I could write a book with all the stuff they told me, but I'll try to keep it as succinct as possible, and then if anyone wants to know more I'll explain.
We had to fill out all the preliminary paperwork-Insurance, medical history, any fertility stuff that we had performed prior to going in today. This shows how
my mom-in-law is. Hubs had no idea if he had been tested for stuff like measles, TB, tay-sachs, blood type and all sorts of stuff, so of course, I told him to call his mom. He called her and she said 'yeah, you had measles and mumps.' I heard him say 'ok' and then he checked yes in those boxes. I questioned it silently as I'm reading BnB
He got off the line and was satisfied with his paperwork so he left the room. His mom called back immediately, and I answered the phone. She said 'My girlfriend is here, and said that he probably got the vaccines when he was little, so no, I don't think he had it. I think he got the vaccine.' I said 'ok.' When hubs came back in the room, I told him what his mom said and he was like 'Oh. Ok.' ARE YOU KIDDING ME? You seriously thought that a boy growing up in the US in the 1970s/80s had mumps and measles? *le sigh* Thank GOD her girlfriend was at the house. As you now know, his medical history is a bit of a mystery. We'll leave it at that. HA!!HA!! She also said that she THINKS SHE had some kind of rib cage infection (?) or something so he wrote that down. This is already a book. HA!!HA!! Anyway, whatever.
I met with the doctor, who was very nice. He wrote everything upside down so I could read the paper as he was writing. I thought that was pretty cool. He also explained how the chances of getting pregnant drop significantly after 35 (as we all know), and there are many people in my situation who have had good results. Initially, he asked me about medical history, drug usage, etc...looked at my charts, talked about any surgeries I had, looked at my charts, and reviewed my GYN records briefly. Then he told me how there are various processes we could go through depending on the three prescreening things that are in our future-vaginal ultrasound (checking for AMC (?) and my follicular reserve), sperm analysis and Day 2,3, or 4 blood work (estradiol, FSH, LH). They are going to check my hormones for FSH, LH, egg quality (AMH) and a host of other things. We will get tested for a genetic screening and STDs. If all of my genetic stuff is negative, we are ok. If I have any positives for the genetic stuff, they will then test husband for his genetics, and if there is another positive somewhere we may be in trouble. Let's assume all is well as far as genetics.
From there, they look at the results and then determine whether we are in the poor quality (immediately to IVF) or the ok category. My insurance will allow me to do IVF immediately because I will be 40 in two months. Otherwise, I have to do 3 IUIs first and if those don't work THEN I move on to IVF. Fine. IF none of that stuff works, then I would have 'unexplained fertility' and they try other things, like a different set of medicines, etc..
Based on ok results, we try ovulation induction and timed intercourse for IUI with associated medicine OR, because of my age, I could jump right to IVF. My call.
If things were bad, we go immediately to IVF and/or donor eggs, but I don't think things are that bad, so we didn't spend much time there. My insurance does not cover anything donated, unfortunately, so that would all be out of pocket. Booooooo...
The major issue at this point is age, and then the rest of the results are minor. He drew a bar graph at this point with a tall rectangle for age and short rectangles for the other stuff. ha! Jerk. HA!!HA!!
I asked him about my light 3-day periods and he said as long as I get my period, that's fine, and he said that progesterone would only help lengthen my LP, not increase my temperatures. That made me feel a little better.
I also asked how long people are patients of theirs and he said it all depends on doubt, money and success. He did give me a website to look at,
www.sart.org, which has fertility success rates of all the fertility clinics in the US (I think it's US only) and apparently you can check by age/facility and see what kind of results they have. I haven't looked at it yet, but I will.
Then I met with the nurse (and the weekend nurse) who would be taking care of all my needs. She got to the nitty gritty telling me who to call when my period starts (if it starts, and call if it doesn't). I rolled my eyes at it not starting based on my stupid chart, then she gave me hubs' cup and told me that he can do the test, and I just have to keep the sample inside my shirt at room temperature while I drop off the sample. She also gave me some paperwork on keeping sex fun (UGH!), and to curtail smoking and drinking and get back to taking my prenatals. I'm having an off month after my depressing AF last month. So check! She told me some other random stuff, but I can't really tell from the paperwork in my folder. They told me that donor eggs are really super expensive, and that's why a lot of aged stars do that because they have the money to do it. It's about $14k for donor eggs/medicine. IVF is about $7k, and IUI is about $500-1000. I think I said before my insurance will cover 80% up to 25k, and the financial lady said that it will be a while before I reach that threshold, which is good to know.
First, we have to do the SA, and get our STD and genetic bloodwork, wait for AF, and proceed from there. So I'm guessing I won't really start anything until May, which is my bday month, so maybe by my bday we'll be prego. It's wishful thinking, but at this point, that's all I have.
I think that sums it up...all in all a good visit, and I'm ready to get started!
Here I come!
your pooch sounds lovely they are so in tune with us sometimes
You made me laugh with the Hubby, men sometimes just don't get it
Think AF will show as usual between CD25/28 even though I ovulated late the signs are there 
how pathetic is that...
to the front page so everyone knows what us oldies go thru let me know what ya think
or one of these
or maybe one of these for you this year 
your sunglasses. Are they Prada?' I said 'Um..no. I picked them up for ten bucks at the airport!' She said 'Oh...they look just like the Prada glasses for about $300. Don't tell anyone.' I said 'oh, ok. I won't.' Then I told hubs 'Just when you think I'm a fashion disaster, I'm actually fashion forward!!' Who knew??? 
