Okay, bear with me as I vent about my frustrations... I need to get this out!

I am so frustrated with TTC! We have been trying for a year now (technically speaking). I always read people's histories and it seems like there is something there getting in the way, that maybe makes it harder for them, such as endo, cysts, etc. But I have no history of any medical problem, ever. Every pap has always turned out normal. I have a tilted cervix but that seems to have no relation. I have always had a normal cycle (since I started my period at age 10 I have never missed a month!) My husband and I have been "officially" trying for over one year... prior to that we were only using pull-out method...
When I went to my annual checkup one year ago, I told the dr. we were not doing anything to prevent, but I did not understand charting exactly. She told me the basics of it, and that is when I started watching the calendar. I have ALWAYS had a normal cycle.
This past fall, we started using the ovulation predictor strips to make sure I was ovulating when I thought I was. Sure enough, around Day 14 of each month the strips would darken to show the LH surge. Since we did not conceive with that, we decided to up the ante and buy the ClearBlue Fertility Monitor. We have been using that since December. I ovulate every single month. My cycle is always between 27 and 30 days (it switches back and forth... either 27 days OR 30 days, with the ever-occasional 28 thrown in to keep me on my toes!)

I think my biggest frustration is feeling like there is nothing physically stopping me from conceiving, so instead I feel like I am not getting pregnant because I am not meant to. Like I'm being punished for not being a good enough housekeeper or wife or something.

Each month I get my hopes up, and each month I get totally let down. It just gets exhausting after awhile, you know? I don't want to become one of those couples who has to go to great lengths just to get pregnant. I know there are so many people out there (on this site alone) who do everything to get pregnant, and who try for years and years, and I just can't imagine what that does to a person emotionally.

Anyway, I just needed to get that off my chest, because I knew if anyone could understand, it would be the people here!

So, even though I am really new... thanks for letting me get ALL of that out! (And please don't take offense to me saying I don't want to be one of "those couples"... I absolutely feel for each and everyone out there and that is not supposed to sound critical to anyone who is or has dealt with it.)

Sarah

My only road block is my age, and our timing. My DH is a truck driver and he is gone all week, home on the weekends. The doctor says we are both sitting on go, no reason unless it is timing we should not gt pregnant. Very frustrating for us. I feel your pain, believe me!

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Sarah - What about your dh? Has he ever been tested? You might want to see about getting some test for him.

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Sarah -

I feel your pain. My dh and I are on our 11th cycle. We did conceive once, but had a m/c. That was 6 months ago. My doctor doesn't seem too concerned since it has happened once, but that doesn't make the waiting any easier. We even did an at home male fertility test, which came back positive. I suppose it is all timing. Although, even for the most perfectly fertile couple, perfectly timed intercourse, the pregnancy rate is only about 20 - 25% per month.

If you don't have any luck after using the monitor for a few more months, as your dr for some tests for both you and your dh. Infertility isn't always because of a woman's cycle. Good Luck!

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Sarah - It can be very frustrating. My DH and i have been married for 4 years and have been TTC since then. We have not prevented it ever from happening (to be honest I don't test every month) yet it never seems to happen. We have both been tested and seem to be ok. I am going to be 37 this year so I am really starting to think maybe it just isn't meant to be. This is a good place to vent, welcome aboard.

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Well, I just got back from the doctor. Actually, it was a very nice visit. My regular dr. had to leave to deliver a baby, so I had to see another one of the doctors instead. I liked her so much more! She had great personality and told me about her own struggles with fertility. From now on I will request seeing her instead.

CassieJo... just as you suggested, the doctor wants dh to get tested. Luckily we have a fertility clinic in our town, so it should not be a problem to get started seeing them. Won't he be excited to come home from work today and find out he has to give a sample of his manhood!


Anyway, ladies, thank you so much for your support. I will keep you updated on how things go. I SO appreciate being able to get my feelings out to people who are going through the same thing!

Sarah

Your welcome Sarah!!! Anytime...we are ALWAYS here!

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Sarah~ Welcome. My dh and me have been TTC for over a year as well. Dh goes in tomorrow for a SA. He's not looking forward to it, but that's part of the proceedure. I have had blood work a couple of weeks ago. Fine except for low blood iron. I had an HSG on 24th of this month. That showed I'm fine as well. Everything is open and clear. Usually Dr will check dh's SA before HSG, but I pushed the issue.

Anyways, Dr's are so used to these tests that there shouldn't be any reason for dh to be embarrassed, even though my dh is. He knows how important it is though and is going to have it done.

Good luck and glad you joined us.

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Regina... DH is exactly the same way here. I know what you mean. When he came home yesterday and I told him the next step was getting him checked, his response was, "I'll do it but you have to drop it off. I'm not going in! That's what Dave did!" Apparently our friend who had also tried for awhile had to get a SA done, but he made his wife drop it off. I told DH he is being a big baby and then led him through ALL the details of the female examination process. We're going to a fertility center for it, so, as I explained to him, every other person there has to do the exact same thing. His appointment is next week.

That's great that the HSG came out normal. If the SA comes back fine, what is the next step? Is there anything else they can test, or is that when things are deemed "unknown"? I wonder if I should try to get the HSG right away like you did. My doctor said to wait until after the SA, but I find that waiting is just so difficult. The part that bothers me the most is just not knowing. Do you think it was worth it to have it done before the SA?

Well, thanks for the support. Give your DH lots of snuggles and tell him how wonderful he is for doing his part.

Sarah

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Sarah~

I am so glad I had the HSG performed first even though it was only 6 days ahead of dh's SA. I really was beginning to wonder if I was blocked up. It put my mind at ease knowing that I'm not blocked and everything in there is all clear.

I don't know what the next step is from here. I'm kind of thinking I'm not ovulating every month. Also, I'm going to switch Dr's after this and I am going to see about getting started with Clomid. That's what I would like.

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Where~ The HSG didn't hurt in the slightest. Everyone kept saying you might get slight cramping like menstual cramps. I didn't even get that. You can go to work straight from your appointment. I would suggest having it done. Take ibuprofen ahead of time and you'll be fine.

Your dh really should have his SA done. There's just as much infertility with males as there is females. Most people would think that it's mostly a womans issue. That's not true. It's equal.

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Where~ OMG! I did the Crest white strip. Talk about pain!!! I couldn't even let the air hit my teeth without it hurting sooo... bad. I had to keep my mouth closed at all times and that was with like 3 days of the strip.

The dye they put in you is clear.

I think it was Snowie whom the Dr gave antibiotics for ahead of time. My Dr said it wasn't necessary.

I've heard people around the boards say that sometimes with the HSG it will open you up and people conceive right after. Hmmm... we'll see.

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Yea, at first I thought the dye would be blue too. In fact I was all talking about if I did conceive this month, my baby would be blue from the dye and one of the girls commented on me having a smurf. lol. Well, come to find out the dye was clear.

I'm sure praying this is my month. Not too excited about timing for the baby being born b/c so close to Christmas, but I'll take it if it happened!!!

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