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ON my first trip to the RE I had an extensive review of my medical history, as well as my dh's and families. I also had an internal exam including an internal ultrasound to check my ovaries and uterus. Then the doctor, my dh and I talked about options. He went over realistic expectations and ordered a whole bunch of blood tests at various times during my cycle. He also gave me a prescription for clomid. THe next month my dh and I took off from baby making before embarking on clomid and IUI's. We ended up getting pg! Maybe "seeing" an RE will do the trick for you too!! I wish you lots of luck. Knowing that help was out there and that we were taking the next step made me much more relaxed and in control. Lots of baby dust your way!

Thanks for your response! I am so psyched now! Maybe just knowing we are taking the next step will releax us too and help us conceive! Thanks for the kind words! Anyone else?

My first trip was pretty similar. We discussed our family histories and our options. We decided to try IUI first, although the RE wasn't very hopeful that it would work. Luckily it just happened to be day 4 of my cycle, which was the right time for me to start medications. They did baseline bloodwork and an ultrasound, and then I took 5 mg of Arimidex that day (they use that instead of Clomid), and then Follistim 100 IU injections on days 6-11. (I was ovulating normally, but he wanted me to use these meds anyway to increase our chances of conception.) On day 12 I had more bloodwork and another ultrasound, which confirmed that I would ovulate the following day and would produce 2 eggs. I had an hCG trigger shot that afternoon. The next day we did the IUI, and I ended up getting pregnant! (After 3 1/2 years of trying to conceive on our own with no luck, we were thrilled, and stunned!) The amazing thing is that, due to the results of my husband's tests, the RE told us we'd only had a 5% chance of conception through IUI. He's still amazed that it worked for us. Anyway, it is actually good that you're near the beginning of your cycle, because that means that you can start whatever process you're going to use very soon. Just going to the RE made me feel much better and not quite as helpless, so I think you'll feel the same way. Good luck!!

Thanks for your story Judi! I am glad everything worked out for you too! I am hoping we can start the meds or whatever we are going to use this cycle. I would HATE to wait another cycle to get started! Any other tests done, like HSG or anything the first time before they put you on meds?

DL, I had an HSG done earlier through my OB/GYN's office, and my tubes were fine. They also did some bloodwork to make sure I was ovulating. I was pretty sure that I was because I used ovulation tests each month and got positive results. In our case, the problem was apparently my husband's sperm. He has a very high count, but a large percentage of them are dead and/or abnormally shaped. Your RE might be different, but mine was more than willing to let us go ahead and start during that cycle. He said that he understood that most people were anxious to get started. In fact, they usually start on day 3, and I told him it would be a while until then because I was on day 4 of my current cycle. He said, "Well, day 4 is basically the same as day 3, so we can start today if you want." He said that I didn't have to use the meds, but he recommended it to increase our chances, and I'm glad that I did. The injections aren't fun, but they're so worth it. Even though I did produce 2 eggs, only one was fertilized. I'm now 10 weeks, and we've already seen the baby on ultrasound and heard the heartbeat. It's truly amazing!! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you...keep us posted!

How was the HSG? I heard it can be painful if you are not close to ovulation, when your cervix is more open or if you have a blocked tube. Did you get any vaginal ultrasounds like the other woman who posted? SOrry for all the questions :)

The HSG was a little painful, but since my tubes were clear, it didn't take too long. I think they recommend taking some pain reliever beforehand. The ultrasounds that I had at the RE were all vaginal ultrasounds. That's the best way for them to check your ovaries and see how many follicles you have. Feel free to ask me anything...I'm happy to help!

Ok, here it goes :) Did the vaginal ultrasounds hurt? Is it as uncomfortable as a pap? I don't think they go in too deep do they? When should I expect to do the HSG? I hope I don't pass out during all of it! Thanks for letting me ask questions. I appreciate it! I am sure I will have more tomorrow after the fact!

The vaginal ultrasounds really don't hurt. The probe doesn't go in far. Pap smears are usually painful for me, but the ultrasounds weren't bad at all. The first one that I had after I got pregnant lasted longer than the others, because he was making sure that there was only one baby, checking for the heartbeat, and then measuring my ovaries (making sure the meds didn't overstimulate them and make them too large), so that one was a little uncomfortable by the end. I was so happy to see the gestational sac, though, that it didn't really bother me. I really don't know when they will have you do an HSG, since mine was done well before I ever saw an RE. That was the worst part of the whole process for me, but the nurse could tell that I was hurting so she held my hand, and even that little bit of comfort helped. It only lasted a few minutes, though. I just kept thinking about how much I wanted a baby and how I was willing to do anything. They did the HSG and blood work on me, then did a semen analysis on my husband, and based on his results, they referred us to the RE. Good luck tomorrow! Let me know how it goes.

Hey Judi! Your right it wasn't that bad. I went in and he asked me tons of questions about my background and health. Then he wanted to do a vaginal ultrasound, which wasn't that bad, like you said. Guess what Ihave? PCOS!! YAY! I had a feeling it was that because no matter what I did I couldn't lose weight. Anyhoo, I saw the string of pearls, classical PCOS sign, on the ultrasound, but I also had a mature follicle that possibly ovulated recently. It did not shrink like it was supposed to, so that was weird, since I am due for my period. My insides look as if they are mid cycle, when in reality I am due for AF. Weird. He then sent me for blood work since I fasted today to get my baseline levels. Since I am due for my period any day now, I am going to start clomid with monitoring this month. I will get the HSG on day 6-10 before I actually ovulate, so it may happen this month. I was so scared but psyched! Thanks for your kind words and allowing me to ask quesitons. Sorry this is so long! You rock!

DL, that's wonderful!! I'm so happy for you!! I know that taking these steps has made you feel so much better. Trying to conceive for months with no luck is such a helpless feeling, so when you take control of it like this, it really makes a difference. I will say a prayer that you will have the same results in your first month that I did! Feel free to ask me any questions that you may have as the month progresses. Like I said, I didn't take Clomid because my RE uses a different drug, but I know lots of people who did and had success with it. Good luck and baby dust!!!