THE CONSULTATION

So the first step in the process was the consultation.  A patient had told me once that she had done intrauterine insemination (IUI) at Columbia University Medical Center (CUMC) - Center for Women's Reproductive Care http://columbiafertility.org   I had googled the process before and discovered CUMC but never followed through, however I felt reassured to give them a try after speaking with my patient.  That was over a year ago.  So after numerous consideration I decided to take the leap.

On September 9, 2016 at 10am I had my consultation with Dr. Rachel McConnell http://columbiafertility.org/team-members/rachel-mcconnell/#.V9i_iDtcWFI.  Very lovely, pleasant doctor.  She received me in a very non judgmental manner, which I appreciated because not many people are or will be accepting of my unconventional way of having a child - unmarried and without a partner. But hey, like I told Dr. McConnell, the reason I'm doing this is because I'm 37 years old, I'm single, my biological clock is counting down, I don't want to wait for Mr. Right who may never come or may come when it's too late, I'm a professional career driven woman, my desire to be a mother far outweighs my desire to be a wife, you can find love at any age but you can't have a child at any age,  and I would rather have a child at an age where I can still have the energy to chase a toddler around the house.  In my profession I've encountered patients who are less fortunate than me, children having children - my youngest patient was 14 years old.  If they can do it, why can't I.

Dr. McConnell informed me of what the IUI process entails.  She told me that before I can have the IUI done I have to basically have a pre-IUI workup.  This entails testing to make sure I'm in overall good health.  I have to have my hormone levels assessed to see if they are in the moral range and check to see if my uterus can support a pregnancy.  Hormone levels to be checked are E2, FSH, LH, and AMH. In addition to hormone levels, I was told I had to have a pelvic ultrasound, HSG test, genetic testing, and a pap smear with testing for gonorrhea and chlamydia.  Some of these tests were mostly timed specific testing.  The E2, FSH, LH, AMH and the pelvic sonogram (I think to check the ovaries and measure the thickness of the lining and make sure everything is as it should be at that point in your cycle) all need to be done on day 2 of the menstrual cycle.  The HSG test has to be done between day 5 and 10 of the menstrual cycle.  Luckily for me, my period was due the day I had the consultation.

After my consult with Dr. McConnell I was seen by the nurse who went over the checklist or homework assignment as she called it.  It was basically everything the doctor mentioned to me in the consultation.  In addition, I was given information about recommended sperm banks where I could basically go shopping for the sperm of my choice.  The top recommended choice was California cryobank https://cryobank.com.

DEFINITIONS:

E2 - An estradiol test is a blood test that measures the amount of estradiol in your blood. It's also called an E2 test. Estradiol is a form of the hormone estrogen, and it's also called “17 beta-estradiol.” The ovaries, breasts, and adrenal glands make estradiol. During pregnancy, the placenta also makes estradiol.

FSH - In women, FSH helps manage the menstrual cycle and stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs. The test is used to help diagnose or evaluate: menopause; women who have PCOS, or ovarian cysts; abnormal vaginal or menstrual bleeding; or problems becoming pregnant, or infertility.

LH - A luteinizing hormone test measures the amount of luteinizing hormone (LH) in a sample of blood or urine. LH is produced by the pituitary gland. In women, LH helps regulate the menstrual cycle and egg production (ovulation).

AMH - Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone produced by the cells that support the dormant pool of eggs in the ovaries. Therefore, a higher level of AMH suggests a larger pool of eggs (or a greater ovarian reserve).

HSG -A hysterosalpingogram or HSG is an x-ray procedure used to see whether the fallopian tubes are patent (open) and if the inside of the uterus (uterine cavity) is normal. HSG is an outpatient procedure that usually takes less than 5 minutes to perform.