The Looming Question
I’m a sucker for infomercials. I try not to watch them but on the weekends, when I’m working there’s one television above my desk that always shows the most appealing infomercials. I’ve already bought Smooth Away, Mighty Mendit, I’m about to go buy a Smamwow, and as soon as they release the college addition Snuggies, I’m all on that!
Given my background on infomercials I’m pretty much doomed when I see something somewhat relevant to me. If it’s sold in stores, I’ll search for it and purchase it the same week.
Last night it wasn’t an infomercial that caught my attention, but one of those women commercials by First Response …The kind that makes you think ‘I hope my husband’s not watching’. I actually like their pregnancy test commercials, (and when I’ve had a few scares in the past I was always sure to use their kits). But it wasn’t a pregnancy test that caught my eye this time.
The commercial showed different women asking the same question “am I fertile?” We’ve all
gotta ask ourselves that at some point in time right (or am I just crazy?) I’ve actually even found myself wondering if that’s why I haven’t had a “slip up” like some of my friends. It sounds strange but when you know as many people as I do who “accidentally” got knocked up, you begin to wonder if it just happens to everyone… And perhaps the reason it hasn’t happened to me is because I’m… *gasp*… not fertile.
I successfully made it though my first month of Natural Family Planning method(s) as BC and stayed un-pregnant. While this is very good news, I am beginning to wonder even more if maybe I wouldn’t get pregnant anyway.
Regardless if it’s all in my mind, it’s something I’ve spent some time wondering about and I think I’m going to give this so-called Fertility Test (no, not an ovulation test, that tells you when you’re fertile this is suppose to tell you IF you’re fertile at all!) a try. It tests your FSH level and can basically tell if your egg quantity and quality is good. Obviously if there is something else wrong I wouldn’t know, but this would be a nice confidence booster anyway right? Just nice to know I think–Worth it to get a little piece of mind, right? You’re suppose to take it on day 3 of your cycle and that’s tomorrow for me. Just not sure if it’s $25 for two tests worth it… Maybe I should save the cash, buy a new shirt, and eventually take my chances.
just so you know, they sell these at the dollar stores too. I’ve used these and the dollar store pregnancy tests and they’re just as good and much cheaper! I mean less expensive.
I was just goign to ditto what marly said…the dollar store pregnancy tests are more sensitive than most of the name brands (5x more sensitive than some of them! and equal to the ‘early response’ ones), and the dollar store carries ovulation predictor tests too. $1 per day, you take one each morning when you know you’re roughly at the right part of the month…
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I’ve never done them (I just stick with my charts) but it might be a nice backup, particularly if your goal is to avoid rather than achieve pregnancy (my methods were more along the lines of “oo, might be fertile, better try just in case!” and of course trying even when not fertile is, well, not a problem. LOL!!)
Is a fertility test the same thing as an ovulation test?
I’m just having a hard time because my cycles haven’t returned yet. When and how on earth will I know when I can actually get pregnant?!? It’s driving me bonkers, I tell ya!
I got pregnant the month one of these tests told me that I didn’t ovulate. So I think it is not worth the money! Boo!
Okay, so I can see why you would want to know. There is only one little problem with your test theory. I would call it the 50% problem. You know there is a 50% chance that if there are fertility issues, it could very well be your husband.
I always thought that I was the problem, but when we got tested with a fertility specialist…IT WASN’T ME!!!
So, you may test just fine, but if there are problems in the future (which there probably won’t be, so don’t worry about it) it could very well be the hubby.
Food for thought.
Most doctors won’t start fertility treatments until you’ve tried to conceive unsuccessfully for 9-12 months. So, I’d just say don’t worry about it until it comes to that. Easier said than done, I know, but the odds are in your favor. According to Babycenter.com, “You have about a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant in any single ovulation cycle. Your chances of conceiving within a year of trying are about 98 percent in your early 20s and about 84 percent by your late 20s.”
Read the whole article, “Getting Pregnant In Your 20’s,” here:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-and-fertility-getting-pregnant-in-your-20s_1494692.bc?page=1
Sigh. Your blog makes me twitchy and hopeful all at the same time.
On one hand, you are so obviously going to be a great mom. I swear I want to put it in the comments section of every post. (Or maybe make it the tagline “Baby Makin(g) Machine: Tara thins I’ll be a great mommy!” LOL.) It’s very apparent and I don’t even really know you. You take the time to think about the way you will handle every little situation, what’s the best timing for your little bundle of joy, whether to be a “crunchy mom” or not), etc.
But then on the other hand, I think you worry a lot. Which is normal I guess. Please don’t get freaked out about your fertility! Like Kelly said, it takes two to tango. If there are issues (which I’m sure there aren’t) you and your hubby have been together long enough where you will be able to handle it together. (By the way, how is the hubby? Has he done a guest post? That would be cool!)
I totally understand the questioning in your head…even if you are mostly sure there is nothing wrong there is still that possibility haunting you.
I have no advice for you because I’m in the same boat really, just wanted to shout out to you so you knew you were not alone in this feeling.
Can’t wait to read more about the journey!
I can totally see how that could give you some peace of mind–even with Kelly’s 50% problem, at least you’d know it’s not you!
It’s not an ovulation test. You take it on day 3 of your cycle, and it tells you if your FSH level is high enough for you to actually get pregnant, if you ovulate and have intercourse the correct times of the month.
It is pretty much what they test you for when you start an infertility workup.
Now I really want to try one…
But, since you chart everything (or if you don’t when you TTC, you should), if you have 4 to 6 months of charted cycles without conception, you don’t have to wait the 9 months to a year to go in for a work up. Not many people know this, but it is a help all the same.
Ooh, I think I’d take the test. It’s one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until you saw the product, but well, I guess I’m a sucker too!
lol, omg, we think so much alike. before i got preggers, i TOTALLY used to wonder/fear if i was fertile or not! cuz, even in my late 20s, i was like one of the only ones of my girls who had never accidentally gotten pregnant. not complaining or anything…. but it kind of left me wondering! its not like i was ms. super duper responsible with b.c. all the time, so i started to have these fears. lol. i thought i was the only one!!!
It took me ten years for my first because I didnt know how to just relax and not think about having a baby.
I am totally hooked and will be back to be posted onyour progress! Visiting from SITS.
hehehe oh dear….. Good luck with the test!
Havent seen these out ourside of the world, but I havent really looked. Will so go find out.
hmmm…these sound interesting. I think I’m like you too….not really trying, but I’d like to know if I’m fertile or not! AGH!
Stopping by from SITS to spread some joy!
Happy Wednesday!
shut the front door, I am so going and buying one of these today to try.
I totally understand your wondering if you even can get pregnant. I had the same fear even thought I didn’t have any reason to! I perked up at this commercial even though I have a baby! Haha. I think the fact that they are sold in 2 packs means they are not all that reliable!
Ok….so I’m dying to know if the smooth away worked!!!
I’m a little leery of buying any reproductive-related products at the dollar store, but how does the smooth away work? What’s your honest opinion? I have a coupon and am thinking about trying it out, but I’m also easily sucked into infomercials.
I’m a little leery of buying any reproductive-related products at the dollar store, but how does the smooth away work? What’s your honest opinion? I have a coupon and am thinking about trying it out, but I’m also easily sucked into infomercials.
I am totally hooked and will be back to be posted onyour progress! Visiting from SITS.
Ooh, I think I’d take the test. It’s one of those things that you didn’t know you needed until you saw the product, but well, I guess I’m a sucker too!
It took me ten years for my first because I didnt know how to just relax and not think about having a baby.