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Since we’re still not pregnant, we’re taking the next step towards finding out why we can not conceive. I am scheduled to have HSG done next week. So what is hysterosalpingography (try saying that fast!) ? It is an x-ray test used to view your reproductive organs. During the procedure, a radiologist takes images as a contrast dye flows throught the uterus and the fallopian tubes.  These problems include blockage or narrowing of the fallopian tubes, scarring of the tubes and uterus, abnormal shap or size of the tubes and/or uterus and growths in the uterus. Wow. Just thinking about those makes me wonder what would they find out in there? Hope it all comes out normal or good. This is  pretty expensive test, I wish i didn’t have to do it. oh baby where art thou?

I got another blood test result. This time it’s for the FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level. My test results showed 3.8 mIU/ml. The health provider’s standard scale shows 5-20 IU/L. I know IU stands for International Unit, and I assume that the value “m”  means mililiter so basically, that means my FSH level is lower than “normal”. I got a little scared and started reading some more about the normal levels of FSH. So far, i’ve only those tests done on the 3rd day of cycle, mine was done on the 21st. Also I read that normal FSH is anything below 10. But if the standard they use at my clinic says 5-20, what does that mean now? I read that low fsh mean s the body doesn’t need to work hard to get a normal ovulation. If the egg number is low, the body needs to work harder to get ovulation, so it increases the amount of FSH in an effort to push the ovaries. A high FSH means the egg number is reduced, sometimes to levels so low that pregnancy is not possible. So do I have a good FSH level or not? I can’t wait to see the doctor again for some explanation. 

This morning I went to the lab to get blood drawn and tested. They also took some urine sample to pregnancy test. I wasn’t expecting that, but it was ok. I needed to pee anyway :D. Let me just tell you that the lab tech messed up the first time. Yeah, she stuck a needle on my left arm, wiggled the needle while it was in my skin then eventually said, “this one’s empty, let’s try the other one!”  I KNOW! So now i have two bruised up arms.

Anyway, ’nuff about that. I got the results an hour later. All the blood test results were good (I think), but the pregnancy test turned out negative. again. That was very disappointing. I don’t know what’s wrong but we’ll keep trying. Next step is the HSG test… more on that later.

The first blood i will be undergoing in a few hours is the blood test that’s taken on the 21st day of a woman’s cycle. This explains why I need it :

On the twenty-first day of your cycle, your progesteron levels may be tested. The body increases its production of progesterone after releasing an egg, so a test will confirm whether ovulation has taken place.

A blood test around this day will verify whether a sufficient level of progesterone exists in order to maintain a sufficient luteal phase. The luteal phase begins the day after ovulation and lasts 12 to 16 days, during which time progesterone levels rise in order to provide a fertile environment for the egg.

In addition, a blood test may also be conducted in order to determine whether you have any thyroid problems that might be affecting your chances of getting pregnant.

This is supposed to be a fasting blood test. I am already starving!

Last week we went to see an endocrinologist to check if there’s anything wrong with me, why we haven’t been able to conceive yet. She was really nice and very friendly, I felt really comfortable. They did most of what I assumed was standard stuff - a complete physical, a pap, and even an ultrasound! Everything checked out good. Whew. But it’s not over yet-  this weekend I need to practically “donate” blood. They have to do about eight blood tests! What sorts of stuff can you tell about somebody just by looking in their blood? A lot apparently! They told me they could even tell how  many eggs I have left! HUUUHHHH???  Oh well, Im sure they were telling the truth :). I’m getting tired of waiting but I’m still really hopeful.

Barack Obama WON! (ok, so this is a little too late of a news, sorry for that). That’s one less thing I need to worry about for now - a good president in the white house. I’m sure that McCain was a good man in person, we just don’t need to worry about him having the same views as Bush, and certainly we don’t need to worry about him dying and then having Palin as the new president. Imagine the President of the World’s Most Powerful nation didn’t know the Africa is a continent.  Or do not imagine it because there’s no need. Thank goodness!  So for now I am taking a deep breath that there’s hope for us. Maybe a new leadership is what we all need to get us out of this mess. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to worry so much that now I can really think about conceiving and not worrying about the world that I would be bringing the baby in to… Let’s have  a good weekend. I’ll start posting daily stuff again next week.

So tomorrow is election day 2008. Time for all of us (if you haven’t done so) to go out and exercise our right, acknowledge this wonderful privilege of being able to vote for who we think would be the better of the two contenders. In my previous posts, you saw who I would most likely vote for. Let’s make that VOTED for. That’s right. I already made my mind, filled out the ballot and mailed it last week. I can’t wait for the results. This country really needs change that they can believe in. You may not trust the new guy on hundred percent, but at least give him a chance. He’s already better than the current one.