We Are Expecting 💗💙👶🏻

 

We went for our very 1st Ultrasound today. It was a mixed emotions kinda day but in the end-- We are still extremely blessed. We got the news we did lose one of our embryos but the other did stick. So our baby looked wonderful & the nurse said his/her heart rate was perfect at 132bpm (beats per minute). Our due date is expected to be on June 15, 2017! Thank you again for all the continued prayers & blessings we've recieved this far on our journey & we cannot wait to show off our little miracle to everyone! 

13dp

Here we are at 13 days after Transfer Day-- Can yall believe I just took my first "at home" pregnancy test?! Yep, it killed me but I did it. 

Here ya go: ((Look at how perfect those 2 lines are))

This past Saturday was our last appt we've had & it was good news again. My Beta (which is a blood pregnancy test) went great. At our last appt it was 95 at this appt on Saturday it was 266. It suppose to go up 60% which it did plus some! Whooo Hoooo!!

Next Step: We thought we would get to see/hear our precious babies this week, but unfortunately we were wrong. Our 1st ultrasound appt will be on Oct. 24th. At that appt I should be 6 1/2 weeks. If this has taught us anything-- it has definitely been PATIENCE!! It is the key to this whole process. Prayers & Baby Dust still needed. Thanks in advance. 💙👶🏻💗🙏🏼

💙PUPO💗

We have some very exciting news to share:

We got amazing news from our appt today! My levels are exactly where they needed to be with my bloodwork. We are told PUPO meaning we are still Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise!! 💗💙🙏🏼👶🏻

Thank you to all who have text,called,Facebook messaged us, prayed for us etc! Our prayers are working & being answered so keep them coming. We appreciate each & every one of them more than we could ever thank y'all enough for doing. 

Next steps:

Saturday morning I have another appt for bloodwork to be done to keep checking on the babies. (At this point we are still assuming 2 babies until we have an ultrasound to prove us otherwise) 

Following that appt they will schedule us an appt next week for our very first ultrasound & to hear our sweet babies heartbeats! So keep those prayers & baby dust 💙👶🏻💗 coming we still got answers to be heard🙏🏼🙏🏼

Transfer Day: Sticky Baby Dust Needed

Our highly anticipated Transfer Day has come & gone. My appointment was at 9AM at my clinic for blood work & then 10AM at the surgery center for the Transfer. To us earlybirds, that was pure torture! We will both up before 6AM!! So we decided to stop & eat breakfast on our way--in which we still made it to the clinic by 8:30 & the surgery center by 8:45. Yikes! More WAITING!!

This is the procedure I was required to drink lots of water. I didn't do well with the trail run, so I was determined I was going to conquer it this time. I made sure I had a cup full of ice water & 2 more bottles on my bag just for good measure. As soon as we got in the car I started drinking-- so you can imagine how full my bladder was by the time I got there. (We live an hour away) I refused to go to the bathroom once we got there even though I knew I had plenty of time. I felt like I was going to EXPLODE! The nurse finally came in with a cup & told me I could empty part of my bladder & just to make sure it was too full or empty. Have you ever tried to only pee half of your bladder out?! Let me just say not as easy task!

At around 10:30AM in came Dr.K with our precious little embie pictures! This image is our our 2 Grade 4AA (highest quality) embryos that we were implanting in just a few moments. This image is taken inside of the petri dish where they have been over the last month or so. 

Going into this process my husband & I had both decided to transfer 2 embryos from the get go. Even though it wasn't recommend at my age. 25, & with perfect grade embies ((due to possible multiple births)-- we still went with the 2 embyro transfer. As you can see at the bottom of the photo we actually had one that had already started hatching, unassisted. 

((Don't you love his attire)) ☺️😘

&& it was SHOWTIME! Off to the operating room. After them confirming they had the right embies with the correct patients & getting me into position-- Dr.K pushed our little babies up through the catheter. Little did I realize this procedure was far less complicated than I had pictured. Within less than 2 min we could see our little babies on the TV screen & they were officially ON BOARD. I didn't cry but there's no way to explain the emotions running through my mind at this point. Happy ,Sad, Relieved, Disbelief, it was reeally happening. This moment we had been waiting for , for oh so long! This whole procedure was about 10 min long then off to recovery for 30 min where I had to lay horizontal. After my bladder had been screaming at me basically since we had arrived at the clinic I officially get to go-- even though I was scared that I would just pee my babies right out. We all know that wouldn't happen but after all this it definitely crossed my mind. By the way our shirts were a HUGE hit! In recovery the nurses had to all stop by to see what I had made :)

&& Just like that Our Waiting Game begins once again. For now I remain PUPO: (Pregnant Until Proven Otherwise) & will not test until in the clinic on Oct.6th which is our next appointment. 

Yep, you read that right we are PREGGO!

 

High Expectations-- && Lots of Prayers!

Our BIG day is FINALLY almost here! I know its been awhile since I've updated ,but frankly we haven't had much to update with lately. Our little embryos have been freezing away for a little over a month now & its almost time to let them thaw --&& install :)

Today, I had another ultrasound to check everything out & check to make sure all the medicine is getting my body to where it needs to be for the Transfer Day. Ultrasound went Great-- Now on to start more medicine...

For the last 2 weeks I've been taking Estrace. The first week was twice daily & they increased it to three times daily the following week. I will continue with the Estrace tablets but I will also be adding in more medications as the week progresses. Tomorrow night I will begin with Progesterone 75mg into the hip every night alternating sides. ((These I'm afraid of as I've heard they can be painful; of course I'll be updating how that goes for me later)) On Friday I will add in Doxycycline Tablets twice daily for 4 days & also Prednisone Tablets 3 tablets every morning for 4 days. 

Tuesday is our BIG day --TRANSFER DAY-- ((that cannot get here fast enough)) the day we've been looking forward to since the very beginning of our IVF journey. This means they will be transferring 2 of our embryos back into my body that will hopefully develop into our little miracle(s). This is HUGE for all of us & the anxiety, as if it wasn't already there, is settling in to say the least at this point. As always, please keep us in your prayers & esp. on Tuesday-- one of the biggest days of our lives yet!

2nd Medicine Delivery

We got our 2nd Medicine Delivery today so here's what we received this time:

•Progesterone(DS) 100mg/mL x2

• Crinone 8% Gel

•Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg Capsules

•Prednisone 20mg Tablets

•Estradiol 2mg Tablets

•Diazepam 10mg Tablet

•18G syringes & needles

•25G needles 

&& So the fun begins again soon! 💉💉

I will post as we begin each of the items & as we know more so stay tuned 😳😣🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

 

The Next Step

 Throughout the past couple of weeks we've gotten asked several times: Where are your embryos--eggs-- now? Well, they are in the freezer. Crazy right?! That's where they will remain over the next couple of weeks until it's time for transfer. We have 8 total which could honestly be 16 if every egg splits😳😳. We do not have to use every egg at once & especially won't considering our doctor will put no more than 2 in at a given time. 

On Sunday, hopefully for the last time or next to the last time for at least 9 months,I started my cycle. Monday morning I called the office to notify them & wait for the returning phone call for our next steps.

• 1st step: My little tiny Advent calendar once again ((Birth Control)) which I started on yesterday morning & will continue to take until Sept. 3rd

•Next, we will have a Baseline Ultrasound on Sept. 7th in which they are checking for No cysts, etc! 

•Next, the following day after the Ultrasound I will start Estrogen in many different forms. ((picture later))

•After 2 wks of estrogen they will do another ultrasound to make sure everything (medicine) looks good & working properly!

It's not a set in stone date yet but we are looking for Transfer Day {putting embryos/eggs back in my body} to be around to be around the last week of September! 😁🤗 This week in particular of the many others we will need lots & lots of prayers everything goes smoothly & works correctly after the process! I can't believe we are finally this close to having a little miracle(s) of our own. 🙏🏼💟💙🍼👶🏼

The Little Embryo's that CAN & WILL

Updates on our little embryos(eggs): 

Unlike egg freezing -- where a woman's eggs are retrieved and left unfertilized until she is ready to use them -- embryo freezing is where the egg has already been fertilized through in vitro fertilization (IVF) with either partner or donor sperm, and has been frozen until the woman is ready to begin pregnancy. ((Ours are embryos because they are already fertilized))

Thursday's Phone Call:

• 10 grade A embryos
• 6 grade D embryos

**Grade A is the best then down from there just like school grades ;) 

Sunday's Phone Call:

• They were placing 6 grade A embryos in the freezer
• Possibly 4 more on Monday if they thought some of the others looked better 

Monday (today's) Phone Call:

• They were adding 2 more grade B embryos to the freezer today

Totaling: We have 8 total embryos in the freezer to be able to use! Keep in mind Dr.K will transfer no more than 2 embryos at a time. This means we can keep to rest for back up either in the case that the 1st transfer doesn't work or later on in the years after the 1st transfer works & we would like more kids; we can use our extra embryos they already have. 

They will not begin to think about transferring any embryos back in to me for another 5 weeks or so. At that time I will be monitored through ultrasound to know when in the best time for our transfer! 

Please keep us in your prayers that our 1st cycle works in receiving our little miracle(s)!

Egg Retrieval Day

'Twas the night before Egg Retrieval; the night where I thought I was going to sleep good considering I had to take a Valium before bed. (Never takin one of those before but being in pharmacy I knew it would calm you down/make you rest) Well, that didn't work for me! I woke up 10x or more with my mind racing with questions: how many eggs will they get? Will they fertilize? Will it hurt? Will I be in pain afterwards? & so on. Same goes for my husband he didn't get much sleep either.

Let's step back a few steps to help y'all understand this a little better. Trust me we still have ongoing questions ourselves about things we don't quite understand to this day so we get it-- it's tough to understand. For Rickeys sperm the best way to describe them is think of them as being drunk. His sperm is good enough but when it gets in there it never reaches my eggs they just spin around & have no clue where to go. Hence why we are doing this treatment because they will inject the sperm directly into my eggs. Which makes it to where we can still use his sperm without having to have a donor. 

Now back to Retrieval Day:

1. We arrived on time 

2. Filled out paperwork

3. Sent Rickey upstairs to ya know (do his business)

4. Sent me back to waiting room for my name to be called

5. Name called-- back to pre op we go!

6. They do the usual BP check, temp, weight, etc 

7. Starting IV 💉 just saline for now

8. They sent my husband back to room to sit with me until they rolled me back for surgery

9. See ya in Recovery Kiss😘💋 

10. Entered the most intimidating room of my life 

11. Anesthesiologist at my head, Dr.K at my feet, & a nurse at my side all poking me & doing their thing

12. Anesthesiologist hooked a syringe to my IV & said you'll be sleepy soon

13. LA LA LAND for me 😴💤💤

14. 45 min-1hr later woke up in recovery

15. They called my husband back to sit with me again

16. Proved I could drink some Sprite 

17. Proved I could pee

18. Sent us on on way home✌🏼️

Now, let's talk about eggs:

•26 eggs were retrieved 

•17 eggs matured

•16 eggs fertilized

 

🙌🏼🙌🏼 Whooo hoooo! Talk about amazing numbers! I had the recovery nurses joke with me yesterday that I was like a chicken 🐔🐣😂 && even the nurse on the phone this morning told me those were great numbers! We will get an update just about everyday on the eggs progress so I will do my best to update the best I can do. 

Now, the after effects:

Day of retrieval: 

Thankfully my recovery nurses were awesome & made sure I would not be in pain for most of the day yesterday (I got 3 doses of Fentanyl there) & sent home with pain pills as well. I had general discomfort & a little bloating but nothing unbearable.

Day #1 Post Op:

Discomfort & bloating increased 

. Sitting up for long periods or bending hurts

Items that have helped me through this:

Pain meds (of course), heating pad, water, Gatorade, Gas-X 

Here are a few pictures from surgery day: 

 

Still starry eyed from being put to sleep⭐️⭐️

 

 
 

Pullin' the Trigger

This is the day we have been anxious for all along. Out of all my shots this one shot in particular counts the MOST! Very time sensitive & after my Dr. visit yesterday (yes they are open on Sundays due to how time sensitive their patients are) We were given strict instructions to give the Trigger Shot at exactly 9:45pm. So I iced the injections site (hip) about 5 min prior to the shot to make the pain a little more at ease. You see my husband smiling as he gives this: He wasn't smiling because he was sticking me necessarily but because we are soo close at this point to what we've been waiting for over a year now. && yes he got to give the injection-- if you remember before post he had to do an injection teaching on this one shot to know exactly how & where to give it when the time came.  At 9:45pm on the dot he gave the injection-- since I iced the area prior I didn't feel a thing honestly. If he injected the needle & pulled back to get blood: He wasn't in the right spot-- therefore to not inject medicine & try again! First try once again he nailed it!

How I'm feeling this morning so far:

• Bloated --as if I didn't already feel bloated enough
• Sore injection site (but nothing unbearable)
• Hungry  

(Remember we did just inject 10,000 units of pregnancy last night at once)

This morning I was told to take a pregnancy test to be sure the medicine went it as it was suppose to correctly. Cha Ching: Positive-- Pregnant!

***Now this doesn't mean we are done.So don't stop reading here. I only wish it was that simple***

This just means the medicine took as it should have. Now tomorrow at 8:45 I will be headed to Memphis Surgery Center for surgery to remove my eggs. Why you ask? 

When we arrive tomorrow morning they will take me back for surgery & my husband will have to give sperm the same day. Once they have my eggs out they will inject them (with his sperm) & freeze. We are doing a frozen transfer since the results are actually higher than with a fresh transfer. They will remain frozen until I have another cycle, then they will take them out to thaw & put them back in me. This surgery will be same day & I will be put to sleep. These are some things I've read to expect post op Egg Retrieval:

• General Discomfort
• Bloating could be minor at first but expect to increase
• Constipation
• Discomfort bending, peeing, or twisting

Today I'm asking for prayers for a safe,easy surgery tomorrow. I have been given a Valium to take tonight before bed so that I get a good night's rest. No eating nor drinking after midnight or until after surgery in the morning as usual. This is also where my bladder is suppose to be full so I will be forcing water down my throat to say the least. Keep those prayers coming. God has heard each & every one of them so far everything has went on schedule & pretty smooth for us--which we hope & pray continues as our journey isn't over yet!

The Husbands Side of Things

 

Changing it up a but here's a side of the story from my husbands view today: 

This journey has been quite the adventure. Me and my wife have been trying to have a child since we got married, which has been over a year. We finally went and got tested and come to find out I was the problem, low sperm count and sperm quality was at 1%. I have always dreamed of being a father, and now I know what Garth Brooks was singing when he said some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. I honestly believe the good Lord made me this way because he was wanting me to wait to meet my wonderful wife. The only thing that kills me is I'm not the one that gets poked 3-4 times a day, gets probed every other day, and has to go through the painful operation to have the follicles removed. I should be the one receiving all this pain right? It just amazes me to watch her endure all this and I know it hurts, but not once has she complained or faulted me. She just takes it like a champ and smiles. She takes all this in and still does everything for everybody, from taking family members to Dr. Visits all the way to raising money for our friends family members that have been seriously injured. I'm so lucky to have this angel for my wife, and hopefully soon the mother of my children. Please say a prayer for us as we continue this journey over the next couple of months. 

Injection Time 💉

I went back to the doctor on Wednesday for an ultrasound. Everything looked great- lining was thin & No cyst! Whoo hoo!!! So that means injections started this morning. I started Menopuer 75 units every morning & I will do Follistem 250 units every evening then go back for another ultrasound on Monday morning. This will be just to be sure everything is going correctly & all the medicine is doing what it should be doing :) Please continue to pray for us as we are getting closer & closer to our little miracle(s). 🙏🏼👶🏼💙🎀🚼

Of course I had to make a shirt to go along with the starting of injection day! 💉💉

 

Trial Transfer/ Injection Teaching

Yesterday we had 2 appointments back to back with Dr.K! First, we had our Trial Transfer:

Everything went well. He was basically showing us what to expect when our Transfer actually gets here. The only thing he didn't like was that my bladder was empty; therefore it made the catheter do a 90 degree turn-- when it should've went at an acute angle across. So Transfer Day I will be forcing liquids down my throat to say the least. 

Dr.K had some wonderful news for us as well. If you have been following along you will remember our chances for IVF working were in the 60 percentile range. Well folks GUESS WHAT?!! That rate did not only go up for us with new results in the year 2015 but it went up by 10%!! This is HUGE for us & we were thrilled to get this ratings.

Next, on our list for the day was our Injection Teaching with the nurse. I think my husband loved this part the most (not bc I'm having to go through this by no means) haha. He's been the one having to takes tons of meds orally & injections at the beginning so for the injections --he's still on about 6 meds orally daily for just fertility--to now be opposing in his favor. He sure got a kick out of it && he got to learn how to stick me instead. ((Talk about being nervous.. Yikes)) j/k with the nurses thorough instructions he got it right on the first shot! Whoo Hoooo!! Now if he can do that when it really & truly counts we will be doing great! 

Our plans from here: 

(1) on July 17th I will stop taking the B/C (birth control) pills

(2) On July 20th we will go in for our Baseline Ultrasound 

After that I will update again with further results/steps along our way!

Please continue to pray for us as our journey is quickly approaching & getting scarier by the minute. Pray for Patience ((& mainly this --as it will be a BIG key factor as I will be injecting tons of hormones so just imagine what my husband will be dealing with thru this)), Pray for positive thoughts, pray for comfort, & pray that we will have a tiny miracle (s) soon! 

One step closer to having our "Little Miracle"

Hello Everyone! I feel like its been forever since I've posted here again..Just catching everyone up on where we are as of now:

      Once again I started on a Saturday, making Sunday-- Cycle Day #1. On Monday morning first thing I spoke with our Dr.'s office informing them of my start date so they could call in this "tiny little Advent Calendar" that I've been avoiding for Oh So LONG! Weird huh?! Afters years & years of taking these tiny little pills avoiding pregnancy; to now only spend over a year of our lives praying for those "2 Pink Lines" to appear every month! Just goes to show you how unpredictable life really is for us. When trying to conceive this is the complete & total last thing I thought I'd have to face again, but this will help control my ovulation better in preparation for the days to come.  So here it is-- I actually began taking them this morning & will continue to take 1 pill each day until July 16th. 

A couple of days before I stop taking BC (birth control) I will go in for what they call a "Trial Transfer" basically to let me know what to have in mind to go on for that day. Also, we will meet with the nurse for an Injection Teaching to get specifics on dosages, times, etc of each medicine that I have already received about a month ago. If you are new here & havent been keeping up-- Here's what I've come up with in storing my medications at home & out of site for most visitors. Trying not to scare everyone away. HeHe :) I also purchased the MacBeth chill pack for my injection spots to help with the pain some of them may cause. Of course, I had to get something cute & not dull or original. Lol 

On July 20th I will go in for a Baseline Ultrasound just so they can be sure I have a thin lining & also to check for NO cysts!!! ((Prayers please)) That following Saturday is the day we have in mind to start the injections. ((Once again prayers for the both of us going through this timing period))

In the meantime, I've purchased some bracelets from Fertile Gems (look her up on Etsy & I will also post the link below)) for some positive vibes & to help keep me going each time I look at these I pray for a miracle. The one with the most beads on it is the IVF Support bracelet. Its a reminder that we are strong & courageous enough for this journey & that we are one step closer to our little miracle! The small one with blue & pink is called I'm dreaming of a baby. This bracelet is a reminder to us to hold on to hope & to always BELIEVE in our dreams! Wishing us Baby Dust today, tomorrow, & until all of our dreams come true :)

As we have so much going on not only in our small community/family-- there is so much as well in the world we live in today. I have a daily reminder that God's here for each & everyone one of us --in his perfect timing -- he knows the plans we will face day in & day out. He will never, ever let any of us face something we cannot handle. In these tragic events I've also come across a neat little phrase to me that has stuck with me. SNAP: Stop Now And Pray!! && thats exactly what we should be doing now not only for ourselves but the people around us as well because we are not alone in our battles!

Fertile Gems Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/FertileGems?ref=l2-shopheader-name

IVF Wording for "Dummies"

I've had a lot of people tell me that they don't have a clue as to what half of this means that I talk about or have completely misunderstood my blog post. I'm definitely not calling you guys "Dummies" lol but we all know the books I'm referring to for sure. I thought I'd make a post to help you guys out/ to better understand all of this possibly. There will be a ton of information here ,but if you get lost or want to know the meaning of something I'm referring to in a later or former blog post this will be easy to refer back too :) By the way, cross your fingers we begin our process next week!! Pray,Pray,Pray

What is In Vitro or IVF?

In vitro fertilization (IVF) gets its name from the fact that fertilization occurs outside of the woman's body, in a lab dish instead of a woman's fallopian tubes. Typically, a woman will use ovulation stimulating drugs to produce an excess number of eggs. These eggs are surgically removed from the woman and fertilized in dish with sperm. If fertilization takes place, the physician transfers the embryo(s) into the women's uterus.

Physician Glossary:

Andrologist: A physician who specializes in male infertility, semen analysis and hormone production.

Embryologist: A Clinical Embryologist is a specialist in embryo development. In a modern laboratory, embryologists are responsible for sperm washing, IVF, ICSI, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, cord blood banking, and research into new techniques such as egg freezing.

Geneticist: A specialist in the areas of biology that deal with genetic make-up and heredity. Geneticists in the field of human reproductive medicine focus on eggs and sperm, as well as the embryos and offspring resulting from fertilization.

Ob/gyn or O&G: (Obstetrics and gynaecology) A physician who specializes in general women's medical care, diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the female reproductive system, and care of pregnant women.

Primary Care Physician: A licensed general practitioner of medicine who provides health care for commonly encountered medical problems and refers patients to medical specialists where necessary.

Reproductive Endocrinologist: A Reproductive Endocrinologist (RE) is a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of subfertility. REs order investigations and run treatment protocols, up to and including retrieval and transfer in an IVF cycle. REs are also responsible for management of the first trimester of pregnancy.

Urologist: A physician who specializes in the branch of medicine (urology) concerned with the anatomy, physiology, disorders, and care of the male and female urinary tract, as well as the male genital tract.

Common Conditions:

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disorder of the female reproductive system in which endometrial tissue (the normal lining of the uterus) is found outside the uterine cavity. An estimated three to five million American women of reproductive age suffer from endometriosis.

Luteal Phase Defect

Abnormalities in endometrial development -- luteal phase defect (LPD) - are associated with infertility and early miscarriage. Luteal phase defect occurs when the endometrium is inadequately prepared, either because the secretion of progesterone by the ovary is below normal or because the endometrium isn't responding to the normal stimulation by progesterone.

Male Factor

30% of infertility is due a male problem such as structural abnormalities, sperm production disorders, ejaculatory disturbances and immunologic disorders.

Multiple Miscarriage

Miscarriage can leave you with deep- rooted feelings of loss and sorrow. These feelings must be confronted and dealt with, not suppressed, as is often urged by friends and family. It is important to take action and see an infertility specialist if you have experienced 2 or more miscarriages.

Ovulatory Disorders

Approximately 30% of female infertility problems are the result of ovulation disorders. There are many factors that can affect ovulation. In this section we will discuss mainly pituitary causes.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PCOS is a very common hormone disorder in women, a leading cause of infertility, and one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in the United States. PCOS is characterized by a myriad of seemingly unrelated symptoms and may include irregular or absent periods, lack of ovulation, weight gain, acne, excessive facial hair and infertility. Even more serious, women with PCOS may be at higher risk for developing cardiovascular disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and endometrial cancer, especially if PCOS is left untreated.

Poor Responder

The term poor responder has been used to define women who require large doses of stimulation medications and who make less than an optimal number of eggs. There is no uniform definition of poor responders, but many clinics have used a cutoff of less than four mature oocytes at the time of hCG or a peak estradiol of less than 500.

Premature Ovarian Failure

Premature ovarian failure is defined as the cessation of menstrual periods before the age of 40. It occurs in 1 in 1,000 women between the ages of 15 and 29 and 1 in 100 women between the ages of 30 and 39. The average age of onset is 27 years. Premature ovarian failure can be both shocking and devastating as there are relatively few treatment options.

Secondary Infertility

Although many Americans are affected by the painful experience of secondary infertility, it generally remains an unacknowledged and invisible condition. Secondary infertility is defined as the inability to become pregnant, or to carry a pregnancy to term, following the birth of one or more biological children.

Unexplained Infertility

Approximately one in five couples will experience unexplained infertility despite completing a full infertility work-up. The emotional response to hearing, "There is no apparent reason for your infertility" can be difficult, maddening and frustrating. Fortunately, there are many options available for the couple diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

Uterine Factors

Abnormalities of the uterus can have a significant impact on the ability of a woman to conceive and to carry a pregnancy successfully. Some women have an abnormally developed uterus from birth (congenital) while others may develop a uterine problem due to infection or surgery (acquired).

Common Abbreviations:  

2WW  2 Week Wait  ACA  Anti-cardiolipin Antibody  ACTH  Adrenal Carticotropic Hormone  AF  Aunt Flo, After Flo, Period, or Menstrual Cycle  AH  Assisted Hatching  AI  Artificial/Assisted Insemination  ANA  Anti-nuclear Antibodies  APA  Anti-phospholipid Antibodies  APTT  Activated Partial Thrombo Time  ART  Assisted Reproductive Technology  ASA  Anti-sperm Antibody  ASRM  American Society of Reproductive Medicine  BA  Baby Aspirin  BBT  Basal Body Temperature  BCP  Birth Control Pills  BD  Baby Dance (sex)  Beta  HCG pregnancy test  BFN  Big Fat Negative  BFP  Big Fat Positive  B/W, b/w  Bloodwork  CAH  Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia  CASA  Computer-assisted Semen Analysis  CB  Cycle Buddy  CBAVD  Congenital Bilateral Absence of Vas Deferens  CCCT, CCT  Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (Clomid Challenge Test)  CD  Cycle Day  CF  Cystic Fibrosis  CM  Cervical Mucus  CMV  Cytomegalovirus  CNM  Certified Nurse Midwife  COH  Controlled Ovarian Hyperstimulation  CP  Cervical Position  CPFM  ClearPlan Fertility Monitor (Brand Name)  CVS  Chorionic Villae Sampling  D&C  Dilation & Curettage  D&E  Dilation & Evacuation  DE  Donor Eggs  DES  Diethylstillbestrol  DH  Dear Husband  DHEAS  Dihydroepiandrosterone  DI  Donor Husband  DIPI  Direct Intra-peritoneal Insemination  DOR  Diminished Ovarian Reserve  DPO  Days Post-Ovulation  DPR  Days Post-Retrieval  DPT  Days Post-Transfer  DP3DT  Days Post 3-Day Transfer  DP5DT  Days Post 5-Day Transfer  DW  Dear Wife  Dx  Diagnosis  E2  Estradiol  EB, EMB  Endometrial Biopsy  ENDO  Endometriosis  EPT  Early Pregnancy Test  ER  Egg Retrieval  ET  Egg Transfer  ETA  Embryo Toxicity Assay  ETF  Embryo Toxicity Factor  FAQ  Frequently Asked Questions  FBG  Fasting Blood Glucose  FI  Fasting Insulin  FF  Fertility Friend  FHR  Fetal Heart Rate  FP  Follicular Phase  FM  Fertility Mucus or Fertility Monitor  FRED  Fertility Response Early Detection (Brand Name)  Frostie  Frozen Embryo  FSH  Follicle-Stimulating Hormone  FTTA  Fertile Thoughts to All  GD  Gestational Diabetes  GI  Gastrointestinal  GIFT  Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer  GnRH  Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone  GP  General Practitioner  GTT  Glucose Tolerance Test  hCG, HCG  Human Chorionic Gonadotropin  hMG, HMG  Human Menopausal Gonadotropin  HCP  Health Care Practitioner  HEPA  Hampster Egg Penetration Assay  HPT  Home Pregnancy Test  HRT  Hormone Replacement Therapy  HSC  Hysteroscopy  HSG  Hysterosalpingogram  HX  History  IBT  Immunobead Binding Test  ICI  Intra-cervical Insemination  ICSI  Intra-cytoplamic Sperm Injection  IF  Infertility  IGTT  Insulin and Glucose Tolerance Test  INCIID  International Council on Infertility Information Dissemination  IM  Intramuscular injections  IOR  Immature Oocyte Retrieval  IR  Insulin Resistant  ITI  Intra-tubal Insemination  IUGR  Intra-uterine Growth Retardation  IUI  Intra-uterine Insemination  IVC  Intra-vaginal Culture  IVF/ET  In Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer  IVF  In Vitro Fertilization  IVIg  Intravenous Immunoglobulin  LAD  Leukocyte Antibody Detection Assay  LAP  Laparoscopy  LH  Luteinizing Hormone  LIT  Leukocyte Immunization Therapy  LMP  Last Menstrual Period (start date)  LOL  Laughing Out Loud  LP  Luteal-Phase  LPD  Luteal-Phase Defect  LSP  Low Sperm Count  LUF, LUFS  Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome  MAI  Miscarriage after Infertility  MC, m/c, misc.  Miscarriage  MENTS  Subject Matter May Be Difficult to Read  MESA  Microsurgical Epidiymal Sperm Aspiration  MF  Male Factor  MMR  Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine  MRI  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  NK  Natural Killer Cells  NORIF  Non-stimulated Oocyte Retrieval In (office) Fertilization  NP  Nurse Practitioner  NSA  Non-Surgical Sperm Aspiration  O, OV  Ovulation  OB  Obstetrician  OB/GYN  Obstetrician/Gynecologist  OC  Oral Contraceptives  OD  Ovum Donor, Ovulatory Dysfunction  OHSS  Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome  OPK  Ovulation Predictor Kit  OPT  Ovulation Predictor Test  OTC  Over the Counter  P4. Prog  Progesterone  PA  Physician's Assistant  PAI-1  Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1  PAF, PANFERT  Pregnancy After Infertility  PCO  Polycistic Ovaries  PCOD  Polycistic Ovarian Disease  PCOS  Polycistic Ovarian Syndrome  PCP  Primary Care Physician  PCT  Post Coital Test  PESA  Percutaneous Epididymal Sperm Aspiration  PG  Pregnant  PGD  Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis  PI  Primary Infertility  PID  Pelvic Inflamatory Disease  PIO  Progesterone In Oil  PLI  Paternal Leukocyte Immunization  PMS  Pre-menstrual Syndrome  PMN  Perinatal Mortality  POAS  Pee On A Stick  POC  Products of Conception  POF  Premature Ovarian Failure  PROM  Premature Rupture of Membranes  PTSD  Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder  PZD  Partial Zona Dissection  RE  Reproductive Endocrinologist  R-hFSH  Recombinant Human Follicle Stimulating Hormone  RI  Reproductive Immunologist  RIP  Reproductive Immunophynotype  ROS  Reactive Oxygen Species  RPL  Recurrent Pregnancy Loss  RSM  Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion  RX  Prescription  SA  Semen Analysis  SART  Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology  s/b, S/B  Stillbirth  SCORIF  Stimulated Cycle Oocyte Retrieval  SHG, SonoHSG  Sonohysterogram  SI  Secondary Infertility  SLE  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus  SPA  Sperm Penetration Assay  SPALS  Subsequent Pregnancy After a Loss Support  S/S  Signs/Symptoms  STD  Sexually Transmitted Disease  SubQ  Subcutaneous Injection  SUZI  Sub-zonal Insertion  T1  Type 1 Diabetic - Juvenile Diabetes  T2  Type 2 Diabetic - Insulin Resistant, Adult Onset  T4  Thyroxine  TEBG  Testosterone-Estradiol Binding Globulin  TDI  Therapeutic Donor Insemination  TESA  Testicular Sperm Aspiration  TDI  Therapeutic Sperm Extraction  TET  Tubal Embryo Transfer  TL  Tubal Ligation  TORCH  Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus & Herpes Test  TR  Tubal Reversal  TRH  Thyroid Releasing Hormone  TSH  Thyroid Stimulating Hormone  TTC  Trying To Conceive  TTCAR  Trying to Conceive After Reversal  TX  Treatment  TZD  Thiazolidinediones UR  Urologist  US  Ultrasound  UTI  Urinary Tract Infection  V  Vasectomy  VR  Vasectomy Reversal  WBC  White Blood Count  WHR  Waist to Hip Ratio  WNL  Within Normal Limits  ZIFT  Zygote Intra-fallopian Transfer