I'm on a "Best of Infertility Blogs" List!

Forgive me if I posted this before, but I just discovered that Redbook's list of Best Infertility Blogs included Motherhood Wanted! So cool! So check out the link. If you can't get enough of blogs about infertility, check out the others on the list as well!

Last year, I participated in Redbook's The Truth About Trying Campaign to shed light on the truth behind infertility and remove the shame of it. A worthy cause! If you didn't get a chance to check it out last year, here is the link to my video and the many others who posted their experiences with infertility.
Truth About Trying: Redbook's No Shame Campaign

Irregular cycles and RE appt

First, since beginning the Bee Fertile Supplements, my cycles have gone all whack-a-doodle.  I cannot be certain it is due to the Bee Fertile supplements entirely; Around the time I started them, I ran out of my Super B Complex and B6 and have not yet replaced them. So it is possible that this is a large reason for my LP being so variable. In my last two cycles, my LP shortened from its avg 11-13 (while taking Super B Complex and B6) to an LP of 9 followed by an LP of 4 

This is not a great start. It will be difficult to truly achieve pregnancy if I am shedding my lining before the zygote can implant. Yesterday was 7DPO for this cycle, and spotting started. At first sticky and bright red, later clotty and dark brown. It is continuing today and with a mixture of bloating, cramping and my temp staying down, AF (menses) is sure to be on her way.



My chart was strange this time. I usually have a fall around 3-5 DPO, followed by a return to higher temps. This time, my temp fell, and just stayed down around the same level. It rose but some, and today with another temperature in the same range, FF decided I had not actually O'd.

But my symptoms say I have. I've had increased sense of smell, sore nips, burning tenderness on the side of my breasts and fatigue. Now the bloating, which does usually precede AF when joined with spotting. The strangest thing is that with my cramping, I have had flutters and wiggling feelings in my pelvis. Most likely this is more gas. Oh, and I've been super gassy. BUT, also I remember when I was anovulatory, that I would have symptoms of sore nips and extreme moodiness and weepiness a week or two before AF. So, I may not have O'd after all. It is hard to say. I still have fullness in my pelvis along with some cramping. How I wish I could call it implantation! I wish it could never be known as a possibility since it is so rare to be noted by actual women who become pregnant.

So overall, these last 3 cycles have been dreadful. I have no faith that my LP will last beyond 4 days.

Now, for my RE appointment! I went to see him gave him a full history of my cycles, miscarriage and attempts to conceive. He used a t/v ultrasound (trans-vaginal) to check out my uterus and ovaries and said they looked "wonderful". In light of this, his preliminary evaluation is that I need only medications that induce ovulation. Although he did not say which, I am most sure he means either Clomid or Femara. He ordered and SA for my DH and a progesterone draw for me. By the time I had my progesterone draw, I was only 4 DPO. I should be able to call sometime Monday afternoon (Apr 30) to get the results.

My follow-up appointment will be much later though, because he needs me to have a consult with a perinatologist that would follow me in pregnancy, as I will be high-risk due to my congenital heart defect. Because the Peri's schedule is out so far, I cannot see him until June 18th. I have my appt for the RE set at July 2nd. So it looks like I will have at least 2 cycles on my own before I am able to even consult with the RE again.

I am hoping that I can convince him to try Femara before Clomid. I will have to check stats again, but I believe Femara provides less increased chance of multiples over Clomid, and one of my past OB/GYNs said her concern in providing Clomid was the chance of multiple pregnancy, which would increase the strain to my heart. I guess we'll see in June.
Disclaimer: Although the Bee Fertile supplements were provided to me at no charge, all opinions are my own. Trust me, I 'll give you the good, bad and in-between with an un-varnished eye!

Don't Ignore the Treatments Options for Infertility Pt. 1

When a couple trying to conceive reaches the point where they are seeking medical assistance to achieve pregnancy, they may not be aware of each option available to them for treating their infertility. Because there are many possible causes to infertility, there could be a variety of treatment options, one which may be more appropriate than another depending on the physical barriers to conception. Sometimes when a couple gets a diagnosis of infertility, their first thought regarding possible treatment options are the more invasive ones, such as In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or IUI (Intrauterine Insemination). There may be a myriad of less invasive treatments or other alternatives available, but much of this can depend on the type and severity of the diagnosis. 

The main impediments to conception for women may be lack of or inadequate ovulation, conditions that increase risk of miscarriage, poor egg health, conditions that prevent sperm from reaching the ovum or other impediments to effective implantation of a fertilized zygote. The main barriers to fertility for men relate to sperm production: low sperm count, poor sperm morphology or low motility of sperm. 

For couples with one or more of these barriers, there can be a variety of treatments that range from least invasive to highly intensive. Understanding what your options are can be essential to carefully weighing which ones are best for you and your partner. 

• Fertility Medications
• Ovulation Inducing Drugs
• Oral Medicines--These are usually prescribed for women who have lack of or inadequate ovulation. 
• Miscarriage Prevention
• Depending on the condition causing the risk of miscarriage, there can be a variety of oral medications to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss.
• Progesterone
• Inadequate progesterone levels can cause problems in achieving and maintaining a pregnancy. It can also be commonly given to prevent miscarriage, but can also affect a woman's ability to conceive. Read this article at RESOLVE.org to find out the impact on fertility. Progesterone can be given in oral pills, vaginal suppositories or intramuscular injection.
• Hormone Balancing Drugs
• There can be medical conditions that cause hormone imbalances that can directly or indirectly affect fertility. Many times oral medications to treat these conditions can eliminates its effects on reproduction. Read about the various conditions and options for treatment by following the links below.
• Thyroid Imbalance
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Hyperprolactinemia--Scroll to bottom of page.
• Injectibles
• These are medications to induce ovulation primarily used in conjunction with various Assisted Reproductive Procedures (ART).
• For more details on the various medications available check out this page at RESOLVE.org

• http://www.resolve.org/infertility101  (Basic understanding of the disease of infertility.)
• http://www.resolve.org/national-infertility-awareness-week/about.html (About NIAW)

Diagnosis: Hypothyroidism

Well. I got a letter from my doctor, who I saw around mid-March. She did a CBC (complete blood count), cholesterol screen and a hormone panel. My cholesterol is good, no problems with blood sugar, prolactin is normal. However.....

My blood test indicates I have hypothyroidism (lower than normal production of thyroid hormones).  My doctor's letter did not indicate the numbers, but I did appreciate how her letter explained it to me in normal English with minimal doctor-speak. But, the letter indicated she was including a prescription for Synthroid (25 mcg), but the nurse must've forgotten to put it in the envelope. Needless to say, I was beyond frustrated. I thought that maybe she had called it in to the pharmacy instead, and had my DH go by and see. He said the pharmacy tech looked at him like he was an idiot. I had to get the letter TWO WEEKS after it was dated, on  a Friday, and of course I can't even leave a message for the doctor until Monday.



I went through a range of emotions. At first it was shock. I am rarely in a position where something leaves me without at least active thinking about something....I think I spent a full 10 minutes just unable to process it. I felt stuck, like I couldn't get beyond the thought "I have hypothyroidism" I was struggling to remember the impact on fertility that I had read about in some articles, or the anecdotes from members of my online TTC community. Even writing this, I still feel like I hit this wall that won't allow me to venture further into processing the meaning of this for me.

It didn't help that the main person I wanted to talk about it with (my husband) was not home yet, and when I called my family I had to wait for their callback. It was probably less than 5 minutes when my mother returned my call, but it felt like hours had passed. She was supportive and I learned that she and her sister, and most of her side of the family have been "borderline" hypothyroid for years.  At this point, I was able to begin my regular mode of research. I checked out what the Mayo Clinic had to say about hypothyroidism and its effect on fertility.  Here are the possible symptoms of hypothyroidism:

• Fatigue      I seem to be tired everyday now. Not all day, but more than it seems probable
• Sluggishness   Kind of on par with the fatigue--I also have had a hard time finding words and processing mentally at times.
• Increased sensitivity to cold  This is happening lately! I'll be freezing under a blanket and everyone else is complaining of the heat! Not everyday, but more often than usual.
• Constipation  So much. 
• Pale, dry skin  This is hard to evaluate, I have had dry skin since childhood. It has been very flaky lately, despite using lotion almost daily.
• A puffy face  Maybe
• Hoarse voice  Not really
• An elevated blood cholesterol level Thank God, no! My cholesterol was actually rocking!
• Unexplained weight gain  Hard to say if it is unexplained. I used to eat way more than I do now, but the weight still sticks around. 
• Muscle aches, tenderness and stiffness  Some. More the next one. 
• Pain, stiffness or swelling in your joints  Definitely. I do have the broken foot, but even my other ankle has been feeling achy and weird. 
• Muscle weakness  maybe
• Heavier than normal menstrual periods  Off and on. Not so much.
• Brittle fingernails and hair  I think my vitamin regimen has prevented this. 
• Depression  This might explain a lot. I am already being treated for my bipolar, but lately it seems like my depression is constantly at a low-level sad mood. And when my period comes....ugh. I'll have days where I'm almost inconsolable, wracked with guilt and uncontrollable crying. DH can usually comfort me. 

When I looked at the possible effects on fertility, this article on Mayo Clinic website, the effects of hypothyroidism on fertility they suggest are vague. The most detail they give is that it can "interfere with ovulation", increase risk of miscarriage and lead to birth defects. 

At this point, I began to wonder how long I have been this way, and was it a possible cause of my miscarriage in 2010? I don't know if I can tell, not knowing what my levels may have been then. I just can't wait til tomorrow when I can call my doctor's office and at least get them to send the frakking prescription!

I'll update later when I can!