Diabetes and Infertility - Recent Threads

When/how do I know if there's an issue

Sarah — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 19:35:28 GMT

My husband and I have been trying to get pregnant for 6 months and have had no luck yet. I'm 28. I have T1 and Celiac. I went off birth control in November. My first couple of cycles were irregular after that stopping the pill but the last few have been normal, about 32 days. 3 cycles ago, I started taking my basal body temp and charting and that has been helping see a pattern in my cycles which reduces my stress. I know 6 months isn't a long time but I was curious when you decided it was time to talk to your Dr. about if you had an inferitility issue or not? My last A1c was 7.2.

Post Coital Results

lauraacuna — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:54:47 GMT

Went in today for our postcoital test and my Dr showed us the microscope image on a screen and out of all of the sperm in the shot, only two were moving. The rest were dead (obviously), so we go back tomorrow to repeat the test, just curious if anyone else has had this test done and if so, what the results were.

My husband still hasn't gone in for his semen analysis- I pray to God he was embarrassed enough today when the Dr asked him about it to actually get him moving on that! At least we can know if my mucus is killing his sperm or they're not strong enough on their own and he needs meds or something.

Any info, experience is appreciated!

Laura

I wish I came with better news

Nikki — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:33:43 GMT

I had really hoped that I would be able to jump back on here today and tell you all good news, but it's quite opposite. I decided when I started my last period and found out I had not ovulated yet that I would spend a little extra and buy an ovulation test. I ended up getting the smiley face on friday and saturday so hubby and I got busy. My husband just finished his 2nd month on clomid to help his sperm counts. We had really high hopes that it would work for us, so as we attempted to make a baby this weekend, we had really high hopes. Getting that smiley face was a huge boost for us. Well, here is where the bad news comes in, we went to the eurologist today to get the latest results on his swimmers since he finished the meds. NOTHING HAD CHANGED!!! I took the lab slips over to my OB so they had them on file and I just broke down. I couldn't be strong anymore. Seeing the pain and dissapointement in my hubby and knowing I couldn't do anything for him, it killed me. I had already accepted that I would have issues getting pregnant because I didn't take care of myself for so long, but I wasn't prepared to deal with my hubby having issues. So, seeing that I was emotionally distraught, my OB's assistant got me in to see/speak with my doctor. He assured me that this isn't the end, we still have hope. He wants my hubby to go back to the eurologist to look more into my hubby have a vericose vein in his testes. He thinks that by repairing that that we will see better results. There should be no other reason for his counts to be so low. My doctor even offered to do the procedure with the Eurologist. He recommended that we do IUI this next cycle while we wait for the eurologist and the vericose vein correction. He said we only have money to lose. Thank goodness it's only $90 in office and $90 at the lab and I won't have to do any drugs. I just wish things were easier. This sucks!!! Part of me still holds out hope that perhaps we would end up pregnant since we timed things perfectly with the test. I wish I could help my husband feel better about his situation too, he's so depressed today.

Anyone else go through this? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm just feeling really crushed today.

Thank you!

Fingers crossed

Chelsea — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:49:57 GMT

So after all the hard work the past month dealing with the fertility doctors, fertility medications/injections, tons of ultrasounds, lots of pain (more so then most times), 5 months worth of firtility treatment with this month being my first IUI, I have an appointment at 8am tomorrow morning to have blood drawn to see if I'm pregnant! Hopefully I'll get the results back sometime tomorrow as I know I'll be staring at my phone all day. We've been trying a year and a half, but I really don't want to get my hopes up yet again. This has been the hardest month so far, and I feel I'll be completely heart broken if I find out i'm not pregnant... But with all that said, I'm just going to hope for the best and try not to stress to much..

On another note, how is everyone else doing!? I know a few of you are doing Clomid this month...I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you as well!

-Chelsea

when to have sex during ovulation?

Cassie Bard — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:05:51 GMT

So, Ive never ovulated before...

And today I had a positive ovulation test, how often do you think we should be having sex? I got a positive this morning (i worked a 24 hr shift) so when I got home this morning at 6am, I made him have sex lol...

soooo do we do it again tonight? tomorrow morning? how often?

Who really wants to join this group?

lauraacuna — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 02:24:58 GMT

Hello ladies, thank you for your posts that give me hope that I am not the only one going through the slew of tests, RX refills, dr appts, weird conversations with my husband (go get your sperm counted and do it quick because the longer you take the crazier I get) etc...

Im Type 1 for 23 years come Feb and pumping forever, this year began CGM which changed my diabetic life and I got my A1C to a record 5.7 all in the hopes of getting pregnant. After a host of uninformed gyn's and RN's, I was sent back to a perionatologist with PCOS and a septate uterus. Then sent along to an infertility group in the area for some awful Xray with dye to see if my tubes are open (one is for sure, one is stubborn =)), and to really look at the uterus. I'm now on day something of provera to induce my period and then start clomid. My poor husband has been going through the wringer to get time off from work, fighting with insurance (he is the healthy one of the fam and as such has diff insurance) and still hasn't gone in for his test.

I'm actually handling this whole thing pretty well and feel supported by my husband and family BUT I don't feel like I have many if any girlfriends to talk about it with because it's something that not many people like to talk about and it's something that if you're not going through it it's hard to relate. So I'm looking for some understanding faces if only in cyber land to share stories and give each other hope.

Thanks for reading

Rawrrrrrrr

Cassie Bard — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 20:08:25 GMT

Ok, so I posted months ago having issues, we finally went through the first year with no success at our ages of 25, and me having Type 1...

The ob/gyn sent me for tests, here are the results

So blood work came back- no abnormalities-- A1C 6.5, thyroid great
Sperm test- no abnormalities
Tube test- perfectly fine and clear
vaginal ultrasound to see if I am ovulating-- FAIL

grrrr we had multiple little follicles day 14... so she prescribed me 50mg of clomid to start next cycle and 'officially' diagnosed me with PCOS :(

I am frustrated, angry, and just plain let down...I keep trying to do research online with clomid and because everyones body is actually completely different, there are no real solid answers on if clomid actually works or not :(...sooooo disappointed and sad :(

Any type 1s have success with clomid?!!? can you help with some advice!!! I read online that some people are put on a combo of clomid and metformin due to insulin resistance...I am not considered insulin resistant so much anymore, but I was on metformin for a month, and didn't last long because of the nasty side effects, I asked my ob/gyn today about mixing the two and advised that we should try one round without it and see what happens...

So on day 3 of my next period, I start clomid for 5 days at 50mg, my day 14 to do U/S should land the day AFTER christmas to see if I am ovulating... MERRY FREAKING CHRISTMAS TO ME!!! :(....

Cass

anyone with infertility issues on the man's side??

Nikki — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:49:05 GMT

No one responded to my previous post and we just got more info yesterday at the doctor. Looking to find someone who is in a similar situation to help us make decisions.

abnormal semen analysis

Nikki — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 20:57:32 GMT

So my husbands semen analysis came back with an abnormal reading. Anyone familiar with this process? I guess that is why we have been trying since April with no luck. Wish my OB would have suggested testing him in the beginning so we were wasting time practicing. We are waiting on a call from the Eurologist so we can make an appointment with him. Not sure what he does or what the regiment is for a guy with issues like that. I wish I was closer to my sister-in-law so she could give me pointers. : (

Any and all advice and support would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Unexplained Infertility

Heather Guy — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 17:51:28 GMT

Hey guys,

My husband and I have been technically trying for only 2 years with a few months off in the midst, but I've been off birth control with him for about 3 years. I always had this feeling that there was something wrong, because over the years of being diabetic, on and off birth control and sexually active, I never had any pregnancy scares; I did, but they turned out to be stress related late periods.

My periods have been predictable, on time to a T, like clockwork, I have good LH surges. We'd been using the ovulation predictor kits since 2 months into trying and this past fall, we tried clomid at 50 mg days 5-9 for a few months with no results, that's when we stopped actively trying because I couldn't handle the emotions anymore. Every month I'd wait for AF to be late and even if it was just by a day, I got excited, didn't help that clomid can make you late and feel pregnant to begin with. I can honestly say we've never once been officially pregnant, it's as if something in me is either making the egg and sperm not meet. I've been through an HSG, no blockages or scar tissue, nothing, all clear. My bloodwork is normal and my husband's first SA was normal(he just submitted a new one last week that we're waiting on the results). The only thing off is my a1c which was once 6.6 a few months ago is up to a 7.8.

We met with the fertility specialists earlier this month and he told us we're going to start IUI treatment, went through all their preliminary testing, now awaiting our follow up appointments and have been in contact with a recommended CDE and maternal/fetal medicine specialist that is working closely with me to get my a1c in tight range.

My question here is how many people have been through the IUI process and did it work for anyone? I'm going to a facility that's in the top 1% with the highest success rates for both IUI and IVF in the country (Shady Grove Fertility) and it all looks promising as they typically do clomid on day3-7, an fsh shot and a hcg. Our insurance covers IUI 6 times at 100%, my worry is it won't work and we don't have the money for IVF, which I know they have a 55% success rate with and is almost guaranteed to work, whereas with IUI and unexplained fertility it runs from 10-20% chance per cycle.

The other good news I got was from my CDE telling me that diabetes does not harm your fertility, we may have wonky immune systems attacking our pancreas, but it's not attacking our reproductive system. I just wish I knew what was going on with my body and why in the almost 10 years I've been sexually active, not once has their been an inkling and really hoping IUI works.

Short Cycles?

Nicki — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:12:53 GMT

Has anyone had issues with short menstrual cycles (e.g. 18-19 days between cycles)? I had a difficult time getting pregnant with my daughter because of this and needed some help with medications to lengthen my leuteal phase. After my daughter was born (HORRAY!!) my cycles went to around 23-25 days, which I was told was considered normal, but lately the past two cycles have been 18 and 19 days, and although I am not looking to conceive now (I'm OK with it if it happens), I don't like having a period what seems like every other week. I don't think I'm ovulating and I am constantly calculating. It's driving me nuts! My OB told me normal cycles are anywhere from 21-35 days, and that if I was TTC, they could put me on what worked for me last time. I told him that we weren't planning on TTC until next fall, but I was hoping to not need "assistance" with the medeications and that it would just happen naturally for baby #2. Anyone share in this experience?

Research Study: Adult Siblings of Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes--Please read and pass to siblings!!

Julie E. Balzano, M.S.Ed. — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:40:08 GMT

My name is Julie E. Balzano and I am a fifth year doctoral student in the Counseling Psychology program at Fordham University. I am writing to ask for help in recruiting participants for my doctoral dissertation research examining the sibling relationship, empathy, and interpersonal problems among adult siblings of individuals with Type I diabetes.

I was wondering if individuals would be willing to help distribute an email about my study, post it to a blog you might have, or distribute my study flyer at any support group meetings or events you might have. And, of course, if you have sibling(s) and Type 1 it would be great if you could pass this information to your sibling(s). Study participants are the non-diagnosed adult siblings of individuals with Type 1, but the best way to get in touch with these individuals has been through their diabetic siblings.

Study participation occurs electronically, takes 20-25 minutes, and is anonymous. I have pasted study information below. Information can also be found at: http://siblingresearchstudy.blogspot.com/

Sincerely,

Julie E. Balzano, M.S.Ed.

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Participants must have sibling(s) who are EITHER medically healthy OR who have a diagnosis of Type I diabetes. Additional participation criteria include:

• Must be 18 years of age or older.

• Must have grown up in the same household with sibling(s).

• Participants may not have any serious medical conditions or developmental delays/ disabilities.

• Sibling(s) may not have any of the above conditions except for Type I diabetes.

• Sibling(s) must be alive.

Participation will take approximately 25-30 minutes of your time and includes electronic completion of one demographic information survey and three questionnaires. All participants will remain anonymous. To participate, type the following link into any web-browser and follow the directions:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/G3XW7KV

If you do not qualify, but happen to know someone who might be interested, I would really appreciate you passing this information along. Please feel free to contact myself or my dissertation mentor, Dr. Eric C. Chen, Ph.D., with any questions you many have. I thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Julie E. Balzano, M.S.Ed.

Ph.D. Candidate

Counseling Psychology

973-818-0162

balzano@fordham.edu

Eric C. Chen, Ph.D.

Dissertation Mentor

Associate Professor of Counseling Psychology

212-636-6474

echen@fordham.edu

trying with T1 bites- anyone who agrees vent here! :)

Rachel — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 19:49:51 GMT

ok, so trying with T1 bites. and i will vent here.

first baby- yes we are blessed with a little guy- tried for 2 years and 2 miscarriages. diagnosed with diabetes during that pregnancy and with T1 after baby boy arrived. it wasn't fun, but he is our little gift from heaven.

now we are trying for #2. infertility with baby 1 was horrendous, but it was nothing compared to baby 2. the primary difference is the T1.

i am really anal. while trying, i feel the need to keep my bg's perfect every second of every day or i freak. for over a year now i have beat myself up over every 'bad bg', even a bg that isn't bad but isn't perfect for someone who could be pregnant. with a 5.1% A1C, my bg's are pretty dang good. they better be, i am constantly testing and painstakingly panicking over them. it is stupid.

the end of the month comes and i am always convinced i am pregnant- 2 days late and 15 pregnancy tests later i am not pregnant. i fall apart. i am a failure again. my body sucks. what is wrong with me? i work soooooo hard, i try soooo hard, but no. so i get all depressed and beat the crap outta my body for 6 or 7 days while i have my period. i eat junk and spike and plummet. my bg's suffer. i feel terrible because i am in great control 75% of the time so this up down thing throws me for a loop. i cry and wallow in self pity.

period is gone, and it starts all over again.

in december we got an extra loop thrown into the mix. that's right, we actually got pregnant. we were going to announce it at christmas to everyone. a few days before christmas we lost it. i was a basket case. why does my body hate me?

it doesn't help that we are at 'that age'. between nov to jan we had 13 new babies born from friends. since then we know of at least 8 more on the way. people who don't know are always saying it's time for baby boy to have a sibling. heck, baby boy is now 2 1/2 and telling people that "my mommy has a baby too!".

if one more person tells me i have to relax and it will just happen i think i might explode. i know that if by some miracle i am able to get pregnant again and if i have 1 bad bg and miscarry i will blame myself. at least with december baby i know i was in perfect control and nothing i could have done would have made it better. i need to be honest with myself though- 75% of the time i miscarry. that's not good odds for anyone.

so, for now, i am just praying. praying that it happens or we can, as a family, accept that it won't. praying that if we are meant to adopt that somehow we have the means to adopt. and praying that someday, my entire family will be together- all 6 of us.

anyone feel like fertility drugs are making you crazy??

FreeHappyHolly — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 16:28:03 GMT

I took Clomid 8 years ago and got pregnant quickly with my daughter. I am type 1 too (of course my daughter ended up being 11 pounds and was diagnosed with type 1 right after she turned 3 so not exactly smooth sailing). This time around I've been trying to get pregnant for about 2 years. Used nothing for a year and then started on clomid. During my 6th cycle I was up to 200 mg of clomid! Things were managable. However, a few days after the Hcg shot to induce ovulation I would feel myself getting depressed. It took me a couple cycles to catch on that these meds caused me to feel this way. Now I have started Folastim (sp?) injections and just did the IUI. Have to wait the dreaded 2 weeks now to see if it worked. I feel like the longer I'm on fertility drugs the crazier I'm feeling! I cry at commercials. There was one day where I felt like I had the most extreme PMS I have ever had! I actually pondered for a second how difficult it would be to chew someones head right off their shoulders! I hate feeling like this! I'm debating if I should go to the doctor and get on some meds for depression or if the fertility drugs are causing me to feel this way so these icky feelings will go away once I stop taking the fertility drugs. Anyone else have a hard time with the fertility drugs messing with you head??

experience with IVF

paulacd8 — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:49:50 GMT

If anyone has any questions regarding how the medications affect your blood sugar, feel free to contact me.

On my 3rd IUI

Karen — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:55:05 GMT

I am 29 years old, I've had T1 for 19 years and I've been married for almost 7 years. My husband and I planned on starting our family right away but after about 7 years we still have not had a baby. About 5 years ago I went on Clomid, checked temps, charted my cycles and stayed on it for almost a year, nothing. A year or two later he was checked and came out to be "above average". Then I had my tubes check and that also came out to be perfectly fine. Well, at the beginning of the year I decided it was time to see an infertility specialist. He looked over my records and assured me that about half of his patient have unexplained infertility. After that we started the IUIs. Tomorrow will be my 3rd one and I am scared to death. They have told me that it usually takes 3 or 4 times before it will work anyway but my spirits are still low. The procedure for me is extremely uncomfortable to the point of being in tears by the time it's over. What type of experiences has everyone else had?

how long

Beth — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:46:35 GMT

So my husband and I have been trying for three years now. We both went and got tested. Both tests were normal! I am going to the doctor today to talk about being put on Clomid. I am already on metformin ( a diabetic drug, but also used for fertility). I am pretty scared right now. What are other people going through?