should I be tested too?

iMama · 03-24-2009, 05:41 PM

Hi everyone,
I've been lurking on here for a few weeks.

I want to know your opinions on whether I should ask (and pay for) myself to be tested, also. DH and I have been TTC for over 3 1/2 years. We had a son in 2005 and I have 2 kids (1995 & 1998) from a prior relationship. DH has a challenge with erection, and no ejaculate. DH also has (uncontrolled) diabetes and high blood pressure and is on several prescriptions which also hinder erection/libido. The urologist said it sounds like aspermia and reccomended sudafed which has caused ejaculation. He has also ordered a sperm analysis. So DH is now taking sudafed and cialis and the urologist told us to keep trying for a few more months -

Does that sound right to you ladies?

I want to know if any of you think it would be best if I made sure that I had a work up done on me, too just to make sure we're not dealing with a challenge on my side. My periods are pretty regular and my BMI is about 27 and I have no known health problems.

TIA~

tenseintexas · 03-27-2009, 05:12 PM

Hi Imama ! Welcome to the boards! I wouid say you should get checked out as well...if you go to any gyno or RE, I am pretty sure they will reccomend that. GREAT LUCK

Ginne · 03-29-2009, 07:35 PM

iMama, my husband had a MF diagnosis, and I thought nothing was wrong with me. Regular periods, healthy, normal BMI, etc. His urologist suggested I see an RE "just to have you checked out" and lo and behold, the RE discovered cysts and endo. I had to have an operative lap to remove the Endo, and other diagnostic procedures (chromopertubation and hysteroscopy). Everything else was fine "structurally," and it felt great having that reassurance that my tubes are open and my uterus is in good shape.

Definitely get yourself checked out with a transva.ginal ultrasound and day 3 bloodwork to check your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level and E2 (estrogen).

Regarding waiting or not: it depends mostly on your age and how you cope with waiting, but knowing that you have a MF issue, I'd recommend not wasting any time as trying to conceive can sometimes take ages. Just getting an appointment with a RE or at a good clinic can sometimes take a few months, as can getting a workup done.

Good luck - I hope all's well on your side!

iMama · 03-31-2009, 11:01 AM

Thanks for the reply. Actually the RE we saw didn't reccomend testing yet for me, I suppose since his challenges were so obvious. Thank you for the information.

tenseintexas · 03-31-2009, 11:26 AM

MY RE did not recommend the testing for me either....but now that we are talking IVF she said to get everything done. Sigh. Thought I was gonna get out of that!

Ginne · 03-31-2009, 05:24 PM

iMama, most reputable clinics do the basic testing for both partners before a cycle anyway, so I suspect your RE is thinking that "you'll get to that." I hope all's well on your end that you don't have any additional roadblocks discovered just before beginning your cycle.

I thought we had cleared all the hurdles and were ready to start the next month, so my test results and lap set us back another 6 months. I wish I had my tests done concurrently with my dh's.

Tense, I know how this feels! Very frustrating, but hopefully you can get it all done soon and be ready to cycle soon. I'd rather know before a cycle that everything is looking good, than discovering a problem midway through, or worse, having a BFN because of something that was preventable.

Good luck!

Vancella · 04-01-2009, 08:03 AM

Most clinics do testing on both partners and you definitely want to make sure nothing will get in the way of your goal...good luck

http://www.naturalcycleivf.net/

iMama · 04-01-2009, 07:42 PM

Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I was so hoping for a BFP and today AF came. (24 day cycle?!?!) But I am not as sad as I have been in the past since we are doing something about it. I think I just want to get to working on it fast. That's the problem with IF, you feel like you've been waiting to have a baby forever but the doctors seem to feel like I can just keep on trying for a while longer.

Ginne: The situation you described is exactly what I want to avoid.

I guess I don't want to appear "rude/like I'm going over the urologists head" since he told us to keep trying with the sudafed for a few more months.

But I'd rather get a work up on us both and pay for an iui now if needed and reccomended, and by NOW I mean N.O.W. (I may need to be more patient.

) This clinic appears to be the best and has very good numbers published but from what they told us at the appt, I have to make a seperate appt for myself to get a workup. Since we initially saw the urologist, he is seperate from the clinc-have any of you ever heard of this kind of arrangement?

I suppose I can simply call and ask for an appointment for myself and also let them know we're working with a urolgist at the same place at the same time,

hmmmm...

tenseintexas · 04-02-2009, 06:03 AM

imama- My husband saw a uroligist first...then we went to RE...and RE suggested I get all the other tests done ( HCG) and those are beging done through my gyno....

Ginne · 04-12-2009, 04:57 PM

iMama, when AF comes it's just so hard, because it's another month wasted... The limboland of waiting and reading up about MF and IUI/IVF is incredibly hard and overwhelming.

I'd say follow your gut. If you want the workup NOW then do it NOW.

You can continue with the urologist's Sudafed approach while you wait for your workup, and get everything tested. It sometimes takes a few weeks to get all the results back and interpreted. They also check for VDs, HIV/AIDS, and may recommend other genetic tests.

You might not get an appt immediately with an RE, then you'll need to wait for day 3 of your next period for the FSH... See how the weeks/months are wasted?

If everything is fine, you'll be hugely relieved and ready to cycle. Many clinics work with "outside" urologists, others like Cornell deal with both MF and FF, but even at Cornell, I still needed a "separate" appointment just for me.

Regarding the waiting: during my 1st consult after surgery with my new RE, he allowed me to start cycling that same day because I the thought of waiting one more day was too much to handle. That was possible b/c all my workup stuff had been taken care of.

Good luck!

03-24-2009, 05:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	should I be tested too? Hi everyone, I've been lurking on here for a few weeks. I want to know your opinions on whether I should ask (and pay for) myself to be tested, also. DH and I have been TTC for over 3 1/2 years. We had a son in 2005 and I have 2 kids (1995 & 1998) from a prior relationship. DH has a challenge with erection, and no ejaculate. DH also has (uncontrolled) diabetes and high blood pressure and is on several prescriptions which also hinder erection/libido. The urologist said it sounds like aspermia and reccomended sudafed which has caused ejaculation. He has also ordered a sperm analysis. So DH is now taking sudafed and cialis and the urologist told us to keep trying for a few more months - Does that sound right to you ladies? I want to know if any of you think it would be best if I made sure that I had a work up done on me, too just to make sure we're not dealing with a challenge on my side. My periods are pretty regular and my BMI is about 27 and I have no known health problems. TIA~

04-01-2009, 07:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	Thanks for the encouragement ladies. I was so hoping for a BFP and today AF came. (24 day cycle?!?!) But I am not as sad as I have been in the past since we are doing something about it. I think I just want to get to working on it fast. That's the problem with IF, you feel like you've been waiting to have a baby forever but the doctors seem to feel like I can just keep on trying for a while longer. Ginne: The situation you described is exactly what I want to avoid. I guess I don't want to appear "rude/like I'm going over the urologists head" since he told us to keep trying with the sudafed for a few more months. But I'd rather get a work up on us both and pay for an iui now if needed and reccomended, and by NOW I mean N.O.W. (I may need to be more patient. ) This clinic appears to be the best and has very good numbers published but from what they told us at the appt, I have to make a seperate appt for myself to get a workup. Since we initially saw the urologist, he is seperate from the clinc-have any of you ever heard of this kind of arrangement? I suppose I can simply call and ask for an appointment for myself and also let them know we're working with a urolgist at the same place at the same time, hmmmm... Last edited by iMama; 04-01-2009 at 07:45 PM. Reason: add more info

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03-27-2009, 05:12 PM	#2 (permalink)
tenseintexas 900-999 post jack of hearts Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 913	Hi Imama ! Welcome to the boards! I wouid say you should get checked out as well...if you go to any gyno or RE, I am pretty sure they will reccomend that. GREAT LUCK

03-29-2009, 07:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ginne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York Posts: 27	iMama, my husband had a MF diagnosis, and I thought nothing was wrong with me. Regular periods, healthy, normal BMI, etc. His urologist suggested I see an RE "just to have you checked out" and lo and behold, the RE discovered cysts and endo. I had to have an operative lap to remove the Endo, and other diagnostic procedures (chromopertubation and hysteroscopy). Everything else was fine "structurally," and it felt great having that reassurance that my tubes are open and my uterus is in good shape. Definitely get yourself checked out with a transva.ginal ultrasound and day 3 bloodwork to check your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level and E2 (estrogen). Regarding waiting or not: it depends mostly on your age and how you cope with waiting, but knowing that you have a MF issue, I'd recommend not wasting any time as trying to conceive can sometimes take ages. Just getting an appointment with a RE or at a good clinic can sometimes take a few months, as can getting a workup done. Good luck - I hope all's well on your side!

03-31-2009, 11:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
iMama 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 58	Thanks for the reply. Actually the RE we saw didn't reccomend testing yet for me, I suppose since his challenges were so obvious. Thank you for the information.

03-31-2009, 11:26 AM	#5 (permalink)
tenseintexas 900-999 post jack of hearts Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 913	MY RE did not recommend the testing for me either....but now that we are talking IVF she said to get everything done. Sigh. Thought I was gonna get out of that!

03-31-2009, 05:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ginne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York Posts: 27	iMama, most reputable clinics do the basic testing for both partners before a cycle anyway, so I suspect your RE is thinking that "you'll get to that." I hope all's well on your end that you don't have any additional roadblocks discovered just before beginning your cycle. I thought we had cleared all the hurdles and were ready to start the next month, so my test results and lap set us back another 6 months. I wish I had my tests done concurrently with my dh's. Tense, I know how this feels! Very frustrating, but hopefully you can get it all done soon and be ready to cycle soon. I'd rather know before a cycle that everything is looking good, than discovering a problem midway through, or worse, having a BFN because of something that was preventable. Good luck!

04-01-2009, 08:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Vancella 0-99 post 2 of hearts Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Northern VA Posts: 67	Most clinics do testing on both partners and you definitely want to make sure nothing will get in the way of your goal...good luck http://www.naturalcycleivf.net/

04-02-2009, 06:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
tenseintexas 900-999 post jack of hearts Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 913	imama- My husband saw a uroligist first...then we went to RE...and RE suggested I get all the other tests done ( HCG) and those are beging done through my gyno....

04-12-2009, 04:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ginne Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: New York Posts: 27	iMama, when AF comes it's just so hard, because it's another month wasted... The limboland of waiting and reading up about MF and IUI/IVF is incredibly hard and overwhelming. I'd say follow your gut. If you want the workup NOW then do it NOW. You can continue with the urologist's Sudafed approach while you wait for your workup, and get everything tested. It sometimes takes a few weeks to get all the results back and interpreted. They also check for VDs, HIV/AIDS, and may recommend other genetic tests. You might not get an appt immediately with an RE, then you'll need to wait for day 3 of your next period for the FSH... See how the weeks/months are wasted? If everything is fine, you'll be hugely relieved and ready to cycle. Many clinics work with "outside" urologists, others like Cornell deal with both MF and FF, but even at Cornell, I still needed a "separate" appointment just for me. Regarding the waiting: during my 1st consult after surgery with my new RE, he allowed me to start cycling that same day because I the thought of waiting one more day was too much to handle. That was possible b/c all my workup stuff had been taken care of. Good luck!