Like Leanna said with green tea be very careful to stop when you think you ovulated, follic acid is esential for fetal neurological development, make sure your on prenatal vitamins now and if you choose to do the green tea take extra follic acid since green tea (and white tea) reduce absorbtion. I work with special needs and see first hand what lack of adequate follic acid can do.
I was actually told be my reproductive endocrinologist that the womans cycle should be between 28 and 30 days and if there is more of a difference like 35 one cycle 29 the next it is considered "irregular", thats what mine was like and I am "infertile", I dont ovulate well. On a 35 day cycle ovulation is not considered "quality" even though you can still get pg the later you O the lower the "quality" it is. Weight makes a difference, i know nobody likes to hear this I certainly didnt, but its true, losing 5-10 lbs can make a difference of ovulating well or not. And for those very thin not having enough fat on your body makes your estrogen levels to low, and for those over weight estrogen is stored in fat so over weight (obese) women have to much estrogen.
The average healthy woman has a 1 in 5 chance of concieving every month, first the hormones need to be in place for quality ovulation to happen, then the hormones need to be in place for the uterine linning to be developed, the sperm needs to actually meet the egg, the fertilized egg needs to implant in the linning and the hormones need right as to NOT shed the linning. Its why drs usually tell you they want you to try for 1 year before they get involved.
Medications used to treat infertility :
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, Serif]
Clomiphene Citrate[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]
(CC) (Clomid, Serophene) ~ usually the first treatment prescribed when preganancy wishes to be achieved. CC is a synthetic anti-estrogen. It "fools" the body into believing it needs more estrogen which creates a gonadotropin release from the pitituary gland as well as break-down in barriers for successful follicle growth and ovulation[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]. [/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman, Times, Serif]Letrozole [/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif](Femara) ~ [/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]An oral antiestrogen. Letrozole inhibits the enzyme aromatase in the adrenal glands that produces the estrogens (estradiol and estrone) and thereby lowers their levels. This medication is commonly used in treatment of breast cancer and in woman with ovulation issues. [/FONT]
Follistim, Brevelle, Gonal-F ([FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]other injectables)~ Follistim contains human FSH (follicle stimulating hormone of recombinant DNA origin). Bravelle is a product containing a highly purified preparation of human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) extracted from the urine of postmenopausal women. Stimulating hormone (FSH) is a naturally occurring hormone. FSH is important in the development of follicles (eggs) produced by the ovaries. FSH is also important in the development of sperm.is used to stimulate a follicle (egg) to develop and mature. It is used when a woman desires pregnancy and her ovaries can produce a follicle but hormonal stimulation is not sufficient to make the follicle mature. Follistim is also used to stimulate the development of multiple eggs for in vitro fertilization. Follistim can be used by men to increase the production of sperm. These meds are usually taken on cd 3 and that is when the "follicle selection phase" begins, after follicle/s have been selected then the meds grow and mature the follicles and gets them ready for the HCG "trigger" shot.
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]Approximately 5% of patients treated with injectables develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), especially after the first cycle of therapy. Symptoms of OHSS include severe pelvic pain, swelling of the hands or legs, abdominal pain and swelling, shortness of breath, weight gain, low urine output, diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting. OHSS can be fatal. Notify your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you develop any of these symptoms.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif] [/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]Other side effects may also occur. Notify your doctor if you experience[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]ovarian enlargement presenting as abdominal or pelvic pain, tenderness, pressure, or swelling;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or flatulence (gas);[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]fever or chills;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]headache;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]dizziness;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]rapid pulse or heart rate;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]muscle or joint weakness or aching;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]breast tenderness;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]spotting or menstrual changes;[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]pain, swelling, or irritation at the injection site; or[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]·[/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]dry skin, a rash, or hair loss.[/FONT]
[FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif] [/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.[/FONT]
HCG ~ [FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]Human chorionic gonadotropin [/FONT][FONT=Geneva, Arial, Sans-serif]-It is the hormone released by the fertilized follicle at conception, and is the hormone decteted on a HPT. HCG is used in conjunction with other fertility meds that induce ovulation, HCG matures (ripens) the follicle and releases it from the ovary. HCG stays in the system for up to 2 weeks, so using a HPT may not be accurate. HCG shots may also produce side effects of being pregnant; constipation, breast tenderness and enlargement, and nausea/vomiting[/FONT].
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Common tests asside from blood work and sperm annalysis:
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) ~ This test is used to check if there is blockage in the fallopian tubes. Liquid dye is passes through an instument that is inserted into the cervix which shows the outlining of the uterus and the tubes.
Uterine biopsy ~ A trest used to determine linning quality, ovulation quality (if any ovulation), hormone levels. A thin catheter tube is inserted in the cervix to the top of the uterus where a sample of the linning is removed and tested. The procedure is usually done in the dr office, and some require forcepts to pull the uterus down to get proper insertion. It is painful to most and taking motrin or tylonol 30 min before hand seems to help.
Ultrasound~ (internal) a long thin U/S device is inserted into the vagina to check the linning of the uterus and ovaries. Usually minimal discomfort if any.