Infertility Support Group
In vitro fertilization is one of the most common and utilized ways of treating conception problems. This support group is dedicated to those beginning their journey with IVF and needing support. Join the community and share your experiences, advice, and story with people going through similar challenges starting a family.
I went through 4 unsuccessful rounds of Clomid. At which point my fertility Dr. had me go in for an HSG. The procedure was supposed to take 15 min. tops, 1 Dr., & period-like cramping but there was a complication. It took 90 solid minutes, 4 Dr's, & was the most severely excruciating pain I have ever endured in my life. Once it was all finally over everything came back perfectly normal. Oh hooray, that's great, isn't it? Well actually, no...because now my medical diagnosis is "Unexplained Infertility". We needed to discover a blockage during the HSG because it was the only logical thing left to consider that would explain why nothing is working. It was a last ditch effort to find out what is wrong. She let me take a 5th round of Clomid after the HSG anyway to see if it would help for some reason. It did not, we got another BFN.
Anyway the reason for posting this discussion topic is my fertility Dr. is pulling me off the Clomid early (I was supposed to take a 6th round but she said she will not let anyone take it without any hope or indication that it would work.) & she is referring me to a reproductive endocrinologist. I'm wondering what to expect with an RE, what can he do that my fertility Dr. did not? If I am no diagnosed with unexplained infertility is IVF or IUI the only thing left for me? (Aside from adoption or surrogacy but I'm talking about options that will result in my OWN pregnancy.) What's so different about an RE?
Anyway the reason for posting this discussion topic is my fertility Dr. is pulling me off the Clomid early (I was supposed to take a 6th round but she said she will not let anyone take it without any hope or indication that it would work.) & she is referring me to a reproductive endocrinologist. I'm wondering what to expect with an RE, what can he do that my fertility Dr. did not? If I am no diagnosed with unexplained infertility is IVF or IUI the only thing left for me? (Aside from adoption or surrogacy but I'm talking about options that will result in my OWN pregnancy.) What's so different about an RE?
We were unexplained, after all of the tests done through the fertility clinic. My hsg was all clear, my blood tests, sonogram, ultrasound and antral follicle count were all good too. My DH's semen analysis was fine (he was told the count was a little on the low side of the normal range, but everything was ok there). But then we did 3 IUI's with clomid and all of them didn't work... so on our follow up the doctor said that my DH's morphology was really low (varied from 1-5%, she said it should be at 10% at least). So that sucked but at least we had an explanation, mild male factor. Then we did IVF cuz we were sure it would work with our situation, but it failed. I recently saw our doctor again and asked again about his analysis because she never even talked about motility before, and she tells me that his is ok but still a bit lower than they like it to be (she said it should be 50% and his varied from 33-45%). Soooo... anyways, the point is we found out this stuff after doing numerous treatments and spending tons of $$$... so you really gotta push to find out everything.... and have to ask questions about every little detail, unless you have a great doctor/RE. Our clinic seems to just want to make money and doesn't go out of their way to help or tell us anything. We would switch but it is the only one in our area and we can't afford to travel elsewhere.
Has your husband had an analysis done? Was his sperm count, morphology and motility ok? I'm sure you guys must know this but if not, its important to find out. I think IUI's would be the next step for you guys but you'll have to discuss that with a fertility doctor. I'm not sure what the difference is between an RE and a fertility doctor is, I thought they were the same thing? We go to a fertility clinic with 6 doctors and they all have MD by their name with FRCSC. Who knows what that means! Anyways, I've written a novel here. Good luck with everything!
Do not be afraid of going to the RE. I imagine with your circumstances they will probably try IUI first. Which I did as well. It is basically similar to what you have been going through now on Clomid with two things added, a shot to make you ovulate and a procedure to place the sperm near your eggs. The shot is not fun, are shots ever? But it is quick and easy. Also the sperm insertion isn't painful. Every RE is different though so I will not guarantee that this will be your course of action.
My main advice is to check with your insurance before going to the RE. Find out who they cover and what they cover if anything. The treatments and appointments can be costly and quickly add up.
I am wishing you luck on the beginning of your IF journey. If you have any questions don't hesitate to contact me.
It was horrific indeed. My HSG was scheduled for 8:30am at Wesley hospital here in town, the actual procedure started at 9:05 am on the dot and when she finally said she was successful in finding my "os", insert the dye, and get pictures I looked at the clock and it was 10:40 am precisely 90 minutes later. The problem was the Dr's could not find my cervix, they said it rests exceptionally low in my body, that the 1st cause of the excruciating pain, in order to see my cervix they had to twist the speculum 90 degrees, the damn Dr. did so with no warning and without loosening the speculum. I was whaling and I usually have an exceptionally HIGH pain threshold. Once they spotted it they couldn't find the "os" (the opening to the cervix) to insert the catheter. All 4 Dr's kept taking turns looking for it until the 4th Dr finally spotted it a little high. She tried reaching the catheter around to get it in but could not so they got a suctioning mechanism and attached it to the side of my cervix. Once they had a strong enough seal on the suction gun she started to try to tug my cervix down a little bit to pull the os into a more reachable position. The suction was very strong and she tugged so hard that 3 times the cup sucked right off as she pulled too hard. That was obviously the next painful part, it was horrible. She gave that up and decided she would try to reposition my cervix with her own hands this time. She went for it and I nearly jumped off the table so she quickly stopped. That was when she decided to try just releasing an entire vial of contrast as close to the os as she could get it and hope that it would seep in on it's own. (That sounded pretty stupid to me but I'm no Dr.) Well, stupid indeed, of course it didn't work even a little bit. She tried that twice and although I thought she was wasting her time I appreciated the break from the pain (aside from the speculum at an odd angle). At that point she stepped back and started whispering with the other 3 Dr's (this entire time none of them ever told me what they were doing or what was happening next, that would've made the whole thing easier to handle if I knew what was going on!) She sat back down at the end of the table, pulled the new contrast filled syringe out of the end of the catheter attachment, didn't say a word to me, and shot it directly into my cervix. I screamed out in horror and I swear my vision went blurry it was so painful! But she moved the X-Ray machine over my abdomen and voila my uterus and tubes lit up nice and bright with the dye. No blockages, no tilting, no misshapen parts. It was just all a little "low" but all of the Dr's in the room assured me that that would not be a problem and should not affect conception. I asked my fertility Dr. and she said the exact same thing, she just told me a new sexual position to try from now on that will help place the sperm closer to where my os is and rather than laying on my back afterwards I am now supposed to lie on my stomach with a pillow under my pelvis. It's very uncomfortable and I am pretty busty so it kind of hurts my breasts to lay on my stomach too long and it makes it harder to breathe. haha OH I forgot one of the most annoying parts of the HSG! (I am terribly sorry this is so long, I understand if no one's made it this far heehee) They did not have an exam table whatsoever I had to lie on one of those flat cold steel X-Ray tables (is that what you guys had to do?) which would've been fine but after an entire 90 minutes straight of lying there without being able to move much my back was KILLING me! THEN they did not have any stirrups whatsoever so I just had to hold my own legs up my entire body was trembling terribly after about 10 minutes, apparently I'm weak! =) THEN they didn't have one of those bright spot lights that Dr's use during pap smears, they LITERALLY had an ordinary everyday desklamp that they just placed at the end of the table with a 100 watt bulb in it, it was HOT HOT HOT! The good part was that they allowed my husband in the room and he stood by my head the entire time rubbing my head, playing with my hair, looking at me in the eyes, and encouraging me. Also the entire time the nurse was standing next to my husband at my side and she held my hand the entire time and kept telling me she was so sorry and that I was doing so well just hold on a little bit longer. Then when I was leaving the door to the room flew open and she was literally running after and hugged me goodbye, apologized again profusely, and wished me luck.
Yes, my husband did have a semen analysis done, my Dr. wouldn't even see me without checking him out first. Everything came back absolutely text book perfect.
I'm kind of nervous...I've been wondering whether or not the next step would include shots and I of course was hoping it wouldn't come to that. But if that's what it takes and something ends up working it would be more than worth it.
I've looked into my insurance info a little bit already, I call them every single time I make a new appt with a new Dr. or for new procedures to see if they will be covered and if I need referrals. So far they have paid absolutely everything...even 100% of the HSG which I was shocked by! My Dr. told me no insurance companies cover HSG's ever but I guess she was wrong, huh? =) Hooray for that misinformation, that was a good day when I got the news that it was indeed covered. They will cover appt's with the RE we're going to with a referral. I haven't found whether or not they cover anything for IUI's yet but I have looked into IVF coverage and with my plan they cover 1 round BUT they will ONLY cover the egg fertilization and implantation they will not cover any hormone shots or ultrasounds that are required for it. But IVF will be our last choice for personal moral opinions. I'd rather have an IUI, we've actually already set up a savings acct just for anything insurance won't cover and like I said I haven't found anything yet about IUI's being covered so if they are not we're ready and willing to proceed out of pocket. We just want our little baby and we'll do anything to have success!
I think there may have been more said that I could reply to but I think we all would agree that I've said incredibly too much as is. Again, I am sorry for being so wordy!