a few days but some can take around 3-4 weeks to be posted.

@bumblebee0210 that's great!!

AFM, I ended up cancelling today's appointment at Quest yesterday as I found out the genetic labs will require pre-authorization so gotta do that first. I have to keep reminding myself that it's okay if this takes a little while since I can't have the saline sono done until next cycle so I've got another 3-4 weeks

Lol whoops I must have gotten side tracked from a customer call and never posted this earlier....

@kiki047 well.... Now that you mention it Sunday night was QUITE the ride 🤣🤣🤣 pun wasn't intended but I love how much that fit.

kiki047 · September 2021

@inthewoods23 yassss girl. LOL.

@acleverusername I can't help it. If it wasn't me, @keikilove sometimes hangs out in the gutter with me.

Image: https://media.giphy.com/media/I6N76iDS8hSxO/giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47hi8swtt4o7uej7ma0ieuv4abhiig63o32pzbe5mp&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

optimistgardener · September 2021

just here to cheer for @bumblebee0210's ER news!!!

acleverusername · September 2021

@kiki047 @inthewoods23, not sure if you guys know about the gem that is Letterkenny, but I figured I'd post this to keep this gutter slide going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4Vk3AvIX9w

shortstack930 · September 2021

@bumblebee0210 that is so amazing!!! I'm so happy for you!!!

hanshotfirst77 · September 2021

@bumblebee0210 that’s amazing results! Yay!

bumblebee0210 · September 2021

Thanks for the love, everyone! I am pretty psyched, but obviously we still have to go through blast stage, PGT-A, etc etc. But for today, good news. Duostim is a killer though-- stims start again on Monday!

@inthewoods23. Sorry the man is slowing you down, I can't imagine the impatience you must have at this stage of the game.

One other note on lupron trigger: I asked the doctor (not my doc) who did the ER about it, and she said, kind of off-hand, that there is some evidence that you get better egg quality with it. Obviously a lot of things were different with this cycle for me-- I had higher E2 and higher AFC, etc, but I had *way* higher fert rates than I have had in the past. I'm wondering if I should always do a lupron trigger? My understanding is that the downside is that it doesn't always work as a trigger (which is why at my clinic if you do lupron you have to come in for bloodwork the next morning). Anyway I thought I would share.

gingermama29 · September 2021

@bumblebee0210 that is amazing!! So happy for you!! ❤️

walkawaynee · September 2021

Diagnosis (if you've been):
Diminished Ovarian Reserve (I am 40) and low morphology for DH

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): TWW

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): last natural cycle before we start IVF

How are things going?: still wrapping my head around diagnosis and preparing for ivf. Its overwhelming!

Any questions?:

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Haunted house, to be fair they both scare me because I am afraid over never finding my way out of the maze.

keikilove · September 2021

@bumblebee0210 Congrats on those amazing numbers!!! So happy for you! I hope the testing reveals equally good news! That’s awesome that Lupron seems to be a positive addition for you.

Will this affect/shorten your plans for more retrievals this year, or does that depend on blast/PGT results?

@kiki047 You get me, girl.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/kl/aurqjh215i25.gif

I was thinking the same thing when I read @inthewoods23’s comments.😆And perfect gif for your question to ITW, by the way.😄

@shortstack930 Hope the estrogen is kind to you this time around!

keikilove · September 2021

I feel like a broken record, but work and life have been pretty insane. Feels like I haven’t done a check-in here in awhile. Anyway, finally getting to it before another whole week slips by.

Diagnosis (if you've been): RPL/RIF, DQ Alpha match, elevated NK cells & activity, blood-clotting disorders,AMA,DOR

Status (WTO/TWW/TTA): WTO, again

What are you doing this cycle? (Testing? Treatment?): The most recent transfer didn’t work. Just did an unexpected IUI.

How are things going?: I’m ok today, but after the recent failed transfer, that was probably the lowest I’ve ever been since starting all this IF stuff. Everyday I thought I’d try to engage here and maybe update but I was too depressed and couldn’t even find the words to express how I was feeling. Plus I’ve been sick on and off for 2 of the past 3 weeks and still trying to be present at work through it all. And DH was sick and low from his first round of chemo, and then I had to get Covid tests to make sure I could even be in the same house w him and his non-existent immune system. I have a very high threshold for stress but this has been a whole new level of stress. So it’s just been a lot lately. Will spoiler the detailed dramatics in the next section. Totally over-sharing at this point.🤷‍♀️

Like others here, I had high hopes at my last transfer for a baby that would arrive before I turned another year older. I was incredibly depressed because that recent transfer gave me a due date that would’ve put me right at my next birthday, and I couldn’t believe that it wasn’t going to happen. The thing I always wanted most in an ideal TTC world was a May baby. Actually, baby would’ve been due on my mom’s birthday, which would have been the most beautiful yearly reminder of my amazing mother’s spirit. And then, if the OB induced me early due to age, baby could’ve been born on my birthday. It seemed just meant to be. Adding to the total mind f***: I was testing out the trigger shot and the HPTs actually got darker at 8 and 9 DPO, but then faded quickly after that. It was the same pattern I’ve noticed for over a year: a smooth transfer, followed some days later by implantation cramping for a couple of days, then followed by a hot feverish sleep, and then the cramps stopped. So I don’t know if it was a chemical PG halted by my immune response to PG, or just very concentrated pee on those two days of darker tests combined with random cramping. Nonetheless, it was devastating when it became clear it wasn’t going to work out no matter what. I truly felt that we must be at the end of this twisting cruel obstacle course. I’ve tried everything. Every medicine, every type of doctor…it just felt hopeless. I felt hopeless. And that was the hardest feeling to sit with. It was compounded by the odd feeling of doing *nothing* after AF showed—no temping, no priming, no meds. Just truly taking the month off and watching the time tick away.

I also had a moment where I was furious with myself because I remembered that my insurance now covers IUIs for free and I’ve skipped a few possible months of those this year. This made me realize that I’d also missed the chance to send my hubby on a flight to our local RE to save some healthy sperm before he began chemo. I was devastated by this realization and was kicking myself for days. In all the rush and non-answers and shock of his cancer diagnosis, I had only focused on whether we’d get to stick to the plan and do one final egg retrieval at the RE in MX. We felt super blessed when MH was able to freeze an extra sample there in MX right before giving his fresh sample for the retrieval, and then starting chemo a few days later. I was sick to my stomach at the missed opportunity to have his sperm saved here, closer to home, for an unknown future.

I have one friend who has a diagnosis very similar to mine and she understood how this situation must feel very final—and dire. We only have one complete frozen sample at our RE in MX, plus the partial sample they saved and froze after using some of it for my fresh retrieval. In desperation, I called my local lab to see if there was any chance that they’d frozen any of MH’s sperm after our first IVF cycle here at home last year or after any of his sperm analyses: they had not. My friend encouraged me to check with my local RE and see if it was possible to save any sperm now, despite MH already starting chemo. I was very leery of this idea, but grasping at straws. My RE did a telehealth appointment with us and assured me that she’s actually seen this quite a bit, and that we could safely collect samples from MH after the first 1-2 rounds of chemo. I was doubtful and unsure of the safety of this (only one study online saying sperm was still high-quality after one round of chemo).

But desperate times call for desperate measures.

So MH flew over to the local reproductive lab twice this week and gave 2 samples before doing his 2nd round of chemo yesterday. My RE also did bloodwork & an U/S on me earlier this week to make sure everything was good on my end. Surprisingly, despite doing no meds or supplements this cycle, I had 6 good-sized follicles thanks to the previous months of IVF meds. I flew over to my local RE today and went ahead and did another IUI—a total Hail Mary at this point. (I am well aware that this whole scenario may come across as if I am unraveling. Again, desperate times…)

We have 4 tiny vials of frozen sperm left here at home (at the lab), probably equal to about 10-15million sperm when all is said & done with thawing and losing around half in that process. And probably the same small amount left in MX after thawing. So, I also went ahead and began interacting with some surrogacy groups, knowing that if my body rejects this IUI or anymore embryo transfers then we have to be done trying with my body. We have so few chances left and don’t want to squander them all. So just hoping for the best but attempting to be prepared otherwise. As I always tell myself: however this chapter closes, at least I can say we gave this our all.

Any questions?: Does anyone else know of other people who had to do fertility preservation or IVF while undergoing cancer treatment? I don’t know anyone that I’m aware of. It would be useful to get another perspective.

GTKY: Would you prefer to do - a corn maze or a haunted house? Corn maze 💯. Not into being scared or scary movies or inviting that kind of energy into my life.

Edited for wacky spacing.

optimistgardener · September 2021

@keikilove ah damn, lady. i am so, so sorry. this process is already so cruel and on top of it you've got so much else to carry right now.

A couple of thoughts as I was reading your update this week:

I can understand why you're researching your options when it comes to surrogacy. It must have been such a massive let-down especially after your DPO 8 and 9 tests seemed hopeful. And given your history, it makes sense to worry that your body is repeating a familiar pattern. Still, I gotta toss it out there (and I know you know this) that if you are using day 3 embryos, their basic rate of viability is already going to be lower, even assuming all other systems are good to go. I recall that you transferred two last cycle. How many more embryos do you have?

As for your question about men trying to preserve their fertility while undergoing chemo, I do not have any personal knowledge, but after reading your Q, I went and spent a few minutes digging around in pubmed. My impression is that there are some experimental studies looking at various supplements to try to protect fertility. However (and I say this as a fellow cancer caregiver), I would not encourage your husband to mess around with supplements while he is doing chemo unless his doctors sign off on it. There are some naturopathic oncologists out there who may (or maybe not) be able to point you towards supportive therapies to help YH retain his fertility. I'll PM you the twitter handle of a naturopathic oncologist who was able to offer my mom some really beneficial supportive therapies. She may have some insights for you if you reach out to her.

All the hugs.

shortstack930 · September 2021

@keikilove oh girl I am so sorry for everything you’ve been going through. I am in awe of your strength. I wish I had advice to offer. I think you’re doing all the right things and I will keep hoping that things will work out for you. How long does YH have to be on chemo?

inthewoods23 · September 2021

@keikilove oh man, words escape me other than you are so resilient going through everything you've been through these last couple weeks. We are always here for you ❤️

gingermama29 · September 2021

@keikilove sending so many hugs. You are such an incredibly strong and resilient person and I’m so sorry you’re going through all of this. ❤️

bows22 · September 2021

Work is starting to get crazy so I fell off the face of the earth last week but just wanted to stop by here before the new thread starts

@shortstack930 I hope the estrogen is treating you kindly!

@bumblebee0210 I’m so excited for you! I hope the good news keeps coming and this you see great results again this time around!

@keikilove friend, I’m so sorry that things can’t just be easy. You are not unraveling and you
are doing everything you can. You’ve got this, no matter what “this” ends up meaning ❤️

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