Taking a Break?

cassybow

Hello everybody, this is my first post so forgive me if I am not up to par with the short forms and lingo on the boards. I am relatively young, have been TTC for almost 2 years now. I am getting discouraged after finding out today that my second IUI has failed. I have been on Clomid and Femera. For IUI # 1 I only had one mature follicle with Clomid alone. This time around I still only had one mature follicle on a combo of a higher dose of Clomid in conjunction with Femera. I am just so disappointed and I am unsure if I should take a break then try again. The Dr. following me said she only suggests 3 rounds of IUI then it is time for IVF. She wants me to move onto injections for round 3. I have a long and irregular cycle to add to all of this.  Anybody have any helpful advice or tips. Also, a little about myself.  I am usually a very happy go lucky person, but I tend to stress very easily, and work a highly demanding and emotional job.... these things I know equate to bad news, but I have been trying my hardest to take it easy and relax. Please help! Thank you.

riveridgional

First of all, I am so sorry this didn't work out for you and re: the news about future recommendations. If your gut tells you to take a break, then I say do it! I took a break before my last cycle and I was so happy I did. I just felt sad, defeated and just kept focusing on the few opportunities I had left. The break helped me to take my time mourning that cycle and the loss of other options I thought I had in front of me. Don't get me wrong, there were times I regretted not pummeling through to the next round, but after taking the break, I felt very hopeful, optimistic, ambitious and ready to take my first injectables cycle on! Overall, it was a great decision for me to take that break and just try naturally.

I didn't know the docs say 3 iui's total before moving on. I was under the impression they recommended up to 3 injectable cycles before moving on, especially if you only had 1 follicle with oral meds. Maybe your insurance coverage (if you're one of the lucky few with it) was guiding her recommendation.

I actually had a similar experience as you on oral meds. Some people just don't respond well to oral meds and need the injects to produce more follicles. I responded very well to injects. So well, in fact, that we decided to try another round before moving on to IVF. If I respond just as well and it doesn't work the second time, we feel more confident that IVF really should be our next step. Financially, we were initially thinking 1 round of injects then IVF.

Good luck, welcome, and let me know what you decide! Sounds like we have very similar stories, so I'd love to know how everything turns out for you!

bsckgb7

My doctor has a general rule of 3 cycles of the same thing before switching it up.  Like 3 cycles TI, 3 cycles oral meds + IUI, 3 cycles injections+IUI.  Not just 3 IUIs.  But I second PP, if you are questioning if a break would be good, maybe you should do it.  Are your tubes clear and how how are husbands numbers?

cassybow

Thank you for your recommendations and kind words. I do not believe it was any set rule, but the Dr. I am seeing only recommended 3  rounds of IUI before moving forward with another plan. Perhaps I misunderstood her and thought she meant 3 IUIs total. It has been information overload so I can see where I might have gotten things mixed up. Thank you for the clarification.

Within hours of receiving the news that my Beta was negative, my Day 1 started. This also happened with the first IUI. Luckily, I was able to meet with the Nurse today at the clinic and we discussed a plan. The Dr. wants me to take Clomid on Day 3, Femera days 3 - 7, and injections days 6, 8, & 10. This seems like a lot to me, but we are giving it one final shot (no pun intended). Had my day 1 come later,  we would more than likely have taken a break, but it happened so fast that Day 3 is tomorrow and we are both eager to give this a chance.

My tubes are clear, that I know for sure. My husbands numbers are "impressive" according to the Dr. and Nurse at the clinic, so we have that going for us. On the negative, it makes me feel entirely responsible for our fertility issues, but I know I cannot think like that if I want things to work! Thus I come to this community and receive words of wisdom. My husband and I are taking a vacation next month, so I am hoping that helps us relax and increase our chances, we most certainly need it.

Thanks again!

vssbrm

I actually know 2 couples who were having fertility issues, when they went on vacation the came back preggers with no medical intervention. As much as we hate to hear it, for the luckey few, I do think "just relax and it will happen" is the only trick.

Enjoy your vacation!!

babyexpress

@cassybow I have experienced 2 failed IUI rounds also (1st with clomid only and 2nd with injections)  I also had only 1 mature follicle with clomid only, but went to 4 with injections.  Due to circumstances, I am taking a break this month and only doing TI.  I'm actually taking a break from having a medicated cycle, but my chances are still the same as my 1st round on Clomid.  The break has been nice, just taking into consideration none of the stress of injections.

My RE also only wants 3 rounds of IUIs, then go to IVF.  My insurance will pay for unlimited IUIs, but my RE believes that if it doesn't work in the first 3 rounds, then statistically it probably won't in round 4, 5, or 6.  He says it is just not sticking for some reason and I will need to move on.  I agree with RE and would also prefer to up my chances, because the whole process is emotionally draining. 

I wish you the best of luck!