As I mentioned before, on September 5, 2012 we met with Dr. Daneshmund at The Fertility Center of Las Vegas. He answered many of our questions about IVF and we understood the procedure better and we got to know a better percentage of our success rate if we were to pursue IVF. However, like we also said, IVF can cost $15,000 and we don't just have that laying under our mattress. No payment plans are offered and they want the money up front. Feeling VERY overwhelmed about the financial part of IVF, we knew that it would take us several, and I mean several months to save up for the procedure. We knew it would be that much longer till we could possibly have a baby and start a beautiful family.
After talking to my OB-GYN, Dr. Chalmers, here in St. George, he recommended we talk to Dr. Foulk from Utah Fertility Center (UFC). Dr. Foulk comes to St. George about once a month for consultations for people in Southern Utah so they don't have to drive up to Pleasant Grove for a consult. On Thursday evening, September 20, 2012, we attended a seminar hosted by UFC and Dr. Foulk was the speaker. He went over with 10 other people, including Dusty and I, the process of IVF and he answered more questions to help us get even a better understanding. Not all couples necessarily need IVF, some simply need a medication to help them, some just need help boosting their egg production, and the list goes on and on. As he went on with his seminar he discussed "When does a couple really need IVF?". There are 5 main reasons why people can't get pregnant and Dusty and I fit the mold for 3 of them. Lucky us, huh? We were so happy that we attended the seminar which helped to prepare us for our sit down consultation with Dr. Foulk the following day.
On Friday afternoon, we sat down with Dr. Foulk. He went over everything step by step (which was so helpful for me, cause I'm blonde and a little slower at understanding..haha) He went over our medical histories and as we have mentioned before the scarring in my left fallopian tube is a HUGE problem (which he felt played a big role on why our insemination failed). He also mentioned how Dusty's low motility and abnormal morphalogy (sperm shape) are also a factor..and those three together are pretty much a GIGANTIC problem on trying to conceive on our own. Dr. Foulk educated us on something called "ICSI (pronounced "ick-see") In Vitro". This is where they actually get all the good sperm and inject it directly into the egg and create an embryo. In our situation ICSI is what we will have to pursue if we do IVF.
Ironically enough, on Friday was also the 2nd day of my cycle, and that is a day they need certain testing done. So I had an exam and blood work done that day to check to make sure everything on my end is ok. On the ultrasound is was discovered that my uterus is tipped back (which is fairly common), but not only is it tipped back, but due to the scarring in my tubes it's also tipped to the side...just when you think another thing can't possibly go wrong, it does. So what do we do about that? Well, I probably have you wondering and freaked out a little, but Dr. Foulk said that will not be a problem. Thank goodness!!! The ultrasound and exam went well and he started me on a birth control pill. Weird, I know. You're probably thinking, "they are trying to get pregnant, why would he put her on birth control?". Well it's suppose to put hormones in my body so we can control my ovulation. A lot of my testing will be done up north in Pleasant Grove and it has to be timed just right with my cycle and the birth control helps with that.
So now you're probably wondering...are we doing IVF or not? Well actually we're not! Now you're probably asking yourself "why not?". Because I'm a Mackelprang and we like to play jokes. Yes, of course we are!! Why wouldn't we? This is a chance to make our dreams come true. A chance to have a baby that is 1/2 Katie and 1/2 Dusty. This is our chance to become loving parents and to finally start a family. This is our time to shine!! This is our time to make a decision and possibly change our lives forever!!
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