18-8-2009 - Ob-gyn appointment Aug 18, 09

My mood while writing this blog: Informed

I had a follow up visit with my ob-gyn today. He is wonderful and God sent. He really listens to me, doesn't discourage me but he doesn't give me unrealistic expectations. I really don't like the fertility dr I'm seeing but in Ontario (Canada) the treatment offered by the fertility dr, like cycle monitoring etc., is covered by the free health insurance plan (not IVF, etc. just the testing). If my ob-gyn ordered cycle monitoring, etc. I would have to cover those costs myself. Therefore, I go to the fertility clinic in order to get my tests for free. I feel the bottom line for the fertility dr is money. If we chose to go with IVF, it's $8000, if we choose some other method it's a minimum of $1500. A lot of the stuff I'm concerned about, like my high FSH, she just ignores and tells me it's not really so bad, even though I know otherwise. The SHG I had last month showed a healthy ovary (I have only 1) and a healthy uterus but the u/s also showed a 5 mm septum at the very top of the uterus. The fertility dr told me not to be concerned because they're seeing this septum at the very top of the uterus in more and more women these days and she didn't feel surgery was necessary.

When I met with my ob-gyn I told him about the SHG results and he was very concerned and wanted to see the pcitures from the u/s. I got him a copy of the u/s on DVD and after review and consult with other drs he wanted to see me.

He says that my FSH is very bad and unfortunately there is nothing he or I can do to fix that. However he said the body works in miraculous ways and with my FSH levels I shouldn't even be able to get pregnant and I've been getting pregnant and that in itself is a miracle :o). However, he is concerned about the septum. He told me he can perform surgery to get rid of this septum but I lose 5 months and at my age 5 months is a very long time. I would have to go on birth control pills for 2 months to clear the uterus, have the surgery and have 2 months to heal the uterus. Would I be open to this idea? My husband and I discussed this and we decided that we will go ahead with the surgery because at this point we have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If I get pregnant tomorrow and end up miscarrying again, I will lose another 5 months regardless but I will also be emotionally broken once again. If this septum is causing my miscarriages (see excerpt below), it will keep happening and if this surgery can fix this, what do I have to lose at this point?

“Septums vary in their size and severity. The septum usually starts at the top of the uterus (the fundus) and can reach down to the uterine opening (the cervix). The larger the septum, the more likely it will interfere with pregnancy. The septum does not have a normal blood supply. It is believed that if a fertilized egg implants on the outer wall of the uterus, it will do just fine. But if it implants on the septum, the placenta may not get enough blood, and this may result in miscarriage or premature labor and early delivery”

For us adoption or egg donors are not an option. We would like to have our own child and if we can't, we need to accept that and move forward but we would feel a lot better knowing that we have left no stone unturned and we've done everything we could do. I guess if it means we need to wait 4-5 months to provide a better environment for a fetus that's what we need to do. The rest is out of our hands.