It's been a while since I have updated on my fertility progress. We have had a lot going on this year... and time just flies right by.
Here's what been going on in 2012. I've been going to my new Dr. and he has been doing a lot of tests. Recently he did an Ovarian Assessment Report (OAR). It is a test that measures your egg supply, egg quality, FSH and your chance of a successful egg retrieval. He also tested my thyriod. My results came back good, I was pretty average for my age group. My thyroid came back w a higher than usual score for being under active and I am now being treated for that. (I feel like a walking pharmacy!!!)
Another common issue with infertility is blocked tubes. I have had mine checked a few times in the past but he wanted to check again to eliminate that as a problem. If anyone has had this done before it is seriously the worst!!!
The results came back great, they could not find any blockage or damage so they both seem to be working fine. This is supposed to be good news but I was a little disappointed, had they been clogged then maybe that could have solved everything... If only it were that easy!
The next month they switched me over to a different fertility drug called Femara. My ovaries are no longer responding to the high doses of Clomid so we are giving this a shot. I have been taking the Femara every month since February.
My Dr didn't want to leave John out so he ordered some more testing for him as well and his results came back normal. (Go John!!)
Here's what been going on in 2012. I've been going to my new Dr. and he has been doing a lot of tests. Recently he did an Ovarian Assessment Report (OAR). It is a test that measures your egg supply, egg quality, FSH and your chance of a successful egg retrieval. He also tested my thyriod. My results came back good, I was pretty average for my age group. My thyroid came back w a higher than usual score for being under active and I am now being treated for that. (I feel like a walking pharmacy!!!)
Another common issue with infertility is blocked tubes. I have had mine checked a few times in the past but he wanted to check again to eliminate that as a problem. If anyone has had this done before it is seriously the worst!!!
The results came back great, they could not find any blockage or damage so they both seem to be working fine. This is supposed to be good news but I was a little disappointed, had they been clogged then maybe that could have solved everything... If only it were that easy!
The next month they switched me over to a different fertility drug called Femara. My ovaries are no longer responding to the high doses of Clomid so we are giving this a shot. I have been taking the Femara every month since February.
My Dr didn't want to leave John out so he ordered some more testing for him as well and his results came back normal. (Go John!!)
So if everything is comng back w great news, and I am "supposedly" healthy and normal, then why can I not get pregnant???
This is the same question we discussed in our latest sit-down w my Dr. and I was told that unfortunately I fall into the category as "Unexplained Infertility". He said this can be very difficult and my chances are more slim because they can not find the cause or reason so treating it can be a challenge.
In february after getting my tubes checked we decided it was a good time to try another IUI (this is the 5th time) so I took the Femara, had a positive ovulation and went in the next day for the procedure. It did not work and of course I was dissappointed.
In March, devastated and broke we decided to continue with the fertility drugs and increased the dosage, I had another positive on my ovulation test so this time we just tried on our own (with no complaints from John of course). And again we were unsuccessful.
Sigh....this April we talked about it and decided we want to give the IUI another shot and if this doesn't work then we are going to have to quit for a while and save what we can for In-Vitro. I took the Femara again and started on the usual testing routine from day 11-20 waiting for a positive result so we could go in for the procedure. This month for reasons unknown I never ovulated. What the?? After having a negative test on day 20 I went in for some MORE testing. I was supposed to go in and get blood work done by the nurse to see what my progesterone and estrogen levels were. Luckily when I got there I asked if I could meet with my Dr to discuss a few things. I was in there for a good hour going over my history, tests results and blah blah. That day instead of doing blood work he did a ultra sound. He was looking to see if there was a possibility that I did ovulate and it was just missed.
With the Ultra Sound he was not able find any indication that I released any eggs (ovulated) but what he did see that my right ovary was 3 times the normal Tsize and most likely covered in cysts and endometriosis. The left one was apparently taking a break..The only way to know for sure is to get a labrioscopy. I am all too familiar w that procedure, I have had it 3 times and my last one was only a year ago. Every time the procedure is done, it removes the endometriosis and cysts but it also leaves scar tissue on my ovaries, which can prevent them from working properly. So what's next?
In february after getting my tubes checked we decided it was a good time to try another IUI (this is the 5th time) so I took the Femara, had a positive ovulation and went in the next day for the procedure. It did not work and of course I was dissappointed.
In March, devastated and broke we decided to continue with the fertility drugs and increased the dosage, I had another positive on my ovulation test so this time we just tried on our own (with no complaints from John of course). And again we were unsuccessful.
Sigh....this April we talked about it and decided we want to give the IUI another shot and if this doesn't work then we are going to have to quit for a while and save what we can for In-Vitro. I took the Femara again and started on the usual testing routine from day 11-20 waiting for a positive result so we could go in for the procedure. This month for reasons unknown I never ovulated. What the?? After having a negative test on day 20 I went in for some MORE testing. I was supposed to go in and get blood work done by the nurse to see what my progesterone and estrogen levels were. Luckily when I got there I asked if I could meet with my Dr to discuss a few things. I was in there for a good hour going over my history, tests results and blah blah. That day instead of doing blood work he did a ultra sound. He was looking to see if there was a possibility that I did ovulate and it was just missed.
With the Ultra Sound he was not able find any indication that I released any eggs (ovulated) but what he did see that my right ovary was 3 times the normal Tsize and most likely covered in cysts and endometriosis. The left one was apparently taking a break..The only way to know for sure is to get a labrioscopy. I am all too familiar w that procedure, I have had it 3 times and my last one was only a year ago. Every time the procedure is done, it removes the endometriosis and cysts but it also leaves scar tissue on my ovaries, which can prevent them from working properly. So what's next?
He has recommended us to get more aggressive this next month or two.
I am going to continue on the Femara, it is supposed to have a good success rate. We are going to try injections, Bravelle is the first one we are trying and I have to give them to myself 3 times (yikes!!) Also we may possibly need HCG trigger shot depending on ovulation.
So this is the plan for the moment.. I am really needing this to work. If this is not successful then we have no other option than In-Vitro, which is better than nothing but it is just very expensive.Wish me luck over the next few months, I am going to remain positive and try not to stress. I have too much to be thankful for to feel sorry for myself. It's been nearly 3 years since we starting trying to conceive and every day I think about how lucky we really are that we have Karsyn. She really is my little miracle (and Drama Princess). I love her and I am one lucky mom! Thanks for reading up on me and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I love you all!
I am going to continue on the Femara, it is supposed to have a good success rate. We are going to try injections, Bravelle is the first one we are trying and I have to give them to myself 3 times (yikes!!) Also we may possibly need HCG trigger shot depending on ovulation.
So this is the plan for the moment.. I am really needing this to work. If this is not successful then we have no other option than In-Vitro, which is better than nothing but it is just very expensive.Wish me luck over the next few months, I am going to remain positive and try not to stress. I have too much to be thankful for to feel sorry for myself. It's been nearly 3 years since we starting trying to conceive and every day I think about how lucky we really are that we have Karsyn. She really is my little miracle (and Drama Princess). I love her and I am one lucky mom! Thanks for reading up on me and keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. I love you all!
