My hubby and I have been trying to get pregnant, without luck.  Last week, we went to see a fertility specialist.  Hubby’s semen was tested, and he passed with flying colors.  I however, inexplicably, do not ovulate.  My current diagnosis is unexplained infertility.  I have some tests coming up in the next few weeks to determine if we are a candidate for IUI or IVF.

A brief explanation of both:

In IUI (intra uterine insemination): I take drugs to stimulate ovulation, and then the doctor basically uses a turkey baster to place hubby’s sperm near my fallopian tubes.

In IVF (in vitro fertilization): I take drugs to stimulate ovulation, the doctor removes eggs from my ovaries, puts them in a petri dish with hubby’s sperm, and then places the fertilized embryos in my uterus.

The cost of IUI is approximately $2,500 per attempt, and only provides a 20% chance of getting pregnant.  The cost of IVF is $18,000 per try, but has a much higher success rate, of about 60%.  If IUI isn’t an option based on my test results or if it just plain old doesn’t work, we won’t be able to afford IVF. 🙁  I’m trying to sell some of our stuff now to raise some money, but we don’t have a lot of valuable stuff to sell.

I had no idea infertility treatment was so damn expensive, and of course my insurance won’t cover any of it.  I just needed to tell someone…and I know my family here will support me.  We haven’t told friends or family that we are trying, or that we are having issues.  I can’t bear the constant questions; "are you pregnant yet?" "how long have you been trying?"  "have you tried X method?"

*sigh*  I’m down, guys. I’m hurting. I’m ashamed that I’m broken.  I’m sad.  I’m trying to stay hopeful, but it’s so hard.  It doesn’t consume my thoughts constantly, but it weighs on me.  Keep me in your thoughts and prayers, loves. 

:lipstick:

*clarification*

I have a condition called PCOS that causes me to form cysts when I ovulate.  It’s possible to have the pain without actually releasing an egg.  This condition makes it difficult to conceive, so I was on a drug called Clomid to force ovulation, but it didn’t work for me.