Our TTC Saga

Our TTC timeline will show progresses on our ordeal and battle with infertility. Day by day, as we improve in our journey is an answered prayer from God. A miracle and a hope of eventually conceiving… 

August 22, 2002 – In a relationship status with DH. 

May 25, 2008 – Our engagement. 

December 20, 2008 – My birthday, my wedding to the man God gave me to love and be loved in return. 

April 2009 – We waited for one, two, three and four months for that little angel to come and yet four months had passed and there are still no signs of pregnancy. I remember having delayed for almost 2 months so we decided to visit an OB Gynaecologist. She prescribes me to take folic acid as pre-natal vitamin and to take duphaston tablet for 10 days. The duphaston is for inducement of AF, or if no AF, it’s to help you stay pregnant and the fetus/baby intact. Sad to say, AF came. Thus, the start of our TTC. Luckily, the first OB we visited is a specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology who deals with infertility problems. Sadly, we have to changed OB for the simple reason that we are not satisfied with her service. 

May 5, 2009 – We went to a series of laboratory tests, my prolactin level, my blood sugar, thyroid ultrasound, etc. and for DH, his sperm analysis. Sadly, those tests answered all our agonies and several questions on "why" I have difficulty on conceiving. I passed the ultrasound on my thyroid but then even if my thyroid was normal my prolactin test failed. My first reading was in fact very high compared to normal prolactin levels, I had 52+ which is very unusual. My blood sugar was also high but it doesn't reached yet the maximum normal level. DH, on the other hand, was diagnosed having low sperm count and motility. The results are: Motiliy (NV: >50%); 1st hour: Motile-10%, Non-Motile-90%; 2nd hour: Motile-5%, Non-Motile-95%; 3rd hour: Motile-0%, Non-Motile-100%; Morphology (NV: >50%); Normal-90%, Abnormal-10%; Cell Count Result; Sperm Concentration-1,050,000, Sperm Count-3,150,000.

Truly, both of us were saddened by all these results. Before going back to our OB, we took so many hours searching on the net “why like this, why like that”; “what to do and what not to do”; and so on and so forth.

So, after doing all the lab tests, we're bound to go back to OB for the counseling and for the results of our tests.

May 16, 2009 – We went back to our OB with the results of our lab tests. With my abnormal prolactin level and DH's low sperm count and motility, our OB asked us to do another round of tests to confirm if there are really abnormalities. And she advised us that before doing again the tests both of us must set our minds free from any worries, depression, and the like since stress had a major effect on laboratory tests. So, we have to do another tests after a month of rest. Our OB prescribed us to take folic acid for me and Zyme E for DH. After a month of resting, we had our second round of lab tests on June 12, 2009. True in her words, my OB was right when she told us that being stressed free had a major role when taking tests. My prolactin level went down from 52+ to 12+ which is lower than the normal level of prolactin for women. DH's test on the other hand still showed abnormal level of his sperm analysis.

June 27, 2009 – On our visit to OB, we told her that I did not have my period since May. After seeing my prolactin test, my OB suspect that maybe I had the so called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) because of my sugar and prolactin level, my irregular period, and hormonal imbalance. And so she prescribed me to take duphaston for my period to come out. I have to take it once daily for 10 days and wait for another 10 days. If by chance my period comes, I have to schedule myself for a transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) to check my ovaries and egg cells and also if I really have PCOS. This must be done while I am having my period. DH, on his part, will have another series of tests on (a) serum FSH; (b) serum LH; (c) testosterone; and (d) testiscular ultrasound with doppler study. All these are to be done to check why my DH has low sperm count and motility and if he have an oligoasthenospermia.

After having been delayed for more than two months, sad to say my period came on the July 10, 2009. I texted OB and she scheduled me for my very first transvaginal ultrasound. My ultrasound findings are:

"The uterus is retroverted with smooth contour and homogenous eschopattern measuring 6.7 x 3.3 x 2.9 cms (cervix measures 2.7 x 2.2 x 1.9 cms). The endometrium is hyperechoic measuring 0.2 cms anteriorly and posteriorly with fluid interface in between and with intact subendometrial halo. The right ovary measures 2.3 x 1.2 x 1.3 cms. The left ovary measures 2.1 x 2.6 x 2.0 cms. It contains more than 12 follicles less than 1 cm in diameter. There is no free fluid in the cul de sac. My ultrasound impression are: I had a (a) polycystic left ovary; and (b) a normal uterus and right ovary."

So it's positive. I have PCOS, and so I started with my metformin and duphaston work up. Metformin for PCOS and duphaston to regularize my period. I have to take metformin 3x a day and on the 16th day of my cycle I have to take duphaston once daily for 10 days. What can I say, no comment. Things are really getting so depressing and stressful. I still had one more procedure to take and I honestly have no will-power yet to do it. I'm still afraid doing that hysterosalpingogram (HSG) which is often done to check infertility test which shows whether both fallopian tubes are open and whether the shape of the uterine cavity is normal. DH, on the other hand, did his first ever testiscular ultrasound with doppler study, and the results are:

"Both testes presents with homogenous parenchymal echopattern. The right testis measures 3.09 x 2.53 x 1.94 cm. The left testis measures 3.18 x 2.53 x 1.65 cm. No focal lesions nor clarifications noted. The epididymes are unremarkable. There are dilated and tortuous veins of the pampiniform plexus in both sides, more in the left exhibiting reflux on valsalva maneuver. No abnormal fluid collection seen. Hubby's ultrasound impression are: (a) bilateral varicoceles; and (b) unremarkable testes."

It's positive again for my DH and this varicocele thing is the cause of his oligoasthenospermia. It seems that our journey to parenthood had become more and more complicated after all these tests. From this moment, we started taking fertility drugs and many cycles of fertility treatments. 

August 2009 – Change of OB-RE. At that time, I can say that my new OB is very accommodating and pleasant unlike the first one. From her I take my first round of clomid to help me ovulate. My TVU even shows a dominant follicle in my right and left ovaries. It was also my first time to see one and both ovaries has one each. A dominant follicles at CD10 and I cried. I was imagining a fetus inside it and I just realize how wonderful the process of conception is. Sadly, I have to stop seeing my OB again because the place is too far from where we live. Here's my ultrasound:

a dominant follicle on my right ovary

a dominant follicle on my left ovary

my  ever first TVU showing the above-mentioned
dominant follicles  (April 6, 2011)

On the other hand, DH and I went to see a urologist for the second time. At first, DH is diagnosed with bilateral varicocele and so we opted for a second opinion. The result of his second Doppler ultrasound, only the left testicle is varicocele. The urologist also recommended for DH to undergo varicocelectomy to open the blockage on his testicles. Unfortunately, we decided not to have the surgery because it doesn’t give us 100% assurance that DH counts and motility will improve and worst it will still reoccur. The surgery is only an option and not a cure. 

DHs Doppler Ultrasound dated February 9, 2010

December 25, 2010 – My big brother died unexpectedly on Christmas day which resulted in me undergoing a long term depression. I did not take my fertility drugs and have to stop on our work up for months. 

April 2011 – Through God’s grace, I came to realize that life must go on despite the untimely demise of my brother. Although he is not here anymore in my heart and in my mind he will forever be loved and remembered. 

Hence, I decided to stand up and continue my life, our TTC journey. This time with my third OB-RE. Metformin, folic acid, duphaston and clomid cycle again plus TVU and FM. 

September 2011 – We decided to stop our work ups since none of it is successful. Although, on my part, my periods will be in a normal CD31-CD32 and FM will show that one to two follicles are growing still on DH case SA results will only show his count is improving by 1,000 to 5,000 but less than 1M. 

September 2011 to June 2012 – With the course of our fertility treatments, DH and I choose to take on fertility supplements while on rest with our work ups and fertility drugs. We tried fertility blend for men and women, menavit (given by a cousin from Australia for DH), pro creation for men and women of healthy options and other products still from healthy options. 

The fertility supplements in healthy options helped us a lot in our TTC journey especially on DH’s infertility issues. We take the following supplements for how many months: 

ME: folic acid, evening primrose oil, flaxseed oil and pro creation for women
DH: zinc, folic acid, vitamin c, vitamin e with selenium, flaxseed oil and pro creation for men

January 2012 to June 2012 – Our home sweet home is under construction and renovation. We mutually agreed to focus first on the renovation of our home so we can move there and continue our battle to TTC. We move to our new home on the 28th day of May 2012. Note, however, that while having our TTC break, we make it to a point to still take our fertility supplements from healthy options. 

July to August 2012 – Still on break with fertility drugs and treatments. We stopped taking fertility supplements from healthy options, except the zinc for DH, and tried USANA supplements which are introduced to us by my little brother. But then again we have to discontinue using it because of irregularities in my AF.

August 2012 - Bought Fertilaid for men and women plus FertileCM. I have read so many reviews on this fertility supplements over the net but we always postpone the "buying and trying" of this product. We pray that this supplements are the ones that will cure our infertility issues and eventually have us conceive.

September 2012 – Are we expecting good news here??? My last menstrual period is on August 10 but still a no show for AF.

ALL FUTURE DAY TO DAY PROGRESS ON OUR TTC JOURNEY WILL BE FOUND ON OUR TTC TIMELINE...