Finance Gets Personal

Well, we tried our hardest, but there was no BFP (big fat positive) pregnancy test to be had at the end of my first cycle of charting.

I did learn some interesting things about my body through recording my basal body temperature and other fertility signs though. For instance, I ovulated on day 16 of my cycle - slightly later than the day 14 average. And, more importantly, my luteal phase between ovulation and menstruation was only 9 days, for a total cycle length of 25 days. That is bad news, girlies (and boys who haven’t already clicked the “back” button)!

The average luteal phase is between 12-16 days, and 9 days is not long enough for an embryo to implant in the utereus before the lining starts to shed. A short luteal phase can be a sign of low progesterone, the hormone that takes over once you ovulate. Low progesterone can also lead to early miscarriages in those who do achieve pregnancy.

Luckily, this problem is usually easily treated - I just need to go see my OB/GYN and have some tests run.

But wouldn’t you know it, there’s a small problem: My insurance doesn’t cover infertility treatment!!!!!!

Now, I’m not (quite) freaking out yet, because I want to see what my cycle does this month. Although your luteal phase doesn’t usually change from month to month, I want to make sure the first time wasn’t an anomaly. Meanwhile, I’m taking 50 mg of vitamin B6, which is supposed to be a natural way of lengthening your luteal phase.

But the lack of insurance coverage ticks me off, and I’m also ticked at myself for not thinking about it sooner. You see, I only use my employer’s health insurance plan because it’s about $100 less per year than being added to my husband’s insurance, which does cover infertility, and also has a slightly lower co-pay. I can switch to my husband’s insurance plan, but without a major life event (like, ahem, having a baby) I won’t be able to do so until January 1. And since we’ve already used all of our health care flex savings for the year, I’m not very flush with medical money at the moment.

So, my current plan is to take my vitamins, have well-timed sex and try not to think too much about it until that bitchy old hag makes her next visit.

Just when I’ve finally gotten down all the couponing and online deal-finding acronyms (BOGO, YMMV, B&M, etc.), it turns out there’s a whole new set of acronyms to learn when it comes to getting pregnant (officially: Trying to Conceive, or TTC).

Yes, that’s right. My husband and I are trying to make a baby (Ew! - I know).

Well, technically, we’ve been “trying” on and off for a year with no success, but with not much of a methodology either. So this month I’m turning myself into a human science experiment with charting, basal body temperatures, cervical fluid and the like.

Little did a know there would be a special vocabulary for this.

Browse some iVillage and The Bump message boards, and you’ll come across posts like this:

This 2WW is killing me! I think I might cave and POAS in the morning. I know it’s early, but I’m driving myself crazy. Just wanted to share!

Translation: This two week wait between ovulating and finding out if I’m pregnant is killing me! I think I might cave and pee on a stick (take a pregnancy test) in the morning. I know it’s too early, but I’m driving myself crazy. Just wanted to share!

I’ve also learned that AF (Aunt Flo) is commonly referred to as an “old hag,” women with a BFP (big fat positive) pregnancy test will sprinkle those still trying with “baby dust” and there are BD (baby dancing - having sex to try to get pregnant) Olympians (twice a day?). O-kay.

I’m hoping this won’t take too long now that I’m being all scientific about it. I’m giving it four months before I start freaking out that I’m infertile. Sprinkle me with some baby dust or something.