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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
New here!
6
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 12:59pm

Hi everyone;

My name is Tanya and I have been married to my husband, Jeffrey for almost nine years. I had a miscarriage in 1999 when I was seven weeks pregnant. I got pregnant again in 2000 only to miscarry a week after I learned that I was pregnant. Since then we have not been able to get pregnant again. I had an HSG done back in 2000 and everything was fine. My husband had a sperm analysis and everything was in the normal range. The doctor also put me through a battery of blood tests to see if I had a thryoid or some other undiscovered condition and everything came back normal. We also tried a round of clomid and that did not work. The doctor stated that I had what was known as unexplained infertility. Those two words have haunted to me years. I am so scared that I will never be able to conceive again or ever carry a baby full term. It is such a lonely world to live in when everyone around you is pregnant and there are no complications and you feel as though your body has failed you.

I finally made the decision to schedule an appointment with a RE. It took me a long, long time (almost seven and half years) to decide to do this. It was a very difficult decision for me to make. I decided that I could live without having children, but I do not want to -- if that makes sense.

My husband has been excellent during all of this and I am very thankful for that. I am just scared of what the outcome may be with the RE. Can someone tell me what to expect from my first appointment with him?

Also, I checked my insurance coverage and they will only go up to artificial insemination and they only cover up to a lifetime of $10,000.00. Does this sound like good insurance for infertilty coverage?

TIA

Tanya

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-14-2007
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 2:18pm

I can tell you about my first appointment with an RE. It's probably pretty standard. If yours is anything like mine, then:
1. They send you LOTS of paperwork about your and your husband's medical history. The questions are very detailed - surgeries, prior pregnancies/miscarriages, health of parents/other family, known fertility issues, what region of the world your family comes from (to see what genetic disorders you may be at risk for - this is usually just screening; they'll test you and most people show up not at risk).
2. At the first meeting, they go over the paperwork with both of you and ask some additional questions.
3. Probably they'll schedule for a round of tests starting on day 1 of your next cycle. These include day 2 or 3 bloodwork, HSG (they may want to do another since your last one was a while ago), post-coital test (where you and DH have sex and come in the next day and they check for surviving, motile sperm in your cervical mucus), progesterone test near the end of your cycle (to see if you ovulated), and SA for DH.
4. They will probably explain the tests also. My RE gave me a bunch of pamphlets and samples for Rx prenatal vitamins so I could choose which one I'd like an Rx for.
5. My RE did a vaginal ultrasound that day to check for the size/shape of my uterus, size/shape/position of my ovaries, and to check for any cysts or growths.

It is extremely overwhelming, because a lot of information is thrown at you and there are several tests you have to commit to. It seems like you'll be doing nothing but going for tests, discussing results, etc. for the next month. I was shocked when I left. I thought I'd feel wonderful and ready to go after my appointment, but ended up feeling overwhelmed and like the wind had been totally knocked out of my sails. But that feeling goes away in a few days. After a little while to reflect, I felt great, like I was finally taking positive steps.

I don't know how good $10K lifetime is, but I would guess it's somewhere in the middle range of insurance. A lot of people get NO coverage. I would find out from your RE how much the tests cost, so you know how much that will eat up. Most are relatively inexpensive. The HSG was the most costly one I had ($800). Ultrasound was $250, and lab work was cheap. But this was just at my RE. Yours may be different.
Fertility treatments are a little different. As you probably know, IVF is extremely expensive in most places, but IUI is pretty cheap. Whether your insurance is enough just depends on what treatments you may require. If you had some condition (such as endo) that requires a corrective procedure, there may be a chance you could have that done for "non fertility related reasons..." and not use your fertility coverage. I'm not sure.
I hope this was helpful!

siggy#4
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 2:26pm

Thank you so much for your post. I just want to get my appointment over with and move onto the testing phase. This wait is driving me crazy. I am also really worried about what I might find out. I guess knowing is better then not knowing.

Thanks again,

Tanya

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2007
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Wed, 08-29-2007 - 4:49pm

Tanyalee,

I know exactly how you feel!!

Our situations are similar. I too have had two unsuccessful pg's one miscarriage and one blighted ovum. It has been 3 years since my last pg. After I joined this support group I found out about the RE and made an appt. You need to know what the issue is for sure. If you got pg twice I am sure you can again!! If you want to be a MOM you will be!! There are lots of ways to make that happen!!

As far as the Ins. I think that is okay coverage. But some is better than none! I didn't think I was going to have any at all but lucklily for me my boss up'ed our coverage for me to have some coverage.

I hope things start looking up for you and welcome to the site!! It has been such as wonderful help for me!!!

Have a great day!!

Tiffany :)

Tiffany :)

Proud Fur Mom to Snah, Zamboni, Coen, Marvin, Bartlebee, Solomander, Mr. Kitty, & NaeNae

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-08-2006
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Thu, 08-30-2007 - 10:10pm

Hi and welcome Tanya.

Sara, mom of 1 year old twin boys
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Fri, 08-31-2007 - 11:31am

Thank you so much for your response. I am getting really excited and scared about my upcoming appointment. I want to be a Mom so bad and I need to know what it is going to take to get me there, hopefully the RE will have the answers.

Thanks again,

Tanya

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-17-2006
In reply to: tanyalee1999
Fri, 08-31-2007 - 11:33am

Thanks for your reply. This board is going to be a wealth of knowledge for me and I am excited to be a part of it.

Thanks again,

Tanya