HI everyone. I just wanted to know your opinions. Here's the deal. As yall know we have been TTC on clomid. Well, yesterday I went to have an ultrasound to check to see if I'm ovulating. The great news is that I am, and it's a really good size egg too. Anyway, the "nurse" told us that my dr. wanted me to have an injection that is supposed to protect my dh sperm so that they can make it there okay, and that we should have sex last night before bed, in the middle of the night, this morning before he went to work, and tonight when he gets home. I think that is a bit much. Well, we ran into one of my best friends who in a LPN and works in the same building on our way out. I told her what was going on and she wanted to know what my rx was. I told her I wasn't sure bc the "nurse" was calling it in. Here's where I have a problem. The "nurse" told my dh to give the injection to me, which he's never done before, and the directions would be on the box. My friend had a hissy fit. I didn't understand why at first. She said she wanted to give me the injection so she came over to our house and did it...thank God. She told me that our "nurse" is actually a medical assistant. She has no degree. My friend, the LPN, said we should only be having sex every other day so that my dh sperm were strong and competent, bc the more you have sex, the less sperm there are. She also said in her dr. office where she works for an obgyn they never tell the patient to give the injection. The nurse gives the shot in the office under direct supervision of the dr. It wasn't a normal injection either, you had to mix it, and they only gave me one needle, so when Jennifer gave it to me, the needle was blunted from her sticking in the vial. I just wanted to know how you would feel and what you think I should do?

By Vicki on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 08:38 am:

I don't really want to comment about how often you have sex and all of that because I have also been through fertility treatments and you will get such differing advice on when is the perfect time and all of that. With that, you have to trust your doctor and follow his/her advice. If your not comfortable that your dr knows what the best thing for you to be doing is, than it is time to find a new doctor. I will also say (having been to both) that there is a HUGE differnce between a OB/GYN and a specialist in fertility. You will get different advice for them and honestly, if your seeing a specialist, I would trust them with your best chance over a OB/GYN.... now, with the shot. I am guessing that it is not unheard of for it to be administered at home since it is something that you can get a prescription for. Maybe the office that your friend works for doesn't give out scripts for it, but you also have to keep in mind that a specialist sees nothing but fertility cases and I am guessing has several hundered patients at any given time. If they had everyone running into the office for these injections, that is all they would be doing in a given day since everyones cycle is different and so on. It is not uncommon for those to be done at home. I am also guessing that if you let them know that you were not at all comfortable doing it at home, they might have done it in the office if at all possible.

By Hdelfuego on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 11:11 am:

I am seeing an ob/gyn and I love her. The person I have a problem with is the "nurse" who is a medical assistant. You don't even have to go to school for that. The problem is that we went through clomid before and the instructions about sex from my dr. last time were completely different from what this "nurse" is telling me this time, so I'm not even sure she is asking my dr. or if she is just giving her opinion. That's the problem. My friend, the real nurse, said that usually patients go get the shot and then bring it back for the nurses to give to them. I'm not sure my dr. knows what this medical assistant is doing. I really want to talk to my dr. but I'm not even sure how to get in touch with her without having to talk to the medical assistant.

By Vicki on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 11:35 am:

I would follow what your Dr has told you then. If the dr is unaware of the the MA is doing, I would have serious concerns about how that office is ran. I would call and request that your next visit be with the Dr and voice your concerns to her. I am also willing to bet that if you had asked the nurse, she would have let you bring the shot back to the office and she would have done it for you if possible, meaning the office was still open etc. I wish you luck, fertility issues are no fun! I know that from experience!!

By Sunny on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 11:37 am:

If you are unsure of any instructions given to you by a medical assistant, or nurse for that matter, don't hesitate to call the doctor and ask to speak directly to him/her. You don't have to say anything other than, 'I would like to speak with the doctor.' Leave a message and wait for them to call you back. Anyone can give you advice on what to do, but only your doctor knows what he wants you to do.

As far as the sex part, I have heard that it is recommended that sex occur every other day so the sperm can build up, but I'm not a medical professional and I won't comment on that. Okay, one comment, forgive me. Sex 4 times in 24 hours seems a little excessive to me!

By Hdelfuego on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 11:55 am:

It seems a lot excessive to me too Sunny. Don't worry we didn't. There's just no way; we're already exhausted. LOL

Vicki, thank you. I have an appt on Oct 28 for my annual and I'm going to talk to my dr. then if not before. I guess its too late this month though. Today's day 14. What kind of fertility stuff did you go through?

By Vicki on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 12:30 pm:

Well...LOL I am not a good one to ask about this. I do not have good things to say about going through fertility problems with a regular OB/GYN. I spent over 2 years with my OB/GYN and got no results at all. I was emotionally spent and just was so depressed that I couldn't even think straight. And by the way, I did love her as a Dr and THOUGHT she knew what she was doing. We then gave up and wasted another year and a half trying to get my head on straight and re coup from all the emotional stresses of trying to get pregnant! I then started thinking about having a baby again and called my insurance company and they referred me to a reproductive endrocronoligist and within 3 months of my first visit with him I was expecting!! I ended up having to have a uterine insemination. He found my problem with a simple test that my OB never even did. He did more testing on me in my first month with him that she did in 2 years. So there is my experience in a nut shell!!

By Hdelfuego on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 01:55 pm:

Vicki, what did you get pg taking? I know I have Pcos and my dh has abnormally shaped sperm, but we did get pg with my dd on clomid the 2nd month with my ob/gyn the first time. So we're hoping to this month. If we're not this month, I think the plan is to wait till our tax money comes in and go see a fertility specialist. Between now and then though we're going to take an emotional and physical break from all the trying. That is if we don't get pg this month. I think the fertility specialist will probably do an IUI.

By Vicki on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 02:03 pm:

I didn't have any problems ovulating, so I took a very low does of something...can't remember the name...this was 10 years ago now!! LOL But anyway, I took it just to make sure that I did ovulate so that a month wouldn't be wasted! In my opinion, the specialist is the way to go. All and all we had 4 years into trying ( and I don't even want to know how much money) for a baby that he was able to give us in less than 3 months.

By Wandilu on Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 02:48 pm:

I don't know much about the fertility part(in my child bearing days I was "Fertile Myrtle",pg 6 times in 5 yrs,although I miscarried with 3 of them).But I am a former medical assistant.I did a one year program of very extensive training.And you do get a degree.Also,you would actually have to stick the needle into the vial several times for it to actually dull it,since they are very,very sharp.The Dr.gives the same instructions that he wants carried out to the patient ,wether it's a medical assistant,Lpn,or Rn that's attending the patient with him.He doesn't tell an MA to instruct the patient one way,but tell's an LPN to instruct another way. I hope this helps you to feel more confident about the MA.And like Sunny said,call the DR and ask for him to return your call.Or,make an appt. to see him,and when the MA or nurse ask's you the nature of your visit,tell her that you just want to have a confidential conversation with him concerning your situation and choices of treatments.That's a very common procedure in a DR's office.Good luck.

By Marcia on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 12:15 am:

When I was doing treatments, the hubbies were allowed to give the shots. I chose to go to a nearby clinic instead, because my hubby is afraid of needles. I think most hubbies did it.

We often had artificial insemination 3 days in a row, and each sperm sample was better than the day before. I know that's not always the case, but it was with us.

I would opt for a fertility specialist, too.
Good luck!!

By Feona on Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 05:41 am:

We are going through this. They are giving you old fashioned medicine that you have to mix.

Hubby does injection. I know people who give themselves the shot. But you know... scary...

Ask for the ovidrel?spelling...to induce induction. No mixing.
(maybe the other medicine is cheaper???)

So after you get the shot you are supposed to ovulate exactly 36 hours later....
So you have sex 36 hours later. and than if you can do it the next morning too. Can't wait two days because it is precise. Because if you wait it is too long. Double check everything i said because I might have gotten something wrong.