Our First Doctor's Appointment

Well, the first scheduled appointment to move forward on our journey to becomming parents was July 19th. (first official appointment- we have been trying to conceive since last July- became pregnant in October and miscarried soon after- read my post from earlier- 'June 23, 2010'). It was really nothing special, to me, but a step forward I guess. I was really hoping for more aggressive treatment to begin with, but I know my doctor (Dr. M) was looking out for us finacially the most- which is nice. Since I am such a "normal" woman, I ovulate regularly (same day each month) and I don't seem to have any other problems, and the fact that I have gotten pregnant in the past, my docotor didn't want to put me on any kind of fertility meds at this time. Fertility drugs can increase your risk for multiples as well as losing a pregnancy too. Dr. M basicially at this time, wants me to come in and have some blood work drawn on my next cycle (which has been a bit of a hassle, considering it's been on a weekend and then my vacation week since we've been to see her.) The blood work she is testing is a Day 3 FSH level- which is the follicle stimulating hormone. The FSH helps control the cycle and the production of the eggs. The amount varies throughout a woman's cycle, but is at it's highest right before release of the egg (ovulation.) This level can help in finding infertility cause. Then she also wants a Day 21 Progesterone level. This test will show if I have enough progesterone in my body- which is produced during the release of an egg. It helps prepare the lining of the uterus to recieve the egg and become fertilized. This level will help assess infertility, whether ovulation is occuring (which I get positive OPK tests every single month, and the risk of miscarriage, should I become pregnant.) (I am sure once I do, I will have progesterone levels monitored for a while at the beginning of the pregnancy- I am thinking this could have been what caused my last loss- but who knows... it's just my guess.) Dr. M also wants Eric to go in for a semen analysis, which is the first medical step in male infertility. I know, not fun! He really doesn't want to do this, nor do I want him to, but we both know it's for the best in finding out what the cause is for me not getting pregnant again. If all these come back "normal", I think the next step will be a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), which is a X-Ray test that looks inside the uterus and fallopian tubes with a contrast dye to be sure there are no blockages and that the tubes are open. It will show that the uterus is of normal shape and there is no kind of blockages (adhesions, polyps, fibroids) that could prevent someone from becomming pregnant as well as losing a pregnancy. As I write this, it has now been a month since we've seen Dr. M. Still nothing has been done in taking steps forawrd since our appointment. (because of my crazy periods wanting to come on a weekend and my vacation, while away, therefore, I can't go to the doctor's office.) So, today, I am calling to make my first appointment with Fertility Associates of Memphis (the one and only fertility specialist in Memphis.) I am a little nervous about doing so, but I have many friends who have made the step already and are "getting the ball moving a lot faster" this way. This will be the docotor's office Eric goes to as well for his testing, which we will be scheduling soon (working around his work schedule to get in). Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we travel this road of becoming parents. We both appreciate it more than you know. And I will keep you updated as things progress. If all this comes back "normal"