FAQs, Definitions, and References

Click here for a link to the timeline of our journey!

Throughout my blog, I reference some big, scary medical terms. I wanted to create a section of definitions and FAQs just for you, my readers, so you don’t have to run off to Dr. Google every time you encounter something unfamiliar.

Friends and family: PLEASE do not consult with Dr. Google. I promise I will provide everything you need to know here as it relates to MY journey. If you feel I have left something out, let me know before you consult with Dr. Google. Just like these medical terms, he can be big, scary, and mean. Without knowing what you’re looking for, chances are you will be misinformed.

Infertility patients (those of you embarking on this journey as an individual or a couple sticking yourselves with needles): I encourage you to speak with your doctor before you begin consulting with Dr. Google. They will help you understand YOUR particular situation so you can identify which information is helpful and relevant while you’re wading through it. You need to read it all so that you can ask the right questions during your appointments.

Why do I make two very different recommendations regarding Dr. Google? Each infertility journey is different. What you’re reading here is mine. These definitions relate to my story, and are relevant to my particular situation. Misinformation is a huge problem in medicine (and in society as a whole), and the last thing I want is to misinform you any further.

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Bicornuate uterus - A type of uterine malformation also known as a "heart shaped" uterus. Bicornuate uterus literally means that the uterus has two “horns,” and is often marked by an inversion on the top of the uterus. Since room for baby to grow is drastically reduced, this malformation can make it harder to carry a baby to term and usually results in a C-section delivery. Bicornuate uterus is detected by ultrasound or MRI, and occurs when the mother’s uterus is formed but does not properly fuse together during the embryonic stage of development.

Charting - This is where a woman tracks her menstrual cycles in order to predict ovulation. Tracking can include observing cervical mucus, cervical position, basal body temperature, and of course menstruation itself.

PCOS - Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a hormone disorder typically characterized by the appearance of cysts on the ovaries. These cysts cause the ovaries to malfunction, which grows the hormones out of whack and ultimately leads to issues with ovulation. The patient will usually present with multiple distinct symptoms caused by the hormonal imbalance, including facial hair, acne, menstrual irregularity, and obesity.

Chemical pregnancy - A chemical pregnancy occurs when there is enough hCG (the pregnancy hormone) for the test to detect a pregnancy, but the pregnancy fails to develop further and is lost shortly after. No, this is NOT a "false positive." The likelihood of a false positive is extremely low, since modern home pregnancy tests are extremely accurate. You are more likely to get a false negative (where you are actually pregnant but the test does not detect hCG) than to get a false positive.

Clomid - Clomid is a drug that is used to help produce follicles, which eventually lead to ovulation. The use of Clomid can often lead to pregnancies of high order multiples. This is because the ovaries will often produce multiple eggs, which are then fertilized and implant into the uterus. Many, many, many of the families of multiples you see on TV were formed by the use of Clomid.

Follicle - A follicle is found on the ovaries. One egg develops inside each follicle.

Glucose response test - This test determines if you have diabetes. First, your blood is drawn to get a baseline. Then, you are asked to drink a nasty bottle of liquid (basically the sweetest and flattest Sprite ever) and sent into the waiting room. You are not allowed to leave, eat, or drink anything during the test. You are called back to have your blood re-drawn one hour later, and again after two hours. (This blood draw schedule can vary). Each blood draw measures your blood insulin and your glucose levels. This test is often given to women at the beginning of their pregnancies to determine if they are diabetic or at risk of developing gestational diabetes.

Ovulation - During ovulation, a follicle releases an egg into the fallopian tube where the egg is hopefully met by sperm. If the egg is fertilized, it continues to travel down the fallopian tube into the uterus to implant and grow into a baby.

Follicular ultrasound - This is an ultrasound performed via a transvaginal wand. The ultrasound technician will count the follicles on the ovaries, measure the volume of the ovaries, and measure the lining of the uterus.

Ovulation test - This is an at-home test with moderate reliability. The test is performed on a urine sample over multiple days, and is supposed to measure the increase of luteinizing hormone (LH). A spike in LH triggers ovulation.

Septate uterus - a type of uterine malformation where a cartilage-like wedge of flesh divides the uterus. Depending on the size and location of the wedge, it is usually corrected via surgery. Generally, pregnancies after the wedge is removed proceed normally. Without removing the wedge, the embryo can implant along the wedge (if it does implant at all), which will almost certainly result in a miscarriage before the end of the first trimester. A septate uterus occurs when the mother’s uterus is formed but does not fully fuse together during the embryonic stage of development.

Transvaginal ultrasound - This is an ultrasound performed through the vagina as opposed to being done over the abdomen like you often see in TV and movies. I tend to refer to this sort of ultrasound as “a meeting with Wandy.”

Two week wait - It takes two weeks from the time a woman ovulates to the time that a pregnancy test can reliably detect a pregnancy. This time period is otherwise known as the longest two weeks of your life. You must go about as if you are pregnant, but in reality you have no idea if you are in fact pregnant just yet.

My Medical Team & Other Infertility Resources

Texas Children's Pavilion for Women

women.texaschildrens.org

Dr. Paul Zarutskie

Eastern Harmony Clinic (Acupuncture)

www.easternharmonyclinic.com

The National Infertility Organization

www.resolve.org