Welcome to My Blog

I can't believe that I am joining the 21st century with my own blog! Unfortuately, I have decided to create this blog as an outlet to express my hope, fear, frustration and anger with the infertility process.

Here's a bit of history about us. David (name changed to protect the innocent) and I were married in April 2002. We agreed that we'd wait one year before trying to have a child so that we could settle into married life for a while. On our first anniversary, we decided to wait a couple of additional months and by August 2003, we conducted our ceremonial "throwing away of the birth control pills."

I went to my primary care provider and got a physical. I met with my OB/Gyn who advised me that since I had been on the pill for a few years, it might take a couple of months for the hormones to get out my system. I figured why wait, I downloaded ovulation calendars from the web and started planning our "activities" accordingly. Nothing happened in the first few months but I assumed that by November or December 2003, we would be ovulating regularly and ready to go for sure. Well, no pregnancy in 2003 but it was ok b/c I knew that it could take as long as a year maybe more. Yet in order to be proactive, I purchased a few fertility/ preparing for pregnancy books. And in January 2004, I purchased my first ovulation predictor kit. We used it while traveling that January and of course, I got a + indication of ovulation but no pregnancy later that cycle.

Between working, purchasing a new home, helping a girlfriend plan her wedding, the next couple of months seemed to sort of slip by without much effort in the baby making department (although no contraception either). Once things settled down, I was back to my OPKs with a vengence. Still nothing. So in August 2004, we went back to OB/Gyn for more tests. A year or so before, we had learned that I have a few small uterine fibroids. Since they don't seem to be obstructing anything, OB/Gyn suggested that we leave them alone in order to avoid potential scaring/ damage to my uterus. The battery of tests in 2004 indicated that I have clear tubes, a regular cycle and normal hormone levels and we even had a normal post coital test. We were sent us back to the drawing board. In December 2004, we had our first abnormal post coital test. OB/Gyn sent us off to the Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE).

We met RE in January 2005. He conducted additional tests but things seemed ok. RE recommended that we try three medicated intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. After sitting out a month for insurance approval, we had our first medicated cycles in March. No luck. After my period arrived, it was back to RE's office to begin the next cycle. On day 3 of my cycle, RE conducts a baseline ultrasound and bloodwork to confirm that it is ok to begin a treatment cycle. Unfortuately, in April I had a cyst on my left ovary. We were benched, meaning they will not prescribe fertility meds if you have a estrogen producing cyst. It was back to OPKs, taking my temperature every morning and timed intercourse. I even began acupuncture. Sadly, my period (AF) arrived on schedule as usual. So it was back to RE's office in May to begin a second round of treatments. This time the day 3 tests indicated that I now have 2 estrogen producing cysts. At least something inside of me is reproducing . . . Not quite.

So here we are awaiting a second treatment cycle, trying timed intercourse . . . still trying to conceive.