Birth Control?

So, it seems really ironic to me that the first step towards IVF is taking birth control pills. Doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose of our main goal here?! :) But modern medicine is amazing, and if that's what the doctor tells me to do I will do it. I never thought I'd be so excited to take birth control pills again, but because I know it is the starting point for this process, I'm THRILLED! Today is the first day beginning these and believe it or not, I've been so looking forward to this day!!

A couple weeks ago, Mat and I had our complete fertility blood work up. They test you for everything imaginable! At least you know that if you do get pregnant, you are going into the process pretty healthy! We had an unexpected result, another bend in our road mind you, when I got a call saying that I tested reactive for Hepatitis B. I didn't know what this meant, but I was told that everything would need to put on hold temporarily while I went for more testing and checked into this further. They also said, don't start on the birth control pills as planned-we'd need to hold off. Of course I was devastated, but the great news is that after lots more blood work and a couple visits with another specialist, this has been resolved and we are free to move forward again! It turned out that at some point in my life I've been exposed to Hep. B and my immune system fought it off and recovered; however, it continues to show up in my blood work. I am not a carrier of the virus so it poses no threat to a future baby! It was some great news that we really needed to hear. So, today marks the official beginning of the process! In a week and half we go for our next appointment with the RE (reproductive endocrinologist) where I'll have a couple tests done and then we'll meet with the IVF nurse to learn the protocol for the meds, injections, etc.