Back to the doctor's office for a second post coital test!
Today is cycle day 14. We abstained for two days, up until last night when we were instructed to have relations again.
Today, I was told that my cervical mucus is a little too thick. The doctor could see some sperm swimming in there but not many. Could be because it was cd 14 and we missed the day when it would've been at just the right consistency - maybe yesterday. Yesterday was Sunday, so no office visits. We also could see a 23mm follicle on my right ovary, meaning that I should ovulate any time now. My uterine lining was also very thick and had the right amount of layers, ready to accept a fertilized egg, should one be in there.
I had blood work today, as well. The results were:
Estridol - 169pg/ml (picograms per mililiter)
Progesterone - 1.3ng/ml (nanograms per mililiter)
FSH - 12mIU/ml (mili-international units/mililiter)
LH - 49mIU/ml (mili-international units/mililiter)
Some of these are to be done on cycle day 3 so I don't really know what the numbers mean when the tests are done on cycle day 14. I go back on Monday and get more blood tests done and bring in a sample from my hubby, so I'll get answers about these results then.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Time to have relations!
On Thursday, my cycle day 10, my husband and I had "relations," as my doctor puts it. So on Friday, cycle day 11, I went into the office for my first post-coital test. The doctor removed some of my cervical mucus from my cervix and peered at it under the microscope to see if it was being kind to the sperm my husband sent in about 12 hours before. Turns out, it was a little inhospitable but some of the little guys were still hanging out. Good sign.
We also got a look at my ovaries and uterus. The lining of my uterus was where it was supposed to be, though now I'm forgetting the exact measurements. Ten milimeters, maybe? We saw a 15mm follicle on my right ovary, so this month I will be ovulating from that side. My doctor said that follicles grow about 2mm per day, so by my cycle day 14 it should be around 21mm in size. Eighteen milimeters and over is great, in the world of fertility testing.
Since it was only my cycle day 11 and my cervical mucus was not in prime consistency, I will go back on Monday for another test and to have my blood drawn to check my hormone levels.
We also got a look at my ovaries and uterus. The lining of my uterus was where it was supposed to be, though now I'm forgetting the exact measurements. Ten milimeters, maybe? We saw a 15mm follicle on my right ovary, so this month I will be ovulating from that side. My doctor said that follicles grow about 2mm per day, so by my cycle day 14 it should be around 21mm in size. Eighteen milimeters and over is great, in the world of fertility testing.
Since it was only my cycle day 11 and my cervical mucus was not in prime consistency, I will go back on Monday for another test and to have my blood drawn to check my hormone levels.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Science.....Science.....Science.....
When you read the title, throw in some new-agey space sounds 'cause that's how it sounds in my head.....
On February 15th we had our appointment to discuss our test results from December. On the advice of a friend who is also ttc, we switched doctors. Totally happy with that decision! The clinic we were at before was more of a baby making factory. At the new office, the doctor came out to the waiting room to shake our hands as we filled out our paperwork. *heavenly sounds* We spent an hour talking in his office about all the things that can make conception not happen.
Specifics in our case:
- All of our blood work came back fine. Hormone levels are spot on, no stds.
- My uterus ultrasound revealed no abnormalities and the follicles they looked at at that time were of the proper size.
- Hubby's semen analysis - this one shocked us. His first one revealed that he only had 6 million sperm (below 10 mil is considered bad). The second one - 21 million! The doctor said that the results could be so varied because of the way the samples were produced - the first one in a hospital bathroom by himself and the second, at home, with me (please hold your applause). So, when we're having sex he could be producing even more because, well, I'm so damn hot and sexy! Okay.....the doctor didn't say it like that but that's totally what he means.
All such good news. Then why aren't we conceiving?
Other factors:
- The motility of the sperm may still be poor. They might not have the strength to move up the cervix, through the uterus into the fallopian tubes.
- The morphology may be poor. Some might have two heads, some might not have tails, etc.
- If hubby had had some sort of physical injury to his groin area (just one knee to the balls, even), he might have a tear in the wall between where the sperm are made or travel and his pelvic cavity. (The doctor did throw in a lot of terms here - epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, etc. I'm gonna keep it simple but feel free to study male anatomy on your own.) His body might then send in white blood cells to destroy these cells they usually don't have contact with, the sperm. His own body could be killing his sperm.
- Or, I might be killing his sperm. When his sperm enter my body, my body might recognize them as foreign and send WBCs to kill them.
These are the things we don't yet know and what we're going to look at next. More tests. First up, the post-coital. Hadn't heard of this one! In our case, the doctor wants us to abstain for two days. We had sex on Monday, none on Tuesday, none today, and tomorrow night we will have sex. On Friday morning (my cycle day 11), I go in to the office and the doctor will use a catheter to enter my cervix and suck out some of my cervical mucus. He will check to see if my cervical mucus is being hospitable to my guests and if the sperm are having a good time. I will also have some blood drawn to check my hormone levels.
The following Friday I will go back in to have an ultrasound. We'll take another look at my uterus to make sure it's building up an inviting lining, one that an embryo might like to hang out in. We might also do a x-ray of my fallopian tubes, since no one has looked at those yet. More blood will be taken to check hormone levels. Hubby will also produce a sample that morning (with my help. *wink*) and I will bring that in.
After all these results are in, we hope to have a solid answer as to why we aren't conceiving.
Oh, to be continued.....
On February 15th we had our appointment to discuss our test results from December. On the advice of a friend who is also ttc, we switched doctors. Totally happy with that decision! The clinic we were at before was more of a baby making factory. At the new office, the doctor came out to the waiting room to shake our hands as we filled out our paperwork. *heavenly sounds* We spent an hour talking in his office about all the things that can make conception not happen.
Specifics in our case:
- All of our blood work came back fine. Hormone levels are spot on, no stds.
- My uterus ultrasound revealed no abnormalities and the follicles they looked at at that time were of the proper size.
- Hubby's semen analysis - this one shocked us. His first one revealed that he only had 6 million sperm (below 10 mil is considered bad). The second one - 21 million! The doctor said that the results could be so varied because of the way the samples were produced - the first one in a hospital bathroom by himself and the second, at home, with me (please hold your applause). So, when we're having sex he could be producing even more because, well, I'm so damn hot and sexy! Okay.....the doctor didn't say it like that but that's totally what he means.
All such good news. Then why aren't we conceiving?
Other factors:
- The motility of the sperm may still be poor. They might not have the strength to move up the cervix, through the uterus into the fallopian tubes.
- The morphology may be poor. Some might have two heads, some might not have tails, etc.
- If hubby had had some sort of physical injury to his groin area (just one knee to the balls, even), he might have a tear in the wall between where the sperm are made or travel and his pelvic cavity. (The doctor did throw in a lot of terms here - epididymis, vas deferens, prostate, etc. I'm gonna keep it simple but feel free to study male anatomy on your own.) His body might then send in white blood cells to destroy these cells they usually don't have contact with, the sperm. His own body could be killing his sperm.
- Or, I might be killing his sperm. When his sperm enter my body, my body might recognize them as foreign and send WBCs to kill them.
These are the things we don't yet know and what we're going to look at next. More tests. First up, the post-coital. Hadn't heard of this one! In our case, the doctor wants us to abstain for two days. We had sex on Monday, none on Tuesday, none today, and tomorrow night we will have sex. On Friday morning (my cycle day 11), I go in to the office and the doctor will use a catheter to enter my cervix and suck out some of my cervical mucus. He will check to see if my cervical mucus is being hospitable to my guests and if the sperm are having a good time. I will also have some blood drawn to check my hormone levels.
The following Friday I will go back in to have an ultrasound. We'll take another look at my uterus to make sure it's building up an inviting lining, one that an embryo might like to hang out in. We might also do a x-ray of my fallopian tubes, since no one has looked at those yet. More blood will be taken to check hormone levels. Hubby will also produce a sample that morning (with my help. *wink*) and I will bring that in.
After all these results are in, we hope to have a solid answer as to why we aren't conceiving.
Oh, to be continued.....
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
The day grows near....
It has been forever since I've written. Really, it is just because there is nothing new to put into a blog focused around fertility treatments. Life has went on as usual - work, work, work, day off with husband, work, work, work, class, work, work, work.......
Four days from now, though, we meet with our doctor. We have chosen a new doctor at a different practice. No offense to the previous doctor. He was nice and all but the office was more of a baby making factory than a patient-focused clinic, we felt. A friend of mine recommened this new doctor after she had a great appointment with him. We are both excited to meet him and believe we will not only get help in making a baby but will also get some answers as to why we are having trouble to begin with.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it will be like if we do get pregnant. What all is going to change once we have a baby? Part of me starts to freak out and worry that I can't do this. And the other part of me feels like I will not be complete if I do not have a child. Part of me wants to wait another 10 years before deciding it's time and the other part of me thinks I'm too late already.
Regardless of all that, on Monday we go over all our test results and decide on a plan. Today I have a short work day. Thursday through Saturday are long work days. Sunday I will do a bit of work and relax with S. Then comes Monday.
The time grows near. The clouds part and the sun shines through. Or will it be, the clouds converge over the city and rain pours down?
Oh, dramatic G! The day you've been waiting for!
Four days from now, though, we meet with our doctor. We have chosen a new doctor at a different practice. No offense to the previous doctor. He was nice and all but the office was more of a baby making factory than a patient-focused clinic, we felt. A friend of mine recommened this new doctor after she had a great appointment with him. We are both excited to meet him and believe we will not only get help in making a baby but will also get some answers as to why we are having trouble to begin with.
I've been thinking a lot lately about what it will be like if we do get pregnant. What all is going to change once we have a baby? Part of me starts to freak out and worry that I can't do this. And the other part of me feels like I will not be complete if I do not have a child. Part of me wants to wait another 10 years before deciding it's time and the other part of me thinks I'm too late already.
Regardless of all that, on Monday we go over all our test results and decide on a plan. Today I have a short work day. Thursday through Saturday are long work days. Sunday I will do a bit of work and relax with S. Then comes Monday.
The time grows near. The clouds part and the sun shines through. Or will it be, the clouds converge over the city and rain pours down?
Oh, dramatic G! The day you've been waiting for!
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