I had decided to wait until after the Bar Exam to see a doctor about the lack-of-pregnancy thing, but I felt so depressed when my last period started, I decided that now was as good a time as any. I also decided, very reluctantly, to go to the Campus Health OB. I haven't utilized Campus Health Services since my first year in undergrad as I think that they are equipped only to diagnosis pregnancy, diagnosis STDs, and prescribe birth control. But, my insurance has a preference for Campus Health and the student fee covers some of what we need. So, I made the financially sound decision, and made an appointment to see Dr. S.
My next hurdle was to get the doctor not to treat us like we had all the time in the world because we are in our mid 20s. Let me interject here that "you're young" and "you have time" are responses that both nonsensical and insulting. If I can't get pregnant, its not as if I can get "not pregnant" more easily when I'm in my 20s than in my 30s. If there is a problem, we would rather know what we are dealing with now than later. But the age thing was something that I knew we would have to overcome. It turns out past surgery to remove pelvic masses flanking the uterus was enough to make Dr. S. go from mildly interested to Captain Alarmist. She now thinks that my tubes are blocked and our only option will be in vitro fertilization (IVF). She goes on to tell us about our IVF options and the cost we would be facing. She also gave some wonderful tidbits about states that require insurance coverage to include IVF, she instructs us to look at those states post our graduations.
Fortunately Tony and I thought the IVF conversation was more amusing than prophetic. While we may be faced with an IVF decision down the road, I don't think that blocked tubes can be diagnosed by conversation. I choose to be glad that she is taking us seriously and moving the testing along and not paying any credence to idea that a $15,000 - $30,000 procedure is our only option at pregnancy. Especially since it is an option that I am not sure that I am interested in.
Dr S.'s usual protocol in these situations is thus: for him: semen analysis; for her: at home tracking of ovulation, blood tests to check hormones -- day 3 of cycle and 7 days past ovulation, and ultrasound. Because she went Captain Alarmist on us, she trusted that my previous forms of ovulation tracking were sufficient and skipped straight to blood work. She also sees no need for the ultrasound, and instead, referred me to an RE to have an HSG, a procedure more invasive, expensive, and informative than an ultrasound. Since, in her mind, she had already provided a diagnosis, she did not see the need to get Tony tested right now. This is a decision that doesn't make sense to me, but we are moving forward, so I've let it go for now. I will revisit that issue when I next see her for my initial work-up.
With plenty of tests ordered, we are patiently waiting for ovulation so that they can be scheduled. Hopefully, my body will cooperate and we will start getting answers in the next few weeks. As for me, I feel more calm and grounded right now than I have in a long time.
-- Mya
My next hurdle was to get the doctor not to treat us like we had all the time in the world because we are in our mid 20s. Let me interject here that "you're young" and "you have time" are responses that both nonsensical and insulting. If I can't get pregnant, its not as if I can get "not pregnant" more easily when I'm in my 20s than in my 30s. If there is a problem, we would rather know what we are dealing with now than later. But the age thing was something that I knew we would have to overcome. It turns out past surgery to remove pelvic masses flanking the uterus was enough to make Dr. S. go from mildly interested to Captain Alarmist. She now thinks that my tubes are blocked and our only option will be in vitro fertilization (IVF). She goes on to tell us about our IVF options and the cost we would be facing. She also gave some wonderful tidbits about states that require insurance coverage to include IVF, she instructs us to look at those states post our graduations.
Fortunately Tony and I thought the IVF conversation was more amusing than prophetic. While we may be faced with an IVF decision down the road, I don't think that blocked tubes can be diagnosed by conversation. I choose to be glad that she is taking us seriously and moving the testing along and not paying any credence to idea that a $15,000 - $30,000 procedure is our only option at pregnancy. Especially since it is an option that I am not sure that I am interested in.
Dr S.'s usual protocol in these situations is thus: for him: semen analysis; for her: at home tracking of ovulation, blood tests to check hormones -- day 3 of cycle and 7 days past ovulation, and ultrasound. Because she went Captain Alarmist on us, she trusted that my previous forms of ovulation tracking were sufficient and skipped straight to blood work. She also sees no need for the ultrasound, and instead, referred me to an RE to have an HSG, a procedure more invasive, expensive, and informative than an ultrasound. Since, in her mind, she had already provided a diagnosis, she did not see the need to get Tony tested right now. This is a decision that doesn't make sense to me, but we are moving forward, so I've let it go for now. I will revisit that issue when I next see her for my initial work-up.
With plenty of tests ordered, we are patiently waiting for ovulation so that they can be scheduled. Hopefully, my body will cooperate and we will start getting answers in the next few weeks. As for me, I feel more calm and grounded right now than I have in a long time.
-- Mya