My Infertility Journey So Far...

Quick intro: I stopped taking BCP in November 2006, had AF in December but then nothing for months (as I expected), and was referred to an IF specialist in April 2007. Specialist tentatively diagnosed me with PCOS. K's first SA showed a slightly low count and low motility. His repeat SA showed numbers on the low side of average. And so we begin.

I always knew I would have trouble conceiving, since I would only get AF once or twice a year when not on BCP, but I really had no idea what "having trouble" would mean. I kind of thought I would just take a pill for a few months and that would do it! Well, that is in fact very often the first step in IF treatment. And that's how it started for me. The pill is called Clomid, and it is effective in inducing ovulation in about 80 percent of women. I'm in the other 20 percent.

After four cycles of increasing dosages of Clomid, which did absolutely nothing except give me hot flashes, I reluctantly conceded that it was time to move on to the next step: injectable FSH with IUI. At this point we did some more testing, a pelvic ultrasound and a sonohysterogram (SHG), to make sure my uterus was in good shape and my tubes were clear. They were.

In October 2007 I injected myself in the belly with Gonal-f for 12 days. And so, one year after I stopped taking BCP, and six months after I started seeing the IF specialist, I finally ovulated one precious follicle and had my first IUI. I got my first BFN just in time to celebrate that anniversary along with my 30th birthday. (A little advice here: don't start TTC on your birthday, and especially not on your 29th birthday!)

In January 2008 we did our second Gonal-f + IUI cycle. This time we switched up the dosages and I ended up with four follicles! My LH surged on its own, and so we did back-to-back IUIs at 12 and 36 hours after trigger. My doctor said we couldn't ask for a better cycle... but BFN #2.

Next step, laparoscopy on April 9.

To be continued...