Fertility analysis

[dansaineon]

Hi everyone!

I'm 24 years old from Sweden and me and my fiance have been TTC:ing for about 20 months now. A few months ago we we're placed in line to undergo a fertility analysis at our local hospital. Today was the first appointment and to say the least I was nearly peeing my pants, that's how nervous I was. Crazy..

I think most of you at this forum are from the UK or US, so I thought maybe some of you we're interested to read about a fertility analysis in Sweden. Maybe it's interesting to read about how it's done in other countries..

Anyway, today was our first appointment. We got to meet a general physician and did a little research. I had to do a vaginal ultrasound to examine the ovaries. This investigation showed no problems, everything was normal. I had almost hoped that they would find something wrong there, because I just want to know NOW why we have not managed to conceive yet. Oh well ..

After the ultrasound, I had to do three blood samples. There they will check my progesterone value, prolactin value and TSH value. The latter I do not know what it's called in English but it illustrates the function of the thyroid gland. Have any of you had to do these tests?

Now nothing will happen until my fiance has left a semen sample, and it will probably be sometime next week. Then I hope we get answers to all tests. Also hope to meet with a fertility doctor next time and not a general practitioner..

In Sweden you have to try to get pregnant for a year before you are entitled to get help from the health care. We crossed that border for a long time ago.. Now, I just want everything to go as quick as possible so you get some answers on what it is that is wrong, if there is something wrong. My worst nightmare is that the doctors will come to the conclusion that there is'nt any problem with us, and that the only solution for us is to keep trying on our own. Honestly, I would like it to be something wrong that they can fix with the help of medicine or surgery..

Have a wonderful day!

 

[wonderstars]

Hi dansaineon!

Well, I can give you a bit of the Canadian perspective.

I asked my family doctor for a referral to a high-risk OBGYN the month we began trying. Here, you can get many of the blood tests done by the family doctor but for anything further, it's usually through an a specialist.

At the time I didn't anticipate having difficulties getting pregnant, just delivering. In hindsight, it probably would have been better to be referred to the fertility clinic but oh well.

Anyway, once at the Gynecologist I got an initial work up consisting of a pelvic ultrasound, transvaginal ultrasound and CD21 progesterone. We were then told to try until we were at a year and come back.Over here, the recommendation is 1 year but that doesn't affect coverage for anything. All tests are covered but not anything relating to IUI or IVF.

Once the 1 year mark hit, we did CD3 workup of TSH (indeed to check thyroid hormones levels which can affect ovulation). He also requested a sperm analysis and HSG for myself. My anatomy, it turns out, is messy due to abdominal surgery so the HSG was cancelled and instead of a laparascopy it was suggested that we do a Selective Salpingogram.

After this, assuming there's no blockage, we'll try clomid. If not, then we have to be referred to the official Fertility Clinic to have IUI and if need be, IVF.

Canada is really good for health coverage but not when it comes to further fertility treatment, which sucks.

Good luck with everything! I've found the ladies very helpful in the LTTC forum, they understand what the frustration is like.

 

[lovie]

hej dansaineon

I'm going through fertility investigations in sweden aswell! I'm bristish but living in sweden (my OH is swedish)

I had a simalar experience to you, i had a ultra sound and all looked clear (i too was half hoping that they would find something to "fix") we ahve the same blood tests you mentioned and a sa this month... the woman was allready talking about ivf, she said next meeting (16th jan) i will put you on the list for ivf and you should get that in april... did your doctor recomend that?? i think its abit soon personally!!

what part of sweden are you in? im in järfalla just north of stockholm.

best of luck, Kram!!

 

[dansaineon]

Wonderstars:I'm not sure what it is like in Sweden, how much of the fertility treatment that is funded by the government. But if you compare with other countries, we're incredible lucky in Sweden with regard to such things. For example, the government pays for three IVF treatments, which I assume is incredibly incredibly generous when compared to others.

Lovie: Hej hej! Oh, how exciting! Did you get answers to your tests, then? My doctor talked about IVF but only in terms of examples of different treatment methods, however, would not mind that he had said the same as your doctor did.. It would be nice to not be forced to stand in line when/if it is time for IVF, maybe by that time the line, at that time, maybe the line is not so long.
I live in Karlstad (Värmland), halfway between Gothenborg and Stockholm by lake Vänern.

 

[lovie]

what a lovely place to live!! we went sking just north of karlstad in Torsby last winter, it was so pretty! We really are extreamly lucky to get so much help with ivf in sweden, today i found this interesting info on how many IVF and IUI tries you get in different communes here is the link https://www.rfsu.se/Bildbank/Sex-Politik/rfsubarometern2011_110710.pdf?epslanguage=sv

i was interested that in stockholm we get 6 iui tries and i think maybe i would like to do that before ivf.. the thing that worries me with ivf is its such a big step... and im not ready for what would happen after ivf.. if it doesn work

i'd love to keep up with how you are doing, do you have a journal?

 

[wonderstars]

Wonderstars:I'm not sure what it is like in Sweden, how much of the fertility treatment that is funded by the government. But if you compare with other countries, we're incredible lucky in Sweden with regard to such things. For example, the government pays for three IVF treatments, which I assume is incredibly incredibly generous when compared to others.

One of the provinces just recently started funding IVF (3 cycles I think) so hoping the rest follow. Another province will fund 3 cycles, only if both fallopian tubes are blocked. I imagine things may change but not before I would need it (*if* I need it).

Maybe we should move to Sweden. Hockey and snow = win, win.

 

[lovie]

Maybe we should move to Sweden. Hockey and snow = win, win.

no snow yet! at least no snow here in stockholm! very odd

 

[dansaineon]

Lovie: Yes, it's really nice here! Unfortunately I am no fan of skiing, so I will just have to trust your opinion
Oh, what interesting reading! It looks like that you get as many attempts in Värmland, too, and six attempts feels like many so that's good.
I understand that you feel that way about IVF, I feel the same. To me it feels like the very last resort and it's frankly a horrible thought .. : (

Yes, the same! Unfortunately I have no such thing, but maybe I should get one?

Wonderstars: I understand, yes it's amazing what a difference it really depends on which country you live in. We'll keep our fingers crossed that the rest of the country do the same thing!

Well, maybe you should haha! And no, there is no snow in Karlstad yet either. Crazy! Yesterday was the first Sunday of Advent, and the temperature was +7 degrees Celsius, which I probably never experienced before hehe.

 

[dansaineon]

Tomorrow the hospital will analyze my fiances swimmers and both him and I are really nervous. He was really upset the other day by the sheer thought of it, he's really worried about the results and what they will find out. In all honesty I do not think there will be any issues and I honestly hope that the problem will be me. It feels like there's many more solutions if the problem is the woman..

 

[lovie]

I hope all goes well for your OH tomorrow!! it is a scary thing to do, my OH is doing his on thursady, he wanted me to take his sample on the train, close to my body all the way across stockholm.. i said no!

journals are great, it really helps you to get things sorted in your head, and you get lots of advice from other people aswell

maybe there is nothing wrong with you or your oh and you will get a natural bfp soon i really hope so!!

let me know if you get a journal!!