http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ Infertility and Adoption online interactive support community for your family-building efforts. Information and discussion includes infertility, adoption, pregnancy, parenting and surrogacy issues. en Sat, 25 May 2013 17:27:08 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/just-starting-try-conceive/719134-fertility-investigative-cycle-results.html Sat, 25 May 2013 16:13:45 GMT Hi, After months of testing and observation with a fertility clinic here in Waterloo, my wife and I were advised to undergo IVF. However, with high cost of the procedure we are trying to look at other options overseas with another doctor. Would it be possible to get a hardcopy of the results... Hi,

After months of testing and observation with a fertility clinic here in Waterloo, my wife and I were advised to undergo IVF.
However, with high cost of the procedure we are trying to look at other options overseas with another doctor.
Would it be possible to get a hardcopy of the results of the tests we've undergone with the clinic (e.g ultrasound, saline sonohysterogram, endometrial biopsy, semen analysis etc.....)so we can just hand it over to the next doctor for a second opinion?
As patients, do we have the right to get the a copy of those procedure results or at least the findings?
What we want to eliminate is for us to undergo a new set of the same test with the new doctor.
Appreciate any reply on this.
Thanks

John ]]> Just Starting To Try To Conceive johnlee9210 http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/just-starting-try-conceive/719134-fertility-investigative-cycle-results.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/infertility/719133-any-success-femara-follistim-hcg-trigger-combo.html Sat, 25 May 2013 15:21:42 GMT Hi everyone! This is my second posting, and hopefully someone has some positive stories for me, because I am at my wits end with all the money and time I am spending ttc :cry: A little bit of my background: I am 24 y.o. and have pcos with no ovulation or AF on my own. My husband is 28 y.o. and has... Hi everyone! This is my second posting, and hopefully someone has some positive stories for me, because I am at my wits end with all the money and time I am spending ttc :cry: A little bit of my background: I am 24 y.o. and have pcos with no ovulation or AF on my own. My husband is 28 y.o. and has no problems. We have been ttc for 2 years, no success. I had 1 follie grow to 15mm on 7.5mg of Femara, but not big enough to trigger. Now my insurance company won't approve brand name drugs nor injectibles, unless I fill it through their mail-order pharmacy and only if my Dr. calls them and explains why I need it and what the procedure is that he is doing. Needless to say, I find it easier to pay out of pocket and avoid the headache. Sorry for the long story. To make it short, my question is, did anyone have any success on a combo of Femara, Follistim, and then an hcg trigger? I just want a little bit of hope :crossfing Thanks in advance! ]]> Infertility PurpleTiger http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/infertility/719133-any-success-femara-follistim-hcg-trigger-combo.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/unexplained-infertility/719132-what-fertility-suppliments-recommended.html Sat, 25 May 2013 15:10:27 GMT Hello, any recommendations for fertility suppliments? Thanks in advance. Hello, any recommendations for fertility suppliments? Thanks in advance. ]]> Unexplained Infertility yvette83 http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/unexplained-infertility/719132-what-fertility-suppliments-recommended.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/parenting-after-35/719131-nance-lee-so-few-us-fb-group.html Sat, 25 May 2013 12:00:02 GMT Were reminded of Cole's birthday by Cindy (Kitty). So, we thought we'd pop over and wish him a very happy birthday! Where have the years gone? ]]> Parenting after 35 GirlMom http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/parenting-after-35/719131-nance-lee-so-few-us-fb-group.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/unexplained-infertility/719130-new-here.html Sat, 25 May 2013 01:28:53 GMT Hello,

I was told a couple of months ago that I had unxplained infertility after seeing a fertility specialist. The specialist recommed clomid and iui. I thought we should do timed intercourse first as we don't know the cause however the docotor did not think that was a good option. After allot of thought and looking at our finaces and work schedules we discovered no matter what treatment we choose it is going to be expensive and time consumimg and what if it doesn't work? Due to this for now my husband and I are naturally trying to get pregnant. We are using clear blue fertility monitor which tells me exactlywhen I am ovulating, and natural fertility vitamines. I am trying to eat healthier and take better care of my body. I am trying to stay positive but it is extremly difficult I feel like everyone around me is getting pregnant but me. I'm starting to dread each time I see my period. I almost cried this morning when my period started as it was three days later than normal. I know God has a plan but I'm not understaning what lesson he is trying to teach me. It has been a year and a half trying...... ]]> Unexplained Infertility yvette83 http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/unexplained-infertility/719130-new-here.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ivf-high-tech/719129-pasante-unique-other-condoms-semen-collection.html Sat, 25 May 2013 00:31:51 GMT Has anyone tried the Pasante Unique condom for semen collection?

That's the main question.

Here's the background....if you're interested.....apologies for the long post.

We are having some semen collection problems. We have to do a sample for freezing for IVF because my DH isn't going to be able to do an on-the-day fresh sample. Masturbation was a non-starter so we ordered some of the special "Male Factor Pak" semen collection condoms from California to collect during intercourse. We managed to get one sample for a semen analysis after a couple of tries with the thing, but DH finds them kind of tight and uncomfortable which kills his...umm...motivation, shall we say? He doesn't have any male factor issues though his swimmers are showing their age. Counts and things are a bit on the low side of normal, especially morphology so we are both concerned with getting a good sample.

When we discussed this with a doctor at the clinic we are using, he asked if it would be o.k. to use a regular condom (but without lubes or spermicides) for the collection if the sample was transferred right away into the sterile container. The doc after first saying he didn't really know anything much about it said he didn't see why not and followed up with an email saying he had consulted some other doctors there and they thought it would be fine.

He was satisfied with this answer, me not so much. I've done a lot of research on this and I haven't found any IVF clinic website that says anything other than don't use a regular condom and they all appear to have detailed instructions with an emphasis on sterility and cleanliness.

I'm going to write the clinic back about this but in the meantime I found this condom available from Europe called the Pasante Unique that has a study suggesting it is just as good as the Male Factor Pak for semen collection so I was wondering if anyone else had tried it.

Here's the link to the study abstract suggesting PU might be o.k..

Here are two studies that declare a latex condom should never be used for the collection of a semen sample and compare other methods.

compares semen collection methods (the full text is free for this one so I read the whole thing) Also, I don't know if this is the material used in the Male Factor Pak or something else, but I haven't found anything else like the MFP.

Immobilization of sperm by condoms and their components

We ordered some of the PU condoms from a store in the U.K. so we will try them out but I'd feel better if there was someone else with some experience with these things. :hmm: ]]> otterbaby http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/ivf-high-tech/719129-pasante-unique-other-condoms-semen-collection.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/military-issues/719128-meds-womack.html Fri, 24 May 2013 23:55:55 GMT Hello! I want to say thank you for all the great information I have gained from this site. I was wondering could anyone tell me on average what the costs of the meds are at Womack for IVF. Thank you Hello! I want to say thank you for all the great information I have gained from this site. I was wondering could anyone tell me on average what the costs of the meds are at Womack for IVF. Thank you ]]> Military Issues desdes http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/military-issues/719128-meds-womack.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/male-factor/719127-severe-oligospermia-now-what.html Fri, 24 May 2013 21:44:56 GMT I don't even know where to begin processing this information. Confirmed Tuesday that my hubs has severe ogliospermia - counts around the 3million mark (just under). The Dr. gave us a 10% chance of natural conception over the next 2 years, and about a 25% chance of successful IVF with ICSI. We have a 3 year old already who was conceived naturally with a little bit of work. I'm so crushed and angry. He won't take any type of supplement because there has been no true scientific studies done to prove efficacy, and even the Dr said those claims are mostly coincidence wrapped in marketing.

Other than crying and throwing a fit, I don't know where to start in accepting we will never expand our family, and I'm tired of feeling guilty that I want one more baby when I already have one. It's not that she's not enough, it's that I wanted to give her a sibling. Sigh.

Also, I am new here, this is my first post so, hello! ]]> Male Factor BabeChilla http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/male-factor/719127-severe-oligospermia-now-what.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/general-pregnancy-board/719126-excessive-hiccups-when-worry.html Fri, 24 May 2013 20:27:58 GMT I am 34 weeks now and since 30 weeks the baby has been hiccuping. First it was 1-2 times a day and now we are up to 5-6 times a day. They last from 8-15 minutes each time. Ive read many places that hiccups are normal and a sign of baby practicing breathing. And I have read that hiccups more... I am 34 weeks now and since 30 weeks the baby has been hiccuping. First it was 1-2 times a day and now we are up to 5-6 times a day. They last from 8-15 minutes each time. Ive read many places that hiccups are normal and a sign of baby practicing breathing. And I have read that hiccups more that 4x a day and over 10 minutes are considered excessive and could be a sign of cord compression. Ive also noticed some strong jerking like kicks this past week. I thought when the baby was at 34 weeks there was not enough room for these stronger movements. Could that be distress? My dr entertained me by listening to the concern but immediately dismissed it as normal. She said she never heard of it relating to a problem. If it shows up for me in a quick google search, multiple times on different sites, then it seems to me to be a common enough occurrence to cause concern. What do you all think? ]]> General Pregnancy board amandamagoo http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/general-pregnancy-board/719126-excessive-hiccups-when-worry.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/male-factor/719125-looking-mfi-answers.html Fri, 24 May 2013 20:23:07 GMT My DH and I had been TTC for 19 months before we met with the RE. I went through a bunch of tests and the RE discovered a uterine polyp, but I am otherwise fine. My DH had a SA done and when the results came back with 0 sperm, we were crushed. He was then referred to a urologist. He had blood... My DH and I had been TTC for 19 months before we met with the RE. I went through a bunch of tests and the RE discovered a uterine polyp, but I am otherwise fine. My DH had a SA done and when the results came back with 0 sperm, we were crushed. He was then referred to a urologist. He had blood work done and it all came back normal. The urologist performed an exam and then suggested to have a testicular biopsy performed. Before the biopsy my DH found out from his mother that at some point between ages 6 and 9 he had one testicle that was higher than the other. It was treated with injections in the groin. She was pretty sure it was the left one. We informed the urologist's office of the news and were told that the doctor would look at the old records before the surgery. On the day of the surgery we learned that the info was never passed along to the doctor so he skimmed the old records right before the procedure. After the procedure, the doctor met with me and my DH's mom. He told us the left testicle had been biopsied, no sperm was found, both testicles were symmetric in size and a little smaller than normal, and a tissue sample was sent to the pathology lab for further analysis. When the urologist called my DH a few days later with the pathology results he said that some sperm was found in the initial sample, but it was immature and wasn't good enough to be used to create a pregnancy and that we needed to meet with the RE to find out more information. So, we met with the RE and she told us that the lab found a "vanishingly small amount of sperm", no tissue was able to be frozen for IVF, and the sperm with tails were not moving and the rest were immature. We were then told that nothing could be done to fix this problem, they don't know why this is happening, and that our options were to go childless, use donor sperm, donor embryos, foster children, or adoption.
I'm having a hard time believing that NOTHING can be done. There has to be something? So, I'm posting this to find out if anyone else has found a way to kick-start normal production and for any ideas as to why this is happening? Is there any chance that if the urologist checked the other one he would have found normal sperm and there could be a blockage on that side? ]]> Male Factor NDBlondie http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/male-factor/719125-looking-mfi-answers.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/frozen-embryo-transfers-fet/719124-experienced-feters-curious-what-you-think.html Fri, 24 May 2013 20:15:45 GMT Hi!

On 5/16 I went through my first FET. Having no previous experience, I was curious what you other FET'ers think about the quality of our embryos and I'm curious what your experiences have been, in general.

In total, 3 grade A, 8-cell embryos were thawed (we were going for 2, 1 didn't make it); I don't know if it matters, but they use vitrification at our clinic. This is an unmedicated FET (progesterone, estrace, and vivielle only). Our clinic thaws 24 hours before your transfer- they want to make sure they start growing again. One had 0 cell loss and divided again, making it a 10-cell at transfer. The second lost 2 cells, but divided again and was an 8-cell again at transfer.

The embryologist was very happy about this, but, of course, I was worried about the quality of the second embryo (besides worrying about the overall chances of success). Plus, I always want to hear other peoples' experiences to get a better understanding of our chances and the procedure, as well as the status/quality of the embryos. And are they both still considered 3-day or 4-day embryos at that point? (I have no idea what time they divided last).

If it matters, using the fresh embryos from this cycle, I was previously pregnant. Initially, both implanted, but I lost one at 6.5 weeks and the second one at 19.5 weeks. Chromosome testing on the fetus came back negative and my hysteroscopy, biopsy came back negative, too.

Thanks (ahead of time) for your opinions and sharing your stories! ]]> Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET) missdixie33 http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/frozen-embryo-transfers-fet/719124-experienced-feters-curious-what-you-think.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/over-35-pregnant/719123-if-youre-over-40-how-many-iuis-did-take-bfp.html Fri, 24 May 2013 18:54:34 GMT I was just wondering for those of you who are 40 or older....how many IUI's did it take before you got your BFP? I'm currently in my 2ww of IUI#3 and I just turned 40. IVF is just not an option for us so I'd like to get an idea from people who have gone through the same thing I am.

Thanks,

Niki ]]> Over 35 and Pregnant nikinicole http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/over-35-pregnant/719123-if-youre-over-40-how-many-iuis-did-take-bfp.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/parenting-preemies/719122-feeding-tube-experience-nicu.html Fri, 24 May 2013 18:46:54 GMT Just had 33 week 5 day twin boys. My experience in the NICU has been great the only thing that I find strange is that when they are not breast or bottle feeding I have to hold the feeding tube for gravity purposes in one hand and my son in the other. Shouldn't the nurse be holding the tube? Or am I just overreacting? What experiences have others had with this or alternative ways to do it? ]]> Parenting Preemies MODI Dad http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/parenting-preemies/719122-feeding-tube-experience-nicu.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/pregnancy/719121-concerns-i-have.html Fri, 24 May 2013 15:32:37 GMT This is my second time doing IVF and it worked!!!! YAY!!!! I am 6 weeks 1 day a long so far. This past Tuesday I started having sever cramps in the morning. By the time I got to work (2 hours later) I had brownish/red discharge. It was only when I wiped and it has since stopped. I did call my RE... This is my second time doing IVF and it worked!!!! YAY!!!! I am 6 weeks 1 day a long so far. This past Tuesday I started having sever cramps in the morning. By the time I got to work (2 hours later) I had brownish/red discharge. It was only when I wiped and it has since stopped. I did call my RE right away and they said that they weren't too concerned because it is what they call "old blood" and that everything was looking great so far. The nurse asked what I had done in the last few days and I told that I had done a 5K walk. She asked if my husband and I had had sex and we did. She said that everything is so "hormone enriched" that when we had sex that it could have ruptured blood vessels. The nurse told us not to have sex until the ultrasound and for me to slow down and take it easy and rest with my feet up as much as possible. I am still concerned through because of the progesterone I will not know if is a m/c or not. I am still having mild cramps in the lower abdominal area and my nipples are really sore still too. My ultrasound is not for another 12 days. I just want to know if anyone else has had this happened to them and how things turned out. ]]> Pregnancy jmollett http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/pregnancy/719121-concerns-i-have.html http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/general-pregnancy-board/719120-baby-movements-while-having-sex.html Fri, 24 May 2013 12:28:13 GMT Hi all, Today I have a very silly question. I am pregnant with my first baby. My 8th month has just been started. I can feel my baby all the time moving inside me, kicks, punches, up and down, I feel everything about him. But I have noticed a very strange thing. Whenever I and my husband are... Hi all,

Today I have a very silly question. I am pregnant with my first baby. My 8th month has just been started. I can feel my baby all the time moving inside me, kicks, punches, up and down, I feel everything about him. But I have noticed a very strange thing. Whenever I and my husband are having sex at night, the baby gets silent at all, no movement and nothing. As long as we are 'in touch' and have sex I see no movement from him. Sometimes this surprises me and makes me curious. Does baby also feels it? I mean how does he feel when we do sex? Why doesn't he make movements at that time? Does he also know that mama and papa are making love so I shouldn't disturb them? hahaha

I want to know the science behind.

Looking for your kind and interesting replies. ]]> General Pregnancy board Jia http://www.fertilethoughts.com/forums/general-pregnancy-board/719120-baby-movements-while-having-sex.html