Getting Started

I've never really done anything like this before, so here goes! I'm trying to reach out to all the young women out there who struggle with infertility! I know that sometimes I feel alone when I look at all the message boards and support forums. It seems like everyone is so much older than I am and that's very intimidating. There's nothing like being afraid to post about your cycle's failure because you're afraid you'll get that "you have plenty of time" response. The first doctor we went to see didn't really take us serious since we "have plenty of time" to practice with. I guess it's kind of the same everywhere. If you're not 30+ it seems like no one will take you seriously half the time, but I'm not trying to rant about that.

I'm not really sure where to go from here now. Introductions are one thing, but the next step is always another with me. My DH and I have been married for three years and dealing with infertility for about 2 and 1/2 of those years. We stepped up out of the world of just charting everything to the world of visiting a doctor about a year and a half ago. It was a hard step for me I think mostly because of denial. Part of me still struggles with wanting to have children without any medical help. I think if I got one wish on a star or from a genie that would be it. We haven't made the step to IVF yet, but we have undergone 6 cycles of famera and clomid both with a bit of a break and a switch of doctors inbetween. Let me tell you this, famera was a booger of a drug! Not only did it make me moody and extremely emotional, it gave me this nasty back pain that took a few months to become not regular and sometimes (late in my cycle) I still get it! Even though our new doctor, Dr. C, warned us that Clomid is worse on it's side effects, I haven't really noticed anything too bad.

Now that finishes most of my history I guess. I'm sure little bits of it will pop up here and there again, but you never know what you're going to need to say until you're about to say it and then I guess you can only add it in or revise your original post and confuse everyone. I guess I should give my few bits of advice that I've already learned. You more experienced infertility folk are going to have to be patient with me. DH and I went in to this knowing nothing really except for the basics you learn in school.
1. Always ask around. Even if you don't realize it, someone you know has either dealt with infertility or knows someone who has. Getting a recommendation for a doctor is much better than picking one online. If you absolutely have to randomly select a doctor, go for one associated with a hospital and not a stand alone clinic. (of course there is more to it than this, but this is good for starters)
2. There are these things called ovulation tests and they do help. Even if your doctor never mentions them (which is a good sign that you should find a new doctor) you should purchase them and begin testing roughly ten days after the first day of your last period until you get a positive result.
3. Day 1 of your cycle is the first day of your period not the first day after bleeding.
4. There are no definates to ovulation. Just because you ovulate on day 13 one month does not guarentee you will ovulate on day 13 again. This even applies to people without fertility problems. I know that I grew up being taught that if you didn't start on exactly the same day every month (for example the 11th) you were late. These things work in cycle days and not everyone is going to have a 30 or 31 day cycle.