I guess it’s time for an update on our fertility journey. We have had about three visits at the fertility specialist since my first post. Our first visit consisted of a thorough history and physical. We sat down and talked with our doctor about the testing and treatment I have received so far. He then did a full physical exam and lab work. Let me tell you, I’ve had so many pelvic exams and ultrasounds at this point that it’s not even awkward now to have my husband sitting at my head while a physician, resident, and nurse are all crowded around my hoo-ha (TMI? Sorry but my goal for this blog is to be completely open and real).
When I returned a couple of weeks later for my follow up visit, I received results of the lab work and was informed that I have a low egg count for my age. So let’s summarize: now I don’t ovulate on my own, I have a thin uterine lining, AND I have a low egg count. FANTASTIC (insert sarcastic grin). Thankfully he explained this should not truly affect us getting pregnant on our own but would significantly decrease our chances of having successful IVF. Let’s just hope we don’t get to that point. At this visit he wanted to perform a test, but upon ultrasound realized I had a good follicle that he didn’t want to risk affecting. He instead said go home and try for the next few days and call if/when you start your period. Nothing came of that cycle so a couple weeks later I was calling to schedule the test.
This past week I returned to the clinic and had a hysterosonography also known as a saline infusion sonogram. This is a test where sterile saline is infused into the uterine cavity during ultrasound to look for abnormalities of the endometrium. Basically he was trying to find a possible cause of my thin lining. Thankfully this was normal and there is no known cause of the thin lining.
Since my husband would be leaving just a few short days after this visit for a 2 week national guard annual training, we were trying to time when to take my ovulation inducing medication so that he would be back when I ovulated. The day that I was scheduled to start the medication, I began experiencing what I thought was ovulation pains. I don’t know if you experience these, but I do almost every time I ovulate and its basically just mild cramping and intermittent sharp twinges on one side of my pelvis. For me always on the right side, at least so far, and every ultrasound validates that I am creating follicles on the right side. I called my physician thinking they would want to do an ultrasound to verify if this was ovulation, but he decided just to hold off on the medication and wait and see what happens. I would be shocked if I was actually ovulating without medication because I haven’t ovulated on my own in two years but I guess crazier things have happened. If it is true ovulation then we’re out of luck because my husband is gone now and well it kind of takes two.
This is where we are now and honestly I don’t know if my body will allow me to get pregnant with all the additional stress and emotions I’ve been experiencing lately. My world has kind of been rocked recently and honestly right now I’m taking everything day by day.
Since starting this blog I have received so much encouragement and positive feedback. Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to read the posts and give any comments, messages, etc. As I said before, this is a struggle that so many women have. After sharing my story, many people including old friends, new friends, and even some people I hardly even know have reached out to me and shared a little of their story and I am honored they feel comfortable to do so. Some of these women are on the other side of this struggle and currently have two or three children. Some have struggled for years and made the decision to end the doctors visits, tests, labs, medications and are now taking steps to pursue growing their family through adoption. Some have progressed to having IVF and are still praying and hoping for their beautiful little baby. Many have experienced miscarriage or even lost their baby in the 3rd trimester. These women have shared with me how this has affected their own confidence as a woman, their relationships with their spouse or even other family and friends, and how this has challenged and tested their faith. Many of them have shared something positive that has come from this process. Isn’t is amazing how God can bring beauty out of the darkness? I don’t think any of us would have asked for this struggle, but God is teaching us to rely on him, molding us into the women/wives/mothers he wants us to be, and making us strong. That my friends is beautiful!