Crystal~ Sounds like you need to BD away.

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i will def tonight, it just seems so early. I know i know i dont temp so who knows but my cycles have been long the last few months. who knows, we will see. thanks for the answers chicas

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What are everyone's favorite opks? I need to use them this cycle and don't want to mess with ones that suck! Thanks! When I used them before (internet cheapies) they never really looked positive to me.

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Kristy - A lot of the girls like the Answer opk. I always used the CVS brand and had good luck with those. I hated the internet cheapies (i think I still have like 50 of them).

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Thanks RAC! I will head to CVS and pick up some of each!

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I *think* I've used the Walmart brand every time.

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Kristy - I normally use the First Response and have had good luck with them. I just picked up some Answer ones b/c they were $6 cheaper but they don't have a cover to put over the "Pee" part of the stick. Kind of gross when you need to transport it at work w/o anyone knowing!!

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Dana

Thanks again for all the info girls. I never did try them this cycle, but I will add them to my repetoire for this next cycle!

I have question about a SA. Can all problems that show up be fixed with male issues? If not, can someone tell me which ones can and which ones can't?

Also, can someone give me a list of questions to ask when I get the results of this? I'm afraid they will just tell me it is normal, and not give me any real info.

Thanks ladies.

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Kristy - Here is some info that might be helpful. As far as 'correcting' any issues, medically, I don't think there is a way. However, Betsy's husband has had fantastic results taking a supplement called Fertility Blend for men. If a count is not in the normal range, the result is usually IUI, IVF and sometimes ICSI.

WHAT IS IT?
A fresh sample of semen will be analysed as part of an assessment of male fertility status. The semen sample will usually be tested by a specialist laboratory and be evaluated for;

• Semen volume, consistency and quality.
• Sperm count, percentage of active sperm, sperm shape and the presence of elements other than sperm, such as blood cells or evidence of infection.
• See bottom of this page for an indication of what is normal.

WHO NEEDS IT?
Any couple concerned about their fertility should ensure that the man is testedis . This particularly important for the following;

• Men with a history of reproductive tract infections or STDs
• Men concerned about exposure to environmental pollutants
• Men exposed to workplace hazards
• Male athletes exposed to conditions which might lower sperm counts

WHY BOTHER WITH IT?

• The male partner contributes to almost half of all infertility problems that couples face.
• 10-20% of all men have sperm counts below the WHO cut-off level.
• 2-3% of all males are completely infertile and produce no sperm at all.
• A simple semen test can prevent a lot of unecessary time, investigation of the female partner, and the associated costs.

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

• You can use our home scree
• ning test which is accurate and will indicate whether the sperm count is above or below the WHO cut-off levels defining fertility status. This is quick, private, and inexpensive test.
• You can arrange a test through your doctor. This should certainly be done if you come up negative with our home screening test. The doctors laboratory will also be able to assess other aspects of the semen such as sperm motility etc.

Semen Analysis - What is normal ?
volume of ejaculate2.0 ml or more

pH7.2-8.0

sperm concentration 20 million per ml spermatozoa or more

total sperm count40 million per ml spermatozoa per ejaculate or more

motility50% or more with forward progression

morphology30% or more with normal forms

vitality75% or more live,i.e.,excluding dye

white blood cellsfewer than 1 million per ml

Semen Analysis - What terms might the doctor use ?normozoospermianormal results as shown aboveoligozoospermiasperm concentration fewer than 20 million per mlasthenozoospermiafewer than 50% spermatozoa with forward progression teratozoospermiafewer than 30% spermatozoa with normal morphologyoligoasthenoteratozoospermiasignifies disturbance of all three variables aboveazoospermiano spermatozoa in the ejaculateaspermiano ejaculate

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Thanks Rebecca. That was helpful! I just hope they give me all that info when I talk to them!

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Kristy - Ask for a copy of the results. They can't deny it. That's what I did for all of our testing.

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This is the first time I've ever noticed CM tinged with blood, I know this is fertile fluid but does this mean ovulation has already occurred or is ocurring today because of the blood, or is it still possible that this is still pre-ovulatory? I'm only on CD 10 and I haven't had a positive OPK or temp rise yet so we planned to start BD tomorrow but I hope we haven't missed our window!

I guess tomorrow's temp and OPK will give me my answer but wanted to hear from the pros

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Bina - It is possible that you're preparing to O, but it is also possible to have some spotting for no reason (have you recently bd'd??). I don't really have an answer for you, but with no temp rise and no positive opk, I'd say you're still waiting to O. What is your cm like? I checked your chart, but it's not updated.... would you want to share??

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Rac-I'm bad, I have only temped these past few days but have not recorded them on ff (they've been in the 97.7-97.9) range. Today was the same so I know I haven't O'd yet. CM is getting EWCM type so I think I am going to O in the next couple of days. We BD's on Tuesday night so I dont' know if that is soon enough to cause the spotting, it was very very light, hardly noticeable so I think it is pre-ovulation spotting? OPK is still negative. Thanks so much for all your help, I need to update my chart and get back on the TTC side-I forgot how complex this all can be

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Bina - I'm not sure about preovulation spotting. You weren't a spotter before, execpt during the lp, right?? I would guess that maybe the spotting was from the bd. The cervix is a sensitive little bugger.

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Rac-lol at the sensitive bugger comment, I think you are probably right on that one. And of course I'm going notice these things now that I am paying attention. Today's OPK was negative too, but we are going to start BD because of the EWCM. (guess I should take these comments to the TTC section since this is a Q & A thread).

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