Ybarra Fertility 101

Why keep a secret?  Secrets are no fun and you feel guilty for knowing something that nobody else has any idea about.  And as many of you know, I like to talk and I find great support in my friends/family.  So, here...here's our "secret."

For the past 6 months, Mason and I have been trying to have another kid.  And for 6 months, we've gotten 6 negative pregnancy tests and people consistently saying "You're trying to hard, just relax."  In the grand scheme of things, we know that six months isn't really that long, but 6 months of consistent negative reinforcement is disappointing.  Especially since we got pregnant so easily with the first 2 pregnancies (miscarried in 2012 needing emergent D&C at 10 weeks) and I'm so young, only 28 years old.  Yep, that's right, 28 years old people.

When I saw my beloved OB in October for a normal annual exam, she said "Call me in 6 months if you are having trouble getting pregnant."  So, after yet another negative pregnancy test in March, I emailed her.  Her suggestion was to run a series of blood test (estradiol, thyroid function, FSH and prolactin).  We assumed everything would come back great and her suggestion would be to just keep trying...welp it didn't happen like that.  Three of the four tests came back great, but my FSH was high, especially for my age.  So her suggestion was to run another test in hopes that the first one was a false high.  Well, the next test (AMH) was low, especially for my age.  She quickly had concerns and put in 2 requests to fertility doctors at Stanford and PAMF.  Over the next few days, Mason and I spent hours on the computer and on our phones trying to learn everything we need to know about these tests and what options would be so we could be prepared when we met with the doctors.  Google can be a terrible place to learn about things, but it was very educational and allowed us to know options before today.

Insert today, Wednesday April 8th.  With the help again of my OB, we very quickly got an appointment with Dr. Dobson at PAMF to get this ball rolling.  We knew that this would be a lengthy appointment and we would be presented with all our options.   Dr. Dobson spent the first hour of our appointment drawing us this interesting, confusion and educational drawing of everything you will ever need to know about your period, eggs, sperm, hormones, meds, IVF, and chances of pregnancy all on this wonderful 8x10 piece of paper.  I will savor this piece of paper because it has helped me point to things and ask Mason "What was he talking about here."  I think this drawing and teaching session was great for Mason because it's right up his nursing "alley" and now he can teach me.

So here's what we know...

• My FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) is high, for my age. 
• My AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) is low, for my age.  
• My AFC (Antral Follicle) was low.  But none of these three are terribly bad but still need some attention from some ovarian stimulation (meds, injections, etc)
• My follicles are very large and I am already at high risk for twins!!!  
• He feels I meet the criteria for DOR (Diminished Ovarian Reserve) but we aren't going to "jump ship" and go straight to IVF at this time because my age and success of having Hadley is in our favor.  Plus we aren't going to treat "a number" at this time and going to try alternatives first. 
• I do have low egg quantity, which is strange and he does not know why.  But he's not overly concerned about increased chromosomal abnormalities.  
• Now concerns with my ultrasound:  I have a small cyst on one ovary, concerning spots on my uterus and thinning lining in my uterus.  Nothing that he was hugely concerned, but we are going to keep an eye on it.  
• After trial of these stimulation meds, we will then entertain the idea of other $$$ options.  

You think this is confusing, so do I.  So now we schedule f/u ultrasounds, meds, meetings with the NP, and wait.  All this is timed from here on out, so please don't give me a snuffy face when I need to leave work early or ask if you can watch Hadley for me unexpected in the morning, or I'm in a grumpy mood as a side effect from the meds.  Prayers are also greatly appreciated as there is a lot of power in hope and faith!  We'll keep everyone updated and if you have positive experiences with any of this tell me, good outcomes are always nice to hear.