QuestionI have 5 kids naturally from a previous relationship and my partner has 4 kids from previous relationships. We have been trying to coneive for 2 and a half years now. I finally went to the doctor this month. My midwife says she wont label as infertile, just irregular period. But my periods are regular. I had a pap, day 12 blood work,and ultrasound to ensure my tubes were unblocked and i had no scar tissue. Everything was ok. I went for an ultrasound Wednesday (day 16) and my folcilles had grown. She ordered a HCG trigger shot. She told me to do Ovulation test Thursday and Friday and do the trigger shot Friday at 4pm. I tested 2 times Thursday and Friday and both had a light lines (Negative). I did the shot Friday at 4 and, as she stated, had intercourse at 11pm friday and saturday before 9am. She says we should also have sex sunday before 9am. I go in Monday to test my progestrone levels. do you think the intercourse timing is correct? It seems to far apart. I dont want to miss my O.
AnswerHello LaToya from the U.S.,
You are seeing the absolutely WRONG health care provider. A midwife is NOT trained to do infertility treatments and should not be! The ovulation test will be totally a waste of money because the HCG injection will turn it positive. Besides, once the HCG injection is given, that should trigger ovulation if the lead follicle is the appropriate size. It should not be given if it is not the correct size.
In addition, this is probably a total waste of money because you have regular periods, which means that you are ovulating regularly. So, ovulation is NOT the problem. The fact that you had so many pregnancies in the past, but have not been able to get pregnant in over 2 years is an indication that there is something else going on! Something other than ovulation. Your midwife does not know what she is doing! You need to undergo an infertility evaluation to find out what the problem or problems are in order to be treated appropriately. I recommend that you go see someone who is qualified to do this, such as an infertility specialist. Stay away from quacks! If I knew who this midwife was, I would report her to your state Board. She is what makes doctors dislike Nurse practitioners, Physician assistants and Midwives. They are doing things that they are not qualified for and should not be doing. These mid-level providors (assistants to Physicians) should stay within their parameters for practice.
In terms of timing your intercourse, your timing was fine based on the day that the HCG was given. In general, you start intercourse the day after the HCG and I recommend that you have intercourse each day for four days. If you use an ovulation predictor kit, then I use the same method.
Good Luck,
Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
