April IUI

madasm0530

@LadyMillil @BecauseLove .. Thanks! My u/s is scheduled for Friday morning. 

chicandbubbly

Just got my trigger- We will be doing the IUI tomorrow afternoon!! Praying this will be our time!!

@LeFemmeViolettethis is our third- final one before moving on to IVF.

@monica54321 I was not put on progesterone after my 2 previous IUI's. I asked my RE about it and she said it won't help or hurt since I don't have a progesterone problem. She said I could do it if I want but she also said if it was a proven success she would recommend it for everyone.

Ladies- do you think I should request the progesterone this time? Or is it only for luteal phase defects?

Starlight811

Hi all! Just got back from my baseline ultrasound CD3. This is IUI#4 so RE is changing meds from Clomid+Trigger to Menopur injectables + Trigger. Follow up follicle scan Friday 4/8 to see if im responding. There were 3 potential follicles on left and 5 on right thats he most I have ever had seen on a ultrasound I usualy have 1-3 in total. Hoping the odds are with me this cycle! GL everyone  

erinpaz1245

Hello everyone, this is my first actual post, I figured I would join in. DH and I have been TTC on our own for the last year, completed 3 cycles with Clomid/estrogen/trigger shot and TI. April 11 will be our first IUI. Not sure what to expect, but just hoping that everything goes well and that there's no surprises. My mood swings have been off the wall with this clomid. Just trying to stay positive and not think about this stuff all the time.

chicandbubbly

Good luck @erinpaz1245. The IUI's are not bad at all. They don't really hurt, just a bit uncomfortable at times. I was fine right after and went out shopping and out to eat. The second one I had a few cramps that evening. I did have a lot of symptoms after though (from trigger shot??) which was annoying.

srh18

@kelrauh welcome and good luck with iui #2. Fingers crossed for you that your side effects are more manageable this time around too!!

@chicandbubbly thinking of you as you head into your iui tomorrow. Sending happy thoughts and luck your way!!  My RE has always given me progesterone suppositories to use during the 2ww even though I have no luteal phase issues. She told me it statistically increases the odds of implantation since it thickens the lining. Maybe ask to see what your dr thinks??

@starlight811 good luck!!!!

@erinpaz1245 Welcome to the group! This month is my first iui too after four cycles of TI. I'm hoping it's just the boost we both need for BFPs!!

AFM, had my check in today and with one follie at 19mm they're having me trigger tonight and my iui will be Thursday afternoon. I am really praying and hoping this works...I know that my journey is shorter at this point than many others' on these boards but I am exhausted from all the appointments, shuffling around clients at work (I'm a therapist in a private group practice, so I have to cancel or reschedule clients for ever appt), blood draws, and getting my hopes up for no reason. It certainly makes me feel for all of you ladies who have been monitored/medicated for more cycles than me. Just trying to stay positive at this point and focus on other things. I've got a wedding and a baby shower (ughhhhh) coming up in my TWW so we shall see how this goes.

FX for everyone!!!!!

Episcopalgirl2

Hello all, 
I have wanted to be a mom for a long time and once I turned 40 last July, I knew that I could no longer wait for Mr. Right to get started on my family.  I have had 5 IUIs to date.  This current cycle, my doctor added clomid/clomid challenge along with ultrasound monitoring and the trigger shot.  At today's day 13 ultrasound the doc. found 2 mature follicles and possibly a third.  I was warned of the possibility of multiples but then was told that if I was doing IVF, they would fertilize 2-3 eggs anyway.  In other words, should I be freaking out about the possibility of multiples through IUI, especially given that I am doing this on my own?  Or, should I be encouraged that the multiple follicles may give me a better chance to conceive at all?  

LadyMillil

The risk of twins on Clomid is about 10%. There is less than a 1% chance of triplets or high order multiples. More eggs means that you're more likely to have one fertilize. If you are really worried about twins you could cancel this cycle.

chicandbubbly

@srh18Thanks!


EDIT: Just reread your post and realized we will be in the TWW together- hoping it goes well for you as well! Praying this is the month for both of us!

chicandbubbly

Question... has anyone had a lot of cramping after the trigger shot? I got the shot around 3pm yesterday and at 10pm I had horrible cramps (left side where the two larger follicles are). I hope I didn't ovulate early ... is that possible? Also- for the last three IUI's I have ovulated on my left side. I thought you were supposed to alternate (or is that myth)? My RE didn't seem worried but it seems odd to me.

Monica54321

@chicandbubbly& @Jsmorrissey- Hope your IUIs go well today!  

I'm still waiting for my positive OPK and trying my best not to stress about it possibly happening on Saturday and not getting to actually do IUI this cycle.  I was fine earlier in the week, but each day we creep closer to the weekend multiplies my stress a little bit.  DH & I work together in engineering on the same project at a large aviation/defense company, so it's really awesome to be able to see him during the work day.  That helps me mitigate some of the stress a bit.  I'd hate to imagine what I'd be like otherwise, lol.  

EhShea

Hello all! I'm had an IUI in March that ended in a BFN. I had my second IUI on Tuesday, April 5. I am a little anxious because our main problem is MFI and my husband's count was 5.5. My RE said it would be fine to go through with the IUI I'm just not sure how good our chances are. I had 2 follicles on my left side at 17mm and 25mm. I'm currently 1dpiui so now I'm playing the waiting game...

Monica54321

@LadyMillil - I was admiring your .gif from The Martian and your blog caught my eye because I too, am a fan of both cupcakes & science!  What are discipline are you getting your doctorate in?  My undergrad was in biomedical engineering and I'm currently about halfway done with a masters degree in software engineering that I'm doing online while working full-time.  Every now & then I toy with the idea of doing a PhD, and then I talk to my friend who's getting ready to defend her thesis for her Statistics PhD and that scares me straight, lol.  I did a MBA at night while working fulltime as well, so I think this sw eng masters will be the end of my formal education (for a while at least)!      

LadyMillil

@chicandbubbly I've heard it's a myth that your ovaries alternate for ovulating.

@Monica54321 Microbiology. I actually (successfully!) defended my thesis last week 

srh18

@chicandbubbly how did your iui go today?? I'm starting to get soooo anxious about mine tomorrow

@coocoo4u I will be thinking of you tomorrow!! I know you're going in for monitoring tomorrow, I've got my iui. I've been praying so hard for you, lady!!!!! Hugs!!!!!

LMart85

@chicandbubbly I always start cramping after my trigger shot....I don't know if it's the trigger shot or my o  starting early....I had my RE move up my US day to ensure I don't miss it....I think the timing has been off on my previous iuis.....

chicandbubbly

IUI went pretty well today- the count was lower then we wanted unfortunately but the motility was great. Praying third times a charm . These next two weeks are going to be SOOOO difficult!!

Monica54321

@chicandbubbly - Glad to hear your IUI went reasonably well! FX for you. 

One of my good friends just announced she's expecting baby #3. Hit me a little harder than I was expecting. Very happy for her, but dang it, I want my turn! 

MMD1986

@Monica54321 I hear ya! Some of our closest friend's had their second baby today! So happy for them, but can't help but feel slightly jealous. 

Lin&say

Hi ladies. We decided to take last month off, which ended up being a blessing since we both ended up with horrible poison ivy rashes. Needless to say there was no baby making going on lol. We are mixing it up this time and trying an injectable cycle. I think this will be our last shot before IVF (ugh). At our wtf appt last month, we found out that while DH's counts and motility have been great for the IUIs, his morphology has only been 1-2%. The dr isn't concerned about it at all but I feel like we're just wasting money at this point. I start Follistim tomorrow then see how things are growing on Tuesday. Looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. Good luck ladies! 

sweetscoop

So my us on Tuesday showed 10 follicles on one side and 11 on the other now just pray that the letrozole makes some grow and my estrogen stays normal and doesn't drop and go up and drop again so this cycle doesn't get canceled. 

LadyMillil

@lin&say MH has low morph (2%) as well. I've read some studies comparing IUI success rates with low morph and some see no difference in success rates and others do. I asked my RE about it when we were discussing if we should do IUI or go straight to IVF and she said that at their clinic they see no difference between success rates with low morph. I'll look up the % successful pregnancies and post them later today.

meli123k

Hi, I'm hopping over here from the March board. Just got my beta results back and they were BFN, so we're onto IUI #2. Trying to focus on the positives: at least I'll be less anxious and know what to expect this time around! Also I get to stop with the messy progesterone for now, yay! Hoping AF will show up soon so we can get this next cycle started. Good luck everyone!

Lin&say

@LadyMillil Would love to see the %s. It's so interesting the difference in opinions on morphology between doctors. I've read so many stories where they recommend going straight to IVF but my doctor is so adamant that with his other numbers that it's not an issue (then whyyy aren't we pregnant). He told us we could go to the urologist to check for a varicocele but that sounds like such a hit or miss surgery. I know you've probably posted already, but what meds are you taking this cycle?

srh18

@sweetscoop praying for growth!! Fx!!!!!

I had my iui this afternoon and post-wash was 11 million. Based on these boards it seems low to me but re said they like anything over 10 million. I guess we shall see!! Feeling a bit crampy and bloated but my nurse said it should go away soon. Hoping beyond hope this time is THE time!!

fx to everyone!!

LadyMillil

@Lin&say  50mg Clomid and 400mg progesterone for me this cycle.

Study 1:
Motility and count normal, women on clomid/femara and trigger shot
0-1% - pregnancy rate 21.4% 
1-5% - pregnancy rate 15.7%
5%+ - pregnancy rate 13.9%
overal pregnancy rate (all IUI cycles) 16.9%
Differences between each group are not statistically significant

Study 2:
5 million sperm post wash, natural cycle or clomid/femara/injectables and trigger shot
0-4% (average 2.4%) - pregnancy rate 17.3%
4%+ (average 9.9%) - pregnancy rate 16.7%
Differences between each group are not statistically significant

MMD1986

I felt crampy after my last IUI as well.  I think this month (hopefully), I'll just take the day off of work.

Twomommies16

I feel like my body is working against me.  We did two cycles with clomid and trigger shot and got BFN.  This is our last cycle using my own eggs and we decided to change my meds and try gonal f injections to try and get more eggs.  After all the injections so far, this morning i go in for my CD9 scan and i only have ONE possible egg.  I tried so hard not to cry at the doctors office but i cried all the way to work.  I know it only takes one egg but i wanted the possibility of having a little bit more of a chance with more eggs.  The doctor told me that sometimes the body takes awhile to respond to those meds (gonal f).  We can't afford another cycle using those meds.  We are also doing a back to back insemination this cycle with donor sperm.  I pray that those little swimmers find that egg this month.  Baby dust to everyone.  

krystal0927

Im on my second IUI. First in March and it didn't take. Been ttc since January 2015 and nothing is wrong with us both. All tests are normal. Just hoping this is the one. My doctor prescribed me chlomid and said we would try IUI 3 times before getting referred to an IVF doctor. This whole process is so overwhelming. Just want it to happen. 

krystal0927

The IUI was very easy @Monica54321 didn't really feel like anything. Just make sure you lay down and relax after it  

Lin&say

@LadyMillil Am I interpreting that right that the lower morphologies had a higher success rate? 

LadyMillil

Lin&say said:

@LadyMillil Am I interpreting that right that the lower morphologies had a higher success rate? 

It isn't statistically significant, which means that even though there was an overall higher % pregnancy rate with lower morph, the odds of getting pregnant aren't actually any different with differing morphologies.

Monica54321

@meli123k  - Welcome to the April board.  Sorry you are here though.  I hope AF comes soon for you so you can get started on this cycle.

I've been chatting with my pituitary this evening, letting her know it's time to initiate the LH surge so my OPK reads positive tomorrow morning & I can get my IUI in before the weekend.  Today is cycle day 14, and my cycles are usually 26-29 days, so if I don't detect tomorrow, I'm not liking my chances of making it through the weekend until my OBs office opens back up on Monday.

srh18

@Monica54321 praying for your surge!! Sending good vibes your way.  

msirni0

Hi ladies! I had posted earlier this week that I might be joining you after I had my negative beta. We met with our RE yesterday to discuss where we want to go from here. He basically said we can continue what we are doing, but he wanted to let us know what our options are. We could continue Clomid and IUI, go to IUI with injectables, or move onto IVF. We decided to move onto IVF. I'll start BCP at the beginning of my next cycle. Since we have a month in between as I just started this cycle, we decided we wanted to squeeze in one more IUI which my RE said was fine, and said he would do our baseline ultrasound while we were there. Unfortunately we found that I have GIANT cysts on each ovary, so IUI is out for this month. We debated starting BCP now, but since we still have to get pre auth from our insurance and figure out our out of pocket expense for meds, we decided to take a break this month rather than scramble to get everything done before the end of my 21 days of BCP. After we made that decision I had this overwhelming sense of relief, so I know we made the right one. My body and mind need a break. In the meantime I'm going to start doing acupuncture. I still plan on popping in here to check on you ladies, and I'll have my fingers crossed for all of you that April is your month!

Monica54321

The stern talking with my pituitary & thoughts/prayers from you all worked!  Detected my surge this morning and I'm heading in for the IUI here in the next hour.  

meli123k

@msirni0 Good luck with your upcoming IVF! I hope that you will be able to get lots of relaxing in during the break and that you enjoy the acupuncture as well!

Lin&say

@LadyMillil Even with the statistically small differences, I'm really surprised. I would've thought it would've trended the other way. Thanks for posting though. That gives me hope! 

@Monica54321 Woohoo! Good luck! 

@msirni0 I'm sorry you didn't get to squeeze in another IUI but it sounds like a break might be a blessing in disguise! We took off last month and I'm in such a better place mentally/emotionally so I hope you'll benefit from it like I did. Best of luck with your IVF journey! 

Monica54321

Well, my IUI is over, thank god.  It was a really bad experience, unfortunately.  The doctor tried for over 10 minutes, unsuccessfully, to get the catheter placed - which was the same thing that happened with my HSG test.  Even with a clamp on my cervix (those things are like medieval torture devices) and trimming off the flexible tip of the catheter, they could not get it where they needed. Ultimately they moved me to an ultrasound room to watch what was happening.  Apparently there was a ridge in there that the doctor couldn't get the catheter over.  They used a sound (looks like a metal rod) to 'forge' a path through, which was ungodly painful, but ultimately they got the job done.  It just didn't happen at all like I was expecting, but I guess that's the same thing you can expect from child birth, right?  It impossible to predict exactly how things are going to go, and all that matters at the end of the day is the result.  So I'm glad the IUI got completed! 

Then the doctor told me that because I have a previous DVT & PE, that as soon as I get a positive beta, I have to start on daily lovenox (blood thinner) shots to prevent clots during pregnancy, and take those daily throughout the entire pregnancy & post-partum period.  I've had to take them for very short periods of time (<2 weeks) before  - and they really painful and leave you with tons of bruises all over your tummy from the injection sites.  I was like, really?  You could've waited to tell me that.  I'm in enough pain at the moment, I don't want to think about future pain, lol!

BecauseLove

msirni0 Best of luck to you on the IVF...and hopefully the month on to get ready for it and such will be good too! FX to you!