We crossed the year mark.
Last month, we finally decided to see a specialist. Our first appointment was a sit down with an advice nurse. So far, we're doing everything they suggest. The one thing she had me change was NOT to take my temperature every morning. She explained that is what our grandmothers and great-grandmothers did to get pregnant. It's a way to tell you when you've already ovulated, but doesn't give you a head's up about when you are going to ovulate. Instead, I've started using the opk (ovulation predictor kits). Online sites have them available for an extremely cheap price. Just buy the dip strips, not the plastic pee sticks, to keep costs down.
Next, we went through an array of tests including urine tests, multiple blood tests on specific days, and a sperm test for Tony. Monday was our recap appointment with our doctor (who is fabulous, by the way. Super sweet). Come to find out, Tony's sperm count and mobility are on the low side. If it were just one or the other, we'd probably be fine. With both being low, it's been keeping us from conceiving.
The next step is IUI (intrauterine insemination). Basically, we moniter my ovulation. As soon as we have a positive test, both of us go to the clinic across town where they take Tony's sperm, wash it, and inject it into me using a catheter style tube. It gives the sperm a head's start, so to speak. We checked out the cost of the procedure with our insurance and are really lucky. It'll be $190 per try. The cost is lower because I don't have to take any medication or ultrasounds or anything to detect or encourage ovulation. Yet.
We'll try this for two cycles. If we aren't pregnant then, they'll check to make sure my tubes aren't blocked and then start monitering my ovulation along with the IUI procedure. We'll keep you posted!
