So the OB appointment went really well I think. The bad news is, my OB looked at my charts and immediately said I have a luteal phase defect (LPD). Basically, my progesterone was too low after ovulation to support a pregnancy. The good news is, if this is indeed the only problem, it is a pretty easy problem to fix. :)

I'm so glad that I've been charting, otherwise she would have probably told me to just keep trying and see what happens (since all my x-rays look so good). But, when I showed her my charts, she basically said, "Aha, this is the problem!"

I'm also really glad that I got the fertility monitor. Since the fertility monitor picked up my LH surge last month, that means I probably have good LH/FSH levels. I am having a blood test in a few days to doublecheck that though.

If I have low LH/FSH levels as well, I will probably need Clomid (a fertility drug) to help with follicle production. This would mean that though my body is ovulating (as evidenced by my temperature charts) the follicles and eggs are not mature enough to result in pregnancy. Either the egg that is released is too immature to be penetrated by sperm, or the corpus luteum is not mature enough to produce enough progesterone to maintain a pregnancy. Or both.

Since my fertility monitor picked up some LH/FSH levels and since I do seem to be ovulating (if only weakly), the doctor wants to start treatment by giving me an HCG shot around ovulation, which will help the strength of my ovulation (but not the maturity of my follicles, if that is the main problem). Then, I will have progesterone treatment after ovulation to help support my uterine lining in preparation for implantation.

If my LH/FSH levels are low, or if the above treatment doesn't work, the next step is Clomid, which will increase the strength of my ovulation.

Then, if that doesn't work, we will go on to other treatments. Right now, the OB doesn't even want to bother with a sperm analysis or any other tests because we have a known problem right here.

So, like I said, I'm happy about all this. I think I've said it in my blog before, that I feel like if there is a problem, I just want to know what it is and get on with fixing it! :) Of course, I'd prefer everything to be perfect, but rarely in life it is. ;)

That being said, I started my period today. I can say that the last two months have been stronger cycles for me... I had the eggwhite CM and no early spotting (by the way, early spotting was a result of my low progesterone). So this can only help with the treatment. I'm happy I started my period today though, because that means I can get on with the fertility treatments. :)

So, I'll have my blood test on Monday. Wish me luck! Don't want to have hypothyrodism or some other blood issue, so cross your fingers for that. ;)