So after this batch of tests there is nothing so far that suggests we absolutely shouldn't be able to get pregnant. My DH has lovely sperm BUT I have a few little issues and have to have some treatment and more tests.
Further tests for possible Endometriosis.
- I don't have obvious symptoms, but you can have it mild with lots of pain and severe with no pain. It might impact fertility if I have it. The way it can impact fertility is complex but the adhesions can make it hard for the egg to travel down the fallopian tube because it can make the fallopian tube less flexible (as I understand it).
Treatment for a uterine Polyp.
- I have one 'like a mushroom' and my little mushroom (I wonder if it is magic or not) might be affecting fertility. I think it can stop implantation.
Further tests to determine what is up with the shape of my uterus.
- I have something between an Arcuate Uterus and a Bi-Cornuate Uterus. This is something that is congenital - basically when you are developing in the womb your own womb develops in two halfs and then fuses together. In a small number of people (really small) this never happens so you have two of everything. That is one extreme. Sometimes it doesn't quite fuse together all the way.
A 'normal' uterus is like an upside down pear. An Arcuate uterus is more like a heart. A Bi-Cornuate Uterus as more of a protusion coming down from the middle of the heart. Quite complicated but basically if it is Arcuate only that shouldn't be a problem. If it is Arcuate with a little 'strip' coming down from the middle of the heart then that can affect implantation because if the fertilized egg tries to implant on the strip there isn't enough blood supply so you get more risk of early miscarriage. If it is Bi-Cornuate then it is normally OK to implant because the bit protruding is wide enough to have a good blood supply but there tend to be more complications with miscarriage after 1st trimester and early term labour and things like breach delivery so increased c-sections.
Here is a good explanation and a link to a support group http://stirrup-queens.blogspot.com/2006/07/diagnosis-uterine-anomalies.html
Other tests that came back OK:
* my hormones are doing just enough of the the right thing. I had blood tests for FSH and LH on day 3 and Progesterone day 21. My 3 day 3 FSH tests came back as 14, 9, 9 so whilst 14 is not fab the latest two are below 10 which is OK (needs to be below ten for IVF). Progresterone is high enough to indicate ovulation on the cycles tested
* my follicals look like they are working, based on the transvaginal ultrasound scans
* I am free from infection, they swabbed for baterial and other nasties including chlamydia
* My fallopian tubes are not blocked, as shown by the Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
* My ovaries look normal
* My DH's sperm passed with flying colours: 3 ml of sperm with 120 million sperm per mil (above 20 million is good), 60% motility (40% is good), good progression and 45% morphology (40%) is good.
So, we left with the following:
Been put on the IVF waiting list. We get one free cycle on the NHS. We are allowed to have 2 private sessions while we are waiting (if we can afford it) and still qualify for the 1 free.
The IVF waiting list is 2.5 years. Gulp. I will be 38-39 by the time we even get to try the first one. Think we need to work out how to fund 2 private IVF's.
IVF in the UK is about £3500 - about 7000 USD per cycle.
Whilst we are on the waiting list for IVF I get to go into hospital for two procedures in one. I should get the appointment within the next 4 months and I need the treatment before I would be considered for IVF or IUI. I will need to wait a couple of months after the treatment before having IVF or IUI.
I will have a a Laparoscopy and a Hysteroscopy & Endometrial Biopsy (what used to be a D&C) under a general.
The Laparoscopy will check the outside of my womb for Endometriosis and hopefully let them treat it, they burn the tissue off.
The Hysteroscopy will check the inside of my womb and be a chance to remove my mushroom (polyp) so it is out the way and they will then biopsy it to check it is benign.
The Hysteroscopy will also get them in to have a good look my uterus to see what shape it is - arcuate or bi-cornuate and let them determine if there is any 'corrective' surgery that can be done. I will need another operation to do this if needed.
So. The plan for the next 4 months until the op is to shag as much as possible with my husbands 'super sperm'. I will buy a bulk load of my favoriate 'pee sticks' a.k.a. ovulation predictors just to double check that we are hitting the right dates.
You never know. We might just make it happen ourselves. If not we have 4 months to wait until we know a bit more.
Oh..... and to shag is a UK term for have sex ;-) just in case you were thinking we were going to try and get pregnant by making shag pile carpets!
Onward and upward.
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4 comments:
ah - waiting 4 months huh? I think thats how long I had to wait this time around too. And you are right - some have no endo pain but endo everywhere...and some have a lot of pain with hardley any endo.
Tis a strange disease.
They checked my uterus last time too. It is ok in shape, but it was tilted backwards - turns out that I had "hair like" fibres pulling it in the wrong direction (freaky anyone?!?). They got rid of those so it should be ok now.
Thanks for commenting on my blog! =)
Firstly I have to say that if I was in your shoes I would feel the same way about my DH. It doesn't mean you are a bad person for feeling that way. It makes you human. I think the road that us females travel is very different from the men and in your case I think it is amplified.
It is all a big rollercoaster isn't it? I'm glad that the councelling has helped a bit.
I can't believe how long the waiting list is for the NHS =0 That is crazy. It does show that we aren't alone in our suffering which makes me wonder why so few people talk about infertility. Anyway, that is getting off track.
Welcome to blog world and I look forward to following what will hopefully be a very short journey to your BFP.
Welcome to blogland! Keep us posted when you get your surgery scheduled.
Thanks for commenting on my blog! :)
Just found your blog! You have quite a plan ahead of you. I had a lap/hysterscopy last summer. They found endo but we could have anticipated it since I had a persistent cyst in my ovary. I hope your plan is going well and you continue to blog.
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