Testing, Testing

In August of 2018, Andy and I decided to meet with my OBGYN to discuss my medical history and how it might affect our fertility in the future. At the time, my doctor was not concerned with the procedures I had had in the past, but instead encouraged us to take some time "trying" on our own. We were told that we should stop preventing pregnancy for a few months. If, after six months, we were unsuccessful in getting pregnant, then we would take next steps towards having a baby.

The first of those steps was a simple blood test for me. My doctor wanted to rule out polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other potential issues. Thankfully, my bloodwork came back quickly, and we determined that I do not have PCOS. All other levels for testosterone, estrogen, etc. were normal and there was no cause for concern.

Test #1: A+

The second step in this early process was for Andy to be tested. This is among the first of the tests that doctors order because it is the cheapest, quickest, and least painful. And, quite honestly, if the man is infertile, the buck stops there. There's no need for the woman to undergo various tests and treatments. This wasn't the case for us.

Test #2: A+

The third step moving forward was for me to have an Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) test. This super-fun test is a procedure that uses an X-ray to look at a woman's fallopian tubes and uterus. The doctor injects a dye into the woman's cervix which then flows through (hopefully) the fallopian tubes. They do this to determine if the tubes are twisted, blocked by "debris" or completely clear. In a sense, the dye can act like Drano in the fallopian tubes, helping to clear any debris that may be clogging them. So, in many cases, women have reported getting pregnant immediately after their HSG test. Or, if the dye doesn't flow through simply, then the doctors would perform follow up procedures as necessary.

On the day of my test, I left work early and rushed over to the hospital. Andy happened to have a doctor's appointment for the same day about one hour prior to my appointment. As the clock ticked on and the time of my appointment approached, Andy still had not made it to the hospital to join me. I'm independent; I didn't mind being there alone and I assured Andy that I was not angry that he couldn't join me. I had things under control. A nurse helped me get ready by leading me to the room where the procedure would be done. She gave me an overview of everything and then left. After I got ready, my doctor came in and we were ready to go - still no Andy. At the very moment that my doctor was about to do her thing, the nurse runs in saying, "Her husband is here!" and then everyone asked me if I wanted him there. That kind of made me laugh, and I said, "Of course!" Andy came in and they resumed the process.

I won't go into the details of the test, but I will share with you that I very quickly realized that I was more than happy to have Andy there with me. Normally, the procedure takes about 5 minutes; lucky for me - mine lasted 15! As I laid there with tears streaming down my face all I could think was, "This better be worth it." But anyone who knows me, knows that I try to be tough and I was also telling myself that this was no big deal, that many women before me had endured worse. And I was right. But in that moment, all that mattered was that I was in a very vulnerable position and in a lot of pain.

After the dye is injected, an X-ray technician and the doctor watch the screen to see how the dye flows. In this moment, both exclaimed, "Oh this is beautiful!" and Andy and I were thinking, "Is that good?" It is. There were no twists or blockage in my fallopian tubes!

It was over - praise the Lord! Our next step was to try, try again. That night, after experiencing this small trauma, we decided to go to Wendy's to stuff our faces with French fries and Frosties! Then, we went to the movies to see "Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse". I also ordered popcorn there - you know what they say - Treat Yo' Self!!

Test #3: A+

So, there we were having completed and passed the first three tests in the process. My little achiever heart was happy, but also confused as to why we still weren't getting pregnant. It was February 2019; six months had passed since our initial conversation with the OBGYN. We were thankful to have a few questions answered, but we were still asking, "So what now?"

We took some time to deliberate and pray. And from there, we decided to move forward with fertility medication. I'll cover this experience in my next post.