Joining the Cysterhood

So, we went to the fertility clinic yesterday; I was a ball of nerves and frankly expected to hear the worst...no sperm, no shot, no baby!

Well...I was WRONG! MH's semen analysis was perfect: good count and good motility. The morphology (shape) test is expected back in a week or so. He only has marginally decreased testosterone. The real kicker for me is--- HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY FORM OF HYPOGONADISM!!!!! I wasted all that anguish and grief. I thought our world was ending because of what that stupid internist said!

Unfortunately, (or maybe fortunately in the long run) I was diagnosed with PCOS this will make it hard to get pregnant because I do not ovulate regularly if at all. The Dr. is running more tests and I will have a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) an apparently painful process where they inject dye into the uterus to make sure the uterus is normal and the fallopian tubes are clear. If all is well I will start metaformin (a diabetes drug); 40% of women on metaformin ovulate on their own. If I am not part of the 40% club then she will use a medicine called clomid to induce ovulation. At that point we can try on our own for awhile and/or move onto intrauterine insemination (IUI). You get three tries with IUI before IVF.

Weight loss and carb control are very important when treating PCOS. So, I will be headed back to South Beach! I will also need to exercise 30 minutes everyday! YIKES!

Overall, I feel relieved that the worst was not true, and that we know what is wrong. Our Dr. is wonderful. She seems very optimistic about our chances of getting pregnant through conservative methods. She is warm, knowledgeable, sensitive, and aggressive in the best sense of the word. I have heard horror stories about doctors waiting 24 plus cycles before starting medicine, or IUIs. Yes, folks that is TWO years...I can't even imagine that kind of agony. PSA: Ladies please, please, please switch doctors if you feel your concerns aren't being taken seriously, or if you feel your Dr. isn't being proactive!

Well, I'm trying not to feel down about myself, and am trying to realize that PCOS is not my fault. It is just a fork in the road to motherhood. Of course, I am angry that this is going to be hard, and that we will (most likely) conceive in a lab, but it could definitely be a whole lot worse!