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1.18.2008

Back in the Stirrups Saddle Again

Aaaaand the fertility treatments break is over. Kind of. I won't be taking any medicines or doing any treatments this cycle, but we'll be getting some preliminary testing (re)done and consulting with the new doctor to decide exactly what we're going to do next. Yesterday morning, I visited my new clinic for a blood draw and baseline ultrasound. According to the results, my estrogen, FSH, and LH are all in tip-top shape, and I've got plenty of antral follicles hovering around in each ovary. Aaron has also had some tests done recently. His initial semen analysis at the new clinic showed some bacteria in the sample, so he took an antibiotic for a bit and then re-tested. The second analysis was clear. His counts and such still look about the same - all within the range of normal, but on the low end. It's encouraging to know that things haven't gotten any worse for either of us, but hey! we're still infertile.

Next Wednesday afternoon, we meet with the doctor to talk more about our options and finalize our choices. To recap, here's what the good doc suggested at our previous consultation: Option 1) Give the okay for embryo freezing and proceed with standard protocol IVF with ICSI. Option 2) If we don't approve embryo freezing, take a step back and do IUI with injectables instead of Clomid. Since we still have convictions against freezing embryos, we hope to persuade the doctor to agree to a compromise, an Option 1a) Do IVF/ICSI, limiting the number of eggs fertilized to 6-8, letting the resulting embryos grow to blastocysts, and transferring all that make it to that point. We'd be fertilizing more eggs than we did in past IVFs, but due to the new information revealed by this doctor (that only 1 out of every 5 eggs is genetically viable), we're okay with that. We'd most likely be transferring back more than the recommended 1-2 embryos, but we're okay with that, too, and ideally the doctor will approve (even if reluctantly). If not, then we'll probably go the IUI route, while looking into new alternatives, like donor embryos or adoption. Please pray for wisdom all around, that my current contentment would withstand the upcoming barrage of tests and appointments, and that God would bless us.

13 comments:

Amy said...

Was praying for you this morning and reminded of Paul's "I have learned the secret of being content in all circumstances," so I decided to look it up. I was particularly struck by a follow-up verse in the Amplified version: "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency]." Philippians 4:13.

Me said...

Big decisions coming up - I am praying specifically that God will bless you and guide you.
My family is going to be in your neck of the woods this Saturday. We are taking a group of kids from school to Marquette Manor Baptist Church for Bible quizzing competition. I heard it's going to be COLD!! Where's the best place for a cup of joe?
P.S. Thanks for the sweet comment on my Creme de la Creme post.
Me a/k/a Elaine

andrea_jennine said...

Elaine, oh my will it be cold! Highs of 2 do not a happy heart make! If you want to avoid the coffee chains like Starbucks and Caribou, there's a place in Downer's called "Joyful's" that's pretty cute. We went there on a date once.

http://www.joyfulscafe.com/

Anonymous said...

Hey, I owe you an email on donor embryos. I haven't forgotten; I've just been snowed by a migraine. I'll try to get soemthing put together on Monday. Good luck with your clinic appointments...I'll be praying!

Anonymous said...

I owe you an email about donor embryos. I've been snowed by a migraine but hopefully I'll be able to cobble something together by Monday. Good luck at your appointments...I'll be praying.

AwkwardMoments said...

thinking of you while you are having appointments and making decisions

Heather said...

praying for you with these upcoming decisions...

Hope said...

Thank you for the comment, you will be in my prayers as you and your husband make these decisions. I enjoy reading your blog, fertility blogs are interesting but a Christian woman's struggles that are akin to mine spark my heart.

Praying for you...
Hope

Katie said...

We will continue praying. Keep us updated!

glenna marshall said...

I'm glad to see you have some plans coming up! I'm hoping to get started SOON with my treatments. I'm keeping my proverbial fingers crossed for IUI with injectibles for me.

Praying that things get rolling and praying you have the wisdom you need. Glad that neither of you went backwards in your "fertility status". :)

Yetty said...

I pray that God will guide you in all the decisions ahead and give you the strength of heart to see it through.

The Durbin Family said...

We're praying for you all as you start up again, for wisdom, peace, freedom from anxiety (I guess that'd be peace, huh?), and for continued faith in our Lord. We love you both.

Lauren said...

I'll be praying. I know it's a bit of a relief to have things rolling, but scary too. (My husband is in the same boat as yours--levels fall within the normal range, but some are at the low end of normal.)