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| Thu, 08-28-2003 - 8:17am |
Basically, we're still unsure what the problem is. DH's sperm count/motility is ok. It was 35% in the first test and 85% in the second test, though the second test didn't look at morphology (ugh!). So we think things are ok on his end (I was concerned because he's under tremendous stress with his job right now). As for me, my hormone levels are very good and I'm definitely ovulating (the sharp pains and bloating I experience during the middle of the month already told me that!). The only remaining question is my tubes. The HSG was inconclusive. They saw some flow out of one tube, but not much, and nothing out of the other tube. They did an ultrasound and though they spent a great deal of time (and pain on my part) searching transvaginally, they could only conclude that they didn't see any tumors on the ovaries or in the uterus - though ultrasounds can't get at the tubes.
So the only options are: 1)go in with a laproscopy to look at my tubes and see if they're blocked (general anesthetic and a day or two off work) and then remove the blocks if they see any; 2) start with artificial insemination (with or without the surgery option); 3) IVF. DH is strongly opposed to surgery, saying that it's too much of a risk just for a diagnostic check, though I'm a bit more ambivalent. The GYN/surgical team will meet on Tuesday to look at my HSG xrays again and consult about my case and will let me know if they recommend the surgery. Then we'll decide what to do.
As I said, I'm ambivalent about the surgery. If I really felt strongly about it, DH would go along with it. We'll probably just go ahead with 3 months of artificial insemination. It's cheap (only $100 at military hospital), less risky, and has a better chance than Chlomid alone. Then if that doesn't work, we'll reevaluate. I'm 35 and am considered on the cusp between the 'young' group and the 'getting up there so let's take some strong action' group. I wouldn't be able to do IVF until April, so I don't have to make any of those decisions just yet. I'm not sure if I'd want to go that route - too expensive and too risky (emotionally, etc.). It's only $3400 in the military, but that's still a lot of money for a 50% chance.
And BTW, she said that a tipped uterus has nothing to do with fertility. Almost 50% of women have them!
Thanks for your responses and support!! Let me know if you have any experience with these choices and what you have done.
Beth
TTC#1 C14
