Trying to Conceive-TTC Forum

The Fertility Diet and Flax Seed Oil- Can they help?

2008-03-24T07:50:00.002-05:00

I had a question about the efficacy of The Fertility Diet and flax seed oil as an aid to conception.

I have not found any solid, replicated studies on flax seed oil being effective in aiding with conception but this doesn't mean it isn't good for you. Anything that is good for your health can't hurt when trying to conceive.

From my initial review of The Fertility Diet, some of the studies have shown it to be effective in aiding with conception. It uses the principles of the glycemic index for "good carbs" and "bad carbs" and would be effective in helping those with insulin resistant fertility issues. I don't know how effective it would be in assisting those without insulin resistant issues in conceiving but, there again anything that contributes to overall health, contributes to conception.

Here are a few links for a little more info:

Flax Seed Oil

http://nccam.nih.gov/health/flaxseed/index.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/flaxseed/NS_patient-flaxseed

http://www.homeherbs.co.uk/0/product/0/524-Flaxseed_Oil.html

http://www.mdanderson.org/departments/cimer/display.cfm?id=0D86E843-44DF-4766-9D743BA1FE8B9877&method=displayFull

The Fertility Diet

http://www.newsweek.com/id/73354

http://www.wsbtv.com/family/14939197/detail.html

Can Accupuncture Really Help Me Get Pregnant?

2008-02-12T16:30:00.000-06:00

Research link: http://www.longmontacupuncture.net/ivf.html

Is Nutra-Sweet Safe When TTC ......or Ever?

2008-02-12T13:54:00.000-06:00

If you really want to know the answer to that question, here are the links to the timeline/memos regarding aspartame approval as well as the FDA report.

http://www.sweetpoison.com/articles/fda-report-on-searle1.html

http://www.holisticmed.com/aspartame/history.faq

I had a question about the FDA and why some things are approved and others are not. The two examples I was asked about were marijuana and stevia. I'm going to lump both of them together.

It is well known within the medical community why and it boils down to what it ALWAYS boils down to, money. GENERALLY SPEAKING, If you want to know the why of something or understand someone's motivation.........follow the dollar sign.

How many billions of dollars are generated by artificial sweeteners?

How many billions of dollars would be generated by stevia, a plant that you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to extract the sweetness other than crushing or chopping it? Why is it ok to be sold as an herbal supplement but not as a sweetener?

How many billions of dollars are generated by anti-emetic (anti-vomiting) drugs?

How many billions of dollars would be generated by marijauna, a plant you can grow in your backyard and requires no processing to get the anti-emetic effects except drying it and eating it?

Why is alcohol and tobacco, the number 1 and number 2 contributing factors for all 4 of the top 10 cause of death in the US still legal?

Why is alcohol still legal when it is the number 1 contributing factor in auto accidents?

Yes, it really is that simple. Sad isn't it?

Side Note: Is there any particular reason why spell check is still down? Blogger can't get something as simple as spell check fixed? How long has it been now?

Do Herbal Supplements Really Work?

2008-02-01T21:43:00.000-06:00

The only scientific research I was able to find was on FertilityBlend. All studies have limitations and this was a pilot study (larger study is ongoing, scroll down for details) but, read and judge for yourself:

http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm

Fertility Herbal Supplement Promising Results

STANFORD, Calif.

A researcher at the Stanford University School of Medicine says a small study shows promise for a nutritional supplement that may help boost fertility in women who have difficulty conceiving. Initial results indicate that of the women who took the supplement, one-third became pregnant after five months.

"This was a small, pilot study but if the findings hold up in a larger trial, the supplement may be a feasible treatment for some women," said Lynn Westphal, MD, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, whose study results appear in the April issue of the Journal of Reproductive Medicine.

One in six couples in the United States has trouble conceiving, Westphal said. The possible culprits include endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, male factor infertility and irregular menstrual cycles, among others. Treatments vary, and she said a growing number of patients have expressed interest in pursuing alternative therapies before taking more aggressive routes such as in vitro fertilization.

Despite this, little research has been done on the benefit of a pre-pregnancy supplement to optimize fertility health. "There's not a lot of work in this area but it's an important one," she said. "Many women are interested in avenues aside from aggressive infertility treatment. If we can find an effective way to treat patients less invasively, it would be a great benefit."

The supplement she studied, marketed as "FertilityBlend," contains:

Chasteberry (an herb that has been shown to improve ovulation and restore progesterone balance, which can be skewed in women having difficulty conceiving),

L-arginine (an amino acid that improves circulation to the reproductive organs),
green tea and numerous vitamins and minerals.

To study the effects of FertilityBlend, Westphal recruited 30 volunteers who had tried unsuccessfully to conceive for six to 36 months. The women ranged in age from 24 to 46; some had been tested and diagnosed with a particular disorder that hindered their fertility while others fell into the category of "unexplained" infertility. During the double-blind study, the women were randomly assigned to take the supplement or a placebo three times a day.

Changes in progesterone levels, basal body temperatures and menstrual cycles were then monitored. After three months, the supplement group had an increased progesterone level and a significant increase in the average number of days in their menstrual cycle in which they had basal temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius, which indicates better ovulation, Westphal said.

The placebo group, meanwhile, showed no notable changes. After five months, five of the 15 supplement participants were pregnant and none of the 15 women on placebo were. The pregnancies resulted in four healthy babies; one woman miscarried.

"I was definitely skeptical before the study, but the results are promising," said Westphal, adding that she believes the chasteberry component of the supplement most likely played the biggest role in boosting fertility. Westphal said she considers the supplement a good option for younger women who choose to forego or postpone aggressive treatment.

However, she encouraged women over the age of 35 who have been trying to get pregnant for more than six months to get a full evaluation from their physicians.

Based on its promising findings, Westphal's pilot study has been expanded to a larger multicenter study. She is currently enrolling women ages 18 to 43 who have been trying to get pregnant for six to 36 months and have abnormal menstrual cycles. She is also looking for men to enroll in a separate study on FertilityBlend for Men, a supplement containing L-carnitine (an amino acid that can improve sperm function) and ferulic acid (an antioxidant that has shown to improve sperm quality).

Interested volunteers should call (650) 498-7911. The study was funded by the Asian Cultural Teaching Foundation and the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Daily Wellness Co., which manufactures FertilityBlend.

Westphal's Stanford colleague on the study was Mary Lake Polan, MD, PhD, who serves on the scientific advisory board of Daily Wellness. Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford.

http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/viewCV?facultyId=4716&name=Lynn_Westphal

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-158574396.html

http://med.stanford.edu/news_releases/2004/april/fertilityblend.htm

For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.

Miscarriage Risks

2008-01-23T07:44:00.001-06:00

This topic hits way too close to home but.......it may help someone who here are a few clips from here and there to address miscarriage. If you want to know the sources, Google it. Like the disclaimer says, this is just for info.

A new Kaiser Permanente study shows stronger evidence that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage.
The study showed women who consume 200 milligrams or more of caffeine a day (two or more cups of regular coffee or five cans of caffeinated soda) had twice the miscarriage risk as women who consumed no caffeine.
Even women who consumed less than 200 milligrams of caffeine increased their miscarriage risk by more than 40 percent compared to women who consumed no caffeine.

Mayo Clinic:

What increases the risk of miscarriage?

Various circumstances increase the risk of miscarriage, including:

Age. Women older than age 35 have a higher risk of miscarriage than do younger women. Paternal age also may play a role. In a 2006 study, women whose partners were age 40 or older had a higher risk of miscarriage than did women whose partners were younger than age 25.
Previous miscarriages. The risk of miscarriage is higher in women with a history of two or more previous miscarriages. After one miscarriage, your risk of miscarriage is the same as that of a woman who's never had a miscarriage.
Chronic conditions. Women with certain chronic conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disease, have a higher risk of miscarriage.
Uterine or cervical problems. Certain uterine abnormalities or a weak or unusually short cervix may increase the risk of miscarriage.
Smoking, alcohol and illicit drugs. Women who smoke or drink alcohol during pregnancy have a greater risk of miscarriage than do nonsmokers and women who avoid alcohol during pregnancy. Illicit drug use also increases the risk of miscarriage.
Caffeine. ** See recent KP study results above**
Invasive prenatal tests. Some prenatal genetic tests, such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis, carry a slight risk of miscarriage.

Does using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during pregnancy increase the risk of adverse events? - NSAIDs

Congenital abnormality, low birth weight, and preterm birth incidence were not higher in offspring of women who had taken a NSAID during pregnancy. Miscarriages were significantly higher in women who had filled a prescription for an NSAID the week before miscarriage (odds ratio=6.99; 95% confidence interval, 2.75-17.74). Miscarriage was not associated with prescriptions filled 10 to 12 weeks before the date of miscarriage.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE
This study contributes valuable information for physicians and their pregnant patients contemplating use of NSAIDs. Women who have used NSAIDs before or during pregnancy may be reassured that there is no evidence of increased risk of congenital abnormality, low birth weight, or preterm birth. Also, women contemplating pregnancy should be warned about the association of miscarriage with NSAIDs. It seems prudent for women with a history of recurrent miscarriage to avoid NSAIDs.

Hot Tubs and Jacuzzis

A study published in the November 15, 2003, issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology found that women who used hot tubs or Jacuzzis in early pregnancy were twice as likely to have a miscarriage as women who did not.

"Based on our findings I would say that women in the early stages of pregnancy -- and those who may have conceived but aren't sure -- might want to play it safe for the first few months and avoid hot tubs or any exposure to hot water that will significantly increase body temperature," says Dr. De-Kun Li. "

Although the finding is still preliminary, it is prudent for women to take such precautionary measures to reduce unnecessary risk of miscarriage."The study, "Hot Tub Use during Pregnancy and the Risk of Miscarriage," found that the miscarriage risk went up with more frequent hot tub or Jacuzzi use, and with use in the early stages of a pregnancy. Furthermore, among women who remembered the temperature settings of their hot tubs or Jacuzzis, the study found some indications that the risk of having a miscarriage may increase with higher water temperature settings.

Menarcheal age and spontaneous abortion: Further evidence for a connection
Lorena Madrigal
Department of Anthropology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620

Abstract
This paper examines the association between menarcheal age and risk of spontaneous abortion with a data set collected in Limon, Costa Rica. The Limonense sample differs from those previously reported in terms of age, socioeconomic and ethnic background. Thus, the sample is excellent to test whether menarcheal age and risk of miscarriage are associated in a nonindustrialized group as they appear to be in industrialized samples. Females who experienced one or more miscarriages have a significantly earlier age at first menses than those who did not. The results also indicate that a possible reason for this association is that early maturers tend to experience first pregnancy at an earlier age than do late maturers.

Factors that do not increase the risk of miscarriage (that we know of)

Date updated: July 09, 2007 Kathe Gallagher, MSW

It is normal to wonder whether you have done something to cause a miscarriage. It may be reassuring to know that miscarriage is not caused by:

The mother's emotional state or a sudden fright.
Sexual intercourse.
Exercise.
A single diagnostic X-ray or total radiation exposure of less than 5 rad (discuss this with your radiologist or health professional).1
Working or lifting heavy objects.
A fall or a blow to the abdomen, unless severe.
Diet. There is no conclusive evidence that a diet moderately lacking in nutrients causes miscarriage. Also, the nausea and vomiting (morning sickness) of early pregnancy do not cause miscarriage.
High folic acid intake. Despite initial concern among experts about miscarriage risk, research has shown that folic acid may actually help prevent miscarriage.2
Exposure to computer monitors.3

Basic Fertility Work Up

2007-12-12T07:58:00.000-06:00

If you are having difficulty trying to conceive, here are some baseline fertility testing you can request:

Labs That Can Be Drawn At Any Time

**Total and free testosterone
**Androstenedione
**DHEAS
**SHBG
Thyroid work up (TSH, Free T4 and T3)
Prolactin
CMP

** If you do not have a high LH to FSH ratio, you may not need these.

Timed Labwork

Cycle Day 3 Lab

LH
FSH

Day of LH Surge Lab

FSH
LH
Estradiol
Progesterone
*Ultrasound to assess uterine lining thickness and follicle size

2 to 3 days After LH Surge

Repeat ultrasound to insure ovulation and rule out lutenized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome (eggs ripen but do not release from the follicle)

7 Days After Ovulation Lab

Estradiol
Progesterone

Labs For Any Cycle Day But Should Be Fasting**
*Fasting= Nothing but water by mouth after midnight the day before testing

Lipid Panel
Glucose tolerance test (this takes several hours)

Other Tests

HSG - Make sure to schedule BEFORE ovulation

Laparoscopy with or without endometrial biopsy - 11 to 13 days after LH surge AFTER beta HCG (must be negative-of course)

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

Infertility and: Alleve, Motrin, Toradol, Cox-2 Inhibitors etc.

2007-11-15T07:59:00.000-06:00

Yes, I know I have been rotten at updating this blog BUT I will be better about it and intend to have some kind of update every week.

So here's the deal, there are quite a few studies suggesting that Cox-2 Inhibitors and NSAIDs can delay or inhibit ovulation.

Here's a link to some more info, I tried to stay away from medical journal links because they can be overwhelming if you're not used to reading them.

http://www.fertilityplus.org/faq/nsaids.html

MY OPINION would be to avoid all Cox-2 inhibitors while TTC and refrain from NSAID use for at least 3-5 days before expected ovulation until you are sure you have ovulated. Of course you need to talk with your doctor and weight the risks and benefits before starting/stopping any medication.

Male Infertility- Name That Sperm Disorder

2007-10-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Sperm info, paraphrased and condensed

Oligozoospermia - Low sperm count

Mild cases might be successful with IUI. More commonly, however, IVF or in severe cases ICSI, may be required.

Asthenozoospermia - Reduced motility and/or impaired progression.

When the number of swimming sperm is reduced or if the sperm aren't swimming effectively, fertility is reduced. When it is just the number of motile sperm that is low, IUI or IVF may be recommended as the motile sperm can be extracted from the ejaculate and concentrated in the laboratory. However, if the ability of the sperm to swim is severely impaired, the chances of fertilisation through IVF may also be low, so ICSI may be recommended.

Teratozoospermia - Raised levels of abnormal sperm

Abnormal sperm have a reduced capacity to fertilise eggs or form viable embryos. In cases of mild teratozoospermia, IVF may be the appropriate treatment. When the number of normal sperm is very low ICSI may be required.

Azoospermia - No sperm present in the ejaculate.

There are various reasons for complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate. There may be a blockage or it may be a partial or complete failure in sperm production in the testes.

In cases of a blockage it is usually possible for a urologist to surgically extract sperm from the epididymis or the testes by MESA or TESE and for the embryologist to use such sperm to achieve fertilization in the laboratory through ICSI.

***In cases where there is no sperm, an exploratory TESE can be done to see if sperm is being produced or not. Occasionally, although the ejaculate may not have any sperm, there may be small pockets of sperm production within the testis and if these can be extracted, the sperm can be used to achieve fertilization through ICSI. ***

Improving Sperm Quality

Supplements that may potentially improve sperm count/quality.
All supplements should be taken long term as the sperm production cycle is approximately 90 days long.

• Zinc – 30milligrams twice daily
Zinc deficiency has been linked with a reduced sperm count. Zinc, in combination with other nutritional supplements (folic acid) has also been shown to improve sperm motility. Zinc is found naturally in meat, wholegrain cereals, seafood, eggs and pulses.

• Selenium – 200micrograms daily
Selenium has been shown to improve sperm motility both on its own and in conjunction with vitamin E. Selenium is found naturally in meat, seafood, mushrooms, cereals and in particularly high levels in Brazil nuts.

• Vitamin E – 400milligrams twice daily
Vitamin E is an antioxidant which may protect sperm from damage. Vitamin E is found naturally in vegetable oils, nuts and green leafy vegetables.

• Folic acid – 5milligrams daily
Folate, of which folic acid is the synthetic form, is essential for sperm production. It has been shown that folic acid in conjunction with zinc can improve sperm count and motility. Folate is found naturally in green leafy vegetables, liver, yeast and fruits.

Lifestyle

Smoking
Smoking as little as 1 cigarette per day directly reduces the number and quality of sperm. Smoking in males has even been show to decrease the success rates of both IVF and ICSI, non-smoking couples are almost twice as successful as those where the male smoked >5 cigarettes/day.

Alcohol
Heavy drinking (>20 units/week) has been shown to double the time taken to achieve pregnancy. There is also evidence to suggest that heavy drinking in men can subsequently lead to higher miscarriage rates.

Occupational exposure to toxins
Exposure to solvents such as paint, lacquers, adhesives, degreasers, printing inks and laboratory solvents on a regular basis has been shown to cause reduced sperm count and quality.

Temperature
Heat affects sperm quality, therefore, regular hot baths, saunas, steam rooms should be best. Loose fitting underwear has also been suggested to avoid problems with overheating of the testes.

I'm Doing Everything Right, So How Come I'm Not Pregnant??!!

2007-10-18T09:18:00.001-05:00

Aside from any infertility issues, this is why:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/miracle/program.html

I'll post some statistics later

Is the Basal Body Temperature Chart Really Important?

2007-10-18T08:54:00.000-05:00

Yes, it really is.

It is the only thing you can do at home to confirm that you ovulated. If you see a clearly biphasic chart, you can be reasonably sure some type of ovulation has occurred. The only other way to attempt to confirm ovulation would be ultrasound visualization or a serum progesterone (blood work).

Please see the previous post titled OPKs, BBT, CM/CP,Saliva Microscopes for additional information.

You can be doing all the other things-OPKs, fertility monitors, saliva microscope, saliva strips, standing on your head.......if you are not keeping a BBT, you will never know if your timing is correct (unless you are working with your MD/NP/MW and blood work/ultrasound). Some women ovulate 12 hours after a + OPK and some surge 48 hours after a +OPK.

Testing, testing , testing....

2007-10-17T20:18:00.000-05:00

The horrible evil TWW........sigh.....how can I end it sooner? When can I TEST ALREADY!!??

And the answer is..........it all depends. Suck answer huh? Okay but here's why:

The embryo begins implanting anywhere from 4 - 12 days and it takes about 4 - 7 days to finish implanting. Although the conceptus starts secreting progesterone and estrogen at fertilization, it is the placenta itself that secretes the hCG. The placenta has to be attached (implanted) and vascular communication established before hCG from the placenta can be released into the mother's bloodstream. hCG is the hormone you're looking for when testing for pregnancy.

This is why some people can get a + HPT at 8 DPO and some not until 19 or so DPO, it depends on when implantation began and when it was complete.

I believe the statistics show that most implantation begins at 8 DPO and completes in about 6 days, which is why an HPT is 95% accurate at 14-15 DPO. This does not mean it is impossible to get a BFP after 15 DPO just more unlikely.

GENERALLY SPEAKING these are the most common beta levels ranges in pregnancy. Of course the level is not nearly as important as whether or not it is doubling every 2-3 days.
HCG level for single baby (mIU/ml or IU/L)

Week 3,
0 to 5

Week 4,
5 to 426

Week 5,
18 to 7340

Week 6,
1,080 to 56,500

Weeks 7 to 8,
7,650 to 229,000

Weeks 9 to 12,
25,700 to 288,000

Weeks 13 to 16,
13,300 to 254,000

Weeks 17 to 24,
4,060 to 165,400

Weeks 25 to birth of baby,
3,640 to 117,000

4 to 6 weeks after birth,
Less than 5

More housekeeping

2007-10-17T17:37:00.000-05:00

Sooooooo more people than I thought want to keep this blog open. I know there are folks that aren't going to be happy about that but, then again, I doubt anything would make those folks happy.

Happiness is a choice, you can not control your world and the things in it, all you can control is yourself and how you react to that which is around you. "Me, 2007"
The next informational post will have to wait until Little Bit is off to dance class because she wants me to play yahtzee.

As far as board trolls confronting me is concerned. I will respond in whatever way makes me feel better at the time. That does not mean everyone has to respond the same way or even understand the reasoning behind why I respond a certain way. It just means that I have to handle the situation the way I feel I need to. Thanks to everyone for your support.

Everyone contributes to this blog, it belongs to everyone.

OPKs, BBT, CM/CP, Saliva Microscopes.

2007-10-16T11:29:00.000-05:00

The saliva microscope detects the estrogen surge that comes before (and triggers) the LH surge

Cervical changes, positive OPK, O pains can all be attributed to the LH surge, yes you can surge and not ovulate.

All of the things mentioned above give you cues that ovulation is coming but NOT that it has occurred. Only the BBT can give you that information (along with ultrasounds and serum progesterone levels)

Yes, your body can "gear up" to O, have all the symptoms ,and not O.

The only way you could be reasonably sure O occured would be to have a clearly Bi-phasic temperature chart (temp increase is due to the progesterone released by the corpus luteum after ovulation-no ovulation=no corpus luteum=no jump in progesterone=no jump in temp), an increase in serum progesterone from prior levels, or visualizing it on an ultrasound.

My OB said "you didn't ovulate" this month when he got my serum progesterone level back.....until he saw my obvious biphasic chart along with everything else and said "Clearly you did" and put me on progesterone supplementation.

Some other explanations could be that:
1) you ovulated but not effectively or with a "bad egg"
2) you ovulated but the egg did not fertilize for whatever reason (remember, even with perfect timing there's only a 20-25% chance each cycle)
3) you ovulated, fertilized, but did not implant
4) you ovulated, fertilized, implanted then miscarried.
5) you are really pregnant and it is just not showing up yet (doubtful but not impossible!)

I would say to go to your doc and get some lab work, try to find out why you haven't started yet, and start charting your temps to identify possible anovulatory cycles quickly and try to determine underlying cause and appropriate treatment.

Hope this helps and I hope you don't need any of it because you have a "hidden" BFP!

I Highly Recommend.......

2007-10-14T12:39:00.000-05:00

The fertility course offered at fertility friend (link in the side bar). It has a lot of valuable information.
Fertility Friend charting/symptom tracking
Clear Blue Easy Fertility Monitor BUT only in conjunction with an ovulation predictor kit. The monitor only allows once a day testing and that just isn't "pin-pointed" enough for some.
Clear Blue Easy Digital ovulation predictor kit. I use the "internet cheapy" OPKs until I know I'm close and then I switch to the digital OPK every 4 to 6 hours.
Fertile Focus saliva microscope.
Ovucheck disposable saliva strips.
"Internet cheapy" pregnancy tests to satisfy "pee-on-a-stick" obsessions until it is really time to test (keeps you from spending WAY to0 much to support an addiction ~grin~)

Early Pregnancy Symptoms?

2007-10-14T11:54:00.000-05:00

For everyone who thinks they are nuts for feeling "symptoms" 2-14 DPO, here's a little info for you to make you feel better. Bear with me, it may seem a little convoluted at first.

Before implantation, the blastocyst secretes specific substances that enhance endometrial receptivity. Successful implantation requires precise synchronization between blastocyst development and endometrial maturation. The early embryo and its surrounding cumulus cells secrete detectable estradiol and progesterone well before the time of implantation.

Conceptus-secreted progesterone may itself affect tubal motility as the conceptus is carried to the uterus. Progesterone, by action mediated through catecholamines and prostaglandins, is believed to relax utero-tubal musculature. Moreover, progesterone is thought to be important in tubal-uterine transport of the embryo to the uterine cavity, since receptors for progesterone are found in highest concentrations in the mucosa of the distal one third of the fallopian tube.

Estradiol, also secreted by these structures, may balance the progesterone effect so as to maintain the desired level of tubal motility and tone. Progesterone antagonizes estrogen-augmented uterine blood flow through depletion of estrogen receptors in the cytoplasm.

So, Estradiol and progesterone begins to elevate at conception, not implantation. On to the next point.....

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is detectable in the blastomeres of 6- to 8-cell embryos; however, it is not detectable in blastocyst culture media until the 6th day. After implantation is initiated, hCG is detectable in maternal serum. However, due to the absence of direct vascular communication, secretion of hCG into the maternal circulation is initially limited.

Thus, during the process of implantation the embryo is actively secreting hCG, which can be detected in maternal serum as early as the 8th day after ovulation. The primary role of hCG is to prolong the biosynthetic activity of the corpus luteum, which allows continued progesterone production and maintenance of the gestational endometrium. As implantation progresses, the conceptus continues to secrete hCG and other pregnancy-related proteins, and resumes detectable steroid production.

HCG is what causes your HPT to show "positive" and will not begin to circulate in your system until implantation is initiated. Remember though, your estradiol and progesterone will begin to elevate at conception.

Okay .....onto the next point.

No one knows for certain exactly what causes nausea/vomiting "morning sickness" in pregnancy but a stong case has been made implicating progesterone, estrogen, and HCG or any combination of all three.

Progesterone and estrogen have both been listed as the cause for sore breasts and progesterone has been cited as the cause for extreme fatigue.

SO, people who say they started having sympoms a day or so after O are not crazy. Some people's bodies are more sensitive to changes than others. Remember, progesterone and estrogen start to rise at conception so some people may very well experience increased temps, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and sore breasts.

Fertility Testing-Normal Lab Values

2007-10-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

Lutenizing Hormone (LH)
Follicular Phase (day two or three): <7miu/ml
Day of LH Surge: >15mIU/ml

Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
Follicular Phase: <13miu/ml
Day of LH Surge: >15 mIU/ml

Estradiol
Day of LH Surge: >100 pg/ml
Mid Luteal Phase (seven days after O): >60 pg/ml

Progesterone
Day of LH Surge: <1.5 ng/ml
Mid Luteal Phase >15 ng/ml

Prolactin: <25 ng/ml

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH): 0.4 to 3.8 uIU/ml

Free T3: 1.4 to 4.4 pg/ml

Free Thyroxine (T4): 0.8 to 2.0 ng/dl

Total Testosterone: 6.0 to 89 ng/dl

Free Testosterone: 0.7 to 3.6 pg/ml

DHEAS: 35 TO 430 UG/DL

Androstenedione: 0.7 to 3.1 ng/ml

Aggressive Conception Plan

2007-10-14T11:40:00.000-05:00

Begin BBT at CD1 and then:

CD 3:
Baseline US, Labs: FSH, estradiol, Prolactin, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Free T3, Free Thyroxine (T4), Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, DHEAS and Androstenedione. You could hold off on the adrogen panel to see what your LH/FSH ratio is but I would just go ahead and get it. I might also go ahead and add a HgbA1C and GTT depending on the circumstances.

CD 7:
Begin OPK, saliva microscope, fertility monitor, disposable ferning strips. Begin checking cervical position/mucus/texture. Continue all of these throughout the entire cycle.

Day of LH surge:
US to assess the thickness of the endometrium (lining of the uterus), monitor follicle development and assess the condition of the uterus and ovaries. Labs: LH, FSH, Estradiol, Progesterone. Repeat US 2-3 days after LH surge to rule out lutenized unruptured follicle (LUF) syndrome---a situation in which eggs ripen but do not release from the follicle. This is a subtle form of female infertility and a bit difficult to diagnose.

From LH surge until 2 days after O:
Serial ultrasounds to monitor follicles

Seven days after O:
Estradiol and progesterone

After I had all of the test results and a full cycle of documented information (temps, opks, CP, CM, etc) then I would come up with a plan of where to go from there.

New Information Only Blog!

2007-10-14T00:20:00.001-05:00

This is a public blog for me to post "snippets" of information for people trying to conceive. Read this part very carefully please:

**** I AM NOT A DOCTOR ****

Hmmm, I wonder if that was clear enough. This is just information I thought would be helpful to people.

Okay, rules of the blog since it's public and listed in the blogger directory.

1) You can only post a comment as a registered user

2) Comments will only be available to view after I review them (because people can be asses). For the sake of keeping the blog as informational as I can, I will only publish questions --ones that I have an answer for and have not addressed before in the blog.

3) If you post something nasty it will get deleted and I will pray that God holds off blessing you with a child until you are no longer an asshole. (No, I do not think God blesses people on my say so but that won't stop me from throwing in a word on my next prayer!)

4) It is my blog and I will mention God/Jesus if I want and I will say asshole if I want. No I'm not being disrespectful of other's belief systems; believe what you want but if you want to read a blog about it-start your own.

5) If you're going to get your knickers in a knot over any of the above, go find another blog or click the red X in the top right hand corner of your screen.

6) All of that looks pretty harsh......I'm sorry it looks that way because I'm not really like that but after a few "nastygrams" I thought I better kinda lay it all out there.

Having said all of the mean stuff let me add this: Good luck to all trying to conceive and I hope yours prayers are answered soon!

...."for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Matthew 17:20