Diagnostics

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of a repeat saline HSG and HIV/hepatitis blood panel.  Thank God, my favorite phlebotomist was there to draw my blood, and that part was uneventful.  The saline HSG was not pleasant, but even so, only two short sharp cramp-like pains later, I was done. And then, trying to be proactively helpful with the anticipated cramping following the procedure, I was given an ibuprofen “horse pill” (as I call it) with a small cup of water.  Just 10 minutes later, I was curled up in pain in a bathroom stall at the hospital. I couldn’t figure out what the matter was.  I was nauseous, I was cramping, and I couldn’t find a comfortable position to get a moment of relief.  I couldn’t think of anything else; I was… [more]

I love modern medical technology. It always amazes me the things that doctors and specialists can do for people. When a friend of mine told me that she was having a hysterosalpingogram (or commonly referred to as a HSG) this upcoming week I became excited for her. As embarrassing as this test can be (But aren't most of the tests we have done embarrassing to some degree?) it can be very informative. I had this procedure done to look for any abnormalities in my fallopian tubes that could have been blocking the eggs from entering the uterus. The HSG can also detect any abnormalities in the uterus like damage or blockages, fibroids, polyps, scar tissue, and endometriosis. For someone like me… [more]

Monitoring your fertility by taking basal body temperature, using ovulation kits, or tracking cervical mucus can contribute to making you feel even more stressed. It brings fertility issues to the forefront on a daily basis and makes infertility an issue not to be ignored, if for no other reason than you can't and still monitor as you need to. Accurate and convenient are certainly not two words that you associate with fertility monitoring. A company out of the UK, though, is trying to change that. A new device called DuoFertility is on the market and is being touted as the most precise and convenient way to maximize your chances to conceive. The DuoFertility… [more]

Just as there are some basic initial tests for men; most women also typically endure the same first tests. Actually, the very first thing most women do after they encounter trouble conceiving is begin to track ovulation - either through ovulation prediction at-home tests or charting basal body temperature. If a woman finds that she is not regularly ovulating then she can talk to her doctor armed with that information that can help him devise a treatment plan. However, most physicians will also ask that the female undergo some additional testing to rule out other issues or to help pinpoint the primary barrier to fertility. A number of blood tests are typically administered including measures of FSH, estradiol, progesterone… [more]

Even before my husband and I began to try to have children I knew that I could have fertility issues. I annually (at first) saw a gynecologist and had times when I turned to him for consult regarding one female issue or another. I was aware that I had irregular periods, heavy bleeding and painful cramping - all signs that female fertility problems can be present. My husband, on the other hand, had no real indication of if he could have a problem or not. He did not see a physician regularly and had no occasion to visit a doctor that could or would diagnose problems that could affect fertility. So, after a year of trying to conceive with no… [more]

When we began our IVF journey the list of things to stress about was very lengthy. At the top of the list was finances and trying to determine just how to pay for the treatments, none of which would be covered by insurance. If you live in a mandated state that requires insurance to cover infertility treatments then the process is certainly still difficult, but count your blessings that trying to find a way to pay for it all isn't an added dilemma! For those of use who are looking at staggering amounts of money owed for each step along the way, the financial aspect of infertility can sometimes be the most overwhelming issue of all. As a couple… [more]

The decision to visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE)is a big one. Once you take the step to delve deeper into your fertility issues by researching treatments and more advanced therapy and seeking the help of a fertility specialist, then you have had to come to the point of admitting to yourself that you may be infertile and may need more help than your regular ob/gyn can offer. That first consultation can be nerve wracking and overwhelming and it is often difficult to know what questions to ask. My biggest piece of advice is to make a list and take it with you! Write down your questions and concerns and get the answers that you need. It is also helpful… [more]

There is a dirty little secret that a lot of infertile people keep - sometimes we want someone else to blame. Unless you know from the outset that one or the other of you has reproductive issues, there always comes that time when you begin testing to determine whose "fault" it is that you are having trouble conceiving. More often than not both partners have issues - but sometimes the male or female in the relationship bares the brunt of the troubles and therefore takes the "blame" for the inability to have a child. Let me explain. When my husband and I first started to realize that we were facing fertility issues I knew that I was bringing a lot of… [more]

Visit any message board for infertility patients and you are sure to find questions and laments about hcg levels. The posted inquiries run the gamut from "is my beta too low," to "do you think my number is high enough to indicate twins?" After my initial beta I was one of the many searching out information on hcg and whether or not my number was good or bad. I was referred to a great website - http://www.betabase.info/ - that compiles hcg levels from lots of women, 33,685 last time I checked. Looking at other people's beta levels and doubling times really can help ease some of the worry that goes along with just not knowing what it all means… [more]

I did not wake up one morning and have a "lightning bolt" moment in which I realized that I was infertile. Instead, the fear that I might be infertile slow crept over me as several months passed without my conceiving a baby. I was not too concerned after the first two months without a pregnancy, although I was admittedly disappointed. However, after three months passed, my antenna went up.

I questioned whether I really could have fertility issues. As far as I knew, both sides of the extended family had no fertility issues. However, after the fourth month came and went, I was starting to get concerned. By month five, I was starting to panic, and then by month six, I had an appointment with a… [more]