Fertility Testing + Surgery
I thought our journey towards having a family would be straightforward —
My cycles are regular
I eat very well
I’m a healthy weight
I know how to manage stress
My bloodwork is virtually perfect
and I exercise consistently…
But the Universe has us on a different path, and after a lot of reflection and introspection these last few months, I‘m confident this is happening for a reason — to share, to normalize, to inspire, and to educate.
THIS IS MY JOURNEY — Part One.
And if you’re TTC (trying to conceive) as well, know that you’re not alone. I hope my story is a little beacon of light in a sea of unknowns.
I’ll continue to update as this journey unfolds into what I know the Universe has beautifully orchestrated, and am excited to share how I support myself (and Ravi) nutritionally, mentally, and spiritually as we move forward together.
Making the Appointment
We’d been TTC for roughly 8-months — tracking my cycle, paying attention to cervical mucus, and occasionally using an ovulation test — when I decided it was time to get some basic tests run and consult with a fertility specialist “just in case”.
I turned 35 in August and Ravi turned 39, so while still young socially and professionally — biologically speaking we’re getting up there.
To be perfectly honest, I made the appointment thinking any possible issues would be with Ravi. After all, I’m a health coach with a super clean bill of health. I really had no reason to think it’d be me.
Test REsults
First of all — I just have to say that I adore our doctor. Dr. McCarthy at IVFMD made us beyond comfortable from day one and I’m so grateful to have her as our guide.
After our initial in-office discussions, health history, etc — she ordered a slew of tests for both of us (genetic testing, semen analysis, ovarian reserve, standard blood panels…). All of which came back NORMAL. I was extremely happy my eggs were healthy + plentiful and Ravi’s little swimmers were good to go.
But when Dr. McCarthy took me in for a physical exam and vaginal ultrasound, she noticed something irregular with my uterus — that there seemed to be division down the middle which indicated that it was either bicornuate (heart-shaped) or had a septum (division) running down the middle. We’d confirm what was going on after scheduling HSG (fallopian tube) and SIS (uterine sonogram) tests.
The HSG confirmed there was a divide and the SIS led her to believe it was a septate uterus rather than biconuate — which thankfully meant she could fix it with outpatient surgery.
What was interesting however is that technically my septate uterus didn’t explain why I wasn’t getting pregnant to begin with as it doesn’t prevent fertilization but rather causes a higher rate of miscarriage due to the fact that the dense tissue provides limited blood supply for the growing, implanted embryo.
My septate uterus via the HSG test.
It should look like an upside down triangle, not a V-shape. Luckily my fallopian tubes were clear!
Surgery + A Surprise Discovery
I went in for a laparoscopic hysteroscopy on January 28, 2020. First time going under!
The procedure went as planned and took around 4 hours total. But when I spoke to Dr. McCarthy post-op she told me I also had stage one endometriosis — a condition where uterine cells grow inside the abdominal cavity on surrounding tissue and organs.
Not much is know about how/why the disease occurs but it creates an inflammatory state in the body which could be the reason I wasn’t getting pregnant.
What’s interesting is we didn’t expect to find endometriosis as I had none of the classic symptoms such as cramps, heavy bleeding, pain during intercourse, or intense PMS symptoms. Looking back, maybe my cramps were a little worse than they had been a year ago but nothing out of the ordinary.
So I ended up having my septum fixed and the minor endometrial lesions removed as well.
CLEAN SLATE.
Day after surgery — having learnt I also had Stage 1 endometriosis.
Looking back, I realized my periods were a bit more painful and cramp-filled but I just chocked it up to getting older. It could also explain why my inflammatory markers were slightly elevated.
Post-Op + Healing
Honestly surgery was the easy part — IN AND OUT.
It was now my job to recover and heal my body the best ways I knew how. Which meant rest, surrendering to the experience, not pushing myself, and eating an incredibly nourishing diet.
Everyone’s post-op protocol will be different and you should always listen to the advice of your doctor, but here is how I personally went about healing.
MEDICATIONS
Antibiotics: 7 days doxycycline to prevent infection while I had a balloon catheter keeping my uterus open so it could begin healing.
Estradiol (estrogen): Taken for 28 days after surgery to rebuild the lining of my uterus.
Prometrium (progesterone): Taken for 14 days, 2-weeks after surgery to mark the “luteal phase” of my cycle and kickstart menstruation.
Of all three, I hated the antibiotics the most because gut health is everything! (You do what you gotta do.) The hormones weren’t horrible, but I did notice I was having hot flashes and some bloating. My period after coming off Prometrium was super heavy — which was expected since my lining was thicker than normal.
SUPPLEMENTS
Prenatal Vitamins: something every woman who is trying to conceive should take.
Probiotics: I take these regularly, but upped my dosage and the types of strains to help rebuild my gut after the antibiotics.
Omega-3s: Brain health, cellular lubrication, anti-inflammatory… you need them!
Chlorella: With so many meds, I’ve been taking this regularly to support detoxification
CoEnzyme Q10: To help keep my egg quality high.
Turmeric: To help with inflammation + support my immune system.
Grass-fed Beef Liver Capsules: My iron was low already and post-surgery I needed an extra boost. Liver is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet and I promise you can’t taste it!
FOOD
Protein: The building block of tissue. I upped my protein intake and made sure to include both plant-based sources (lentils, chickpeas, quinoa) and animal sources (bison, chicken, eggs, salmon) to ensure my body was properly fueled with all of the essential amino acids.
Collagen / Gelatin: I’ve been adding a scoop of grass-fed collagen protein or gelatin into my morning beverage as a way to 1) rebuild tissue and 2) love up my gut. Gelatin coats the inside of our digestive tract helping to heal leaky gut.
Cooked Vegetables: No raw, cold salads for me. My body revolted against them. Which makes sense as cooked foods are easier for our bodies to digest + assimilate nutrients. Warming foods also promote healing and ground our spirit after trauma.
Complex Carbs: Healing requires energy and the best source of energy to feed your body + metabolism is via complex carbohydrates. I focused on whole grains like oatmeal + quinoa, sweet potatoes, squash, and gluten-free sourdough toast.
Healthy Fats: In addition to protein our body needs healthy fats to keep neural connections firing and rebuild cellular tissue. It’s also important for balancing blood sugar. I focused on wild fish, avocado, olive oil, nuts/seeds, and coconut milk.
REST/SLEEP
After surgery, I slept a lot — taking at least one or two naps during the day for the first two weeks.
It surprised me how easily my body would tire even 3-4 weeks post-surgery, but I took it as a cue that while I look healed from the outside, there was still a lot happening on the inside.
GENTLE MOVEMENT
I love to workout. But I knew that in order to bounce back as quickly as possible I needed to take it easy.
For the first week or so, I took progressively longer walks each day (building up to 30-minutes max).
3-weeks post-op I went back to my studio for light cardio and yoga.
But it wasn’t until at least 4-weeks post-op that I felt like my body could handle my standard HIIT + strength workouts again. I made sure to skip the abdominal portions if it felt too intense.
Supplement Cocktail
With a side of estrogen + progesterone to rebuild my uterine lining and kick-start a new cycle.
5-week post-op SIS scan
Honestly modern medicine is amazing. You can see where the septum was attached at the top center. There’s .8 cm of it left which is considered in range / normal.
Looks like the perfect baby room if you ask me.
The Waiting Game + Next Steps
So, I’m technically fixed right? Which means we start a new waiting game and plan our next steps.
Our doctor gave us the option to try naturally for 3-6 months to see what happens, but our feelings are that since we’re already “in it” and thankfully have very good insurance — we’re going to move forward with additional treatment. The plan is to start with IUI (artificial insemination) and go from there.
If there is anything this journey has taught me, it’s that we’re all on our own UNIQUE PATH. That no journey is wrong or right, better or worse, harder or easier. It’s an incredibly personal experience that will shake your every being while also building you up in ways you never knew possible.
(PART TWO in the works 😉)
If there is anything this journey has taught me, it’s that we’re all on our own UNIQUE PATH.
That no journey is wrong or right, better or worse, harder or easier. It’s an incredibly personal experience that will shake your every being while also building you up in ways you never knew possible.
