Start of IVF journey

  Hello, I hope everyone is doing well! This blog is just a start to many more IVF blogs! First of all I am completing a blood panel at the end of today to measure some of my hormones so the docs can kind of know where to start me with meds. Then two weeks later we are going to Rockford, IL (3 hour drive) to have a complete and very informational semen analysis done. We are doing another analysis in Rockford because there is a state of the art lab there. Having that done gives us a little more insight on how many sperm K has and they will be able to determine their motility and morphology with more accuracy. If he has a good number we will freeze the sperm and use it as a back up during IVF. We can't count on his samples being good every time and the last couple of IUIs his numbers have decreased each time. He is on a strict daily vitamin regimen and he is TRYING to eat healthy and well balanced.
  During that appointment we will also meet with the IVF nurse, the doctor (should be Dr. G) and we will be given a medication schedule. A couple of weeks after our first IVF appointment I will have to go to Peoria for a procedure on my uterus (Hysteroscopy) to make sure there isn't any polyps or anything else abnormal that could prevent a embryo from implanting. Depending on the results of that test we will either continue with medications and IVF as soon as possible or we will have to have surgery on my uterus and put IVF on hold again. I am hoping of course, that nothing abnormal is going on in my uterus and we can continue as planned.
  This Thursday I start Birth Control to help suppress my ovaries before all the hormone injections. During IVF we completely take charge of my body's process and time everything just right. And to start that we have to stop my ovaries and then when the time is right help stimulate them via medications while being closely monitored by ultrasounds.   
  At this time, that is all the information I have. We are getting closer! Hopefully we won't have any road blocks and we can start in May
If not we will have to wait until July to start. Fingers Crossed and GOOD VIBES NEEDED!

("Sperm motility is an important part of the semen analysis-male fertility. The three main components of a semen analysis are: Count (concentration), Motility percentage. Morphology - The percentage of "normal forms"...the most commonly used cutoff for normal sperm motility is greater than or equal to 50%...  The lower the motility percentage, the less likely any treatments other than in vitro with ICSI will result in pregnancy...extremely low motility percentages such as less than 25% motility we rarely see pregnancies without the use of ICSI." www.advancefertility.com  ICSI: when a single sperm is injected straight into an egg for fertilization.)

(Hyerstoscopy: ... a narrow tube with a telescope at the end is passed through the vagina and cervix into the uterine cavity, which is sometimes filled with fluid or gas. The images are viewed on a screen and recorded. The surgeon can then check for fibroids, polyps scar tissue, septa, and other malformations. If any are spotted, they can usually be sorted out." www.yourivfjourney.com)