I had a pelvic exam and my doctor requested for a pelvic ultra sound because I have been known to have ovarian cysts. :eek: I have to wait for the hospital to call me in order to let me know when they have an opening to do my ultra sound. Does anybody know what the first steps they take with fertility if you are irregular and want to regulate your period and continue Trying to conceive after a year of no luck? :mad: Just wondering if anyone has been through this and can maybe guide me along. I'm having a hard time and am very anxious to get this done, but my doctor told me it could be weeks before they can get me in because they are so backed up. Anybody have anything? :confused:

They will probably put you back on birth control for three months and then they will start the fertility drugs again.
They will also want you to start taking your temp every morning before you get out of bed this will help them to see when you ovulate.

I have never been on fertility drugs before. I was pregnant 4 and a half years ago and I lost it. I was on BC pills after that for 3 and a half years and have been off the BC for a year and a month. I have been Trying to conceive since then and no baby yet. My periods are irregular at about every 3 months. I take my temp now and it hasn't helped. I want to regulate my period. So, should I take the charts with me that I have kept of my BBT when I go for my pelvic ultra sound? Thanks for the response by the way. :)

Take them with you when you go to the doctors again.
I don't believe you will need them at the ultra sound.
But your doc needs to see them it might help him to understand more about what is going on.
My wife and I have decided to try for another baby and wouldn't you know it her periods have just gone wacky again.

Thanks, I will do that. Good luck with your wife.
Does anyone else know anything about the steps taken with fertility?

The best thing for you to do is relax, and wait until you have your appointment. Then when there, ask all the questions you need to your satisfaction. As a matter of fact, write as many as you have down so that you will not forget to ask them.

Remember, sometimes good things come to those who wait...

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_9_16.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN)

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/infertility/DS00310/DSECTION=6

Check this and the entire article out. It will help you understand what they are going to look for in order to help you.

Again, lots of luck!

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_9_16.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZN)

Thanks so much. I have my pelvic ultra sound today so we will see what happens after this. I'm nervous...

I hope you get some good news at your u/s appt. First... here's a bit of info about my background. I first got my period when I was 13... but my cycles were never regular, then when I was 17 I went to my first GYN appt and was started on birth control pills to regulate my cycle. I continued on the pill until I was 25- at that point I had been married for 4 years and we were ready to start a family. We had the "it'll happen" attitude... but before we knew it 3 years had gone by and no baby... my cycles were very very irregular... sometimes non-existant. Okay, this is getting pretty long- I'll try to wrap it up. After 3+ years of trying to conceive on our own we finally went for help. First I went to my GYN. He started me on a drug called Clomid, but I didn't respond and still wasn't ovulating. He continued to up my dosage for 4 cycles, but still no ovulation and thus no pg. I started researching more and found info on PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome, and was convinced that was the problem. I presuaded my GP to refer me to an reproductive endochronoligst and he confimed my suspisions. I'm in no way saying YOU have PCOS, but it is a possibility- given that you stated that you have cysts on your ovaries and irregular cycles, it would be worth checking out. A great site for info and support regarding PCOS and infertility is soulcysters.net.

Okay... now, back to your original question- for infertility related to irregular cycles/lack of ovulation the first drug/treatment is usually Clomid. It's a pill taken usually days 2-7 or 5-9 of your cycle and helps to induce ovulation.

HTH!

Oh... I forgot to mention- After Trying to conceive for 5 years I'm now blessed with 2 beautiful children. The first was conceived on my 8th clomid cycle and the second was conceived without fertility drugs by treating my insulin resistance which has been linked with PCOS. So, don't lose hope.

That's awesome. Thanks for sharing. I was pregnant almost 5 years ago, but I lost it. I was pretty young so it may have been a blessing in diguise. My husband (he was my boyfriend at the time) and I were no where near ready for a baby. Unfortunately, I wish in a way that we could have had that child since we are having so much trouble getting pregnant now when we are actually trying! My period was never regular and after that I was put on birth control and I was on it for 3 and a half years. I got off it 14 months ago and have had no luck. So, knowing that I was pregnant before makes me have more hope than I would probably have if I were trying for so long and had no result. And another good thing is that I am trying to get pregnant with the same person that I got pregnant with the first time. Anyway, thanks for all the responses!
I'd also like to update everyone on my doctor's visit and get some feedback... The results of my pelvic ultra sound showed a cyst IN my uterus on the right side. Has anyone ever heard of that? Because I sure haven't. Also, I have a "space in one of my follicles on my left ovary." And that was even more confusing. I have no idea what that means. I have to go for a repeat ultra sound on August 7th. In the mean time my husband and I are still trying. I have to go back to work now. Let me know what everyone thinks! Thanks :)

Next time you see your doctor, don't leave the office until you get 'un-confused'...

He will take the time to explain it all to you, but you have to tell him that you did not understand everything. Having a cyst inside of your uterus is a primary reason for not being able to conceive, and so is something wrong with one of your fallopian tubes or ovaries, so it was good you went to get an exam.

Now, did he prescribe any medication? Sometimes cysts can be dissolved with proper meds, so let us know.

It looks like your on the road to getting back to 'normal' and I do wish you all the best.

Keep us posted, and don't forget to ask all the questions of your doctor before you leave.

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_9_16.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm801YYDE)

I didn't go to my doctor. They had to refer me to the Hospital for the ultra sound. She then told me that she would send the results to my doctor and then my doctor called me to let me know what it was. That's why I left the ultra sound not knowing anything. They are doing another to make sure that is what it was. And no I have no medications. I also have a referral to see a different doctor about infertility. They are tossing me around like a football. So having a cyst inside of your uterus makes it so you can't conceive? No wonder...

I have another question. Is it possible to develop fertility problems after having absolutely no problem getting pregnant in the past? (The past would be almost 5 years) I wasn't trying to get pregnant before, but it happened. Today was my due date (2002) and I'm a little depressed today. I'm so frustrated with this trying to conceive and getting no where with it! I have a referral to a doctor for fertility, but I haven't called yet. I don't want to go because I know I got pregnant before. I'm so frustrated! I was pregnant, lost the baby and now I can't get pregnant when I want to! I know I'm very irregular. But I was irregular when I got pregnant. It seems like the doctors don't want to listen to me. Being off because for 14, almost 15 months and no luck. That's not normal. Does anyone have any answers?!
AF also came yesterday and that doesn't help. Oh, one more question. Would taking a prenatal vitamin help regulate me? My cycles are usually every 3 months, but I had my period May 28th and like I said, I got it yesterday. That's only a month and a half. I guess it could be a fluke, but I'm wondering if being on that prenatal vitamin could help regulate because I am maybe healthier?

I'm not sure. I would guess that having the folic acid and other much needed vits in your diet would help your body to regulate your menstral cycle. I don't have any facts to back up that line of thought though. I might try calling the local hospital and seeing if you can get some answers there... or even a nursing school. Sorry I'm not of more help to you

How you holding up? Well I've been on prenatals for 4 months now, and seemed to be more regular. Of course, I did miss those 2 months. But this last one was regular once I got it. I think that it does hejp though, because you are getting all the viatmins you need, and might be otherwise missing. It can't hurt to keep taking them. I always feel so much more energized and healthier when I take thm, apposed to days I forget. Plus its good for your hair and nails. So it may or may not help, but it can't hurt either. Hang in there hun!ttys

Thanks Myth. You are helpful. I am trying to eat healthier too. I have been taking the prenatals for almost 3 months and I have had my period twice since I started them. Like I said, mine used to be once every 3 months. I think that might be a good start.
Buggage - I found out ANOTHER girl I work with is pregnant. That would make it 7! That I know about that is. I think they are afraid to tell me. Haha. I didn't hear it from her. Anyway, I'm holding up all right. The other day was rough. I can't believe my baby would have been 4 already! How were your cycles before you were on the prenatals?

Everyone... I bought an ovulation scope today. Has anyone heard of those? If you have, how are they? Do they really work? My husband thinks I'm nuts. Haha! :)

Oh my gosh! Doesn't it always seem that when you want to have a baby, everyone around you is getting preggy when you aren't? Its sooo frustrating! Living in logan Utah, I see preggy women constantly! Serously, sitting in the walmart parking lot for 15 minutes waiting for my hubby to come back, I saw at least 12 preggy women walking by. Seriously it was like every other minute, there was another one. SOOO FRUSTRATING! Yeah, I bet they are afraid to say anything. My best friend just got preggy after being off the pill for only ONE MONTH! She was afraid to tell me because she knows how long we have been trying. I am so happy for her. It makes you a bit sad that it happens so fast for them, but not less happy. My cycles before the prenatals were pretty irregular. Its just been the past 4 months that they have been getting back to normal. Minus that little episode I had. Before that I was on folic acid since last sept. and that seemed to help as well. So who knows. Maybe just in my head. But who knows. I do know I feel much better when I remember to take them. I have never heard of an ovulation scope before. Let me know if it works. And what the heck is it? Hahha. Have a good time at work, hope you feel better soon!

Yes, it always seems that way... and it is that way - lol! I hear you about being at Walmart and seeing pregnant women. I work there, so yeah. I have to see it every stinkin day. And then I have to come home and see it even more pregnant women on this military post. Ugh. I also found out that my new neighbor that just moved in downstairs from us is pregnant. The couple that lived there before them were pregnant when we moved in and they had a baby boy in May. And the couple across the hall have a little girl. I swear I'm going to kick them out and move downstairs. I might get lucky down there. Everyone else does. Haha I'm just kidding. But out of the 6 apartments in my building... 4 out of the 6 are pregnant or have children. And the only reason the 5th one doesn't is because they are waiting until the wife gets back from Iraq to start trying. She just left a couple weeks ago so it won't be for about a year. But still! They are all around my age too. It's something in the water that I'm not getting. I'm going to keep taking my prenatals and temping and all that good stuff. Supposedly, the scope detects ovulation in your saliva. I will let you know if I detect ovulation in mine and if I get pregnant with it I will recommend it. I've been trying for so long that if I can buy something like this and it works then I know it will work for you! It's like wasting money on ovulation kits that have NEVER worked for me. I have never caught a surge. So, I have wasted a lot of money on that. I'll let you know if this one works so you don't go waste your money. :) Haha. Anyway, I better go get ready to go look at more preggy women all day. Lol. I'll keep you posted on this scope thing.

I'm so sorry to hear you have to deal with that place for work... My future hubby used to work third shift there... He hated it. I head of an old wife's tale about keeping a pair of yellow baby booties in the room when trying to conceive. You might try it... Who knows, besides what could it hurt.

I know. I'm not a big fan of the place, but I make pretty good money because of the experience I had in retail before we moved here. I would never work 3rd shift at that place! Eww. You know, I've never heard that about the yellow baby booties, but I am so desperate to get pregnant that I might just try it. Thanks for the info! Have you heard anything about the ovulation scope?

I have heard a little about it. It seems to work better than the ovulation predicter kits that they have out. It's a type of ferning test if I remember correctly. Other than that I'm not sure about it. I personally haven't ever used one. I would do a search online on them and see what you come up with. I will poke around for you on here and see if I can find some sites for you about them.

Let me know if it works!

Okay, gals, I have been kind of watching this thread and I don't think I saw mention of this.

Have your hubbies been tested for fertility issues. Are they on any medications? Medications can sometimes cause fertility issues.

Just thought I would ask.

J 9 - I assume you are talking about buggage and I when you ask if our husbands have been tested for fertility issues. My husband and I got pregnant once before, but lost the baby. I don't know if a man can develop fertility issues later on, but can women? It's been almost 5 years since we got pregnant the first time. I have a referral to a fertility specialist where we will both be tested. They have already started with me with the ultra sounds and stuff because of me having cysts in the past. Supposedly, I have a cyst in my uterus on the right side and a space in one of my follicles on my left ovary. Have you heard of anything like that before? And no we're not on any medications. As far as buggage goes, her and her husband have a son together. Other than that I don't really know a whole lot about their situation.

From my understanding it is possible for either partner to develop fertility issues.

My mother-in-law had 7 pregnancies and only 1 live birth (3 adoptions afterward, my hubby is one of the adopted ones). It seemed actually that there was a problem with BOTH of them.

I am happy you are going to a fertility specialist. Make sure to get a notebook and write down EVERY question you have. They are very considerate and helpful.

J 9 - I'm pretty sure that I'm the source of the problem. I'm irregular and never know when I'm ovulating... if I am at all. And I'm sure having cysts doesn't help. Wow, that's crazy about your mother in law! Geez! I don't really want to go to a fertility specialist, but I just might have to.

Myth - I have never heard of the yellow baby booties. I can't find any either. The closest I found were white and yellow with little duckies on them (they were sooo cute). I have a couple of friends keeping an eye out for some for me though. I hope the ovulation scope works better than the opk's because I have used them so many times and have never seen a surge. I hope that doesn't mean that I'm not ovulating. :( I guess if I use the scope every day I will see some sort of change if I am ovulating.
Well, I have to run...
Thanks for all the help guys! :)

Ok, my temp was 97.9 this morning and its usually around 97.3. I am extremely crampy today and my back hurts. BUT, I have yet to see any really significant change on the ovulation scope. I started using it after my LMP that started on July 16th. I don't think it's been long enough for me to be ovulating, especially with how wacky my cycles are. I assumed I would ovulate around August 20th give or take a few days. This is way too early. I'm going by how long my last cycle was which was 50 days (blah! ) What does everyone think? OH, can any of you women actually FEEL it when you ovulate?? I've had some people tell me they can.

I've never felt it when I O'd... atleast not that I was aware of. How long have you been temping? Do you monitor any other fetility signs like cervical fluid or position? I had an ovulation scope, like you mentioned and had ferning show up a few times and didn't ovulate... atleast not when the scope showed it, so my results we're so good. I never had much luck with OPK's myself either, but since I have such wacky cycles I would have had to be POS constantly.

I have never heard that women "feel" when they ovulate. Remember the egg that you are ovulating is microscopic. So there should not be anything to "feel"

I've been temping for several months. I can't check positioning of my cervix because I can't find it. I've had quite a few doctors take a while to find it during paps & pelvic exams. It's way up there and tilted toward my rear end I guess. They tell me to warn other doctors that it might take them a while to find it. So, if a doc has a hard time then I'm sure going to. I've tried, but no such luck. And I monitor my cm, but it doesn't really help me...

I mean like getting cramps and stuff prior. Not the actual release of the egg. I don't know...

Hey! Yeah, we have gotten preggy before too, and I am pretty sure the problem is with me as well, as I was on the shot and it totally messed me up, and because I have been told I now have an anteposterially tilted uterus(like Hoping) I have been told that can make getting [preggy difficult. However, I don't understand why it would suddenly be tilted, when I had a perfect uterus even at the 6 week check up after my son was born. AND at check ups following that. But anyway. I have heard of people knowing when they ovulate. Very few do, only when you are really intuned to your body. It's a slight pinch/cramping/ache on one side of your body. Only lasts as long as your ovulate, and isn't very intense, most people don't even realize that is what it is. I think I may have known a few times, but that is it. And not even sure. So who knows. Good luck and let me know how the scope works hun!

I just found out it(tilted uterus) can happen because of childbirth... so yeah. I guess that's my answer

My uterus isn't tilted, my cervix is. But hey my uterus could be too... who knows?:confused: That would make it even harder for me! :( The docs have never said anything about my uterus, but most likely if my cervix is tilted my uterus is out of whack too.:eek:

The scope isn't showing me anything really yet. I will let you know after I get my period again if I ever saw a change.

I have another question. If I am temping every morning and I have noticed my temp rise and then I get my period a couple of weeks later, does that mean that I am ovulating and I am not catching it? The main thing I want to know is would my temp rise even if I wasn't ovulating??

Well, I have an update on myself. I had my repeat ultra sound yesterday and I still have a cyst in my uterus, but it hasn't gotten bigger or changed at all. That is nothing to be concerned about. The "space" I had in one of my follicles on my left ovary was a follicle inside of a follice and is no longer there. She referred to it as a "daughter cyst" and she said that was also nothing to be concerned about. I think when I was having pains a couple of weeks ago that lasted about 2 days it could have been that cyst bursting. Possibly? She told me that they see both of those things all the time and its nothing bad. She also showed me both of my ovaries and my follicles. And this is what I am really excited about... on my left ovary I saw the follicles that were all about the same size and then there was significantly bigger one. She told me that it is my dominant follicle that will be releasing an egg this cycle! So, now I know that I am ovulating! I thought I was having anovulatory cycles, but I guess not! I told my husband and he is excited! Hopefully, we will make a baby soon! :)

Make sure that you only have sex every other day or every third day so that your hubby has a chance to rest and recoup his sperm count. Keep up with your bbt if your doing that and that should help. Good luck hun... I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Yeah, I know all that fun stuff - well actually it's not as fun as it would be if we could have sex every day. Haha. My BBT has gone down gradually the past few days and my CM has been watery. Also, my breasts have been tender for 3 days. I know that's a good sign, but I'm not detecting a surge on the OPK, but I might have started using it too late. And that ovulation scope hasn't shown much change. I guess I'll keep trying. Thanks for the good luck, appreciate it. :)

P.S. When are you going to have those babiessssss?! :)

I'm hoping tomorrow... It will be Drews birthday... I am sooo done being an incubater... lol... I know they're ready too... Lost my plug so that's a good sign... It's just a hurry and wait game now.

All the advice is excellent here. I just though I'd remind you that the scrotum and sperm at at their best when kept away from heat. This means, that the cooler they are kept, the more healthy sperm are produced. So avoid extreme heaat, saunas and the sun.
I tried from October in California to January 3rd, 1976 in Georgia (it actually snowed there for a hour then) and that was the day 'it' worked.
My grandson's dad was in Georgia (Russia) before he came back home in November - and he was told a year before that his sperm count was too low (also due to medications he couldn't take for a few months while there)- well Alexander - is here now, so he proved those doctors wrong.

Just another possibility to help things along.

Good luck dear!

...

Yay - good luck, Myth! Hopefully it will be soon for your sake. I bet it's so much more of a pain to be carrying around more than one baby. Maybe you can be done being an incubator and then it can be my turn!! ;)

Thanks for the advice, Chery! It's hard for my hubby to keep his scrotum and sperm cool though. He wears an Army uniform all day outside in the heat, and we live in Hawaii. Not so good...
Hopefully, that's not it that is effecting my ability to get pregnant. If that's the case, I won't be pregnant for the next 3 years or so... :(

Thanks hun... I just wish they would hurry and get here. I know that it's better for them to stay put but hey it's more than painful at this point. Between b/h contractions and measuring 44 weeks at this point. I'm only 34 weeks as of right now. I'm carrying almost ten pounds of baby... On the good side I've lost my mucus plug, the baby's have dropped, I'm 30% effaced, and I'm at 2 cm. Unfortunately they don't weigh enough to really get me further than I am and he's not engaged... So I'm stuck in the hurry and wait game. This is the part I really hate... Ok so thanks for leting me vent... lol.

I will send you and buggage all the preggy vibes I can... lol... maybe with twins I'll have enough for two people... hehehe

As far as the heat is concerned I live in Tennessee and we've been experiencing 105 in the shade... lol... I just make sure he wears boxers instead of briefs... don't want to constrict things down there... hehehe.

Keep practicing though. That makes it all the more fun... lol... I'll keep it up too, in hopes that that will get things moving a bit faster then they are... Sigh... If I have the energy... lol

That is crazy I'm going through the same thing. I thought it would be different because I'm 26 but after 2 years of trying no luck. Now I have to also wait on a pelvic ultrasound as well. And its antagonizing because they have no appts. Until mid nov.idk what to do. So I talked with my husband and being that I can not take any forms of because due to side effects, we considered taking "FERTILITY BLEND FOR WOMEN" sold at gnc. Read great reviews about it seriously! People that have the same situations due to endo thickness, and or irregular cycles or no ovulations. Also thought the progesterone cream had great reviews as well. You might want to look those up , but you know everybody reacts differentely, all you do is try. Oh and also a lot of those fertility drugs dr.'s prescribe are discontinued, you can also look those drugs up on the FDA website . Maybe that will help a little. Good luck..