Newbie Playground *ALL WELCOME*

[daisy818]

So we haven't had a general Q&A thread in a while, and as I prepare for my IVF consult appointment I anticipate lots of newb questions to pop into my head, so I'm selfishly creating this thread for people to ask random questions!

Thanks in advance! Here's some chocolate and booze as a gift

[daisy818]

And my first newb question! So, the sperm from a SA - does that just get tossed? Could it be frozen to use for a cycle? Since DH only ejaculates intermittently, I want to have a supply of frozen sperm in case he can't produce a fresh sample, and I wasn't sure if the SA could be used for that. Thought I'd ask you ladies before I looked dumb in front of the RE

[daisy818]

Oh FFS Daisy - I thought I was posting this on 3T/IF. My bad, GKU!

[daisy818]

Changed the title - now it's just a general Newbie Playground for all questions, not only IF questions. Ask away!

[rooskie]

Dec 29, 2016 14:41:25 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

And my first newb question! So, the sperm from a SA - does that just get tossed? Could it be frozen to use for a cycle? Since DH only ejaculates intermittently, I want to have a supply of frozen sperm in case he can't produce a fresh sample, and I wasn't sure if the SA could be used for that. Thought I'd ask you ladies before I looked dumb in front of the RE

You have to specify before if you want it frozen and your H has to be there to fill out paperwork.

We officially have 9 vials frozen just incase H's count goes back to zero.

[gabride2010]

I have our first RE appt scheduled for Jan 11. I have PCOS and H has a varicocele. I ready the 3T/IF newbie blog where it lists the questions to ask the RE, but is there anything specific to PCOS or varicocele that I need to ask about?

[rooskie]

Dec 29, 2016 15:40:18 GMT -5 @yaga said:

Dec 29, 2016 14:53:46 GMT -5 rooskie said:

You have to specify before if you want it frozen and your H has to be there to fill out paperwork.

We officially have 9 vials frozen just incase H's count goes back to zero.

Did you have to pay for this? I want to freeze H's because we're planning on going to a zika area for a much needed vacation.

Yes. We are completely out of pocket. A normal SA is $85 at our clinic and the freeze SA + storage fees are $350.

[diamondsndaisies]

So at what point in time would a OB or an RE order a SA? If we are still unsuccessful our OB suggested we start considering the option of using fertility drugs (clomid to start) and I was wondering when they would test him in this process.

[beefinch]

I have a question about the clear blue advanced ovulation kits, I'm on CD16, I've only just got my period back after 5 months of waiting since getting my implant removed. (Haven't had a period for 28 months minus PP bleeding) For the past 6 days my stick has been flashing a smiley face at me, indicating high fertility (not peak), I was just wondering what you ladies might think that is? Do you think ovulation is coming up or just an LH surge?

I have just started temping again, kinda wish I had done it for the past 5 months but honestly I just forget to do it every morning, and sometimes I have a rough night sleep with getting up and down 5 times a night.
Here's my chart as I know how much you guys like charts, even though I don't have temping on there lol

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2016 16:23:53 GMT -5 beefinch said:

I have a question about the clear blue advanced ovulation kits, I'm on CD16, I've only just got my period back after 5 months of waiting since getting my implant removed. (Haven't had a period for 28 months minus PP bleeding) For the past 6 days my stick has been flashing a smiley face at me, indicating high fertility (not peak), I was just wondering what you ladies might think that is? Do you think ovulation is coming up or just an LH surge?

I have just started temping again, kinda wish I had done it for the past 5 months but honestly I just forget to do it every morning, and sometimes I have a rough night sleep with getting up and down 5 times a night.
Here's my chart as I know how much you guys like charts, even though I don't have temping on there lol x

It could mean something or nothing. In my experience is more likely to mean nothing. I really don't like digital opks for the confusion the cause people. It's either positive or not, and if it's not positive it means nothing. Some people have a fade in pattern, but that's usually over the course of a day or three, not a whole week. Just keep testing until you get that solid smiley. Or switch to cheapies that don't cause confusion like the stupid flashing smiley face.

[diamondsndaisies]

Dec 29, 2016 16:27:06 GMT -5 @yaga said:

Dec 29, 2016 16:21:36 GMT -5 diamondsndaisies said:

So at what point in time would a OB or an RE order a SA? If we are still unsuccessful our OB suggested we start considering the option of using fertility drugs (clomid to start) and I was wondering when they would test him in this process.

Absolutely before you take any drugs. You need to know if your partner has working sperm before you start inducing ovulation.

You also need to have an HSG to make sure your tubes are open.

Lastly, if your OB won't be monitoring you throughout your cycle (blood work and ultrasound at the start of each cycle, frequent ultrasounds to make sure you are responding appropriately), skip the clomid offer and go to an RE. Clomid can thin the uterine lining and has a limit on how many times you can use it, so it's important not to "waste" a cycle on clomid if you don't know if your partner has good sperm, your tubes are open, and if you responded at all.

That was kinda what I was thinking. I really have a wonderful OB and still am an active patient of the RE that I dealt with when I was pg with my twins so if at any time I am questioning my care I can transfer over to him. I am aware of all potential risks with clomid (I tend to over-research everything) and I guess that is where I came up empty was when it came to the timing of the SA. I have had all the prelim blood work for clomid done already a few cycles ago when we considered starting then and changed our minds and decided to wait a little longer. I have not had the HSG performed yet. I plan to call my dr once I am in the TWW to schedule appointments in case it doesn't work out this cycle. 

[obscurereference]

beefinch I had this issue when I used the CB fertility monitor. It could never detect my LH surge but I would do wondfos and get a positive every cycle. If you're determined to use them, I would try testing at a different time of day. When do you test now?

[beefinch]

Dec 29, 2016 16:50:44 GMT -5 obscurereference said:

beefinch I had this issue when I used the CB fertility monitor. It could never detect my LH surge but I would do wondfos and get a positive every cycle. If you're determined to use them, I would try testing at a different time of day. When do you test now?

Morning urine, although since doing some research I've seen that afternoon urine might be better, should I use afternoon?

[LadyNymeria]

Dec 29, 2016 16:23:53 GMT -5 beefinch said:

I have a question about the clear blue advanced ovulation kits, I'm on CD16, I've only just got my period back after 5 months of waiting since getting my implant removed. (Haven't had a period for 28 months minus PP bleeding) For the past 6 days my stick has been flashing a smiley face at me, indicating high fertility (not peak), I was just wondering what you ladies might think that is? Do you think ovulation is coming up or just an LH surge?

I have just started temping again, kinda wish I had done it for the past 5 months but honestly I just forget to do it every morning, and sometimes I have a rough night sleep with getting up and down 5 times a night.
Here's my chart as I know how much you guys like charts, even though I don't have temping on there lol

If you want to use a digital, I recommend the regular CB digital instead of the Advanced one. It's either blank for negative or a smile for positive. No flashing smile which seems to just add confusion for most users.

I've never used the Advanced myself, but I liked the regular digital one.

[daisy818]

beefinch, personally, my RE explicitly told me not to use the CBE Advanced because they are really confusing and not particularly reliable for pinpointing peak fertility. If you want to use digital, use the old school CBE, not the advanced - it's apparently more reliable. I tried using it and it was not helpful, so I'm back to my tried and true cheapies, which I can assess for myself instead of trying to make sense of a flashing smiley.

[beefinch]

daisy818

LadyNymeria

I actually have the old school CB test kit as well, so I might go back to using them as well as the cheapies, thanks for the info!

[obscurereference]

Dec 29, 2016 16:52:10 GMT -5 beefinch said:

Dec 29, 2016 16:50:44 GMT -5 obscurereference said:

beefinch I had this issue when I used the CB fertility monitor. It could never detect my LH surge but I would do wondfos and get a positive every cycle. If you're determined to use them, I would try testing at a different time of day. When do you test now?

Morning urine, although since doing some research I've seen that afternoon urine might be better, should I use afternoon?

I would definitely try afternoon. I can't get positives in the morning. I know some women can't get positives in the afternoon. As usual it's one of those "everyone is different" kind of things. Worth a try, though! I aim for between 1-3.

[teachermomtobe]

Dec 29, 2016 16:21:36 GMT -5 diamondsndaisies said:

So at what point in time would a OB or an RE order a SA? If we are still unsuccessful our OB suggested we start considering the option of using fertility drugs (clomid to start) and I was wondering when they would test him in this process.

Our RE let us start Clomid as long as DH got his SA within the month. When DH did the SA we found out he had low count which added to out challenges. So needless to say I suggest a SA immediately because no use wasting a month on Clomid if there are issues with him.

ETA: I wasn't ovulating at all prior to RE so my first month on Clomid was also a sort of test to see if I would respond, hence why RE let us do the SA that month instead of before we started any meds.

[thechickencoop]

Dec 29, 2016 14:41:25 GMT -5 daisy818 said:

And my first newb question! So, the sperm from a SA - does that just get tossed? Could it be frozen to use for a cycle? Since DH only ejaculates intermittently, I want to have a supply of frozen sperm in case he can't produce a fresh sample, and I wasn't sure if the SA could be used for that. Thought I'd ask you ladies before I looked dumb in front of the RE

I wouldn't see why not as long as he lets them know ahead of time. For our first IUI cycle they did an SA first then spun it down to what they would use for the IUI. I would think they could just freeze at that point...

[thechickencoop]

Dec 29, 2016 16:21:36 GMT -5 diamondsndaisies said:

So at what point in time would a OB or an RE order a SA? If we are still unsuccessful our OB suggested we start considering the option of using fertility drugs (clomid to start) and I was wondering when they would test him in this process.

Pretty much the first thing. It's like, the easiest, cheapest type of test they can perform.

[jax1182014]

How do you go about getting an order for a SA if you aren't seeing a RE but have been trying over a year?

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2016 19:26:05 GMT -5 jax1182014 said:

How do you go about getting an order for a SA if you aren't seeing a RE but have been trying over a year?

Talk to your ob. Is there a reason you're avoiding the RE?

[jax1182014]

Dec 29, 2016 19:29:15 GMT -5 @led said:

Dec 29, 2016 19:26:05 GMT -5 jax1182014 said:

How do you go about getting an order for a SA if you aren't seeing a RE but have been trying over a year?

Talk to your ob. Is there a reason you're avoiding the RE?

Can pcp's order them too? I had some baseline labs drawn that were fine and my cycles seem to be less wonky then they previously were so I'd rather give it a few more months then re evaluate.

[MrsRC88]

Dec 29, 2016 19:36:53 GMT -5 jax1182014 said:

Dec 29, 2016 19:29:15 GMT -5 @led said:

Talk to your ob. Is there a reason you're avoiding the RE?

Can pcp's order them too? I had some baseline labs drawn that were fine and my cycles seem to be less wonky then they previously were so I'd rather give it a few more months then re evaluate.

Yes, they can.

My OB/gyn gave me the order, cup and instructions... But MH never acted upon it. .

[MrsRC88]

What supplements do you take? Besides a prenatal? I tried asking this on TTCAL, but there's no action on that board.

I bought the supplement, Premama, which contains myo-inositol and folic acid. But I haven't taken it yet- anyone try this?

[icedtea]

Dec 29, 2016 19:49:39 GMT -5 MrsRC88 said:

What supplements do you take? Besides a prenatal? I tried asking this on TTCAL, but there's no action on that board.

I bought the supplement, Premama, which contains myo-inositol and folic acid. But I haven't taken it yet- anyone try this?

My doctor recommended prenatal, CoQ10, and folic acid. I haven't heard of Premama. 

[joy]

Dec 29, 2016 15:43:42 GMT -5 @yaga said:

If there is anyone reading that has experience with an ectopic pregnancy that did not require intervention because it resolved in its own, I'd love to chat with you about any time you had to spend on the bench per doctor's orders and if you considered or had surgery later to remove the tube it occurred in.

I PM'd you!

[penguin129]

Once my cycle returns I'm going to get back into tracking my cycles. We are Trying To Avoid (which is why I mostly post in WTDS)... anyway, Do I need to use OPK's if we're TTA? I think we're going to pretty much use condoms all the time since the IUD didn't work out. The family doctor and midwife I saw on Tuesday both told me I'd get pregnant using this method. I know that's not true. I just need you all to reassure me if that makes any sense.

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2016 22:25:56 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Once my cycle returns I'm going to get back into tracking my cycles. We are Trying To Avoid (which is why I mostly post in WTDS)... anyway, Do I need to use OPK's if we're TTA? I think we're going to pretty much use condoms all the time since the IUD didn't work out. The family doctor and midwife I saw on Tuesday both told me I'd get pregnant using this method. I know that's not true. I just need you all to reassure me if that makes any sense.

I'm confused. Which method, and they said you would or wouldn't get pregnant?

[Deleted]

Dec 29, 2016 22:25:56 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

Once my cycle returns I'm going to get back into tracking my cycles. We are Trying To Avoid (which is why I mostly post in WTDS)... anyway, Do I need to use OPK's if we're TTA? I think we're going to pretty much use condoms all the time since the IUD didn't work out. The family doctor and midwife I saw on Tuesday both told me I'd get pregnant using this method. I know that's not true. I just need you all to reassure me if that makes any sense.

Condoms work. It's stupid for them to say they don't.