My infertility Journey
Summer 2012- Turned 27 years old, stopped birth control and decided to give my body 6 months break of artificial hormones going in my body before trying to conceive.
January, 2013- Started TTC, and always thought I would get pregnant right away. After stopping birth control I continued to have a period, very light lasting 2-3 days, and never suspected anything going on with me.
Summer 2013- I sent my husband ( he was 29 year old at this time) to get checked by his primary doctor. He found- low testosterone (never had any symptoms of low T), and low sperm count, low motility, low morphology. His doctor prescribed HCG injections, after 3 months his testosterone increase, sperm count was still low. For the next three months he continued HCG injections with testosterone injection, according to the doctor this treatment was to see if sperm count would increase. After three months his testosterone had increase, but not the sperm count. The sperm count remained the same.
The year of 2013 we TTC naturally- I used OPK's, and monitored my temperature, according to me OPK's I would get a second line beginning day 9-12. I never really knew when those were truly positive. Never got a positive pregnancy test.
January-March 2014- I went in to see my OBGYN to get myself checked out as well. I found out I had high prolactin level. Normal was 3-18, I had it at 24 I had MRI done to rule out a pituitary gland tumor- MRI was normal. At this time my OBGYN suggested that my husband stopped testosterone and hcg injections because this could contribute to lower sperm counts, so he did and I was referred to an RE. The first RE appointment I was filled with hope and very hesitant to be there because I really thought I could miraculously get pregnant naturally. He monitored my prolactin level and estrogen/ progesterone levels for the next two months and my prolactin continued to be high, one month it would be 32, the next 45. I decided not to do any assisted reproductive treatments with this doctor. I did not feel comfortable and he really never checked my for anything else.
May 2014- I went to see my primary doctor, I explained everything that had happened and she sent me to see an endocrinologist to treat the high prolactin level. I was prescribed bromocriptine and had my prolactin level ans TSH checked every month for the next 3-4 months again, my levels would fluctuate between 20's-60's even on the medication. So I decided to stopped the medication. My TSH stayed within normal range.
Summer 2014- Decided to try traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture both my husband and I. I was given chinese herbs and my husband was given tribulus supplement to try to increase his sperm count. I had researched so much information by this time that we decided to consult with a urologist to see if he could give us any answers related to my husbands sperm problem. The urologist found that my husbands testosterone and hormone levels were normal, so he rule out that the low sperm count was related to a pituitary problem. He found a varicocele, but said that many men had this and were still able to conceive, he said that a varicocelectomy would not guarantee and improvement in sperm count.
Fall 2014- Nothing had worked I was really tired of hoping that I would get pregnant any of these months. I had not accepted the fact that we were dealing with male factor infertility and that I potentially had an underlying condition preventing me from conceiving.
---- This whole year, I was very confused and disappointed that nothing was working, I was isolated and had many arguments with my husband over nothing. Thank God my husband was patient and tolerated my mood swings and depression symptoms. He really tried to support me any way he could. I've never shared with my family or close friends what we were going through.
November 2014- I went back to my primary doctor and got a referral for a different RE. Our first appointment was finally a relief, we were ready to receive to full treatment and based on the consultation, the doctor said that we were good candidates for treatment due to my husbands low sperm count. He also said that we had good chances for success due to our age (me 29 and my husband 31 now). The fist test I had was the HSG before the start of any procedures, and the regular blood work they screen for hormone panel and infectious disease. He suggested I went back on the bromocriptine to control my prolactin levels. The first treatment was IUI with clomid- negative.
December 2014- IUI with clomid- Negative
January 2015- I decided not to do anymore IUI's because my chances were very low. We moved on to IVF
March 2015- #1 IVF cycle (ganirelix, menopur, follistim)- retrieved 11 eggs, 9 fertilized, 5 made it day 5 blastocyst stage.
--- All embryos looked good grade A.
April- Transferred 2 day 5 embryos in a fresh cycle (estrace pills, vaginal progesterone)- Negative (beta was 5, I stopped all meds and my period came)
May- FET- Transferred 2 embryos(estrogen pills and progesterone injections)- Negative (beta was less than 5)
*** My world was destroyed I was more confused than ever, My doctor never sat with me to explore the reasons as to why things were not working out. I would just get a call from the the nurse to tell me that this cycle had not worked, call with my next period so that we could keep trying. I never called back. Since I started this whole journey I had friends and family announce their pregnancy, give birth, and announce once more that they were pregnant we their second baby. I just felt lost. I decided not to do anything for the next few months.
September 2015- Switch RE's. Started this whole process again. This doctor, reviewed my history and after seeing that we had multiple failed cycles, he decided to test me for everything possible that could be contributing to the implantation failure.
#1 day 2 or 3 hormone panel
#2 monomeric prolactin level- normal
#3 saline ultrasound- found a 3cm fibroid at the top of the uterus- plan: have a myomectomy.
#4 Thrombophelia panel and autoimmune disorder lab work- found the mild form of MTHFR gene mutation, I was told that my body does not metabolize and absorb folic acid. The plan will be to start metanx or foltanx supplement (the methylated form of folic acid) and use baby aspirin during my next IVF cycle.
#5 Do the Endometrial receptivity array (ERA) biopsy prior to the next embryo transfer.
#6 Do PGS on the embryos we get from IVF#2
October 2015- had a laparoscopic myomectomy, hysteroscopy, and tubal lavage. During the procedure the doctor found that one of my tubes was blocked and could not open it, he also fount mild endometriosis and took care of that, and also removed the fibroid.
December 2015- I began preparing for a trial FET cycle in order to do the ERA biopsy. This consists of taking the meds needed to built the uterine lining with estrogen pills and progesterone injections, I also used lupron to prevent me from ovulating this month. The purpose of the test is to biopsy the uterine lining at the time that they would've normally schedule an embryo transfer- Usually 5 days after starting progesterone injections. The biopsy is sent out to the lab and two weeks later you find out the results.
January 2016- Receptivity biopsy results at day 5 of using progesterone was- Pre-receptive- meaning my uterine lining is not receptive to receiving an embryo. The plan is to do another trial cycle at day 6 of using progesterone. Hopefully at this time my uterus is receptive.
February 2016- I decided to start IVF #2. The plan is to retrieved the eggs, fertilize them, and the ones that survive to day 5 will be frozen and biopsied for PGS. While I wait for results I will do another trial cycle for the ERA biopsy.
--- In February I was unable to Start IVF because my period was 8 days late and missed the cut off date that my clinic had for February IVF cycle.
March 2016- plan IVF #2
January, 2013- Started TTC, and always thought I would get pregnant right away. After stopping birth control I continued to have a period, very light lasting 2-3 days, and never suspected anything going on with me.
Summer 2013- I sent my husband ( he was 29 year old at this time) to get checked by his primary doctor. He found- low testosterone (never had any symptoms of low T), and low sperm count, low motility, low morphology. His doctor prescribed HCG injections, after 3 months his testosterone increase, sperm count was still low. For the next three months he continued HCG injections with testosterone injection, according to the doctor this treatment was to see if sperm count would increase. After three months his testosterone had increase, but not the sperm count. The sperm count remained the same.
The year of 2013 we TTC naturally- I used OPK's, and monitored my temperature, according to me OPK's I would get a second line beginning day 9-12. I never really knew when those were truly positive. Never got a positive pregnancy test.
January-March 2014- I went in to see my OBGYN to get myself checked out as well. I found out I had high prolactin level. Normal was 3-18, I had it at 24 I had MRI done to rule out a pituitary gland tumor- MRI was normal. At this time my OBGYN suggested that my husband stopped testosterone and hcg injections because this could contribute to lower sperm counts, so he did and I was referred to an RE. The first RE appointment I was filled with hope and very hesitant to be there because I really thought I could miraculously get pregnant naturally. He monitored my prolactin level and estrogen/ progesterone levels for the next two months and my prolactin continued to be high, one month it would be 32, the next 45. I decided not to do any assisted reproductive treatments with this doctor. I did not feel comfortable and he really never checked my for anything else.
May 2014- I went to see my primary doctor, I explained everything that had happened and she sent me to see an endocrinologist to treat the high prolactin level. I was prescribed bromocriptine and had my prolactin level ans TSH checked every month for the next 3-4 months again, my levels would fluctuate between 20's-60's even on the medication. So I decided to stopped the medication. My TSH stayed within normal range.
Summer 2014- Decided to try traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture both my husband and I. I was given chinese herbs and my husband was given tribulus supplement to try to increase his sperm count. I had researched so much information by this time that we decided to consult with a urologist to see if he could give us any answers related to my husbands sperm problem. The urologist found that my husbands testosterone and hormone levels were normal, so he rule out that the low sperm count was related to a pituitary problem. He found a varicocele, but said that many men had this and were still able to conceive, he said that a varicocelectomy would not guarantee and improvement in sperm count.
Fall 2014- Nothing had worked I was really tired of hoping that I would get pregnant any of these months. I had not accepted the fact that we were dealing with male factor infertility and that I potentially had an underlying condition preventing me from conceiving.
---- This whole year, I was very confused and disappointed that nothing was working, I was isolated and had many arguments with my husband over nothing. Thank God my husband was patient and tolerated my mood swings and depression symptoms. He really tried to support me any way he could. I've never shared with my family or close friends what we were going through.
November 2014- I went back to my primary doctor and got a referral for a different RE. Our first appointment was finally a relief, we were ready to receive to full treatment and based on the consultation, the doctor said that we were good candidates for treatment due to my husbands low sperm count. He also said that we had good chances for success due to our age (me 29 and my husband 31 now). The fist test I had was the HSG before the start of any procedures, and the regular blood work they screen for hormone panel and infectious disease. He suggested I went back on the bromocriptine to control my prolactin levels. The first treatment was IUI with clomid- negative.
December 2014- IUI with clomid- Negative
January 2015- I decided not to do anymore IUI's because my chances were very low. We moved on to IVF
March 2015- #1 IVF cycle (ganirelix, menopur, follistim)- retrieved 11 eggs, 9 fertilized, 5 made it day 5 blastocyst stage.
--- All embryos looked good grade A.
April- Transferred 2 day 5 embryos in a fresh cycle (estrace pills, vaginal progesterone)- Negative (beta was 5, I stopped all meds and my period came)
May- FET- Transferred 2 embryos(estrogen pills and progesterone injections)- Negative (beta was less than 5)
*** My world was destroyed I was more confused than ever, My doctor never sat with me to explore the reasons as to why things were not working out. I would just get a call from the the nurse to tell me that this cycle had not worked, call with my next period so that we could keep trying. I never called back. Since I started this whole journey I had friends and family announce their pregnancy, give birth, and announce once more that they were pregnant we their second baby. I just felt lost. I decided not to do anything for the next few months.
September 2015- Switch RE's. Started this whole process again. This doctor, reviewed my history and after seeing that we had multiple failed cycles, he decided to test me for everything possible that could be contributing to the implantation failure.
#1 day 2 or 3 hormone panel
#2 monomeric prolactin level- normal
#3 saline ultrasound- found a 3cm fibroid at the top of the uterus- plan: have a myomectomy.
#4 Thrombophelia panel and autoimmune disorder lab work- found the mild form of MTHFR gene mutation, I was told that my body does not metabolize and absorb folic acid. The plan will be to start metanx or foltanx supplement (the methylated form of folic acid) and use baby aspirin during my next IVF cycle.
#5 Do the Endometrial receptivity array (ERA) biopsy prior to the next embryo transfer.
#6 Do PGS on the embryos we get from IVF#2
October 2015- had a laparoscopic myomectomy, hysteroscopy, and tubal lavage. During the procedure the doctor found that one of my tubes was blocked and could not open it, he also fount mild endometriosis and took care of that, and also removed the fibroid.
December 2015- I began preparing for a trial FET cycle in order to do the ERA biopsy. This consists of taking the meds needed to built the uterine lining with estrogen pills and progesterone injections, I also used lupron to prevent me from ovulating this month. The purpose of the test is to biopsy the uterine lining at the time that they would've normally schedule an embryo transfer- Usually 5 days after starting progesterone injections. The biopsy is sent out to the lab and two weeks later you find out the results.
January 2016- Receptivity biopsy results at day 5 of using progesterone was- Pre-receptive- meaning my uterine lining is not receptive to receiving an embryo. The plan is to do another trial cycle at day 6 of using progesterone. Hopefully at this time my uterus is receptive.
February 2016- I decided to start IVF #2. The plan is to retrieved the eggs, fertilize them, and the ones that survive to day 5 will be frozen and biopsied for PGS. While I wait for results I will do another trial cycle for the ERA biopsy.
--- In February I was unable to Start IVF because my period was 8 days late and missed the cut off date that my clinic had for February IVF cycle.
March 2016- plan IVF #2
Replies
Hi Daysi, I am so sorry you have been through so much already. Hoping ivf #2 is your lucky cycle. I had pgs testing done for my second cycle and have 3 perfect embryos frozen waiting to be transferred but I am too scared. If they are still frozen then they are at least safe, right?
Congrats Kristi!! You are one step closer. In my #1 IVF my doctor didn\'t recommend PGS. This time around the plan is to do PGS, I feel like this will give us more chances of success. Your are definitely safe Kristi, in fact I believe that all embyos that get sent for PGS end up in the freezers because it takes time for the results to come in. Good Luck Honey! All we can do is hope for the best!
Reading all of this makes my head spin! I\'m too scared to write out everything I\'ve done so far... My Dr said if we have to move onto ivf #2, she is fine with us doing the PGS testing. What were your Drs concerns with doing the testing? I definitely want to do what we can to make this work, but I am concerned about compromising the embryos- so many decisions to make!
I\'m sorry blbnjf for making your head spin LOL. I was amazed myself as to how much I had put myself into the day I wrote my entire journey. My doctor is still looking for answers as to why I have not been successful in any of my embryo transfers. PGS would allow us to see more clear if it was an embryo issue. When it comes to me, I\'ve had a fribroid removed (which could\'ve prevented implantation) I\'m also doing the endometrial biopsy to check as to when my uterus is receptive for receiving the embryo. I\'ve done one already and came back preceptive, so I\'m hoping that for the next time around we\'ll know when my body is ready to receive the embryo and hopefully PGS will help select a healthy embryo to transfer.
Sounds like you have come to the right place. Thanks for sharing your story. I hope IVF #2 works for you. We had planned to do PGS for our last IVF, but we didn\'t get enough embryos to day 5 to make it worth the extra cost. I am currently awaiting our last chance with a FET. I had never heard of the endometrial biopsy before, and have now asked my Dr about it.
Thanks for sharing your story. I can relate to so much you write about. The denial that your body is failing you, it took me a while to come to terms with what my Dr.\'s were telling me. I also didn\'t tell any of my friends (or my family for a while) and it is so stressful to keep it all inside while watching friends get pregnant so easy. I still struggle with seeing others get pregnant so easily. You have been through so much. I will be thinking of you as you begin IVF #2 next month!
Thank you Lynn, it is definitely a rough process. I hoping this next cycle works, I\'m being cautiously optimistic.