The Initial Checks

Here goes....


If you are familiar with these then you could just skip on to the next post, but if this blog is informing you of what happens during fertility investigations then I hope it helps x


Joey produced a sperm sample, which was funny because he didn't actually want to do it into a tube, so I had to help. We then had to make a fast dash to the local hospital, baby seeds in hand. Joey pulled up in front of the doors and I frantically ran to the front desk breathlessly asking for directions to the Microbiology Dept. I then ran, well once you start and everyone's starring you can't really stop until you're out of sight (or is that just me?). So I land at the Microbiology Dept and find a bell. That no one answers. It felt like an entire hour passed before I saw a white coat.
Needless to say, I filled out a short form and left our seeds with them.


I, on the other hand, had to have a recent smear and swabs. 


Our referral from the local hospital came through quite quickly, but appointments were booking almost 5wks in advance. It was January 2011 when we had our consultation with the registrar.
He explained that the referral is always made in the name of the female and that the female was the main patient for all examinations. The male would only ever have a semen analysis.


So I was referred for a Hycosy (or Hystero Contrast Salpingogram) in February, whereby dye is inserted into each fallopian tube under ultrasound to check for any obstructions or damage.


We were then called back at the end of April 2011 to be told that whilst my tubes were fine, Joey's semen analysis identified a lower than average count. And so it began...

The Background

It has been 18mths since Joey and I started actively trying to conceive (ttc) our first baby. This was September 2010.
We hadn't been overly keen to pin point key dates to try, as it took the spontaneity out of things and we were, are still fresh into our relationship.
We had been trying but not since July and it hadn't happened, so we decided to get all the checks undertaken by our GP.
Luckily, someone close to us had been through fertility investigations and had shared their experiences with us. They had told us that to be considered for tests with your GP you had to be trying to conceive for at least 12mths prior. 
So, of course, we lied.
Our GP instantly picked up on the fact that I had embarrassingly contracted an STI in my late teens, from my first boyfriend and highlighted the risks associated with Joey's diabetes.
Aside from this, our health is very well. We are both within the 'healthy' range of our BMI, we exercise throughout the week, don't smoke (well, Joey has given up recently), we eat quite a good organic diet (with copius amounts of chocolate added to mine), and drink alcohol on special occasions (incl. BBQs and Bank Holidays). Our careers are very successful, we work hard and when we have time, we play hard - preferably on an hot beach somewhere!
Anyway, after the unsympathetic reality check from the GP, we left the surgery quite disheartened. I was beating myself up for being young, stupid and naive for trusting a cheating arsehole, and Joey was stewing over his less than ideal diabetic control.... Gee thanks Doc!
The GP had referred us to our local hospital for 'some checks'....