Blood Work

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]

Most fertility screening is uncomfortable if not downright painful. Some of the easiest screening you will go through involves having blood work done. Your doctor will draw some blood, analyze it, and then call you with the results. For the woman's side of fertility screening, that's about as easy as it gets.

What kinds of hormones will the doctor be examining through your blood work?

Estradiol (E2)

This test helps to evaluate whether your ovaries are functioning correctly. See Estradiol - test for more on this topic.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

FSH is involved in the production of eggs. The level varies throughout the menstrual cycle but should be highest right before ovulation. See Follicle-Stimulating Hormone for more on this topic.

Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

A woman's… [more]

After month 6 came and went with no pregnancy, I was really getting frustrated. I told my husband that I feared we had a problem. Mr. "Deer in the Headlights" was perfectly content for conception to take a while because -

1. He was scared to death of becoming a father.
2. He was enjoying the "perks" of trying to conceive.

So, he was not very happy when I told him that I had made an appointment to see an OB-GYN for a screening. My husband asked around and learned that most doctors will not screen for infertility until the couple has been trying to conceive for a year. I told him that this doctor (Dr. H) agreed to see me, so… [more]