CD12 ultrasound shows...

Strange day... it is pouring in San Diego, which is rare. Despite wearing a rain jacket and using an umbrella, I managed to get my jeans wet from the knees down. Right now, I need a clothes dryer and sweatpants. Unfortunately, the lab has neither, so I'm going to be sitting in wet jeans for half the day...

So, I arrived to the RE's office in a somewhat bedraggled, soggy state. Immediately, I was called back to the ultrasound room. The nurse asked me if it would be OK if a resident watched, although Dr. A would be the one doing the scan. "Um, sure..." As a fellow (and resident as recently as 2004), I certainly understand the need for medical education. I honestly wouldn't have cared if the resident had wanted to do the scan, either, as long as Dr. A was watching to make sure that he doesn't missing anything. I can't say that I'd want a resident to do anything more invasive, though. Also, I know that I do not personally know any of the OB/GYN housestaff, so I'm not worried about the guy recognizing me. I guess I'll meet a few of them during my Gynecological Oncology rotation in January, but so far, I don't. Anyway, the resident came in, watched the ultrasound monitor, and really didn't say a word the entire time.

This was my first time meeting Dr. A, and I liked him quite a bit! Probably because of the good news that he delivered...

3 follicles are growing! They are 10 mm, 15 mm, and 16 mm. Dr. A thinks that I will most likely ovulate 2, which in my mind is perfect!! I am really excited about this! He said that Clomid usually doesn't make many more than 1 or 2 good eggs, and that it's the injectables that have the potential to produce a lot.

He then asked, "Can you come back tomorrow for another ultrasound?" Er, no. He was thinking that I was going to be getting serial ultrasounds followed by an HCG trigger shot. I told him that the original plan was for me to use OPKs to detect my LH surge, and then to come in the next day (O day) for an IUI. He said, "Actually, that's fine as long as OPKs work for you. I have actually done a study comparing spontaneous versus triggered ovulation and the pregnancy rate is equivalent."

He then made me really happy by saying that the follicles look great and that I have a good chance with IUI. I know he is not really familiar with my case (as we have never met before), so I said, "Yeah, but we have sperm issues... 1% morphology..." To this he said that no one really knows about whether morphology is relevant, except in the IVF setting. He said that they go forward with IUI no matter what the sperm count is on the day of the procedure. And then he quoted Wayne Gretzky (hockey player), something about "You will miss 100% of the shots you never take." (I love how google can help me look up that quote in less than 15 seconds!) Of course, I was liking him more and more by the minute as I'm hearing him say all of this.

I teared up for a minute as he left the room. I guess I'm daring to hope again... (Fingers crossed, knocking on wood, and jumping over all cracks...)