Day 2 Blood Test

Went to KK this morning for a blood test. The following will be tested:

1) Follicular-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
2) Luteinsing Hormone (LH)
3) Estradiol (E2)
4) Prolactin
5) Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)

Results will only be revealed and reviewed on my next appointment with Dr Loh which will be in a month's time.

Decided to find out a little more about all these tests...

1) Follicular-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

- hormone released by the pituitary gland to start follicle development. If the ovaries do not respond promptly or are producing fewer eggs, the FSH levels will be high. 

2) Luteinsing Hormone (LH)

- a surge in the LH level indicates ovulation

- however, LH level also rises during menopause 

3) Estradiol (E2)

- a sex hormone, used to access ovarian function

4) Prolactin 

- to diagnose infertility

5) Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)

- to test for the ovarian reserve

It's amazing and scary what a small tube of blood can tell us. 

Costs (GST not inclusive):

1) FSH $32.30

2) LH $32.30

3) E2 $34.70

4) Prolactin $32.30

5) AMH $40.00

The Answer...

We seek to find answers to our questions and ask why and sometimes we don't like the answer...

Last Friday, hubby and I went to KK and met our 3rd fertility Dr. He's the 3rd one we've seen in KK within 2 years. He was recommended by a friend who has conceived under his IVF treatment. He was the head of the department and was reputed to be the one with miracle hands.

Before we started on our long journey trying to conceive, we didn't think we would have to 'travel' so far and now to consider IVF. Just like the other appointments we had, we had to wait for over an hour to finally see him. In his office was a large display of photographs of babies and children successfully conceived from IVF.

Finally, Dr Loh came and he was friendly and asked some questions while he flipped through my medical file and noted that I've been through many cycles of clomid and Letrozole. Then just like the other 2 doctors I've seen before him, I was given an ultrasound. But what followed was pretty unexpected. He said that I had small ovaries! Finally, he had found the answer to explain the infertility problem that we're having! Although the other 2 Drs had done the same, all they could say was that everything looked normal. Now, Dr Loh had found something and I don't like what he found.

At that point in time, I didn't know what was the real implications of having small ovaries. But one thing for certain was that I could sense a certain urgency in his decision to let me start IVF as soon as possible, looking at August and with a high dosage of medication. While we were waiting for Dr Loh at his office, I had asked the nurse when was the earliest time we could start IVF and she said October. So August is half the usual waiting time.

But before that, I still had to go through some blood tests to check certain things before we're ready to start IVF.