The Back Story

To begin with I’m going to start with a somewhat abbreviated timeline of the past 2 years so those that haven’t been involved the whole time can get an idea of what we’ve been through up until this point.

• December 2015
• We begin "trying" to become pregnant
• December 2016
• Still not pregnant (If you are under 35, one year is when it is recommended to talk to your OBGYN if you are not pregnant yet; over 35 is 6 months)
• Appointment with OBGYN for ultrasounds and semen analysis
• Ultrasounds come back fine, semen analysis shows low count
• January 2017
• We have our first appointment at Main Line Fertility (MLF)
• We find out that one of the medications Jon has been taking for almost a year is basically "birth control for men." Jon immediately discontinues use of this medication.
• A bunch of initial tests are done including bloodwork, ultrasounds and a sonohysterosalpinogram and all came back normal
• We are both prescribed clomid and plan on pursuing Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) and the diagnosis is we are dealing with male factor infertility
• February 2017
• IUI #1 is unsuccessful
• Jon begins seeing a urologist and is prescribed injections to assist with his hormone levels/sperm count
• March 2017
• IUI #2 is unsuccessful
• April/May 2017
• We took 2 months off from treatment - it was MUCH NEEDED
• June 2017
• IUI #3 is unsuccessful (still no change in protocol or game plan from my doctor at MLF)
• July 2017
• IUI #4 is unsuccessful
• We decide we are switching fertility clinics (was NOT happy with ALOT of things at MLF by this point)
• First appointment at new clinic: Shady Grove Fertility (SGF)
• August 2017
• A few initial tests are ordered including a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) and sonohysterogram (neither of these tests were ordered at MLF and were unbeknownst to me standard tests for almost all fertility clinics)
• Right off the bat my doctor felt the initial bloodwork requested by MLF for my AMH levels (I was tested at a 2.7 which is good and means a good quantity of eggs) did not match what he was seeing on my ultrasound (not many follicles - with my AMH there should have been alot more). They drew more blood and sent it to a lab that specializes in this test. Results come back and my actual AMH is alot lower than the first test (1.03) and I am considered to have a low AMH which means diminished ovarian reserve (eggs).
• From the HSG it is discovered that my left Fallopian tube is blocked and can not be repaired nor can one control what side you ovulate from each month
• MLF totally missed BOTH of these issues simply by not paying enough attention or spending enough time with me during my treatment. I saw my actual doctor a total of TWO times throughout all of this. That is NUTS! I cannot tell you how IRATE/SAD/HURT/DEFEATED I was when I found this out. Not to mention the money that was spent on procedures that were most likely not going to work for us.
• September 2017
• After a much needed vacation we decide to move forward with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) as the chances of getting pregnant via IUI are hovering around 6-10% at the highest because of the blocked tube and low AMH and with IVF that jumps to around 55%.