Happy New Year!

This is the year we will become moms... one way or another... and that is pretty exciting! I'm convinced of it and affirming that every day! :)

December recap:

Went in for the sonogram about Dec. 21 to see if I was ovulating on the right or left. As luck would have it, I was ovulating on the right again. So, no IUI for December.

We did follow up by having a consultation with a specialist, Dr. Moghadam, at Austin Fertility Institute. The purpose was to really help us understand if we needed to do something about my blocked fallopian tube or not. And if so, what?! First, let me say, that we really appreciated the time that Dr. Moghadam took to sit down with us in his office and explain our options at this point - giving us a lot of factual information and statistics. I like data. :)

Bottom line, the first fact that we clung to is that whenever a person has an HSG showing a blocked fallopian tube, only about 40% of the time is there actually a problem that may need treatment. The tube may not even be blocked, as it could have just been a muscle spasm that occurred at the time of the HSG test. Even if the tube is blocked, due to old scar tissue or endometriosis or whatever, it doesn't necessarily need to be treated. Once you get pregnant (which can happen through the open fallopian tube), the blocked fallopian tube no longer matters. And... people with endometriosis don't have a significantly higher rate of miscarriage - which was something I really wanted to know. Even if you get a laporascopy to remove existing endometriosis - only about 1 out of 12 people (8%)- are more likely to get pregnant as a result of the procedure (although a much higher percent experience less pain during menstruation due to the procedure). But really, I don't have a whole lot of pain during menstruation right now. Dr. M expressed that I didn't really present as a person with a high chance of having endometrisis or any other major problem - given my history and current condition - although he obviously couldn't say for sure.

Now, let me explain the options we were presented with, along with the costs. ;) We could:

1) Bypass the fallopian tubes altogether - by doing an Invetro Fertilization (IVF). This is where they take the egg out and fertilize it and then put it back in, ensuring the egg and sperm meet. Then, it just has to implant in your uterus - and you're pregnant. Now, this only costs about $11,700 each time you do it (plus the cost of sperm), and you should be pregnant within 1-3 months.

2) Get a laporoscopy to see what (if anything) is going on with my fallopian tube and/or uterus. For me, this would cost about $2500 - because I have a high deductible insurance. Most likely, this would not open the tube - but we'd know if there was a major problem. Then, we could do what they call "ovulation induction." This is where you take hormones (orally and through injection) in order to produce bigger and better eggs. With this option, given you produce more viable eggs on each ovary, the likelihood that we'd have an egg released on the left side each month is higher. We would still get a sonogram each month to make sure I have an egg being released on the left before doing the IUI. Doing this method - we should be pregnant within 3-4 months. The cost for us each month (after paying for the laporoscopy) would be about $1800 per month (plus the cost of sperm).

3) Do the same thing as option 2, but only use oral hormones (no injections). Apparently, this increases the chances of pregnancy some, but not as much as option 2 (may take 4-6 months). The cost for us for this option is about $1300 per month (plus the cost of sperm).

These were basically the options presented. At first, we thought we'd go with option 2 and just end up having to pay a bunch of money - but we were pretty confident it would work and would probably be worth it. It would possible take a less time than what we were doing now.

But then, we decided to come up with our OWN option - based, in part, on faith that we can still have a baby as naturally as possible - if we're just patient. First, we decided - the laporoscopy doesn't seem to be necessary at this point. Then, Kelly brilliantly thought, "Why can't we just take the oral hormones (chlomid) and do the IUI with Dr. Nash?" Right?! So, she called Dr. Nash's office - and we can do that. Yep. And, it only cost us about $500 per month (plus the cost of sperm). Much better option. :) Go Kelly!

So, the plan for next month is to take Chlomid, get a sonagram, and do the IUI if there is a viable egg on the left. This month (yesterday) - we went in for the sonogram - same as we have the last 2 months - and we just happen to be ovulating on the left! YAY! So, we will go in for the IUI next week. We decided to go in for an IUI for 2 consecutive days rather than just 1 day (figuring that would give us better odds too). Likely, this will be next Tuesday and Wednesday... so we'll keep you posted.