Infertility ruins relationships ...well it's ruining mine

I've read quite a few blogs where couples have to deal with infertility and I'm always envious. I'm envious of their mood. Nobody really talks about how angry they are and  how much infertility causes issues in their relationships... at least not the ones I'm reading.

The last few weeks in our household have been one word - horrible.

Although my BF seemed to have handled it relatively well when we were given the news of male factor infertility, that was short lived. I understood and was fully supportive of what was to come. Call me naive, but I never anticipated what actually happened.

He got angry (expected) - at ME (not expected)!

My acceptance of our situation actually angered him. I never look at infertility as one person's issue, in a relationship, both people manage that. It is both of their issues. He doesn't look at it this way, he looks at it as only his problem. Despite the fact that I've been supportive and understanding, he only sees it as his issue.

He's suggested I go and find someone who'll be able to have children with me. I always respond with, "I have". I don't want him for a second to think that there are no other options. Although he seemed to be on the IVF option in the beginning, he doesn't seem to be interested these days.

I made an appointment with another RE thinking that perhaps if we start fresh with this one, he may will feel more of a connection with this doctor. I made the appointment and then he informed that I would be going alone. If I cancelled it, I would have to wait months and months to get a new appointment, so I had no choice but to go all by myself.

I felt like an idiot answering my BF health questions  when he was watching TV at home. I felt horrible going through the whole deal of getting wanded, a rushed pap smear that hurt like hell because the doctor was rushing and half of my blood drawn yet again and coming home not to be asked at all how it went.

After that day, I decided that I'd put the fertility treatments on hold until he's is ready. I don't want to push him. Sadly, he hasn't mentioned a single thing all these weeks. It's like we're not even going through this. I suggested taking vitamins, he shot be down angrily. The very fact that I even brought that up angered him.

So now I wait.

I feel guilty, as though I've done something wrong.

I remember a friend of mine who found out that she had infertility issues tell me that at first she was angry at her husband for being perfectly fertile. She said it passed. I don't know what we're going through exactly, but it's obvious that whatever it is, my BF is set on keeping me at arms length. The only thing I can do is push my feelings to the back burner and try to be as supportive as possible despite how hurtful he is.

To make matter worse, guess what AF did ?

For the first time ever, she is late. I'm not talking a day or two, she's 9 days late.

After getting my usual BFN at home at 5 days late, I got a blood test today at 9 days late and got an expected BFN with that as well. My doctor thinks I'm just stressed.

Thanks for making things extra fun AF! You always know how to kick my ass at the right time.

SCREW YOU INFERTILITY!

Positve OPK, but feeling so sad

After I caved and got my BFN last cycle, AF made her appearance the very next day.

I should have used OPKs for my own sanity last cycle. I would have known that I had simply ovulated a bit later than normal, which would have helped me not get my hopes up. Instead, I really thought that there was a chance I was pregnant and was crushed to find out I wasn't.

That made month #14 of TTC and not getting pregnant.

I bought OPKs this cycle. I really want to know when I'm ovulating so that I can avoid getting my hopes up again if AF comes a bit later than I anticipate. I got a negative yesterday at cycle day 11 and a positive today at cycle day 12.

We've been pretty good with out 'trying' schedule and have been trying every other day since cycle day 8. I hope we can keep it up for another few days. I think I'll either ovulate tomorrow or the day after.

I'm bummed though. I know I should be excited that I got a positive OPK and we've scheduled out attempts so well, but a part of me is so incredibly sad because we've done that in the past and the cycle always ends with AF.

My BF and I have decided that if this cycle ends with a BFN, he will get a semen analysis. I'm scared of the results.

I know I should be more positive but I feel in my heart that this will be month #15 of AF making an appearance and just can't bear to get my hopes up again.

I'm so tired of getting my hopes crushed month after month and even more terrified  when I think about what the semen analysis results could bring into our struggle to have a baby.

TTC is totally killing sexy time

TTC has put a strain on our relationship.

Although BF and I have been trying for a year, he's not concerned. At least, he doesn't seem to be concerned. I had originally decided to keep my RE rendez-vous a secret, but decided to tell him about them last week. He was fine with it and didn't say much... he's a quiet man.

I read a lot of TTC or IF blogs, but rarely do they talk about the strain in puts on their relationship... at least I haven't read them.

TTC has totally affected our relationships. The days of rabbit sex are a very distant, distant memory. In fact, it's becoming increasingly difficult to TTC. I try not to share too much with him in terms of when I'm ovulating, but he's not stupid. He knows that I act like an animal in heat when I'm ovulating and he insists on letting it 'happen naturally'.

I want to yell, "dude, we have to do it now or wait another 4 weeks!!". But you can't say that kind of thing without pressure the hell out of a guy... to the point of 'performance anxiety'.

We're at a point where our sex life is stressful.

We don't find it exciting or fun. It's become a job. The connection we once had seems to be diminishing. Consequently, I end up feeling like I'm doing all the work and we're arguing about it. The last thing you want to do is have sex when you're arguing -  it's a cycle.

This is really a shitty situation.

As much as I want to TTC, I'm wondering if we should take a break. I know it's counter productive considering that it's my first cycle monitoring with an RE and this would be the optimal time to month. But honestly, the last few months, I know when I was ovulating and we timed sexy time perfectly and I still ended up 'enjoying' AF's visit.

So maybe we just need to take a break.

Honestly, it's becoming a real strain. My great initiative and enthusiasm is fine and well in the workplace, but it doesn't quite translate in the bedroom when all your partner wants to do is take a nap.

I'm thinking maybe if I initiate less, he'll initiate more and if a lose a month in this TTC saga, maybe it's worth it.

After all these months of failed cycles, maybe one more isn't a big deal if it will get our relationship back on track.

First RE appointment

I have a confession to make...

My BF doesn't know that I'm seeing an RE (Reproductive Endocrinologist) or a fertility doctor, as many call it. Like many men, he gets instantly uncomfortable at the drop of the word 'doctor'. I don't want our TTC journey to be about pressure for him, because he needs to perform :) So I've decided that I would meet with a doctor to figure out if my body is perhaps not responding the way it should. Maybe it's something I can figure out.

I know BF and feel that if I share this with him at this point, it will put so much pressure on him, that he won't be able to perform, nor will he be able to relax.

Ignorance is bliss and I'd like to keep it that way for him for now.

I met my RE this morning. Although a bit mechanical, she seems alright. I'm not expecting to make a major emotional connection with my doctor, so I'm okay with that fact that she seems a bit distant. I have friends for hugs.

I just want her to figure our what is going on and see if there is anything that she can do to help.

We met for about 15 minutes. She asked me about my history and told me the next step would be having me give blood so that they can test various hormone levels as well as to give me a pregnancy test.

I almost laughed.

Although I used OPKs this month, I've been feeling very much as though this is yet another unsuccessful month. In fact, I stopped even considering that this may be the month that we conceived like I normally do.

I'm not sure why I feel this way. I know there are couples out there TTC for years (not just months like me). For the first time however, I felt pessimistic about this cycle.

I didn't even consider the possibility of a pregnancy until she mentioned a blood pregnancy test.

Off I went to give roughly 11 vials of blood. Thank God giving blood doesn't freak me out!