Confirm Order

I go to CVS and hand over my prescriptions, one for Letrozole—to stimulate follicle development—and the other for an Ovidrel shot—to trigger ovulation. I’m absolutely sure the clerk is going to say, “OK, but your insurance doesn’t cover it, so that’ll be one million dollars please.” She tells me they have to order the Ovidrel so just come back the next day to pick them both up. I do, and she hands me the Letrozole—“That’ll be $12” (WHEW)—but the Ovidrel hasn’t come in yet.

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The following day, I go to pick up the shot. “There was an issue with your insurance, so we’re waiting on Prior Authorization from your doctor,” the clerk says.

“Prior Authorization?…Isn’t a prescription already prior authorization?” I say.

No, she tells me. If I don’t want to wait, I can pay for it out of pocket. How much?, I ask. A hundred fifty bucks.

I’ll wait.

I get a text 24 hours later that my prescription is ready. Yay! That must mean my insurance people have a light spot in their black souls! I go to pick it up. Sixty-four dollars. The light spot in their souls is very tiny.

**********

I write an email to my doctor saying my #1 donor choice (CMV-positive) is a million times better than his CMV-negative runner up. I need him to tell me again that, in his medical opinion, I should pick #2. He writes back: Nah, do what you like; just sign a waiver saying you acknowledge the slight risk you could contract CMV from the sperm. I sign.

I go to the cryobank website and put one vial of sperm in my cart. A window pops up: YOU SHOULD REALLY BUY FIVE BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT IT USUALLY TAKES.

No. One vial, and fingers crossed.

My total is $890. I click Confirm Order.

**********

Second ultrasound to check if everything looks ripe. Different nurse, same lubey wand. She tells me my uterine lining is 6.9 mm. Ideal is 10, but the Letrozole often thins it. She points the rod toward my right side. On the screen, a black hole opens up amongst the clouds. “Oh yeah,” she says. “Big follicle right there.”

She shifts the wand around and finds another follicle on the same side but says it’s small. Then she checks the left. Again, a big one and a little one.

She says, “That’s exactly what we worry about.” I stiffen. She shakes her head. “What am I saying? You can tell it’s after lunch. I meant, that’s exactly what we hope for. Perfect.” I’m a noodle.

I check out at the front desk. It’s dripping cold rain, so I jog to my car, plop into the driver’s seat, and turn on the engine. Because public radio is having their spring fund drive this week, I have the dial set to a pop station. Justin Timberlike croons, “Cry me a river, oh.”

I text my family: My follicles are “perfect”. Getting inseminated on Wednesday.

And then I cry. A river.

Oh.

9 thoughts on “Confirm Order”

  1. Oh my Amy Scott… I had no idea we were this close to getting you all spermed up. I’m pretty sure Sam and I still have a bunch of Follistim kicking around, but I suspect it would be both illegal and unwise for me to mail it to you for your recreational use. But I do remember well the pills and pins and all from our 2011 adventure in fertility…
    Wishing you all the best. The universe needs you to have babies, I’ve no doubt it’ll help you win this one. (Chances are, the universe realized you should have babies, but a male partner would just fuck it up, so it’s been waiting for you to handle this your damn self…)

    The most love possible coming your way. And I mean from all of us, not as a gross way of reminding you you’re gonna get all spermed up next Wednesday.

  2. There are so many things I love about this post- but mostly just YOU
    AND also getting to know a lil mini-Ames would be the cherry on top
    Lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove

  3. Very exciting!!! Hope Wednesday goes well.

    Sperm is expensive! I wonder what people do with their extra vials – can you return it? Is there a secondary market for unused sperm? I feel like that would also be weird though – who’d like to buy the genetic material to make my kids’ half-sibling?

  4. My favorite AB post ever! And, I know I’ve said this before, but I adore your friend, Dan. He has a way with words like you have a way with words. Speaking of way, you’re going to have your way with Mr. Happy Pants in 2 days!!!!! Sending nothing but love, luck, and more love. And remember, I’m pretty sure I have zero meetings on Wednesday if you need a hand to squeeze. I love you!

  5. Admiring the time and energy you put into your site and in depth information you provide. It’s nice to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same out of date rehashed material. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

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