Masculinity

There’s only so much I can contribute to the whole “getting pregnant” thing. I know what my role is, and I’m more than happy to perform it, as often as is necessary. Since we haven’t successfully conceived yet, Rachel’s going in for a whole series of tests; it’s only fair that I get tested, too.

The testing process for men is certainly less painful and invasive than it is for women: I don’t have to get blood drawn or anything. I’ll submit that it’s still more uncomfortable. Rachel brought home a sterile specimen cup with instructions to “obtain a sample” no more than an hour before bringing it into the lab, and to “keep the sample close to body temperature” until it could be brought in.

We’ll just keep the process of obtaining the sample behind the veil of ignorance, since this is, after all, a family blog. (Literally! Hee!) I’ll just say that I found it a somewhat awkward procedure, given the size of the opening of the bottle, the logistics of transporting it, and the interminable paperwork once I arrived at the lab with a container of my precious bodily fluids in my pocket.

I got a call back from Rachel’s doctor a few days later, telling me that the results were “good.” We wanted some more details, so when Rachel went in for a follow-up appointment she asked for specifics. As it happened, I was at school when she got back from the appointment, and so the following exchange was captured by Google chat for posterity:

Rachel: So, she also asked if I wanted more details on the sperm analysis. I made a fast decision, and I said yes. Is that okay? I was really torn.
Me: Of course.
Rachel: Well, not of course. I respect your privacy. But anyway, she said they like to see a sperm count of at least 60 million. Would you like to guess what yours was?
Me: Um. 60 million?
Rachel: 115 million.
Me: FUCK YEAH
Rachel: They look for at least 60 percent motility, and you were at 70 percent. Basically she sort of chuckled and said, “Yeah, he has some really good sperm.”
Me: Hell, yes. I’m totally motile, baby.
Rachel: So once my ovaries finally give up an egg, at least we know we’re advantaged in that way.
Me: That egg won’t know what hit it.
Rachel: You’re being hilariously, uncharacteristically macho.
Me: Well, this is pretty much the core of masculinity here.
Rachel: Indeed.
Me: ME IMPREGNANTE! GRR!

Filed under Getting Pregnant | Tags: infertility, sperm, testing | Comment (0)