Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

We had our follow-up with the RE today.  And I left with a prescription for birth control pills.  Seriously, this guy knows we are trying to get pregnant, right?  Someone needs to tell him how these things work.

Ok, so in all seriousness... here's the deal.  We have been diagnosed with multiple-cause infertility. 
Me: anovulation (PCOS still not confirmed)
Josh: male factor infertility (MFI) - low morphology.

Josh's semen analysis came back, here are the results:
(don't know total volume, forgot to ask)
37.5 mil sperm / cc (>20 mil/cc is normal)
57% motility (>50% motile is normal)
5% morphology (using the "strict" method, meaning that something more like >14% would be normal)

There seems to be a lot of variation in the medical community in how morphology is measured, but our doc's lab uses the Krueger criteria, and therefore 5% is low.  Low enough to warrant a MFI diagnosis.  

But all hope is not lost.  We aren't ready for IVF yet, since we have only had 3 legitimate cycles where I've ovulated, and only had good timing on one of those.  The swimmers really just haven't had a fair chance yet.  We still need to make sure my tubes are open, so I have a HSG (hysterosalpingogram) scheduled in 2 weeks.  Since I'm already on CD7, this will be a break cycle (which also allows for the HSG test), and I'll take the BCP to keep things regular and keep any potential cysts on my ovaries in control.  I'm not crazy about taking the month off, but it makes the most sense. 

Then, we will continue with a few Clomid cycles.  I have ovulated (albeit late) on the 150 mg dose, so we will stick with that.  I'll start Clomid on CD3 for earlier response, and the RE office will monitor progress regularly for Josh and I to do timed intercourse.  (With the low morphology, doc doesn't feel as though the chances really increase with an IUI over intercourse.)  We have two cycles, then we need to consider other options.  (My RE limits patients to 6 cycles on Clomid due to some evidence of increased ovarian cancer beyond that.)  We will then most likely talk injectable drugs or IVF.

So, we have a plan, for now.  I am really trying to accept the fact that this process will just not be fast for us.  And I am trying to stay positive that when the time is right, God will give us the child(ren) we so desperately want.

*********
On a lighter note.... curious how our predictions from last week turned out?

JV Actual Line: 7.2 IP, 1ER, 7H, 2BB, 8K, L - its always tough to take a 1-0 loss :(
Josh Prediction: 8 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 8 K, No Decision
Nikki Prediction: 7 1/3 IP, 3 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 7 K, Win
Edge: JOSH

Josh Actual Line: ? volume, 37.5 mil/cc, 57% motility, 5% morphology (strict)
Josh Prediction: 1.7 mL, 35 mil total sperm, 68% motility, 3% morphology (we used a different basis)
Nikki Prediction: 2.25 mL, 33 mil total sperm, 63% motility, 4% morphology
Edge: EVEN (really, neither of us were that close)

And if you care to know, Josh said the facility (a stool in a bathroom) and the materials (Playboys from 1993) were totally inadequate.  "Things have changed since then," he said. 

Yep, that's a good place to stop for tonight ;)